Today in history

19BC– Death of Virgil, epic Roman poet.

1327 – King Edward II of England is murdered in Berkeley Castle. He is succeeded by his son Edward III.

1745 – In the Battle of Prestonpans in Scotland, the Jacobite army of just over 3000 under Bonnie Prince Charlie defeats English Royal forces.

1792 – In its first public sitting, France’s Convention, on a proposal by Collot D’herbois, abolishes the monarchy.

1832 – Death of Sir Walter Scott, Scottish novelist and poet, aged 61.

1938 – A hurricane kills more than 700 people in New England, United States, and on Long Island.

1939 – Premier Armand Calinescu of Romania is assassinated by the Iron Guard.

1949 – West Germany comes into existence as the US, British and French occupation zones are transferred to German control.

1956 – Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza is shot by a liberal poet. He dies eight days later and is succeeded by his son.

1964 – Malta becomes independent state within British Commonwealth.

1969 – More than 120 people are killed in rioting in western India that stems from alleged Muslim abuse of cattle, which Hindus regard as sacred.

1978 – Leaders of Syria, Algeria, South Yemen, Libya and Palestine Liberation Organisation announce they are severing relations with Egypt because of that nation’s accord with Israel.

1988 – Coup leader General San Maung is named Burma’s prime minister.

1993 – Russian President Boris Yeltsin dissolves parliament, hardline politicians subsequently vote to impeach him and hole up in parliament building.

1999 – An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale strikes Taiwan, killing at least 2321 people and injuring 8712.

2010 – Italian authorities say they have begun investigating top officials of the Vatican bank in connection with a money-laundering probe.

2013 – A four-day siege of the Nairobi Westgate shopping mall by Somali al Qaeda-linked militants in Kenya leaves at least 67 people dead.