March 20
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Christianfeast day:
Alexandra, BlessedJohn of Parma, Clement of Ireland, Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, Herbert of Derwentwater, John of Nepomuk, Józef Bilczewski, María Josefa Sancho de Guerra, Martin of Braga, Michele Carcano, Wulfram, March 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
A Christian feast day honoring multiple saints celebrated on March 20th according to Eastern Orthodox tradition.
Great American MeatOut(United States)
An annual campaign in the United States encouraging people to adopt a meat-free diet for a day each March 20th.
Independence Day, celebrates the independence ofTunisiafrom France in 1956.
Tunisia's National Day, commemorating its independence from France on March 20, 1956.
International Day of Happiness(United Nations)
A United Nations observance highlighting the importance of happiness and well-being as universal goals on March 20th.
International Francophonie Day(Organisation internationale de la Francophonie), and its related observances:
UN French Language Day(United Nations)
Celebration of the French language and Francophone culture on March 20th, including UN French Language Day.
National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day(United States)
A U.S. awareness day dedicated to addressing HIV/AIDS in Native American communities on March 20th.
World Sparrow Day
An international day raising awareness about sparrow conservation and urban biodiversity on March 20th.
Alexandra
BlessedJohn of Parma
Events
Michael IV Autoreianos is appointed Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
On March 20, 1206, Michael IV Autoreianos was appointed Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, taking charge of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden: five Swedish noblemen are publicly beheaded in the aftermath of the War against Sigismund (1598–1599).
On March 20, 1600, five Swedish noblemen were publicly beheaded at Linköping in a punitive action following the War against Sigismund.
The Dutch East India Company is established.
On March 20, 1602, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) was founded, marking the world’s first publicly traded joint-stock company.
Sir Walter Raleigh is freed from the Tower of London after 13 years of imprisonment.
On March 20, 1616, the English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh was released from the Tower of London after 13 years of imprisonment.
The Great Boston Fire of 1760 destroys 349 buildings.
On March 20, 1760, the Great Boston Fire swept through the town, destroying 349 buildings and reshaping the colonial cityscape.
After escaping from Elba, Napoleon enters Paris with a regular army of 140,000 and a volunteer force of around 200,000, beginning his "Hundred Days" rule.
On March 20, 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte returned from exile and entered Paris, marking the start of his 'Hundred Days' rule before the Battle of Waterloo.
German revolutions of 1848–49: King Ludwig I of Bavaria abdicates.
On March 20, 1848, King Ludwig I of Bavaria abdicated amid the revolutionary upheavals sweeping across German states during the 1848–49 revolutions.
Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin is published.
On March 20, 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin was published, fueling anti-slavery sentiment in the United States and abroad.
The Republican Party of the United States is organized in Ripon, Wisconsin, US.
On March 20, 1854, the Republican Party was organized in Ripon, Wisconsin, laying the foundation for one of the United States’ major political parties.
Births
Ovid
Ancient Roman poet famous for his epic Metamorphoses.
Magadu
Founder of the Hanthawady Kingdom of Pegu in present-day Myanmar.
Laurence Hastings
English nobleman who served as the 1st Earl of Pembroke in the early 14th century.
Yorkist princess and daughter of King Edward IV, who experienced the tumult of the Wars of the Roses.
Jerome Emser
German theologian and humanist scholar active during the early Reformation.
Ippolito d'Este
Italian cardinal and diplomat from the powerful Este family during the Renaissance.
Pierino Belli
Italian soldier and jurist known for his pioneering work in international military law.
Juan de Ribera
Spanish archbishop and cardinal who led the archdiocese of Valencia in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
Anne Bradstreet
One of the first published female poets in English North America, known for her lyrical verse.
Deaths
Cuthbert
Saint Cuthbert was a Northumbrian monk and bishop revered for his piety, missionary journeys, and miracles that contributed to his lasting legacy in early medieval England.
Wulfram
Archbishop Wulfram of Sens was a 7th-century church leader celebrated for his missionary zeal and efforts to church reform in medieval France.
Alfonso II
Alfonso II was the king of Asturias who fortified his realm, founded the city of Oviedo, and defended northern Spain against Viking and Moorish raids.
Ebbo
Ebbo was the Archbishop of Reims known for his dramatic rise from humble origins and his role in the political conflicts of the Carolingian Empire.
Taira no Kiyomori
Taira no Kiyomori was a powerful Japanese general and head of the Taira clan who became the first samurai to attain high political office.
Pope Clement III was the head of the Roman Catholic Church from 1187 to 1191, noted for his diplomatic acumen and rebuilding efforts in Rome.
Hermann von Salza
Hermann von Salza was the fourth Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights who transformed the Order into a dominant military and political force in medieval Eastern Europe.
Ralph Walpole
Ralph Walpole served as Bishop of Norwich at the turn of the 14th century, guiding the diocese through political and ecclesiastical challenges.
Maurice Csák
Maurice Csák was a Hungarian noble who embraced the Dominican Order, remembered for his charity, humility, and devotion.