450. Theodosius (the younger), emperor of Rome, died. He was successful in war against the Persians, who were defeated near their own dominions; but the Huns compelled him to sue for peace on terms not the most advantageous to the Romans. He was succeeded by his sister Pulcheria, and the empire for the first time submitted to a female reign.
1402. Battle of Angora near Constantinople, between the Tartars under Tamerlane and the Turks under Bajazet. It was an obstinate engagement, and continued three days. The Turks were defeated and Bajazet taken prisoner.
1492. Innocent VIII (John Baptist Cibo), pope, died. He was a Genoese nobleman of Greek descent; employed his influence to reconcile the quarrels of the Christian princes with one another, and left behind him the character of a high minded and benevolent man.
1540. Thomas Cromwell, earl of Essex, beheaded. He rose from the purlieus of a blacksmith's shop to those of the palace; from the pursuit of a humble calling to the dignity of lord chamberlain of England. But he fell a victim to the caprice of Henry VIII.
1541. The diet of Ratisbone closed its sittings.
1592. William Hacket, an English fanatic of the reign of Elizabeth, hung and quartered for blasphemy.
1609. Sir George Somers, governor of
Virginia, with his crew, who were wrecked on the 24th, landed on Bermudas. They found "a huge and curious sort of fish," and having remained there about nine months, and built two cedar barks they quitted the isle of Devils on the 10th May following. (See [May 23].)
1629. John Speed died; an English chronologist, historian and antiquary.
1635. Richard Corbet, an English bishop, died. He also wrote a volume of ingenious poems, which were published under the title of Poetica Stromata.