February 9 in History

Explanation: Pedro de Mascarenhas was a Portuguese navigator. The Mascarene archipelago today includes Réunion (French territory), Mauritius (independent state) and Rodrigues (a dependency of Mauritius). These islands remained uninhabited for a long time before being colonized by the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and finally the French and the British.

Explanation: Giordano Bruno, an Italian Dominican philosopher, was burned alive on February 17, 1600, in the Piazza del Campo dei Fiori in Rome. He had been imprisoned for seven years before his condemnation, notably for arguing that the universe was infinite and that other habitable worlds could exist, theses deemed heretical by the Church.

Explanation: The Boeing 747, nicknamed the Jumbo Jet, made its first flight on February 9, 1969. With its double row of seats and its distinctive fuselage, it became the most iconic commercial aircraft in the history of civil aviation. Its capacity of more than 400 passengers transformed mass air travel.

Explanation: Parasite, the South Korean film by Bong Joon-ho, was the big winner of the night: Best Picture, Best International Feature Film, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. It was the first time a non-English-language film had won the Oscar for Best Picture, a historic victory celebrated around the world.

Explanation: The Treaty of Lunéville was signed between France and Austria, ending the War of the Second Coalition. It confirmed and expanded the provisions of the Treaty of Campo Formio (1797). France gained the left bank of the Rhine and consolidated its dominance over northern Italy. This treaty was one of Bonaparte's major diplomatic successes.

Explanation: The referendum of February 9, 1991 was about Lithuania's independence from the USSR. More than 90% of voters came out in favor of independence. Lithuania had already declared its independence in March 1990, but the USSR had refused it. It was finally recognized internationally in September 1991, after the failed coup against Gorbachev.

Explanation: Le Livre de Poche, published by the Librairie Générale Française (LGF), was created on February 9, 1953 under the initiative of Henri Filipacchi. This collection revolutionized access to literature by offering books at very low prices. The first title published was Koenigsmark by Pierre Benoit, sold at the time for 90 old francs.

Explanation: William Henry Harrison died on April 4, 1841, only 31 days after his inauguration, from pneumonia contracted during his long inaugural speech in the rain. He thus holds the record for the shortest presidential term in United States history. His vice president John Tyler succeeded him.

Explanation: Jacques Monod was a French biochemist who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1965, along with François Jacob and André Lwoff, for their discoveries on the genetic regulation of enzymes and viruses. He is also known for his philosophical essay "Chance and Necessity" (1970), in which he explores the implications of molecular biology for philosophy.

Explanation: The Battle of Mansourah took place during the Seventh Crusade (1248-1254), led by Louis IX (Saint Louis). This battle in Egypt was a disaster for the crusaders: the king's brother, Robert of Artois, was killed there along with many knights. Louis IX himself was captured in 1250 and had to pay an enormous ransom for his release. He was nonetheless canonized in 1297.