A look back at history on this date
Events below are loaded live for April 12th
American Revolution: A Royal Navy fleet led by Admiral George Rodney defeats a French fleet led by the Comte de Grasse at the Battle of the Saintes off Dominica in the Caribbean Sea.
American Revolution: With the Halifax Resolves, the North Carolina Provincial Congress authorizes its Congressional delegation to vote for independence from Britain.
The Union Flag is adopted as the flag of English and Scottish ships.
The Instruction of 12 April 1588 was enacted, which is widely regarded as the formal establishment of the Dutch Republic.
The Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade breach the walls of Constantinople and enter the city, which they completely occupy the following day.
Having received the submission of the prince of Antioch, Raynald of Châtillon, Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos enters triumphantly the city of Antioch.
Nikephoros I of Constantinople is consecrated as patriarch of Constantinople.
King Edwin of Northumbria is converted to Christianity by Paulinus, Bishop of York.
Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire.
Shapur I becomes co-emperor of the Sasanian Empire with his father Ardashir I.
Muhammad al-Jawad
the ninth Imam of Shia Islam (died 835)
Born 811En'yū
emperor of Japan (died 991)
Born 959Richeza of Poland
queen of Sweden and Grand Princess of Minsk (died 1156)
Born 1116Anne of Austria
Landgravine of Thuringia (died 1462)
Born 1432Antonio da Sangallo the Younger
Italian architect, designed the Apostolic Palace and St. Peter's Basilica (died 1546)
Born 1484Maharana Sangram Singh
Rana of Mewar (died 1527)
Born 1484Joachim Camerarius
German scholar and translator (died 1574)
Born 1500Muretus
French philosopher and author (died 1585)
Born 1526Gnaeus Pompeius
Roman general and politician (born 75 BC)
45 BCJulius I
pope of the Catholic Church
352Maximianus
archbishop of Constantinople
434Eudokia Baïana
Byzantine empress and wife of Leo VI
901Vladislaus I
Duke of Bohemia (born 1065)
1125See how inflation has changed the value of money since you were born.
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