King Richard I (the Lionheart) dies on April 6, 1199, at age 41, shortly after being wounded while besieging the castle of Châlus-Chabrol in France. His brother, John, becomes King of England with his coronation taking place on May 27, 1199. John, was King of England until his death in 1216.
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On This Day in History: April 6
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on April 6th. 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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King Louis IX of France was captured on April 6, 1250 by the Egyptian Mamluk forces at the Battle of Fariskur during the Seventh Crusade. He was ransomed in May 6, 1250 for a staggering sum of money and the surrender of the port city of Damietta.
He was released on May 6, 1250, along with 12,000 Christian war prisoners were released alongside him. He then left for Acre and stayed in the Holyland for four years and returned to France in 1254 to reign. He died later on a subsequent Crusade in 1270.
King Louis IX of France was captured by Egyptian forces on April 6, 1250, after being defeated during the seventh Crusade Battle of Fariskurin in a decisive victory by the Ayyubid forces. Louis IX was ransomed and later succumbed to dysentery on August 25, 1270 during the Eighth Crusade. His son, Philip III, succeeded him.
The Declaration of Arbroath, a Scottish declaration of independence, is sent to Pope John XXII, on April 6, 1320, asserting Scotland's sovereignty and independence from England
The letter, written in Latin, asked the Pope to recognize Robert the Bruce as the rightful king and to use his influence to persuade England to make peace, while also emphasizing Scotland's long history of freedom. The request did not lead to the Pope recognizing Robert as King of Scots, and the following year the Pope was persuaded by the English to take their side, issuing six bulls in support of the English. More
The siege of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire led by 21-year-old Sultan Mehmed II begins on April 6, 1453. After a nearly two-month siege, the Ottomans captured the city on May 29, 1453, bringing about the end of the Byzantine Empire which had endured for over 1,000 years and the beginning of the Ottoman Empire's rule over the city, which was renamed Istanbul.
C.1456, April
John Argyropoulos, a Byzantine Greek philosopher and scholar, becomes the first to introduce a renewed, more accurate understanding of Aristotelian philosophy to Italy around April 1456, bringing direct, firsthand knowledge of the original Greek texts; teaching them in Florence and Rome instead of relying on inaccurate translations.
Dutch East India Company (VOC) administrator, Jan van Riebeeck, established the first permanent European settlement in South Africa, at Cape Town, on April 6, 1652. The settlement was to support ships traveling to the East Indies. He built a fort and cultivated crops, marking the start of Cape Town.
France officially declares war on the Dutch Republic on April 6, 1672, initiating the Franco-Dutch War.
The Committee of Public Safety is formed in France on April 6, 1793, during the French Revolution as a temporary wartime measure to combat foreign invasions and internal revolts. It quickly evolved into a de facto dictatorship of 12 men becoming the central instrument of the Reign of Terror (1793-1794) under the influence of radical Jacobins like Maximilien Robespierre.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is officially organized on April 6, 1830, in Fayette, New York. The church was initially named the "Church of Christ" before later being officially named The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Hyrum Smith, Peter Whitmer Jr., Samuel H. Smith, and David Whitmer were among the key participants. More
The first modern Olympic Games opens on April 6, 1896 in Athens, Greece, leading to the revival of the ancient tradition after 1,500 years. The event featured 241 male athletes from 14 nations competing in 43 events.
American explorer and officer in the United States Navy Robert Edwin Peary is credited for reaching the geographical North Pole, on April 6, 1909, according to his expedition's records, although later analyses have questioned his claim and indicated, he fell short of reaching his goal.
The United States enters World War I on April 6, 1917, three years after it had started, as the House of Representatives voted to declare war on Germany. The Senate had approved the same resolution two days earlier after President Woodrow Wilson had addressed Congress in favor of the declaration. More
The first successful flight around the world takes off on April 6, 1924 from Seattle's Sand Point Naval Air Station. Eight U.S. Army Air Service pilots and mechanics in four airplanes left to carry out the first circumnavigation of the globe by air. They completed their mission 175 days later, returning on on September 28, 1924. More
The Rwandan Genocide erupts on April 6, 1994, following the assassination of President Juvenal Habyarimana, leading to the mass slaughter of ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Up to 1 million people were brutally slaughtered in just 100 days, leaving the once-beautiful country in ruins. Rwanda’s long journey of healing and reconciliation, is an inspiring testament to the unyielding spirit of its people. More