Today:
5509 BCE: The Byzantine Empire’s calendar begins, marking what they considered the creation of the world.
1159: Pope Adrian IV, the only English pope, dies, leading to a papal election crisis.
1532: Lady Anne Boleyn is made Marquess of Pembroke by King Henry VIII of England, a significant step toward their marriage.
1715: King Louis XIV of France, the “Sun King,” dies after a reign of 72 years, the longest in European history at the time.
1804: Juno, one of the largest asteroids in the asteroid belt, is discovered by German astronomer Karl Ludwig Harding
1870: The Franco-Prussian War: The Battle of Sedan begins, which will lead to the capture of French Emperor Napoleon III.
1923: The Great KantÅ earthquake strikes the Tokyo-Yokohama area in Japan, killing over 140,000 people
1939: Germany invades Poland, marking the beginning of World War II.
1969: A coup in Libya led by Muammar Gaddafi overthrows King Idris I.
1983: Korean Air Lines Flight 007 is shot down by a Soviet jet after straying into Soviet airspace, killing all 269 on board.