November 3 1493Christopher Columbus arrives at the Caribbee Isles (Dominica) during his second expedition. 1507Leonardo da Vinci is commissioned to paint Lisa Gherardini (“Mona Lisa”). 1529The first parliament for five years opens in England and the Commons put forward bills against abuses amongst the clergy and in the church courts. (more…)
October 29 1618Sir Walter Raleigh is executed. After the death of Queen Elizabeth, Raleigh’s enemies spread rumors that he was opposed the accession of King James. 1787Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni opens in Prague. 1814The Demologos, the first steam-powered warship, launched in New York City. 1901Leon Czolgosz is electrocuted for the (more…)
October 28 312Constantine the Great defeats Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius at the Mulvian Bridge. 969After a prolonged siege, the Byzantines end 300 years of Arab rule in Antioch. 1216Henry III of England is crowned. 1628After a fifteen-month siege, the Huguenot town of La Rochelle surrenders to royal forces. 1636Harvard College, (more…)
October 27 97To placate the Praetorians of Germany, Nerva of Rome adopts Trajan, the Spanish-born governor of lower Germany. 1553Michael Servetus, who discovered the pulmonary circulation of the blood, is burned for heresy in Switzerland. 1612A Polish army that invaded Russia capitulates to Prince Dimitri Pojarski and his Cossacks. 1791President (more…)
Today in HistoryOctober 24 439Carthage, the leading Roman city in North Africa, falls to Genseric and the Vandals. 1531Bavaria, despite being a Catholic region, joins the League of Schmalkalden, a Protestant group which opposes Charles V. 1648The signing of the Treaty of Westphalia ends the German Thirty Years’ War. 1755A (more…)
Today in HistoryOctober 21 1096Seljuk Turks at Chivitot slaughter thousands of German crusaders. 1529The Pope names Henry VIII of England Defender of the Faith after defending the seven sacraments against Luther. 1600Tokugawa Ieyasu defeats his enemies in battle and affirms his position as Japan’s most powerful warlord. 1790The Tricolor is (more…)
October 20 480 BCGreeks defeat the Persians in a naval battle at Salamis. 1587In France, Huguenot Henri de Navarre routs Duke de Joyeuse’s larger Catholic force at Coutras. 1709Marlborough and Eugene of Savoy take Mons in the Netherlands. 1714George I of England crowned. 1805Austrian general Karl Mac surrenders to Napoleon’s (more…)
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