This Day in History
Today: March 21, 2026
537
Siege of Rome: King Vitiges attempts to assault the northern and eastern city walls, but is repulsed at the Praenestine Gate, known as the Vivarium, by the defenders under the Byzantine generals Bessas and Peranius.
630
Emperor Heraclius returns the True Cross, one of the holiest Christian relics, to Jerusalem.
717
Battle of Vincy between Charles Martel and Ragenfrid.
1152
Annulment of the marriage of King Louis VII of France and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine.
1180
Emperor Antoku accedes to the throne of Japan.
1556
On the day of his execution in Oxford, former archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer deviates from the scripted sermon by renouncing the recantations he has made and adds, "And as for the pope, I refuse him, as Christ's enemy, and Antichrist with all his false doctrine."<span class="mw-reflink-text...
1788
A fire in New Orleans leaves most of the town in ruins.[2]
1800
With the church leadership driven out of Rome during an armed conflict, Pius VII is crowned Pope in Venice with a temporary papal tiara made of papier-mâché.
1801
The Battle of Alexandria is fought between British and French forces near the ruins of Nicopolis near Alexandria in Egypt.
1804
Code Napoléon is adopted as French civil law.
Auto-scrolling
Precious Metals Pricing
Stock Market
