View source for Annus horribilis

{{short description|Latin phrase meaning "horrible year"}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Italic title|reason=
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'''{{lang|la|Annus horribilis}}''' (pl. '''''anni horribiles''''') is a [[Latin]] phrase that means "horrible year". It is complementary to {{lang|la|[[annus mirabilis]]}}, which means "wonderful year".

==Origin of phrase==
The phrase {{lang|la|"annus horribilis"}} was used in 1891 in an [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] publication to describe 1870, the year in which the [[Dogma in the Catholic Church|dogma]] of [[papal infallibility]] was defined in the [[Catholic Church]].<ref>{{cite book|title=London Quarterly and Holborn Review|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NpxJAQAAMAAJ|volume=75|year=1891|publisher=E.C. Barton|page=105|chapter=Möhler, Döllinger and Oxford Anglicanism}}</ref>

== Elizabeth II ==
===1992===
The expression was brought to prominence by [[Queen Elizabeth II]]. In a speech at [[Guildhall, London|Guildhall]] on 24 November 1992, marking her [[Ruby Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Ruby Jubilee]] on the throne, she said:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/ImagesandBroadcasts/Historic%20speeches%20and%20broadcasts/Annushorribilisspeech24November1992.aspx |title=Annus horribilis speech, 24 November 1992 |publisher=The Official Website of the British Monarchy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302093837/http://www.royal.gov.uk/ImagesandBroadcasts/Historic%20speeches%20and%20broadcasts/Annushorribilisspeech24November1992.aspx |archive-date=2 March 2009 }}</ref>
{{blockquote|1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an {{lang|la|annus horribilis}}.}}

The "sympathetic correspondent" was later revealed to be her former assistant private secretary [[Edward Ford (courtier)|Sir Edward Ford]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/nov/28/guardianobituaries.monarchy|title=Obituary: Sir Edward Ford|last=Corby|first=Tom|date=28 November 2006|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=11 September 2018}}</ref> The unpleasant events which happened to the [[Royal Family of the United Kingdom|royal family]] in this year include:<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/may/24/royal-family-bounced-back-annus-horribilis How the royal family bounced back from its 'annus horribilis'], ''The Guardian'', 24 May 2012.</ref>
* publication of photographs pertaining to an affair between [[Sarah Ferguson]], and Texan oil millionaire Steve Wyatt (18 January);
* separation of the Queen's second son Prince Andrew, Duke of York (later [[Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor]]), from his wife Sarah (19 March);
* divorce of the Queen's daughter, [[Anne, Princess Royal]], from [[Captain Mark Phillips]] (23 April);
* publication of [[Diana, Princess of Wales]]' tell-all book ''[[Diana: Her True Story (book)|Diana: Her True Story]]'', revealing the problems in her marriage to the Queen's eldest son, [[Charles III|Charles, Prince of Wales]], particularly his affair with [[Camilla Parker Bowles]] (''The Sunday Times'', 7 June);
* publication of photographs of Sarah sunbathing topless with her friend John Bryan (20 August);
* [[Squidgygate|publication of taped, intimate phone conversations]] between Diana and James Gilbey (24 August); and
* [[1992 Windsor Castle fire|a fire in Windsor Castle]], one of the Queen's official residences (20 November).

After the Queen delivered her speech, one more notable event transpired: [[Diana, Princess of Wales#Problems and separation|the separation of Charles and Diana]] (9 December).

===2019===
The year 2019 was described by some commentators as a second {{lang|la|annus horribilis}} for the [[British royal family]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Queen to Cite 'Bumpy' Year For Britain In Address|last=Magra|first=Iliana|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 25, 2019|page=A8}}</ref> In January that year, 97-year-old [[Prince Philip]] crashed his car into another carrying two women and a baby, and subsequently surrendered his driving licence. Later on in August, the Queen was involved in [[2019 United Kingdom prorogation controversy|a constitutional crisis]] when [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Boris Johnson]] [[Advice (constitutional law)|advised]] her to [[Prorogation in the United Kingdom|prorogue]] Parliament, a recommendation later ruled unlawful by the [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom]]. Her son [[Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor|Prince Andrew]] gave a [[Prince Andrew & the Epstein Scandal|universally-criticised BBC ''Newsnight'' interview]] about his relationship with convicted child-sex offender [[Jeffrey Epstein]],<ref name="Murphy">{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Victoria |title=2019 Was a Car Crash of a Year for the British Royal Family |url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a30285260/british-royal-family-2019-review/ |work=Town & Country |date=21 December 2019}}</ref> and there was increased [[Tabloid journalism|tabloid]] scrutiny of rifts between the [[Duke of Cambridge|Cambridge]] and [[Duke of Sussex|Sussex]] households.<ref name="Murphy" />

==Other uses==
=== Boris Yeltsin (1998) ===
[[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]] described 1998 in [[Politics of Russia|Russian politics]] as an ''annus horribilis'' because of [[Boris Yeltsin]]'s [[Isolationism|isolationist]] and militarist policies, the [[1997 Asian financial crisis|East Asian financial crisis]], and Western countries cutting off the reform money that they gave to the Russian government in prior years.<ref>{{Cite book |title=TIME Annual 1998: The Year in Review |publisher=TIME Books |year=1999 |isbn=1-883013-61-5 |location=New York |pages=58 |issn=1097-5721}}</ref>

=== Ben Affleck (2003) ===
Hollywood actor and filmmaker [[Ben Affleck]] once said that 2003 was his ''annus horribilis''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Harris|first=Mark|url=https://www.details.com/celebrities-entertainment/cover-stars/201210/ben-affleck-actor-cover |title=Ben Affleck: No Apologies. No Regrets. No Bulls#*t. October 2012 Issue|publisher=Details |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914184440/https://www.details.com/celebrities-entertainment/cover-stars/201210/ben-affleck-actor-cover |archive-date=2012-09-14}}</ref> Affleck starred in the films ''[[Daredevil (film)|Daredevil]]'' and ''[[Gigli]]'', both of which received negative reviews from critics. ''Gigli'' was a [[box-office bomb]] and drew particular ire from Hollywood critics and moviegoers, which culminated in six wins at the [[24th Golden Raspberry Awards]] ceremony. In addition, Affleck with his fiancée and later second wife, [[Jennifer Lopez]], were mocked and criticised by the public for their seemingly accommodating attitudes to and henceforth over-exposure in the tabloid media.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

=== Kofi Annan (2004) ===
[[Kofi Annan]], the [[United Nations Secretary-General]], used the phrase in his year-end press conference on 21 December 2004. He reflected: "There's no doubt that this has been a particularly difficult year, and I am relieved that this ''annus horribilis'' is coming to an end."<ref name=OffTheCuff>{{cite web | url = https://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=655 | title = New York, 21 December 2004 – Secretary-General's year-end press conference (unofficial transcript) | work = Off the Cuff | publisher = United Nations, Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050204001905/http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=655 | archive-date=4 February 2005 }} The Secretary-General Off the Cuff</ref> His remarks were widely interpreted as having alluded to persistent allegations of corruption in the UN's Iraq [[Oil-for-Food Program]].<ref name=NineMSN>{{cite news |url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=23293 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050913182910/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=23293 |archive-date=13 September 2005 |title=UN chief welcomes end of 'horrible' year |agency=Associated Press |publisher=NineMSN |date=22 December 2004}}</ref> He also spoke of upheaval and violence in [[War in Afghanistan (2001-2021)|Afghanistan]], the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Iraq War|Iraq]], [[2004 in the Palestinian territories|Palestine]], and [[War in Darfur|Sudan]]; the ongoing process of UN internal reform; and "persistent...[[Criticism of the United Nations|criticism against the UN]]" and himself personally.<ref name=OffTheCuff /><ref name=NineMSN /> Annan's remarks came five days before the deadliest event of the year (and one of the [[List of natural disasters by death toll|deadliest natural disasters]] in history): the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|Indian Ocean tsunami]] on 26 December, which killed 227,898 people.

=== Juan Carlos I (2007) ===
In 2007, the [[Spanish royal family]], in particular [[Juan Carlos I of Spain|King Juan Carlos I]], faced a difficult year. Family tragedy and a series of controversies led Spanish newspapers to refer to the year as the king's ''annus horribilis''.<ref name="La Nación">''[http://www.lanacion.cl/prontus_noticias_v2/site/artic/20071115/pags/20071115203346.html El "annus horribilis" del Rey Juan Carlos]''. {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121206025748/http://www.lanacion.cl/prontus_noticias_v2/site/artic/20071115/pags/20071115203346.html |date=6 December 2012 }}, [[La Nación]], 15 November 2007.</ref>
* In February, Érika Ortiz Rocasolano, the youngest sister of [[Queen Letizia of Spain|Letizia]], then [[Prince of Asturias|Princess of Asturias]], died of a sedative overdose in her apartment.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Barroso|first=F. Javier|date=8 February 2007|title=Una muerte por ingestión de pastillas|language=es|work=El País|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2007/02/09/espana/1170975631_850215.html|access-date=2021-12-11|issn=1134-6582}}</ref>
* In July, a humour magazine, {{lang|es|[[El Jueves]]}}, published a drawing on the cover depicting [[Felipe VI]] (then Prince of Asturias), and the aforementioned Princess Letizia having sex, with a caption reading: "Just imagine if you end up pregnant. This will be the closest thing to work I've ever done in my life." It satirized a proposal by the government to give 2,500 euros to the parents of newborn children. The magazine was banned and removed from distribution, which led to a censorship controversy.
* In September, [[Catalonia|Catalan]] separatists were tried for having burned photographs of King Juan Carlos and [[Queen Sofía of Spain|Queen Sofía]] at an [[Republicanism in Spain|anti-monarchy]] and [[Catalan independence movement|Catalan separatist]] rally in [[Girona]] while the royal couple toured the city.
* In early November at the XVII [[Ibero-American Summit]], after a verbal altercation between [[Hugo Chávez]], [[President of Venezuela]], and [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]], [[Prime Minister of Spain]], the king admonished Chávez, {{lang|es|"[[¿Por qué no te callas?]]"}} ("Why don't you shut up?").
* Shortly after the summit, the royal house announced the separation of the king's daughter, the [[Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo|Duchess of Lugo]], and her husband, [[Jaime de Marichalar]]. The couple has two children, [[Felipe Juan Froilán de Marichalar y Borbón|Felipe]] and [[Victoria de Marichalar y Borbón|Victoria]].
=== Michael J. Fox (2018) ===
[[Michael J. Fox]] used the term in his 2020 memoir ''No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality'' multiple times (in Chapters 19 and 21) to describe his experiences in 2018; he also referred to 2018 as "[[Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day|a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad]]" year.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fox |first=Michael J. |title=No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality |publisher=[[Flatiron Books]] |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-250-26561-6 |location=New York, NY}}</ref> 

=== COVID-19 pandemic (2020) ===
The year 2020 was widely remarked as being an {{lang|la|annus horribilis}} for the entire world in general, most notably due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], which began in late 2019 and rapidly spread worldwide throughout 2020.<ref>{{cite web|last=Doebele|first=Justin|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jdoebele/2020/12/13/editors-sidelines-december-2020-annus-horribilis/|title=Editor's Sidelines, December 2020: Annus Horribilis|work=Forbes|date=13 December 2020|access-date=16 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 December 2020 |title=Annus horribilis: A look back at the top 12 stories of 2020 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20201230-annus-horribilis-a-look-back-at-the-top-12-stories-of-2020 |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Renée |title=In defense of 2020, our annus horribilis  |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/22/opinion/defense-2020-our-annus-horribilis/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=The Boston Globe |language=en-US}}</ref> 2020 was also awarded a "Special Governors' Award for The Worst Calendar Year EVER!" at the [[41st Golden Raspberry Awards]]. At the end of the year, [[Netflix]] released ''[[Death to 2020]]'', a mockumentary discussing the events of the year.

=== Iran (2024) ===
Journalist [[David Leonhardt]] of the ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' described 2024 as an ''annus horribilis'' for the [[Government of Iran|Iranian government]], citing the failed outcome of the [[April 2024 Iranian strikes against Israel|strikes against Israel]] in April, the [[2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash|death]] of [[President of Iran|President]] [[Ebrahim Raisi]] in May, the death of the core leadership of the Iranian-backed [[Hamas]] and [[Hezbollah]] during their respective wars against Israel (including the [[Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh|assassination of Hamas's Ismail Haniyeh]] in [[Tehran]] on July), the [[2024 United States presidential election|reelection]] of [[Donald Trump]] in November, and the [[Fall of the Assad regime|collapse of the Assad regime]] in [[Ba'athist Syria]] in December.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leonhardt |first=David |date=December 9, 2024 |title=Iran's Very Bad Year. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/briefing/irans-very-bad-year.html |access-date=January 5, 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Latin phrases]]
* ''[[Rampjaar]]'', the Dutch "disaster year" of 1672
* The [[Islamic year]] 311 [[Hijri year|AH]] (923/924 CE) was known as the "Year of Destruction" ({{Transliteration|ar|sanat al-damār}}) due to the [[Qarmatians]]' [[sack of Basra (923)|Sack of Basra]] and the [[924 Hajj caravan raid|attack on the Hajj caravan]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Kennedy | first = Hugh | author-link = Hugh N. Kennedy | chapter = The Reign of al-Muqtadir (295–320/908–32): A History | pages = 13–47 | title = Crisis and Continuity at the Abbasid Court: Formal and Informal Politics in the Caliphate of al-Muqtadir (295-320/908-32) | location = Leiden | publisher = Brill | year = 2013 | isbn = 978-90-04-25271-4 | chapter-url = {{Google Books|cUodAAAAQBAJ|page=13|plainurl=y}}}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wiktionary|annus horribilis}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090302093837/http://www.royal.gov.uk/ImagesandBroadcasts/Historic%20speeches%20and%20broadcasts/Annushorribilisspeech24November1992.aspx Royal.gov.uk – Transcript of The Queen's speech at Guildhall 24 November 1992]
* [https://archive.org/details/annushorribilis30000jord/page/n7/mode/2up ''Annus Horribilis: 365 Tales of Comic Misfortune''] {{Registration required}}: book by [[Sam Jordison]]

{{Jubilees of British monarchs}}
{{Elizabeth II}}
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[[Category:Latin words and phrases]]
[[Category:1992 in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:2007 in Spain]]
[[Category:Ruby Jubilee of Elizabeth II]]
[[Category:Monarchy of Spain]]