What's History 🗃️

Are the eels plotting to kill you? Maybe. They did in Henry I in 1135. And you might be next. Henry died after eating a meal of eels (carnes murenarum). Eels disagreed with him, & his doctors warned him not to do it. But kings want what they want. And Henry wanted his eels. 1/3 🗃️🧪

Meme. Painting of King Henry I, wearing his crown and looking like a man who will stop at nothing to get eels. His faces is lined, and he the skin under his eyes is drooping. He looks worn and tired, like it's 6 AM and he's been binge-watching Sex in the City all night. His hair doesn't look old and haggard, though. It is a dark, rich brown, and he has a full beard and mustache combo that would be the envy of many a hipster.

You know he's the king by his attire. He's wearing a large golden crown with spikes and fleur de lis, and a fur cloak with a fancy gold collar. There's no missing him, though it's fun to imagine him trying to blend in at a CVS while dressed like this.

Despite his tired aspect, he looks intent and determined. His eyes are hard. As well he should. He is facing death, but fuck that. Bring that man some eels.

Meme text reads:
"Eels are for kings
Regret is
for other people"

AskHistorians

@askhistorians.bsky.social

The great times never stop #Skystorians! Tomorrow, Tuesday April 21st, we've got an #AMA with Dr. Ciruce Movahedi-Lankarani, author of Accelerant: Energy Infrastructures and the Natural World in Making Modern Iran! Get your questions ready!

AskHistorians

@askhistorians.bsky.social

Its #AMA time #Skystorians! We're joined by Dr. Charles L. Ponce de Leon, who's here to talk about his new book "Rolling Stone and the Rise of Hip Capitalism: How a Magazine Born in the 1960s Changed America." And answer all your questions about this incredible topic! www.reddit.com/r/AskHistori...

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Ben Gross

@bhgross144.bsky.social

Last week, @aiphistory.bsky.social announced it would provide open access to 3 interviews w/J. Robert Oppenheimer. In today's #histSTM & #physics lunchtime read, @wellerstein.bsky.social shares his initial reactions to these oral histories: www.aip.org/history/well... 🗃️📜

www.aip.org

The AIP Oppenheimer interviews: An expert perspective

AIP History Weekly Edition: April 17, 2026

Nico Mara-McKay 🦇 (they/iel)

@nicomaramckay.com

Are you 30 or under and interested in 2SLGBTQIA+ heritage? There's a position open at @arquives.ca! Hours and salary: 37.5h/week, $23.50/hour Deadline to apply: 7 May 2026 Learn more and apply: arquives.ca/ycw-archives... 🌈🗃️ 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️

The ArQuives Job Alert

YCW Archives Assistant

The Archives Assistant position will expose the student to various archival situations designed to improve skills and enhance public access to our rich holdings of 2SLGBTQIA+ heritage. The successful applicant will be responsible for the arrangement & description of records.

Full-time, 15-week contract
37.5/week, $23.50/hour

Open tot hose eligible for Young Canada Works only.

Liesbeth Corens

@onslies.bsky.social

OOOOOOO! That's @qmulhss.bsky.social's very own Jerry Brotton! (and, I have sneaking suspicion, a bunch of cool #EarlyModern scholars!) #SkyStorians

The Rose Playhouse@roseplayhouse.bsky.social

We're in this! (As well as lots of other fine folk...) THE DEATH AND LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE Written & presented by Professor Jerry Brotton On BBC Radio 3 & BBC Sounds – ten 14 minute episodes, releasing 20 April - 1 May, at 9.45pm www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002v6z8

Promotional BBC Radio 3 & BBC Sounds flyer for "The Essay: The Death and Life of Christopher Marlowe", written and presented by Professor Jerry Brotton.
Mon-Fri at 21.45, Radio 3. 20th April – 1st May.
Produced by Melissa FitzGerald.
Christopher Marlowe read by Justice Ritchie.
Other voices read by Tonderai Munyevu.
The image shows Professor Brotton standing with his arms folded, looking up at a Tudor portrait of a man with arms folded.

Mallory Szymanski

@malszy.bsky.social

Creative and unexpected angles from historians are particularly welcome. If you have early inklings of an idea, we'd love to help you shape it into a pitch. #Skystorians: Contact us! #writingsky

Clio and the Contemporary@cliocontemporary.bsky.social

We welcome new authors! Send us your pitch about historically significant anniversaries or forgotten events that deserve more attention. 🗃️#academicsky clioandthecontemporary.com/call-for-con...

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Clio and the Contemporary

@cliocontemporary.bsky.social

We welcome new authors! Send us your pitch about historically significant anniversaries or forgotten events that deserve more attention. 🗃️#academicsky clioandthecontemporary.co….

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Call for Contributors: 2026 Anniversaries in Historical Context

Clio & the Contemporary welcomes pitches from contributors looking to mark historically significant anniversaries or to draw attention to forgotten events. In 2026, we remember 1976, 1926, 1876…

Oxford Academic

@academic.oup.com

Join Emily Sneff, Lou Masur, Colin Calloway and us on April 22nd to discuss the many visions of America's Founding Fathers. #Skystorians oxford.ly/4vDHQXM

The Vision of the Founding Fathers America 250 online event with Emily Sneff, Colin Calloway, and Lou Masur. Register now.

Ben Railton

@americanstudier.bsky.social

So this week on the blog, I’ll AmericanStudy a handful of the folks who helped create & popularize Earth Day in its original 1970 form & over the next few years. Leading up to a special weekend tribute to the work of two of our most impressive young environmental activists! 🗃️

Ideas Roadshow

@ideasroadshow.bsky.social

You can now watch our illustrated video podcast 'Michelangelo: The Making of Art' - A conversation with Bill Wallace.' on our Exploring Art History YouTube channel: youtu.be/cV9E73T73Mg 🗃️ #arthistory #skystorians 🏺 #academia #art

youtu.be

Ep. 3 MICHELANGELO: The Making of Art - A conversation with Bill Wallace, Part 1

YouTube video by Exploring Art History

Ideas Roadshow

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