This Day in History
Today: March 12, 2026
538
Vitiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving the city to the victorious Byzantine general, Belisarius.[1]
1088
Election of Urban II as the 159th Pope of the Catholic Church. He is best known for initiating the Crusades.[2]
1158
German city Munich (München) is first mentioned as forum apud Munichen in the Augsburg arbitration by Holy Roman Emperor Friedrich I.[3]
1579
Start of the Siege of Maastricht, part of the Eighty Years' War.[4]
1622
Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier, founders of the Society of Jesus, are canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.[5]
1689
James II of England landed at Kinsale, starting the Williamite War in Ireland.[6]
1811
Peninsular War: A day after a successful rearguard action, French Marshal Michel Ney once again successfully delays the pursuing Anglo-Portuguese force at the Battle of Redinha.[7]
1912
The Girl Guides (later renamed the Girl Scouts of the USA) are founded in the United States.[8]
1913
The future capital of Australia is officially named Canberra.[9]
1918
Moscow becomes the capital of Russia again after Saint Petersburg held this status for most of the period since 1713.[10]
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