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The Pazzi conspiracy, a failed attempt by the Pazzi family to overthrow the Medici family on April, 26, 1478 (Easter Sunday) in Florence by assassinating Lorenzo de Medici and his brother Giulianoto. Lorenzo survived the plot but Giulianoto de' Medici was killed. More
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What Happened in April?
Sieges, raids, and monumental deaths. Discover key historical events from April that influenced the world. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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The Treaty of Olomouc is signed,on April 2, 1479, bringing an end to the 10-year War between Matthias Corvinus of Hungary and Vladislaus II of Bohemia. The Treaty was formally ratified in July 21 of the same year.
King Edward IV, dies on April 9, 1483, leaving two sons inline to inherit the throne. The elder prince, 12-year-old Edward V, being the rightful heir to the throne. His uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was named Lord Protector and moved both boys to the Tower of London, ostensibly for their protection while awaiting Edward's coronation.
Richard had the princes declared illegitimate, removing them from the line of succession and was crowned King Richard III on June 26, 1483. Edward V and his brother disappeared from public view in the summer of 1483. and their ultimate fate remains one of history's great unsolved mysteries. They are widely presumed to have been murdered leading to centuries of debate and speculation.
Christopher Columbus receives funding for his expedition from Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain. through the Capitulations of Santa Fe, a formal contract, signed on April 17, 1492 that granted Columbus significant status and a share of future wealth.
Pedro Álvares Cabral's 13 ship fleet lands in Brazil on April 22, 1500, leading to the Portuguese claim on the territory.
Construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City in Rome begins on April 18, 1506, as Pope Julius II lays the the ceremonial corner stone. It was completed on November 18, 1626, replacing the earlier Old St. Peter's Basilica.
It was designed by multiple renowned architects, including Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, and Carlo Maderno, and features a notable dome, atrium, and square designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Henry VIII became King of England after the death of his father, Henry VII, and was crowned on April 21, 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.
Henry VIII's had six wives, they were, in order, Catherine of Aragon, 1509 -1533. (Marriage - annulled), Anne Boleyn, 1533-1536,(beheaded), Jane Seymour, 1536-1537 (died from childbirth complications), Anne of Cleves 1540, about 6 months (marriage annulled), Catherine Howard, 1540-1542 (beheaded), and Catherine Parr, 1543-1547, (about 4 years until Henry's death). (survived Henry).
A popular, though not entirely accurate, rhyme describes their fates: "Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived".
Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León lands on Florida's east coast on April 2, 1513, near present-day St. Augustine and claims Florida for Spain. He named the land, with lavish landscape and beautiful beaches, "La Florida" or "place of flowers" Ponce de Leon had traveled from Puerto Rico where he established the first European settlement, Caparra, near what is now San Juan. More
The Revolt of the Comuneros begins, on April 16, 1520, in Spain against King Charles V's rule.
The first battle of Panipat takes place on April 21, 1526 where Babur's Mughal forces defeat Ibrahim Lodi, establishing the Mughal Empire rule in India and ending the Lodi Dynasty.
The First Battle of Panipat. fought on April 21,1526, 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
England and France sign the Treaty of Westminster, establishing peace between the two nations. A year later, In January 1528, the alliance declared war on the Holy Roman Empire, a joint enemy.
The Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis is signed on April 2, 1559 , ending the Italian Wars and establishing peace between France and Spain.
William Shakespeare, English playwright, and poet is born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564. His birthday is traditionally celebrated on April 23., known as the "Bard of Avon". Shakespeare, died on his birthday in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1616.
The Philippines formally becomes a Spanish colony on April 27, 1565 as Miguel López de Legazpi arrives in Cebu, Philippines, from Mexico and establishes the first permanent Spanish settlement, Villa San Miguel. Ferdinand Magellan arrived decades earlier. but did not make any attempts of colonization.
King Henry IV of France issues the Edict of Nantes, on April 13, 1598, granting religious liberties to the the French Calvinist Protestants (Huguenots) substantial religious freedoms and civil rights, effectively ending the violent French Wars of Religion.
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The Union Flag, combining the flags of England and Scotland, is adopted for the first time on April 12, 1606, by Royal decree from King James I & VI, combining the English, red St George's Cross and the Scottish white saltire, St Andrew's Cross on a blue field.
Ordered by King James I & VI, the flag was established for use by the Navies royal vessels from both kingdoms to prevent confusion between English and Scottish ships.Its adoption in 1606, was a crucial step in formalizing the union between England and Scotland long before the political union in 1707.This flag became the national flag of Great Britain in 1707. it was modified in 1801 to include the cross of St. Patrick (Ireland) to create the modern Union Jack.
Explorer Henry Hudson sets sail from Amsterdam on April 4, 1609, on his voyage to North America, with a crew of 18-20, composed of Dutch and English sailors. After encountering severe ice and storms near Norway/Russia, he abandoned the search for a northeast passage and decided to search for a rumored "northwest passage" across North America.
His voyage significantly impacted North American history, enabling the Dutch to claim territory between the Delaware River and Cape Cod (New Netherland) and initiating a lucrative fur trade in the region.
Hudson's reached the Grand Banks of Newfoundland on July 2 and Nova Scotia on July 18 and went on to sail down the Atlantic coast, exploring Delaware Bay on August 28 before moving north to enter what is now New York Harbor on September 2-3.On September 12, he began sailing up the river that now bears his name, exploring it as far as present-day Albany before realizing it was not the route to the Pacific. He returned to Europe, eventually docking in Dartmouth, England, in November 1609, where his crew was detained.
Pocahontas, marries John Rolfe on April 5, 1614, which creating the temporary "Peace of Pocahontas" between the tribes and settlers. She was born Matoaka and was the daughter t of Chief Wahunsenacawh (a Powhatan Native American). She is known for her role in the Jamestown settlement, acting as a liaison between her people and the English colonists.
She was born around 1596. Pocahontas was her family nickname, for her, meaning "playful one" or "mischievous girl," while her personal name was Matoaka. She was kidnapped by settlers in 1613, during the First Anglo-Powhatan War, she learned English and was Baptized, taking the name Rebecca.
istorian have rejected the idea of a romance between Pocahontas and John Smith labeling the idea as fictional. When they met in 1607, she was approximately. 10–11 years old, while Smith was around 27–28. She later married Englishman planter John Rolfe in April 1614 at roughly age 17 or 18. Pocahontas traveled to England in mid 1616 with her husband John Rolfe, their son, and a group of Powhatan people. The Virginia Company sponsored her trip to promote the colony. She was introduced to King James I and Queen Anne before dying of illness in Gravesend on March 21, 1617, at age 21 or 22, after developing a respiratory illness, as she was preparing to return to Virginia.
William Shakespeare dies in Stratford-upon-Avon on his birthday, on April 13, 1616.