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Old clock in sand with the words: It Happend in March

View Historical Events by Day: What Happened on March 19 in History?

Explore the historical events that shaped our world on March 19th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.

202 BCE, March 19

The Battle of Zama takes place, where Roman general Scipio Africanus defeats Carthaginian leader Hannibal, ending the Second Punic War.

1034 CE, March 19

King Mieszko II Lambert of Poland dies, leading to a period of instability.

1118 CE, March 19

Pope Gelasius II excommunicates Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor.

1179 CE, March 19

The Third Lateran Council opens in Rome under Pope Alexander III.

1217 CE, March 19

Pope Honorius III issues the papal bull Religiosam vitam initiating the Fifth Crusade.

1279 CE, March 19

The Reign of the Song Dynasty which ruled parts of China ends after ruling for more than three centuries when a Mongol fleet defeated a Song fleet in the Battle of Yamen and completed its conquest of China. More

1300 CE, March 19

Edmund Crouchback, son of Henry III of England, is created Earl of Lancaster.

1415 CE, March 19

Preparations for Henry V's invasion of France begin in England.

1427 CE, March 19

The Siege of Montargis in France takes place during the Hundred Years' War.

1517 CE, March 19

Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, dies.

1675 CE, March 19

The rebuilt Greenwich Observatory is completed by Sir Christopher Wren.

1721 CE, March 19

Sir Robert Walpole becomes the first Prime Minister of Great Britain.

2003 CE, March 19

President George W. Bush announces that U.S. forces have begun a military operation into Iraq. U.S. forces invaded Iraq vowing to destroy Iraqi weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and end the dictatorial rule of Saddam Hussein. When WMD intelligence proved illusory and a violent insurgency arose, the war lost public support. 4,700 U.S. and allied troop deaths, and more than one hundred thousand Iraqi civilians were killed and 31,994 U.S. troops wounded in action (WIA). More