Category: Today In History

476 – Romulus Augustulus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself “King of Italy”, thus ending the Western Roman Empire. 1260 – The Sienese Ghibellines, supported by the forces of Manfred, King of Sicily, defeat the Florentine Guelphs at Montaperti.  1282 – Peter III of Aragon becomes the King...

*AD 64 – The Great Fire of Rome causes widespread devastation and rages on for six days, destroying half of the city. *1545 – The Tudor warship Mary Rose sinks off Portsmouth; in 1982 the wreck is salvaged in one of the most complex and expensive projects in the history of maritime archaeology. *1553 –...

390 BC – Roman-Gaulic Wars: Battle of the Allia – a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls, leading to the subsequent sacking of Rome 64 – Great Fire of Rome begins under the Emperor Nero 1334 – The bishop of Florence blesses the first foundation stone for the new campanile (bell tower) of the Florence Cathedral,...

1054 – Emperor Henry III crowns his son Henry IV king 1203 – Siege of Constantinople begins during the fourth Crusade, Crusaders aboad a Venetian fleet attack the city 1762 – Catherine II becomes tsar of Russia upon the murder of Peter III 1821 – Spain cedes Florida to US 1841 – British humor magazine...

622 – Moslem Era begins-Mahomet begins flight from Mecca to Medina 1054 – Three Roman legates fracture relations between Western and Eastern Christian churches by placing invalid Papal Bull of Excommunication on altar of Hagia Sophia during Saturday afternoon divine liturgy. Often dated as start of the East-West Schism. 1429 – Joan of Arc and the...

1793 – Journalist and French revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat is assassinated in his bathtub by Charlotte Corday, a member of the opposing political faction. 1814 – The Carabinieri, the national gendarmerie of Italy, is established. 1863 – New York City draft riots: In New York City, opponents of conscription begin three days of rioting which will...