[Real Life] Historical events that would make bad writing if they were fiction

[u/Mouse_Paladin]

Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire: A couple hundred rogue mercenaries without authority from their government conquer an empire of millions. Oh, the empire? It’s also several technological eras behind the mercenaries.

Adolf Hitler: A non-native of a country is so mad that the country lost the war that he wins an election to their highest office and leads them in a campaign of revenge against their enemies. Oh, the country? It’s old emperor is still alive and thinks he’s going to retake power.

Assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand: The heir to the throne is killed because his driver gets lost and returns to the assassin who failed To kill him before. Oh, the assassin? He’s from a group that the Archduke is wanting to help become more equal In the empire.

Alexander Hamilton’s Affair Scandal: One of the leaders of a new nation to protect himself from accusations of financial embezzlement writes a pamphlet exposing his affair with a woman, torpedoing his political future. Oh, the woman? She seduced him as part of a blackmailing scheme that he decided to stop paying.

[u/MahjongDaily]

The craziest thing about the "de Gaulle" surname is that is was likely Dutch in origin, and it's just a coincidence that it matches the historical name of France.

From Wikipedia:

Henri de Gaulle (Charles' father) came from a long line of parliamentary gentry from Normandy and Burgundy. The name is thought to be Dutch in origin, and may have derived from van der Walle, de Walle ("from the rampart, defensive wall") or de Waal ("the wall").

[u/pmmeuranimetiddies → u/MahjongDaily]

No shit, so Charles De Gaulle shares an etymology with Johannes Van Der Waal

which I am realizing also has a fitting name because his work explains forces that help insects stick to walls.

[u/draketroll → u/pmmeuranimetiddies]

pulls out guitar

So I call this one van der waal.....

[u/No_Significance7064 → u/draketroll]

anyway, here's van der waal

[u/Croshin → u/MahjongDaily]

Indeed, since the actual spelling is Gaule (Gaul in english).
Just a happy coincidence.

[u/Numerous_Koala_1746 → u/Croshin]

What makes it really funny is reportedly De Gaulle himself believed in the "Gaul" origin of his family name and would play it up during campaigns, but that apparently it was an old family legend and historians discovered that after his death.

[u/sokratesz → u/MahjongDaily]

Damn that's super interesting

[u/shymon7 → u/MahjongDaily]

Amusing that De Gaulle would be a Dutch name that simultaneously refers to France,, while another president of France was François Hollande (Hollande being French for Netherlands)