1303    The University of Rome La Sapienza is instituted by Pope Boniface VIII. 1453    The last naval battle in Byzantine history occurs, as three Genoese galleys escorting a Byzantine transport fight their way through the huge Ottoman blockade fleet and into the Golden Horn. 1494    Johannes Agricola (born), German reformer (died 1566) 1517     Bogdan III… Continue reading →

1054    Pope Leo IX (died) (born 1002) 1529    Beginning of the Protestant Reformation: The Second Diet of Speyer bans Lutheranism; a group of rulers (German:Fürst) and independent cities (German: Reichsstadt) protests the reinstatement of the Edict of Worms. 1560    Philipp Melanchthon (died), German theologian and reformer (born 1497) 1567    Michael Stifel (died), German monk and… Continue reading →

1025    Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland 1480    Lucrezia Borgia (born), Italian daughter of Pope Alexander VI (died 1519) 1506    The cornerstone of the current St. Peter’s Basilica is laid 1521     Trial of Martin Luther begins its second day during the assembly of the Diet of Worms. He refuses… Continue reading →

485     Proclus (died), Greek philosopher (born 412) 1397    Geoffrey Chaucer tells the Canterbury Tales for the first time at the court of Richard II. 1492    Spain and Christopher Columbus sign the Capitulations of Santa Fe for his voyage to Asia to acquire spices. 1521     Trial of Martin Luther over his teachings begins during the assembly of… Continue reading →

73       Masada, a Jewish fortress, falls to the Romans after several months of siege, ending the Great Jewish Revolt. 1495    Petrus Apianus (born), German mathematician and astronomer (died 1557) 1521     Martin Luther’s first appearance before the Diet of Worms to be examined by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles Vand the other estates of the empire. 1582   … Continue reading →