Significant Historical Events:
- 538
– Siege of Rome Lifted: Vitiges, king of the Ostrogoths, ended his
siege of Rome and retreated to Ravenna, leaving the city to the Byzantine
general Belisarius.
- 1088
– Election of Pope Urban II: Urban II was elected as the 159th Pope of
the Catholic Church, later initiating the First Crusade.
- 1930
– Gandhi's Salt March: Mahatma Gandhi commenced his 240-mile march to
the sea to protest the British monopoly on salt production and sales.
- 1938
– Anschluss: German troops entered Austria, and Adolf Hitler enforced
the Anschluss, appointing a new government.
- 1993
– North Korea's NPT Withdrawal: North Korea announced its intention to
withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
(NPT), raising international concerns.
- 1999
– Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic Join NATO: These three
countries became members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO),
marking a significant expansion of the alliance.
Notable Birthdays:
- 1922
– Jack Kerouac: American novelist and poet, a pioneer of the Beat
Generation, known for his novel "On the Road."
- 1946
– Liza Minnelli: American actress and singer, renowned for her role in
the film "Cabaret."
- 1957
– Marlon Jackson: American singer and member of the Jackson 5.
- 1968
– Aaron Eckhart: American actor known for roles in films such as
"The Dark Knight" and "Thank You for Smoking."
Notable Deaths:
- 604
– Pope Gregory I: Also known as Gregory the Great, he was pope from
590 to 604 and is recognized as a Doctor of the Church.
- 1898
– Zachris Topelius: Finnish-Swedish journalist, historian, and author,
known for his contributions to Finnish literature.
- 2003
– Zoran Đinđić: Serbian politician and Prime Minister, assassinated in
2003.
Holidays and Observances:
- Arbor
Day (China and Taiwan): A day dedicated to tree planting and raising
awareness about environmental conservation.
- National
Day (Mauritius): Commemorates the country's independence from the
United Kingdom in 1968 and becoming a republic in 1992.
- World
Day Against Cyber Censorship: An online event held each year to rally
support for a free and unrestricted internet.
- Youth
Day (Zambia): Celebrates the contributions of the youth to the
development of the country.