Lady Jane Fisher. She played a leading part in helping Charles II escape to the continent in 1651. All the other women took charge of the defence of their homes in the Civil War because their husbands were away. Lady Harley defended Brampton Bryan Castle against a siege; Lady Arundell held Wardour Castle for six days; and Bankes and her daughters led the defence of Corfe Castle for three weeks in 1643.

Crocodiles. In January 1945 the Allies attacked Ramree (Yangbye Kywan) and a neighbouring island to provide airbases to support the land campaign in Burma. Despite fanatical resistance, many Japanese troops were forced back into the island’s mangrove swamps where it was later claimed that 900 or more were eaten by the local saltwater crocodiles. Though the swamps did have a crocodile population, there is no authoritative evidence that they attacked the soldiers in any numbers. Despite this, the legend persists.

A lifetime grant of wine. Specifically, a gallon of wine every day for the rest of his life (which was converted to a monetary grant after Richard II came to power). The exact reason for the gift is unclear; it could be that Chaucer was a courtier who had served the crown in a diplomatic capacity, or the wine may have been for some work of literature or poetry.

Leeds. The so-called ‘Leeds Dripping Riot’ took place when a crowd gathered outside Armley Gaol expecting the release of Eliza Stafford, a cook convicted of stealing the dripping from her employer, Henry Chorley. She had claimed the dripping was a perk of her job, and many townsfolk agreed. When it was discovered she had already been released, the crowd went to Chorley’s house and threw stones. When police broke up the assembly, one man was trampled by a horse and later died, and several others were arrested.

Ferdinand Magellan. Magellan had hoped to convert Lapu-Lapu (ruler of Mactan island in what is now the Philippines) to Christianity. When this failed, Magellan went to attack him with about 60 Spaniards and a force of local allies, but was defeated and killed.

1170s. Becket was killed in 1170; Diarmait Mac Murchada died in 1171; Saladin took Damascus in 1174 and Philip was crowned in 1179, though he did not actually become king until his father’s death the following year.

He became king of a Pacific island. After being shipwrecked on Tabar Island in Papua New Guinea in 1904, Pettersson was adopted by the locals, married the king’s daughter and succeeded when his father-in-law died. He was said to have been a popular ruler who was concerned for his subjects’ welfare. He was reportedly respectful of local customs and was an object of great curiosity in Sweden.