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William and Mary's Joint Sovereignty [Deep Dive] - February 13th, 2026

/ 05:01/E920
On February 13th, history reflects a series of profound transitions across government, science, and the arts. We begin by examining the 1689 proclamation of William III and Mary II as joint sovereigns of England. This event followed the Glorious Revolution and marked the introduction of the Bill of Rights, a document that fundamentally shifted power from the monarchy to Parliament. Moving into the 20th century, we celebrate three major birthdays: legendary test pilot Chuck Yeager, who first broke the sound barrier in 1947; cinematic icon Kim Novak, known for her captivating role in Vertigo; and musician Peter Gabriel, a pioneer in both progressive rock and human rights advocacy. Finally, the episode touches on modern history with Pope Benedict XVI's historic 2013 resignation announcement, the first voluntary papal stepping-down in nearly 600 years. This Deep Dive looks at how these moments of change, from the cockpit of the Bell X-1 to the halls of the Vatican, continue to shape our world.

On February 13, 1689, British history took a transformative turn with the proclamation of William III and Mary II as joint sovereigns, marking the rise of parliamentary supremacy under the new Bill of Rights. This episode of Deep Dive explores this pivotal constitutional shift alongside the legacies of those born on this day, including legendary test pilot Chuck Yeager, who broke the sound barrier, Hollywood icon Kim Novak, and musician Peter Gabriel. We also reflect on the 2013 announcement of Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation, a rare moment in the history of the Catholic Church. From the Glorious Revolution to the edge of the atmosphere, February 13th serves as a calendar of revolutionary changes and remarkable human achievement across centuries.

Topics Covered

  • 📜 The joint rule of William and Mary and the birth of the Bill of Rights.
  • ✈️ The life and career of Chuck Yeager, the first man to break the sound barrier.
  • 🎬 Exploring the cinematic legacy of Vertigo star Kim Novak.
  • 🎵 The musical evolution and human rights work of Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel.
  • 🏛️ The historical significance of Pope Benedict XVI’s voluntary resignation.

Deep Dive is AI-assisted, human reviewed. Explore history every day on Neural Newscast.

  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (01:11) - A Historic Resignation
  • (04:42) - Conclusion
William and Mary's Joint Sovereignty [Deep Dive] - February 13th, 2026

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