English colonists in Jamestown, Virginia, are attacked by Powhatan warriors, leading to the beginning of the First Anglo-Powhatan War.
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What Happened in March?
The first Olympic games, the founding of dynasties, and legendary battles. Explore historic milestones from March that influenced today's world. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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The March 13,1 610 publication of Galileo Galilei's "Sidereus Nuncius" announces his discovery of Jupiter's moons earlier in January 1610, presenting the first telescopic proof of celestial bodies orbiting another planet, challenging Earth-centered views.
Johannes Fabricius, a practicing physician in Osteel, who devoted much of his spare time to astronomical observations using the telescope observes sunspots through a telescope for the first time contributing to early astronomy studies.
Johannes Fabricius discovers sunspots.
The Peace Treaty of Stolbovo ends the Ingrian War between Sweden and Russia which had been fought between the Swedish Empire and the Russian Tsardom between 1610 and 1617. The treaty process was mediate it by England.
Sweden and Russia sign the Treaty of Stolbovo, ending the Ingrian War.
Native American leader Samoset walks into the settlement of Plymouth Colony and greets the Pilgrims in English.
England's King James I dies on March 27, 1625, and his son, Charles I, succeeds him as the second Stuart King of Great Britain and Ireland. Charles I's reign began with tensions with Parliament over finances and his marriage to the Catholic Henrietta Maria of France, ultimately leading to the English Civil War and his execution in 1649.
The Massachusetts Bay Colony is granted a Royal Charter.
Charles I dissolves the English Parliament on March 10, 1629, initiating the period known as the Eleven Years' Tyranny. His decision was in pursuit of absolute monarchy and a break from parliamentary governance and consent.
The first settlers arrive in Maryland, landing at St. Clements Island in today's St. Mary’s County. On this island, the first Roman Catholic Mass in the English-speaking colonies was celebrated. The colony of Maryland was founded so that the English Catholics could have a place to live where they could escape the intolerance of the English monarchy.
Officially the colony is said to be named in honor of Queen Henrietta Maria, the wife of King Charles I although some Catholic scholars believe that George Calvert, who was a publicly declared Catholic named the province after Mary, the mother of Jesus. The name in the charter was phrased Terra Mariae, anglice, Maryland. Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore never travelled to Maryland. More
Scottish National Covenant is signed, opposing Charles I's religious policies.
English Civil War: The Battle of Cheriton ends in Parliamentarian victory.
England's House of Commons passes an act abolishing the House of Lords.
Christiaan Huygens discovers Titan, Saturn's largest moon.
The Great Fire of Meireki destroys a significant portion of Edo (modern-day Tokyo), on March 2, 1657 leading to the rebuilding of the city. The catastrophic blaze, lasted for days and killed an estimated 100,000 people destroying more than half of the city, including parts of Edo Castle.
The English Parliament passed the Humble Petition and Advice and formally presents it to Oliver Cromwell, offering him the crown and sought to reinstate a limited, hereditary monarchy with a new bicameral parliament.
Cromwell considered the offer for six weeks but ultimately rejected the kingship, stating, "I would not seek to set up that which Providence hath destroyed and laid in the dust". but accepted the rest of the petition, and was reinstalled as Lord Protector with greater powers and the ability to appoint his successor.
Louis XIV is crowned King of France.
England King Charles II announces a state of emergency due to the plague in London.
Mount Etna in Sicily erupts, causing significant destruction to nearby towns. A catastrophic event that destroyed a large portion of Catania, Sicily, with a reported death toll of 17,000 with some contemporary accounts suggesting many less fatalities despite massive destruction. The eruption produced the longest lava flow in recorded history for Etna, burying the city and filling the moat of the Ursino Castle before entering the sea.