Pope Gelasius II excommunicates Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor.
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On This Day in History: March 19
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.
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The Third Lateran Council opens in Rome under Pope Alexander III.
Pope Honorius III issues the papal bull Religiosam vitam initiating the Fifth Crusade.
The Reign of the Song Dynasty which ruled parts of China, for more than three centuries, ends on March 19, 1279, after a Mongol fleet defeats the Song fleet in the Battle of Yamen and completes its conquest of China. More
Edmund Crouchback, son of Henry III of England, is created Earl of Lancaster.
Edmund of Woodstock, son of Edward I of England and younger half-brother to deposed King Edward II. is executed on March 19, 1330 at Winchester Castle by beheading on order of Ro ger Mortimer, the de facto ruler of England. The execution followed Edmund's prior involvement in a plot to restore the imprisoned Edward II to the throne.
Preparations for Henry V's invasion of France begin in England.
The Siege of Montargis in France takes place during the Hundred Years' War.
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, dies.
Sir Robert Walpole becomes the first Prime Minister of Great Britain.
The United States Senate rejects the Treaty of Versailles for the second time, on March 19, 1920, preventing U.S. entry into the League of Nations. The opposition, was led by Republican Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, citing fears that joining the League would force the U.S. into foreign conflicts and undermine Congress’s constitutional power to declare war, particularly through Article 10 of the League's covenant.
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