Ivan The Terrible Slain

November 19th, 2005

in 941, the Presence gathers at a small island in a lake in England and creates a place of mystery. There will be legends for centuries after of King Arthur's home in this lake, but none will ever see the island again. The Presence uses it as neutral ground for their various factions to meet.

in 1594, Tzar Ivan the terrible met his match at the hands of his son, Ivan the younger. The Tzar, angry at his son’s pregnant wife, began to beat her. Ivan the younger, unable to contain himself, drew his sword and slew his father on the spot, elevating himself to the throne of Russia. The nation breathed a sigh of relief at the passing its cruel lord.

in 1600, Charles I, the Holy British Pope deposed by secular forces in 1649, was born in England. During his arrogant reign, many cardinals and archbishops felt that he had moved away from God, and began preaching against him. This emboldened secularists known as Roundheads, and they overthrew the priesthood in 1649 and ruled the Holy British Empire without a pope for 10 years before the priesthood restored itself with Charles’ son, Pope Charles II.

in 1704, the Bastille’s most infamous prisoner, the man in the iron mask, died. Although still highly controversial, his identity can finally be revealed as [CENSORED FOR SECURITY REASONS]

in 1861, after the failure of their plan to kidnap Doctor Pri’Kato’Mli, Huma League founders Lyle Fitz-Warren and Brent Carpenter fled the U.K. They continued to run the organization, such as it was, for a few months after, but long before Carpenter’s capture, the movement had been taken over by more experienced hardliners.

in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln dedicated the battlefield of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania as a national cemetery, to bury the honored dead of the United States. The field is one of the most popular Civil War sites in the country. Lincoln apparently gave a brief speech while he was there, but history has little noted nor long remembered what was said there.

in 1890, a federal negotiator arrives from Washington to discuss the new terms of Utah Territory's entry into statehood. The chastened elders of the Latter-Day Saints ask Colonel Beauregard T. Jackson to assist them with the negotiations, and he agrees. By the end of the day, the new state of Utah is ready to join the Union.

in 1920, President-elect Eugene V. Debs names Comrade Joe Hill of the American Labor Union as his Secretary of State. Hill’s strong hand at the international rudder kept America sailing smoothly throughout the 20’s. Hill never ran for elective office, although the Communist Party tried time and again to persuade him. As a Swedish immigrant, he was barred constitutionally from seeking the presidency, which was the only office he was said to have wanted.

in 1924, film director Thomas Ince died suddenly at his home in Menlo Park, New Jersey. His closed-coffin ceremony, rumored affair with Carla Lambert, and wild reputation led many to believe that Thomas Edison had killed him. The truth, however, was that newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst shot him.

in 1993, Nirvana recorded its MTV Unplugged album, easily the most popular of the 8 albums the group released before Kurt Cobain’s solo career led to the band’s breakup in 2001.

in 2002, the creature inside the robot ship slips out of an airlock onto the moon; Professor Thomas and Air Force Captain Trent Laughlin bid it good riddance and attempt to reactivate the ship. While they are working on the bridge, they notice a large number of creatures are converging on the ship from outside. Thomas transmits another message to Dr. Courtney - “hurry!”

in 2004, while conversing with the spirit of her grandfather, Chelsea Perkins is transported briefly into the spirit world. Here, she sees the past, present and future tumbled together as one, and sees her own future laid out before her. It is filled with danger, violence and death, and she sees her father's death – at her own hands. Startled, she drops back into the material world.

Christmas Day Contest! Following up on our Halloween contest, you can enter our next contest, which will be alternate histories for Christmas Day, December 25th, 2005. The same rules will apply, the top ten entries will be posted on that day, and by entering, you grant TIAH the right to electronically print your writing on October 31st, 2005, maintain your writing in our archives, and reprint your entry should we decide to reuse it in the future. TIAH only maintains full copyright over material it has originated that has been used by contestants in writing their own entries. Enter early and often - entries must be received by December 20th, 2005! Email us up to 3 entries of your best alternate Christmas Days!

We still have our standard offer - everybody who donates $10 or more through our Paypal link will become alternate history entries on the site. When you donate, I will email you asking your preference for a day & timeline; if you don't reply to me, I'll place you in a day that seems to fit your name :) Thanks for your continued support!

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