March 16
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Christianfeast day:
Abbán, Finian Lobhar (Finian the Leper), Heribert of Cologne., Hilarius of Aquileia, Julian of Antioch, March 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
A collective feast day observed on March 16 in Christian liturgical calendars to honor several saints, including Abbán, Finian Lobhar, Heribert of Cologne, Hilarius of Aquileia, and Julian of Antioch.
Day of the Book Smugglers(Lithuania)
An annual Lithuanian observance honoring those who smuggled banned books to preserve the Lithuanian language and culture during the Russian Empire's press ban.
Remembrance day of the Latvian legionnaires(Latvia)
A day of remembrance in Latvia honoring the soldiers of the Latvian Legion who served during World War II.
Saint Urho's Day(Finnish AmericansandFinnish Canadians)
A playful cultural celebration among Finnish Americans and Canadians that humorously honors a mythical saint, Saint Urho.
Abbán
Commemorates Saint Abbán, a 6th-century Irish abbot known for founding monastic communities and evangelizing in early medieval Ireland.
Finian Lobhar (Finian the Leper)
Honors Saint Finian Lobhar, known as 'the Leper', a monastic figure celebrated for overcoming illness and founding religious communities in early Ireland.
Heribert of Cologne.
Commemorates Saint Heribert, Archbishop of Cologne in the 10th-11th centuries, known for his pious leadership and charitable works.
Hilarius of Aquileia
Honors Saint Hilarius of Aquileia, a 4th-century bishop known for defending Nicene Christianity against heresy.
Julian of Antioch
Commemorates Saint Julian of Antioch, an early Christian martyr who suffered persecution under Diocletian.
Events
Massacre of Jews at Clifford's Tower, York.
On March 16, 1190, a mob besieged York’s Jewish community in Clifford’s Tower, resulting in a tragic massacre.
Over 200 Cathars who refuse to recant are burnt to death after the Fall of Montségur.
Following the Fall of Montségur in 1244, over two hundred Cathar faithful were executed by burning for refusing to renounce their beliefs.
Amidst the Red Turban Rebellions, Han Lin'er, a claimed descendant of Emperor Huizong of Song, is proclaimed emperor of the restored Song dynasty in Bozhou.
In 1355, rebel leader Han Lin’er was proclaimed emperor of a revived Song dynasty in Bozhou during the Red Turban Rebellions.
Samoset, an Abenaki, visits the settlers of Plymouth Colony and greets them, "Welcome, Englishmen! My name is Samoset."
On March 16, 1621, Samoset of the Abenaki surprised Plymouth settlers by walking in and greeting them in English, ushering in a new era of communication.
The Long Parliament of England is dissolved so as to prepare for the new Convention Parliament.
On March 16, 1660, England’s Long Parliament was formally dissolved to pave the way for the Convention Parliament and the eventual Restoration of the monarchy.
The Dutch bombard Givet during the Nine Years' War.
During the Nine Years’ War on March 16, 1696, Dutch forces bombarded the strategic French fortress town of Givet on the Meuse River.
King Gustav III of Sweden is shot; he dies on March 29.
On March 16, 1792, King Gustav III of Sweden was shot at a masked ball in Stockholm, an assassination attempt that proved fatal days later.
The Army Corps of Engineers is established to found and operate the United States Military Academy at West Point.
On March 16, 1802, the United States Army Corps of Engineers was officially established, tasked with administering the new Military Academy at West Point.
Prince Willem proclaims himself King of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, the first constitutional monarch in the Netherlands.
On March 16, 1815, Prince William of Orange proclaimed himself King of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, inaugurating a constitutional monarchy.
Births
The Xuande Emperor
The fifth emperor of China's Ming dynasty, known for consolidating imperial authority and fostering cultural achievements.
Johann Geiler von Kaysersberg
An influential Swiss priest and theologian who played a key role in pre-Reformation Europe.
Kunigunde of Austria
A Habsburg princess who became Duchess of Bavaria and influenced late medieval politics.
Henry IV
A Saxon duke who ruled with an interest in art and culture during the early Reformation period.
Amar Singh I
The Rajput ruler of Mewar who defended his kingdom against Mughal expansion in the early 17th century.
Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft
A Dutch historian, poet, and playwright celebrated as one of the founders of the Dutch Golden Age literature.
Gerbrand Bredero
A Dutch poet and playwright known for his vivid depictions of Amsterdam life in the early 17th century.
Ii Naotaka
A Japanese daimyō of the Edo period who served the Tokugawa shogunate and ruled the Hikone Domain.
Ebba Brahe
A Swedish noblewoman remembered for her romance with King Gustavus Adolphus and her patronage of the arts.
Deaths
Tiberius
Second Roman emperor who ruled from AD 14 until his death in AD 37.
Valentinian III
Western Roman emperor from AD 425 to 455, whose reign saw the decline of the Western Empire.
Heraclius
Senior court official known as the primicerius sacri cubiculi in the mid-5th century.
Xiao Mian
Tang dynasty chancellor who advocated administrative reforms.
Takin al-Khazari
Turkic military commander and Abbasid governor of Egypt.
Pi Guangye
Chancellor and literary official of the Yang Wu state during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
Heribert of Cologne
Archbishop of Cologne renowned for his piety and charity.
Adalbert of Hamburg
Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen who led missionary efforts in Northern Europe.
Henry I
Count of Champagne and participant in the Second Crusade.