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What Happened Today in History on March 28

Explore the historical events that shaped our world on March 28th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.

Pertinax, Roman Emperor, is assassinated by the Praetorian Guard, leading to the Year of the Five Emperors.

Raymond IV, Count of Toulouse, dies.

King Alexander III of Scotland dies, leading to a succession crisis.

James I of Scotland returns to Scotland after 18 years of captivity in England.

Edward VI is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey.

Ivan IV, Tsar of Russia,  known as Ivan the Terrible dies on March 28, 1584 after a reign of 41 years. More

France, Cologne, and Bavaria sign the Treaty of Rastatt, ending the War of Spanish Succession.

The three year Spanish Civil War comes to an end as the Republican defenders of Madrid surrender and the victorious Nationalists entered the capital city. It is estimated that up million lives were lost in the most devastating conflict in Spanish history. General Francisco Franco went on to rule Spain as a ruthless dictator until his death in 1975 when Spain finally became a democracy. More

The Three Mile Island Unit 2 nuclear reactor, near Middletown, Pa., partially melts down. This was the most serious accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant operating history. A combination of equipment malfunctions, design-related problems and worker errors led to TMI-2’s partial meltdown and very small off site releases of radioactivity. More