What Happened Today in History on April 21

The traditional date for the founding of Rome. The city and surrounding region of Latium has continued to be inhabited with little interruption since around that time. According to tradition, Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus in 753 BC. Expand +

Henry VIII becomes King of England after the death of his father, Henry VII. Henry was crowned  on June 24,1509 at Westminster Abbey when he was 18 years old. The ceremony was a grand affair that included a procession from the Tower of London. Expand +

The First Battle of Panipat was a decisive victory for Babur's forces against Ibrahim Lodi, the Sultan of Delhi, in North India. This battle is significant as it marked the end of the Delhi Sultanate and the beginning of Mughal rule. Babur's smaller, yet well-organized army, utilized gunpowder firearms and cannons, a tactic that was relatively new to the Indian subcontinent. More

The Battle of San Jacinto takes place, leading to the Texan victory over Mexico and the capture of General Santa Anna.

Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen, the German flying ace known as the "Red Baron" is killed in action near Vaux-sur-Sommeon. He is considered the ace-of-aces of the war, being officially credited with 80 air combat victories. Richthofen was regarded as a national hero in Germany, and respected by his enemies. Who shot down and killed Richtofen is still today a subject of debate. More

The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, was the most destructive flood in United States history. It extended across Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The flood was caused by persistent, multi - month, heavy rainfall across the Central U.S.  Expand +

Pope Francis dies at age 88, of stroke and subsequent heart failure a day after making an Easter Sunday appearance to bless thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square. Pope Francis was elected as the 266th pope on March 13, 2013, becoming the first Latin American pope. Pope Francis charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change. More