On This Day: December 31st

The expedition of John Narborough leaves Corral Bay, having surveyed the coast and lost four hostages to the Spanish.

James, Duke of York is named Duke of Normandy by Louis XIV of France.

The British East India Company is chartered.

The First Battle of Cannanore commences, seeing the first use of the naval line of battle.[citation needed]

James I the Conqueror, King of Aragon, enters Medina Mayurqa (now known as Palma de Mallorca, Spain), thus consummating the Christian reconquest of the island of Mallorca.

The Lý dynasty of Vietnam ends after 216 years by the enthronement of the boy emperor Trần Thái Tông, husband of the last Lý monarch, Lý Chiêu Hoàng, starting the Trần dynasty.[citation needed]

Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV is forced to abdicate in favor of his son, Henry V, in Ingelheim.

Battle of Englefield: The Vikings clash with ealdorman Æthelwulf of Berkshire. The invaders are driven back to Reading (East Anglia); many Danes are killed.

Byzantine general Belisarius completes the conquest of Sicily, defeating the Gothic garrison of Palermo (Panormos), and ending his consulship for the year.

Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gaul.