TODAY in HISTORY

Today is Monday, April 9, the 99th day of 2018. There are 266 days left in the year.

190

Dong Zhuo has his troops evacuate the capital Luoyang and burn it to the ground.

475

Famous Emperor Byzantine Basiliscus amazed the people by issuing a circular letter ( Enkyklikon) to all the bishops of his empire, supporting the Monophysite christological position.

715

Constantine ends his reign as Catholic Pope.

1288

Mongol invasions of Vietnam: Yuan forces are defeated by Tr? n forces in the Battle of Bach Dang in presentday northern Vietnam.

1388

Despite being outnumbered 16 to 1, forces of the Old Swiss Confederacy are victorious over the Archduchy of Austria in the Battle of Näfels.

1483

Edward V ( aged 12) succeeds his father Edward IV as king of England. He is never crowned, and disappears presumed murdered, after incarceration in the Tower of London with his younger brother Richard ( the “Princes in the Tower”.)

1585

The expedition organised by Sir Walter Raleigh departs England for Roanoke Island ( now in North Carolina) to establish the Roanoke Colony.

1609

King Philip III of Spain issues the decree of the “Expulsion of the Moriscos”.

1682

Robert La Salle claims lower Mississippi ( Louisiana) for France.

1731

British mariner Robert Jenkins’ ear cut off by Spanish Guarde Costa in the Caribbean, later catalyst for war between Britain & Spain.

1865

American Civil War: Robert E. Lee surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia ( 26,765 troops) to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, effectively ending the war.

1918

World War I: The Battle of the Lys: The Portuguese Expeditionary Corps is crushed by the German forces during what is called the Spring Offensive on the Belgian region of Flanders.

1939

Marian Anderson sings at the Lincoln Memorial, after being denied the right to sing at the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Constitution Hall.

1942

The Battle of Bataan ends. An Indian Ocean raid by Japan’s 1st Air Fleet sinks the British aircraft carrier HMS Hermes and the Australian destroyer HMAS Vampire.

1988

Dave Prater, American singer died on the day.

2003

Iraq War: Baghdad falls to American forces.

2013

At least 13 people are killed and another three injured after a man goes on a spree shooting in the Serbian village.