1113        Pope Paschal II issues a bill sanctioning the establishment of the Order of Hospitallers. 1471       Piero the Unfortunate (born), Italian ruler (died 1503) 1493       While on board the Niña, Christopher Columbus writes an open letter (widely distributed upon his return toPortugal) describing his discoveries and the unexpected items he came across in the New… Continue reading →

269        Saint Valentine (died), Roman bishop and martyr 1317       Margaret of France (died), Queen of England (born 1282) 1400      Richard II dies, most likely from starvation, in Pontefract Castle, on the orders of Henry Bolingbroke. (born 1367) 1468       Johannes Werner (born), German priest and mathematician (died 1522) 1545       Lucrezia de’ Medici (born), Duchess of Ferrara… Continue reading →

711  BC  Emperor Jimmu of Japan (born), (died 585 BC) 1457       Mary of Burgundy (born), (died 1482) 1462       The Treaty of Westminster is finalised between Edward IV of England and the Scottish Lord of the Isles. 1480      Girolamo Aleandro (born), Italian cardinal (died 1542) 1503       Disfida di Barletta (Challenge of Barletta) – tournament between 13… Continue reading →

1218      Kujō Yoritsune  (born), Japanese shogun (died 1256) 1502      Vasco da Gama sets sail from Lisbon, Portugal, on his second voyage to India. 1554      A year after claiming the throne of England for nine days, Lady Jane Grey is beheaded for treason. 1554      Lady Jane Grey  (died), English daughter of Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk… Continue reading →

660 BC Traditional date for the foundation of Japan by Emperor Jimmu. 55           Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus, heir to the Roman Emperorship, dies under mysterious circumstances inRome. This clears the way for Nero to become Emperor (born 41). 244        Emperor Gordian III is murdered by mutinous soldiers in Zaitha (Mesopotamia). A mound is raised at… Continue reading →