Edward V becomes King of England upon the death of his father, Edward IV.
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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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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.
John Argyropoulos, a Greek philosopher and scholar, becomes the first to introduce Aristotelian studies in Italy.
Christopher Columbus receives funding for his expedition from Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain.
Vasco da Gama arrives at Calicut, India, opening the sea route from Europe to the East by circumnavigating Africa.
Pedro Álvares Cabral's 13 ship fleet lands in Brazil, leading to the Portuguese claim on the territory.
Christopher Columbus begins his fourth and final voyage to the New World.
The construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City in Rome begins 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 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.
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 claims Florida for Spain after landing on Florida's east coast near present-day St. Augustine. 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
Francis I of France achieves a victory over the Swiss at the Battle of Marignano.
The Revolt of the Comuneros begins in Spain against King Charles V's rule.
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
Battle of Panipat: Babur's Mughal forces defeat Ibrahim Lodi, establishing Mughal rule in India.
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 Siege of Buda begins as Ottoman forces lay siege to the Hungarian city.
William Shakespeare, English playwright, and poet is born in Stratford-upon-Avon.
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.
Pope Pius V issues the papal bull "Regnans in Excelsis," excommunicating Queen Elizabeth I of England.
Battle of Gelves: Spanish forces defeat a fleet of English privateers off the coast of Portugal.