On This Day: January 17th

Octavian divorces his wife Scribonia and marries Livia Drusilla, ending the fragile peace between the Second Triumvirate and Sextus Pompey.

Captain James Cook leads the first expedition to sail south of the Antarctic Circle.

The Second Ormonde Peace creates an alliance between the Irish Royalists and Confederates during the War of the Three Kingdoms. The coalition was then decisively defeated during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.

England's Long Parliament passes the "Vote of No Addresses", breaking off negotiations with King Charles I and thereby setting the scene for the second phase of the English Civil War.

Emperor Susenyos I of Ethiopia surprises an Oromo army at Ebenat; his army reportedly kills 12,000 Oromo at the cost of 400 of his men.

During the French Wars of Religion, Henry IV of France declares war on Spain.

France grants religious toleration to the Huguenots in the Edict of Saint-Germain.

Giovanni da Verrazzano sets sail westward from Madeira to find a sea route to the Pacific Ocean.

Pope Gregory XI reaches Rome, after deciding to move the Papacy back to Rome from Avignon.

Saint Marcellus' flood kills at least 25,000 people on the shores of the North Sea.