It’s that time of year and we are being carpet-bombed with Super Bowl ads and teasers. Millions of fans worldwide will be glued to their television sets on Sunday evening at 11:30 PM in London, 4:30 AM Monday in Kabul, Afghanistan, 7:30 AM Monday in Hong Kong, and 1:30 PM Sunday afternoon in Honolulu. To… Continue reading
1343 Pope Clement VI issues the papal bull Unigenitus to justify the power of the pope and the use of indulgences. Nearly 200 years later, Martin Luther would protest this. 1596 Francis Drake (died), English captain and explorer (born 1540) 1606 Gunpowder Plot: The trial of Guy Fawkes and other conspirators begins, ending with their… Continue reading
1340 King Edward III of England is declared King of France. 1500 Vicente Yáñez Pinzón becomes the first European to set foot on Brazil. 1541 Florent Chrestien (born), French poet (died 1596) 1564 The Council of Trent issues its conclusions in the Tridentinum, establishing a distinction between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. 1565 Battle of Talikota,… Continue reading
41 After a night of negotiation, Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate. 1348 A strong earthquake strikes the South Alpine region of Friuli in modern Italy, causing considerable damage to buildings as far away as Rome. 1477 Anne of Brittany (born) (died 1514) 1533 Henry VIII of England secretly marries his second… Continue reading
41 Roman Emperor Caligula (died), known for his eccentricity and cruel despotism, is assassinated by his disgruntled Praetorian Guards. The Guard then proclaims Caligula’s uncle Claudius as Emperor (born 12). 76 Hadrian (born), Roman emperor (died 138) 1679 King Charles II of England dissolves the Cavalier Parliament. 1712 Frederick the Great (born), Prussian king (died… Continue reading