535     Pope John II (died) (born 470) 685     Pope Benedict II (died) (born 635) 1326   Joan I, Countess of Auvergne (born) (died 1360) 1450   Jack Cade’s Rebellion: Kentishmen revolt against King Henry VI. 1541    Hernando de Soto reaches the Mississippi River and names it Río de Espíritu Santo. 1788   Giovanni Antonio Scopoli (died), Italian physician… Continue reading →

351      The Jewish revolt against Gallus breaks out. After his arrival at Antioch, the Jews begin a rebellion in Palestine. 558     In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses. Justinian I immediately orders that the dome be rebuilt. 973     Otto I (died), Holy Roman Emperor (born 912) 1274   In France, the Second Council of… Continue reading →

147      Swiss Guards, including their commander, die fighting the forces of Charles V in order to allow Pope Clement VII to escape into Castel Sant’Angelo. 1527    Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. 1536    King Henry VIII orders English language Bibles be placed in every church. 1536    The Siege… Continue reading →

867      Emperor Uda (born) of Japan (died 931) 1194     Casimir II the Just (died), Polish son of Bolesław III Wrymouth (born 1138) 1215     Rebel barons renounce their allegiance to King John of England — part of a chain of events leading to the signing of the Magna Carta. 1260    Kublai Khan becomes ruler of the… Continue reading →

1436    Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson (died), Swedish rebel leader (born 1390) 1471     Edward of Westminster (died), Prince of Wales (born 1453) 1519     Lorenzo de’ Medici (died), Duke of Urbino (born 1492) 1566    Luca Ghini (died), Italian physician and botanist (born 1490) 1604    Claudio Merulo (died), Italian organist and composer (born 1533) 1615     Adriaan van Roomen (died), Flemish… Continue reading →