March 05
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Christianfeast day:
Ciarán of Saigir, John Joseph of the Cross, Piran, Theophilus, bishop of Caesarea, Thietmar of Minden, March 5 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
A collective celebration of several Christian saints observed on March 5 in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.
Learn from Lei Feng Day(China)
An annual Chinese observance encouraging citizens to emulate the selfless spirit of soldier Lei Feng.
St Piran's Day(Cornwall)
A cultural and religious celebration in Cornwall honoring St Piran, patron saint of tin miners.
Ciarán of Saigir
Feast day commemorating Ciarán of Saigir, one of Ireland’s earliest Christian missionaries.
John Joseph of the Cross
Feast day honoring Saint John Joseph of the Cross, noted for his reforms and devotion in 17th-century Italy.
Piran
Feast day celebrating Saint Piran, the patron saint of Cornwall and tin miners.
Theophilus, bishop of Caesarea
Feast day in honor of Theophilus, bishop of Caesarea, revered for his leadership in early Christianity.
Thietmar of Minden
Feast day of Saint Thietmar of Minden, a medieval bishop known for ecclesiastical reform and charity.
March 5 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
An overview of saints and commemorations listed in the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar on March 5.
Events
Roman emperor Julian leaves Antioch with an army of 90,000 to attack the Sasanian Empire, in a campaign which would bring about his own death.
In AD 363, Emperor Julian led 90,000 troops from Antioch to launch a major offensive against the Sasanian Empire, a campaign that ultimately resulted in his death.
Nasir Khusraw begins the seven-year Middle Eastern journey which he will later describe in his book Safarnama.
In 1046, Persian scholar Nasir Khusraw embarked on a seven-year journey across the Middle East, later chronicled in his influential travelogue, the Safarnama.
The Livonian Order is defeated in the Battle of Aizkraukle by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
In 1279, the Livonian Order suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the Battle of Aizkraukle.
King Henry VII of England issues letters patent to John Cabot and his sons, authorising them to explore unknown lands.
In 1496, King Henry VII granted John Cabot and his sons letters patent to explore and claim new lands beyond Europe.
Nicolaus Copernicus's book On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres is added to the Index of Forbidden Books 73 years after it was first published.
In 1616, the Catholic Church placed Copernicus’s seminal work, On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, on the Index of Forbidden Books.
Antonio de Ulloa, the first Spanish governor of Louisiana, arrives in New Orleans.
In 1766, Antonio de Ulloa arrived in New Orleans as the first Spanish governor of Louisiana following the Treaty of Paris.
Boston Massacre: Five Americans, including Crispus Attucks, are fatally shot by British troops in an event that would contribute to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War (also known as the American War of Independence) five years later.
In 1770, British troops killed five colonists in the Boston Massacre, an incident that fueled growing unrest leading to the American Revolution.
Peninsular War: A French force under the command of Marshal Victor is routed while trying to prevent an Anglo-Spanish-Portuguese army from lifting the Siege of Cádiz in the Battle of Barrosa.
In 1811, during the Peninsular War, Allied forces achieved a key victory at the Battle of Barrosa against Napoleon’s troops.
First Anglo-Burmese War: The British officially declare war on Burma.
In 1824, the British East India Company formally declared war on the kingdom of Burma, initiating the First Anglo-Burmese War.
Births
Henry II of England was King of England from 1154 to 1189. He established the Plantagenet dynasty and introduced reforms that shaped English law.
Saint Kinga of Poland was a 13th-century princess revered for her piety and charitable works. She became a nun and is venerated as a patron saint of Poland and Lithuania.
David II was King of Scots from 1329 to 1371, succeeding his father Robert the Bruce. His reign was defined by conflicts with England and efforts to stabilize Scotland.
Louis I was King of Hungary from 1342 and King of Poland from 1370, known as Louis the Great. He expanded his realms and was a patron of culture and learning.
Cansignorio della Scala
Cansignorio della Scala was Lord of Verona from 1351 to 1375, leading his city-state through growth and artistic patronage. He fortified Verona and enhanced its cultural life.
William Herbert
William Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, was an influential Yorkist nobleman during the Wars of the Roses. He served as a key advisor to King Edward IV.
Gerardus Mercator
Gerardus Mercator was a leading 16th-century Flemish cartographer and mathematician, famed for creating the Mercator projection. His work transformed navigation and mapmaking.
Rodrigo de Castro Osorio
Rodrigo de Castro Osorio was a 16th-century Spanish cardinal and statesman who influenced both religious and political spheres. He was known for his patronage of the arts and education.
Ulrich
Ulrich was Duke of Mecklenburg from 1555 to 1603, overseeing his duchy's transition through the Reformation. He balanced religious reform with political stability.
Deaths
Pope Lucius I was the 25th Bishop of Rome, leading the early Christian Church amid the persecutions of Emperor Decius. His brief papacy emphasized church discipline and unity. He is honored as a saint in the Catholic tradition.
Suppo I
Suppo I was a Frankish nobleman in the mid-9th century who held significant territories within the Carolingian Empire. He is remembered for his loyalty to the royal court and for founding the influential Supponid dynasty.
Hermann Balk
Hermann Balk was a German knight and crusader who played a pivotal role in establishing the Teutonic Order’s presence in the Baltic region. As Master of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword, he led campaigns that shaped medieval northern Europe.
Matthew of Kraków
Matthew of Kraków was a Polish scholar and church reformer of the early 15th century, known for his calls to moral and academic renewal. His writings anticipated wider debates on ecclesiastical practices.
Manuel III Megas Komnenos
Manuel III Megas Komnenos was Emperor of Trebizond from 1390 until his death in 1417, balancing alliances with Byzantines, Genoese, and Ottomans. His reign saw both diplomatic maneuvering and cultural flourishing.
Antonio da Correggio
Antonio da Correggio was an influential Italian Renaissance painter famed for his luminous frescoes and innovative use of perspective. His works foreshadowed the Baroque style and inspired generations of artists.
Nuno da Cunha
Nuno da Cunha was a Portuguese admiral and colonial administrator who served as Governor of Portuguese India from 1529 to 1538. He fortified key settlements and expanded Portugal’s trade networks in Asia.
Guido Panciroli
Guido Panciroli was an Italian jurist and antiquarian whose writings advanced the study of Roman law and classical artifacts. His interdisciplinary works influenced legal education and Renaissance humanism.
Shimazu Yoshihisa
Shimazu Yoshihisa was a powerful Japanese daimyō who unified the Shimazu clan and expanded his domain across southern Kyushu during the Sengoku period. He is celebrated for his military skill and statecraft.