July Twelfth.

Today in the year 100 BC, Julius Caesar was born. His mother, Aurelia, already had two daughters living. Their births were uncomplicated, but Caesar was trouble from the start. Still, both mother and son survived, though Aurelia had no more children after that. Caesar went on to – well, do just about everything.

Today in 1543 King Henry VIII married his final wife, Catherine Parr, in Hampton Court Palace. Finally, a love to last.

In 1812, America invaded Canada, starting – well, the War of 1812.

But, most significantly, it’s a vital day for the play Romeo & Juliet. It’s mentioned in the text that we’re “a fortnight and odd days” away from Juliet’s fourteenth birthday. We know she was born on “Lammas eve at night,” which means she was born either late July 31 or early August 1.

Which sets the action of the play right around today.

My timeline for the novel means that the events of R&J happen in the year 1339. In that year, July 12 was a Monday. Working backwards from references in the play ("What day is this?" – "Monday, my Lord." – "Monday!"), we know that the show begins on a Sunday morning.

This means that Monday, July 12, 1339, is the day that:

– Friar Laurence marries Romeo to Juliet in secret

– Mercutio is killed by Tybalt

– Tybalt is killed by Romeo

– Romeo is banished from Verona

– Capulet arranges for Juliet to marry Paris

– Juliet and Romeo have their one night together

So, today is the day of crisis in the play.

It’s also my birthday. I’m thirty-four years old today.

Cheers,

DB

* This is a repost of one of my early essays. Please forgive the repetition. I have, of necessity, altered the age. Would that I did not have to….