1855. The convent suppression bill passed the Sardinian senate.
1856. Preston S. Brooks, a South Carolina member of congress, wickedly and cowardly assaulted Charles Summer, senator from Massachusetts, while seated at his desk in the senate chamber, and felled him to the floor with a cane, in retaliation for abusive language in debate.
MAY 23.
1270 B. C. Larcher places the chronology of the fall of Troy upon this day.
63 B. C. Jerusalem taken by Pompey on the 23d day of the Hebrew month Sivan, in the consulate of Cicero, a day that was then observed as a fast, in remembrance of the defection and idolatry of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin.
37 B. C. Jerusalem fell into the hands of Herod, in the consulate of Agrippa; it being one of those septenniary periods called sabbatic years.
683. Leo II, pope, died; an able and resolute pontiff; established the kiss of peace at the mass, and the use of holy water.
1125. Henry V of Germany died; leaving an odious character.
1430. The town of Compiegne in France was besieged by the combined forces of England and Burgundy, and defended by Joan of Arc.
1455. Battle of St. Albans (first of the roses), between the Lancastrians under Henry VI, and the Yorkists. The former were defeated with the loss of 3 earls, 49 barons and about 5,000 men killed, and the king himself was wounded in the neck and taken prisoner. Loss of the other party 500.