On This Day in History for January 13
Events in History
- 532 Nika riots begin in Constantinople, a revolt against Byzantine Emperor Justinian I that leaves half the city burned and thousands dead. The riots were prompted by the failed execution of chariot racing supporters and only stopped after Empress Theodora refused to flee, forcing her husband to act decisively.
- 888 Odo (Eudes), Count of Paris, succeeds Charles III the Fat to become King of West Francia (888-898)
- 1099 Crusaders set fire to Mara, Syria
- 1404 The Act of Multipliers is passed by the English Parliament forbidding alchemists to use their knowledge to create precious metals (it was feared that if any alchemist should succeed it would bring ruin upon the state)
- 1605 Controversial play "Eastward Hoe" by Ben Jonson, George Chapman, and John Marston is performed, landing two of the authors in prison.
- 1607 The Bank of Genoa fails after announcement of national bankruptcy in Spain
- 1610 Galileo Galilei discovers Callisto, 4th satellite of Jupiter
- 1621 Jan Pieterszoon Coen's fleet sets sail to Moluccas (from Jacarta)
- More Events in History
Henry II of Castile
Agostino Depretis
Zhou Youguang
Marinus van der LubbeWeddings in History
- 1396 John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, marries 3rd wife Katherine Swynford, mother of four of his children at Lincoln Cathedral
More Weddings in History
Gaius Marius
Wyatt Earp
James Joyce
Hubert HumphreyJanuary in History
Earthquake Devastates Haiti
UN forces patrol the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince after a calamitous earthquake on January 12, 2010 killed as many as 200,000 people
January 12, 2010
Theodora: An Emperor’s Anchor and Women’s Champion
Once a child prostitute, Theodora went on to become a Roman Empress who put the backbone into her indecisive husband and championed women’s rights.
January 13, 532 AD
Henri Farman Wins the Grand Prix d'Aviation
Henri Farman crosses the line to win the Grand Prix d'Aviation for the first observed circular flight of 1km
January 13, 1908
Judge With a Passion For Civil Rights
The name of J. Skelly Wright, born on this day, does not spring to mind as a champion of civil rights. But his contribution to the cause was deep and enduring.
January 14, 1911