On This Day in History: March 20 In 1345scholars at the University of Paris believed that the conjunction of MarsJupiter and Saturn caused the Black Death. In realitythe plague was spread by the Yersinia pestis bacterium through fleasrats and other animals. In 1648King Charles I of England attempted to escape…
Historical Events on March 19
On This Day in History: March 19 In 1077 the Norman monk Gundulf was consecrated as Bishop of Rochester. As chief engineer to William the Conquerorhe later oversaw the construction of Rochester Castle and the White Tower of the Tower of London. In 1644when the dynasty was near its collapse200 members of…
Historical Events on March 18
On This Day in History: March 18 In A.D. 37the Roman Senate annulled Tiberius’ will and declared Caligula emperorbeginning a new era for Rome. In 1229Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II declared himself King of Jerusalemestablishing his rule without papal approvalmarking a key moment in the Sixth Crusade. In 1314Jacques…
Historical Events on March 17
On This Day in History: March 17 In 432at the age of about 16St. Patrick was captured by Irish pirates from his home in Great Britain and taken as a slave to Ireland (traditional date). In 1580Prince William I of Orange was welcomed in Amsterdam. In 1762New York City hosted its…
Historical Events on March 16
On This Day in History: March 16 In 1079 Iran adopted the Solar Hijri calendarwhich is still in use today. In 1322the Battle of Boroughbridge took place during the First War of Scottish Independence. In 1527the Mughal army led by Babur defeated the Rajput confederacy led by Rana Sanga in the Battle…
Historical Events on March 15
On This Day in History: March 15 In 44 B.C.Julius Caesar was assassinated in Rome in Marchstabbed to death by BrutusCassiusand other Roman senators. In 1493Christopher Columbus returned to Spain after completing his first voyage to the New World. In 177014-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart completed his String Quartet No….
Historical Events on March 14
On This Day in History: March 14 In 1590King Henry IV of France defeated the Catholic League at the Battle of Ivry during the French Wars of Religion. In 1743the first American town meeting was held at Boston’s Faneuil Hall. In 1812the US Congress approved war bonds to finance the War of…
Historical Events on March 13
On This Day in History: March 13 In 1634the first meeting of the future French Academy took place at the Paris residence of Valentin Conrartlaying the foundation for France’s premier linguistic institution. In 1778France informed Great Britain of its treaty with Americafour days after which Britain declared war. In 1865Confederate…
Historical Events on March 12
On This Day in History: March 12 In 1054 Pope Leo IX escaped from prison and returned to Rome and resumed his papacy. In 1455the first mention of Johannes Gutenberg’s Bible appeared in a letter from Enea Silvio Piccolominimentioning its printing the year before. In 1594Dutch merchants in Amsterdam founded the Company…
Historical Events on March 11
On This Day in History: March 11 In 843the veneration of icons was officially reintroduced in the Hagia Sophia in Constantinoplemarking an end to Byzantine iconoclasm. In 1708Queen Anne withheld royal assent to the Scottish Militia Billthe last time a British monarch vetoed a bill. In 1789Benjamin Banneker and Pierre…