Charlemagne dies in Aachen, the imperial capital city at the age of 72. His body was buried the same day in the Palatine Chapel, which is now a part of Aachen Cathedral. His son, Louis the Pious had been crowned co-emperor by his father a year before on September 11, 813, and succeeded him as the sole Holy Roman Emperor.
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What Happened Today in History on January 28
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on January 28th. 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 Henry VIII of England dies, and his nine-year-old son Edward VI succeeds him as king, Edward is crowned on February 28, 1547
The Treaty of Madras is signed between the English East India Company and the Maratha Empire.
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Henry Morgan, a Welsh pirate, attacks Panama City, Panama, looting it, causing destruction. and capturing the wealthy city from the Spanish. Morgan's attack, however, was technically illegal as it occurred after a peace treaty between England and Spain which he claimed he was not aware of.
Upon his return, he was arrested but was ultimately hailed as a hero, knighted by King Charles II, and appointed Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica.
English Quaker William Penn receives a land grant from King Charles II, founding Pennsylvania.
The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb reopens the Hindu temple at Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, India.
France declares war on Spain, escalating the War of the Quadruple Alliance.
Christopher Wren, the English architect who designed St. Paul's Cathedral in London, dies at the age of 90.
The Grafton Estate in Virginia is established by the colonial governor, Sir William Gooch.
Sir Isaac Newton, renowned mathematician, physicist, and astronomer, dies in London at the age of 84.
The Spanish mission San Gabriel Arcángel is founded in California, becoming one of the oldest Catholic missions.
The British explorer and navigator John Ross reaches the North Magnetic Pole.
The Victoria Cross, the highest British military decoration, is established.
The U.S. Congress creates the Coast Guard by combining the Revenue Cutter Service was merged with the U.S. Life-Saving Service, and was officially renamed the Coast Guard. In 1939, the Lighthouse Service was folded in and the Commerce Department's Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation was added to the USCG in 1946.
A German cruiser sinks first American merchant ship, the William P. Frye, off the coast of Brazil. More
The first demonstration of television by John Logie Baird takes place in London.
A Soviet fighter shot down a U.S. T–39 training aircraft over East Germany. The three U.S. officers aboard were killed. More
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is ratified by 43 nations.
The six United States embassy hostages in Tehran, Iran, are released.
The charity single "We Are the World" is recorded by USA for Africa.
The Space Shuttle Challenger explodes 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts aboard: Commander Michael J. Smith; Commander Francis R. 'Dick' Scobee; Ronald E. McNair, mission specialist; Ellison Onizuka, mission specialist; S. Christa McAuliffe, payload specialist; Gregory B. Jarvis, payload specialist; Judith A. Resnik, mission specialist. More