March 28
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Christianfeast day:
Christopher Wharton, Priscus, Pope Sixtus III, Stephen Harding, March 28 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
A collective celebration of several Christian saints in the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar, observed on March 28.
Serfs Emancipation Day(Tibet)
Commemorates the abolition of the serfdom system in Tibet, marking the liberation of thousands of serfs on March 28.
Teachers' Day(Czech RepublicandSlovakia)
A day honoring educators in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, celebrated on the birthday of the pioneering teacher John Amos Comenius.
Christopher Wharton
Feast day of St. Christopher Wharton, commemorating the English Catholic priest and martyr remembered on March 28.
Priscus
Feast day of Saint Priscus, honored as an early Christian martyr, observed on March 28.
Pope Sixtus III
Feast day of Pope Sixtus III, a 5th-century pontiff known for his building projects and defense of church doctrine.
Stephen Harding
Feast day of St. Stephen Harding, co-founder of the Cistercian Order and promoter of monastic reform, observed on March 28.
March 28 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Overview of the Eastern Orthodox liturgical commemorations observed on March 28.
Events
Roman emperor Caligula accepts the titles of the Principate, bestowed on him by the Senate.
Caligula formally accepted the supreme titles of the Principate from the Senate, marking his consolidation of power as Roman emperor.
After assassinating the Roman Emperor Pertinax, his Praetorian Guards auction off the throne to Didius Julianus.
Praetorian Guards assassinated Emperor Pertinax and infamously auctioned the imperial throne to the highest bidder, Didius Julianus.
Roman Emperor Valentinian I appoints his brother Flavius Valens co-emperor.
Emperor Valentinian I elevated his brother Flavius Valens to co-emperor, securing imperial rule over the Eastern provinces.
The Great German Pilgrimage, which had been under attack by Bedouin bandits for three days, is rescued by the Fatimid governor of Ramla.
After three days of Bedouin attacks, a large German pilgrimage en route to Jerusalem was rescued by the Fatimid governor in Ramla, restoring safe passage for Christian travelers.
The foundation stone of Valletta, Malta's capital city, is laid by Jean Parisot de Valette, Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
Jean Parisot de Valette lays the foundation stone for Valletta, setting the stage for Malta’s storied capital.
War of the Austrian Succession: In the Battle of Vilshofen, Austrian forces defeat French forces.
Austrian forces achieve victory over the French at the Battle of Vilshofen during the War of the Austrian Succession.
Juan Bautista de Anza finds the site for the Presidio of San Francisco.
Explorer Juan Bautista de Anza selects the site for the Presidio of San Francisco, laying the groundwork for the future city’s military and colonial presence.
Partitions of Poland: The Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, a northern fief of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, ceases to exist and becomes part of Imperial Russia.
The Duchy of Courland and Semigallia is absorbed into Imperial Russia during the final Partition of Poland, ending its autonomy.
Treaty of Florence is signed, ending the war between the French Republic and the Kingdom of Naples.
The Treaty of Florence is signed, officially ending the war between the French Republic and the Kingdom of Naples.
Births
Fra Bartolomeo
Italian Renaissance painter known for his vibrant religious and classical works.
Teresa of Ávila
Spanish mystic, Carmelite nun, and influential saint of the Catholic Reformation.
Albert Alcibiades
German prince celebrated for his adventurous military campaigns during the mid-16th century.
John Amos Comenius
Czech bishop, educator, and early advocate for universal education.
Powerful Manchu empress dowager who shaped early Qing dynasty politics.
Frederik Ruysch
Dutch botanist and anatomist renowned for his intricate anatomical preparations.
Samuel Sewall
English colonial judge best known for his role in the Salem witch trials and later apology.
Andrew Kippis
English nonconformist minister and biographer known for his scholarly biographies.
Maximilian III Joseph
Elector of Bavaria who modernized his state and patronized the arts.
Deaths
Pertinax
Pertinax was a Roman emperor who reigned briefly in AD 193 during a period of unrest.
Guntram
Guntram was a Merovingian king who ruled part of the Frankish kingdom in the late 6th century.
Flodoard
Flodoard was a 10th-century Frankish churchman and historian noted for his detailed chronicles.
Ordulf
Ordulf was a medieval Duke of Saxony who governed the region in the 11th century.
Stephen Harding
Stephen Harding was an English monk who co-founded the Cistercian order in the early 12th century.
Emperor Go-Toba was the 82nd emperor of Japan who reigned in the early 13th century.
Valdemar II, known as Valdemar the Victorious, was king of Denmark in the early 13th century.
Pope Martin IV served as head of the Catholic Church from 1281 to 1285.
Venturino of Bergamo
Venturino of Bergamo was a 14th-century Italian Dominican friar known for his preaching.