Today in History @HistoryNutOTD

April 30, 1492: Spain granted Christopher Columbus his commission of exploration, naming him admiral of the ocean sea, viceroy, and governor of any territory he discovered. This agreement was outlined in the Capitulations of Santa Fe and gave Columbus authority over new lands…

April 29, 1429: Joan of Arc arrived to relieve the Siege of Orléans which was a key moment in the Hundred Years' War. Orléans had been under siege since October 1428, and it was crucial for controlling the Loire Valley. Joan, claiming divine guidance, boosted French morale and…

April 28, 1923: Wembley Stadium was opened in London as part of the British Empire Exhibition. Initially it had a capacity of 127,000, and at that time, it was called Empire Stadium. Its opening event was the 1923 FA Cup Final, known as the "White Horse Final," where an overflow…

April 28, 224 AD: The Battle of Hormozdgan was fought, which was a pivotal moment in Persian history. Ardashir I, ruler of Persis, decisively defeated and killed Artabanus V, the last king of the Parthian Empire. This victory led to the end of Parthian dominance and the…

April 27, 1296: During the First War of Scottish Independence, John Balliol's Scottish army was defeated by the English forces led by John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey, at the Battle of Dunbar. The Scottish forces were caught off-guard, poorly organized and were quickly…

April 27, 247 AD: Emperor Philip the Arab celebrated the millennium of Rome with the ludi saeculares, as it had been 1,000 years since the city's founding in 753 BC. The ludi saeculares featured games, feasts, performances, and sacrifices that spanned several days. Philip’s reign…

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April 27, 247 AD: Emperor Philip the Arab celebrated the millennium of Rome with the ludi saeculares, as it had been 1,000 years since the city's founding in 753 BC. The ludi saeculares featured games, feasts, performances, and sacrifices that spanned several days. Philip’s reign…

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April 26, 1564: William Shakespeare was baptized in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. Shakespeare was born to John Shakespeare, a glove maker and local bailiff, and Mary Arden, a member of the gentry. He later moved to London to pursue a career in theater, becoming…

April 26, 1986: The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine experienced the worst nuclear disaster in history. During a late night safety test, Reactor 4 exploded due to a power surge and operator errors, which released massive amounts of radioactive material. The explosion…

April 26, 1478: During High Mass in Florence Cathedral, the Pazzi family attacked the Medici family in an attempt to overthrow them. Lorenzo de’ Medici narrowly survived, but his brother Giuliano de' Medici was killed after being stabbed 19 times. This assassination attempt was…

April 25, 404 BC: The Peloponnesian War concluded with Spartan Admiral Lysander and King Pausanias blockading Athens. This move followed Lysander's victory at the Battle of Aegospotami, which devastated the Athenian navy. The blockade effectively cut off Athens' food supplies,…

April 24, 1800: The Library of Congress was established when President John Adams approved an appropriation of $5,000 to purchase books for Congress as the U.S. capital moved to Washington, D.C. Initially it was located in the Capitol building, but the library's collection was…

April 22, 1945: As Soviet forces entered Berlin, Adolf Hitler, in the underground Führerbunker, admitted Germany's defeat in World War II and announced his plan to commit suicide. He married Eva Braun on April 29 and they both committed suicide on April 30, marking the imminent…

April 21, 1792: Tiradentes was a key figure in Brazil's independence movement, and he was executed today by being hung, drawn, and quartered for his role in the Inconfidência Mineira. This was a failed plot aimed at establishing a Brazilian republic free from Portuguese rule.…

April 21, 43 BC: The Battle of Mutina unfolded as Mark Antony, who was seeking control over Cisalpine Gaul and aiming to eliminate Julius Caesar's assassins, attacked the city defended by Decimus Brutus. Antony was defeated by forces led by Aulus Hirtius, who died in the…

April 21, 753 BC: Traditionally it is observed that Rome was founded today by Romulus, who, along with his twin brother Remus, were sons of the war god Mars and Rhea Silvia. After they were abandoned and rescued by a she-wolf, the twins decided to build a city. A dispute over…

April 21, 1918: Manfred von Richthofen, known as the Red Baron, was killed in combat at age 25. A German fighter pilot in World War I, he had achieved 80 air combat victories, the highest of any pilot in the war. He flew a distinctive red Fokker Dr.I triplane, but Richthofen was…

April 20, 1657: During the Anglo-Spanish War, English Admiral Robert Blake led a daring naval assault on the Spanish silver fleet anchored at Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands. Despite heavy fire from shore defenses, Blake's fleet managed to destroy or capture most of the…

April 19, 1608: Sir Cahir O'Doherty began O'Doherty's Rebellion by setting fire to the city of Derry, Ireland. As the last Gaelic Lord of Inishowen, O'Doherty's attack was a dramatic shift from his previous loyalty to the English Crown. It was sparked by injustices related to the…

April 19, 65 AD: The Pisonian Conspiracy to assassinate Emperor Nero was uncovered because of the betrayal by the freedman Milichus. The plot was led by Gaius Calpurnius Piso who aimed to replace Nero, and involved senators, military officers, and notable figures like Seneca the…