9 March 1074-Pope Gregory VII declares all married priests to be excommunicated. 1566-David Rizzio, private secretary and supposed lover of Mary, Queen of Scots, is murdered in front of Mary. Mary, who is seven months pregnant, goes into shock, but will deliver a healthy baby boy, who will become King James VI of Scotland and ultimately King James I of England,upon the death of Queen Elizabeth I. Rizzio was suspected of being the father of Mary’s baby, a suspicion which enraged Mary’s husband, Lord Darnley. Darnley undoubtedly had a hand in the murder, for if Mary had miscarried, he would have been in position to force her to grant him the crown matrimonial, making Darnley King of Scotland should Mary die without an heir. 1831-King Louis Philippe establishes the French Foreign Legion. 1841 - The Supreme Court of the United States rules in the Amistad case, concerning captive Africans who seized control of the slave-trading ship carrying them: the court rules that they had been taken into slavery illegally. 1847 - Mexican-American War: United States forces under General Winfield Scott invade Mexico near Vera Cruz; this is the first large-scale amphibious assault in U.S. history. 1846-Treaty of Lahore cedes Kashmir to the British East India Company; cease First Sikh War. 1862-CSS Merrimac and USS Monitor fight to a draw off of Hampton Roads; this is the first ironclad on ironclad combat in history. 1864-General Grant is appointed CinC of all Union Forces. 1888-Kaiser Wilhelm I dies; Frederick III becomes Kaiser. Frederick, who is suffering from throat cancer, will only rule for 99 days before his death, passing the German throne on to his son, Kaiser Wilhelm II, who will bring the German Empire to ruin. 1945-US 1st Army conquers Bonn. 1959-The Barbie doll makes its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York, destroying the self-esteem of women forever.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 13:53:42 +0000