April 5th Through History

Explanation: This battle, sometimes called the "Battle on the Ice", took place on the frozen Lake Peipus (the present border between Estonia and Russia). Alexander Nevsky is also famous for his victory over the Swedes at the Battle of the Neva in 1240, which earned him his nickname "Nevsky". He was canonised by the Russian Orthodox Church.

Explanation: The siege of Sarajevo lasted from 1992 to 1996, about 1425 days, making it the longest siege of a capital in the history of modern wars. It claimed more than 11,000 civilian victims. This siege took place within the framework of the Bosnia-Herzegovina War, which followed the dissolution of Yugoslavia.

Explanation: Danton had tried to moderate the Terror and to negotiate peace with France's enemies, which led to him being accused of indulgentism and corruption. He was guillotined with his supporters, including Camille Desmoulins and Fabre d'Églantine. Robespierre, who ordered his arrest, would himself be executed three months later during the 9 Thermidor.

Explanation: Jules Ferry was twice President of the Council and implemented the school laws of 1881-1882, making primary school free, compulsory and secular. He was also an architect of French colonial expansion, particularly in Africa and Asia. His bust still adorns many French schools.

Explanation: Agnetha Fältskog is one of the two singers of the Swedish band ABBA, formed in 1972. The name ABBA is an acronym made up of the initials of the four members' first names: Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid. The band has sold more than 385 million albums worldwide, making it one of the best-selling artists in the history of music.

Explanation: The Treaty of Basel ended the war between France and Prussia, making Prussia the first major European power to officially recognise the French Republic. This treaty was followed by a second Treaty of Basel in July 1795, by which Spain ceded Santo Domingo to France. These agreements considerably weakened the first anti-French coalition.

Explanation: Hobbes is best known for his major work "Leviathan" (1651), in which he defends the idea of a social contract justifying an absolute sovereign power to avoid the war of all against all. He conceives the state of nature as a state of permanent war. His thought has profoundly influenced modern political philosophy, notably Locke and Rousseau.

Explanation: This manifesto, published in Le Nouvel Observateur, was written by Simone de Beauvoir and signed by personalities such as Catherine Deneuve, Françoise Sagan or Jeanne Moreau. Ironically nicknamed "the Manifesto of the 343 sluts", it played a decisive role in the fight for the legalisation of abortion, which was achieved by the Veil law of 17 January 1975.

Explanation: This major diplomatic incident caused the breakdown of relations between Ecuador and Mexico. Jorge Glas, former Vice-President of Ecuador convicted of corruption, had taken refuge in the Mexican embassy, which had granted him diplomatic asylum. Ecuador was widely condemned by the international community for this flagrant violation of international law.

Explanation: The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is one of the pillars of international law. It notably establishes the principle of the inviolability of diplomatic premises: a host state cannot enter an embassy without the consent of the head of mission. This rule protects not only diplomats but also persons who take refuge there.