A Templar knight, as well as being chaste and vowing to avoid luxury, slept for just four hours a night, attended up to seven masses a day, and fasted three times a week.
Quote of the Day
"You will live to have your bellyful of parliaments.
"
~ James I to his son, Charles
On This Day
1509Pope Julius II, in his attempt to increase the power of the Church and to reduce Venice to a fishing village in the process, excommunicated the entire state.
1521Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer who organised the Spanish expedition to the East Indies, was killed by local tribesmen in the Philippines.
1667A blind and impoverished (thanks to the restoration of the monarchy) John Milton sold the rights to his magnum opus for £10. As soon as it was published, it was hailed as a masterpiece.
1828London Zoo opened its doors to the public for the first time.
1865The American steam boat Sultana exploded and sank on the Mississippi, killing between 1,500 and 1,800 people. It remains one of the worst maritime events in US history.
1941Athens fell to the German army, after a Blitzkrieg invasion of Greece that had lasted for less than a month.
1945Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini and his mistress Claretta Petacci were caught trying to escape to Switzerland. They were summarily executed the following day.
1968The Abortion Act, which allowed women abortions on certain medical grounds, came into effect.