1239   Edward I of England (born) (died 1307) 1462   Vlad III the Impaler attempts to assassinate Mehmed II (The Night Attack) forcing him to retreat from Wallachia. 1579    Sir Francis Drake claims a land he calls Nova Albion (modern California) for England. 1596   The Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz discovers the Arctic archipelago of Spitsbergen. 1603  … Continue reading →

1487   Battle of Stoke Field, the final engagement of the Wars of the Roses. 1586   Mary, Queen of Scots, recognizes Philip II of Spain as her heir and successor. 1613    John Cleveland (born), English poet (died 1658) 1749   Johann Baptista Ruffini (died), Italian salt trader (born 1672) 1779    Spain declares war on the Kingdom of… Continue reading →

763 BC Assyrians record a solar eclipse that is later used to fix the chronology of Mesopotamian history. 991     Theophanu (died), Byzantine wife of Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor (born 960) 1215    King John of England puts his seal to the Magna Carta. 1330   Edward, the Black Prince (born), English son of Edward III of… Continue reading →

1158    Munich is founded by Henry the Lion on the banks of the river Isar. 1381   Richard II of England meets leaders of Peasants’ Revolt on Blackheath. The Tower of London is stormed by rebels who enter without resistance. 1479   Giglio Gregorio Giraldi (born), Italian poet and scholar (died 1552) 1497   Giovanni Borgia (died), 2nd… Continue reading →

313     The Edict of Milan, signed by Constantine the Great and co-emperor Valerius Licinius granting religious freedom throughout the Roman Empire, is posted in Nicomedia. 839     Charles the Fat (born), Roman emperor (died 888) 1525    Martin Luther marries Katharina von Bora, against the celibacy rule decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for priests and nuns…. Continue reading →