April 21

Events

753 BC

Romulus founds Rome (traditional date).

Legend holds that Romulus founded Rome on the Palatine Hill on this traditional date, marking the beginning of a civilization that would shape the ancient world.
According to Roman mythology, twins Romulus and Remus were abandoned and nurtured by a she-wolf near the Tiber River. Romulus later killed his brother in a dispute and founded the new city on the Palatine Hill. On April 21, 753 BC (traditional date), he officially established Rome's first settlement. This legendary event symbolizes the origins of Roman governance, culture, and law. Over centuries, Rome expanded from humble beginnings into one of history's greatest empires. The founding was later celebrated annually with the festival of Parilia, honoring rural life and community.
753 BC Romulus Rome traditional date
43 BC

Battle of Mutina: Mark Antony is again defeated in battle by Aulus Hirtius, who is killed. Antony fails to capture Mutina and Decimus Brutus is murdered shortly after.

In 43 BC, Mark Antony's attempt to seize Mutina ends in defeat by Aulus Hirtius, who is later killed, and the subsequent murder of Decimus Brutus.
The battle was part of the power struggle following Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BC. Senate forces under Consuls Aulus Hirtius and Gaius Vibius Pansa confronted Mark Antony's legions besieging Mutina. Hirtius secured a defensive line and launched a surprise attack that forced Antony to retreat. Despite his victory, Hirtius was killed during the fighting, leaving the Senate leaders in turmoil. Antony's failure to capture Mutina weakened his position in the emerging Second Triumvirate. Not long after, Decimus Brutus, who had defended Mutina, was murdered by agents likely allied with Antony.
43 BC Battle of Mutina Mark Antony Aulus Hirtius Mutina Decimus Brutus
900day.year

The Laguna Copperplate Inscription (the earliest known written document found in what is now the Philippines): the Commander-in-Chief of the Kingdom of Tondo, as represented by the Honourable Jayadewa, Lord Minister of Pailah, pardons from all debt the Honourable Namwaran and his relations.

The Laguna Copperplate Inscription from 900 AD is the earliest known written document from the Philippines, recording the pardon of debts for a noble family.
The Laguna Copperplate Inscription, carved on a thin copper plate, was unearthed near the Lumban River in the Philippines. Dated April 21, 900 AD and written in the ancient Kawi script, it is the oldest known written artifact in the region. The text records the debt pardon of Namwaran and his relatives by Commander-in-Chief Jayadewa of Pailah in the Kingdom of Tondo. Its multilingual text includes Old Malay, Sanskrit, and Old Javanese terms. The document provides invaluable insights into early Southeast Asian political and social structures. It reshapes our understanding of literacy, trade, and governance in pre-colonial Philippines.
900 Laguna Copperplate Inscription Philippines Kingdom of Tondo Pailah
1092day.year

The Diocese of Pisa is elevated to the rank of metropolitan archdiocese by Pope Urban II

Pope Urban II elevates the Diocese of Pisa to a metropolitan archdiocese, enhancing its ecclesiastical authority in 1092.
In a papal decree issued on April 21, 1092, Pope Urban II elevated the Diocese of Pisa to metropolitan archdiocese status. This promotion granted the archbishop of Pisa authority over several suffragan dioceses in the region. The decision reflected the growing political and economic importance of Pisa in medieval Italy. As an archdiocese, Pisa gained the right to convene provincial synods and oversee ecclesiastical discipline. The elevation also strengthened Pisa's role in the wider Gregorian Reform movement led by Urban II. It marked a key moment in the city's religious and administrative history.
1092 Diocese of Pisa archdiocese Pope Urban II
1506day.year

The three-day Lisbon Massacre comes to an end with the slaughter of over 1,900 suspected Jews by Portuguese Catholics.

The three-day Lisbon Massacre ends with the brutal killing of over 1,900 suspected Jews by Portuguese Catholics.
Between April 19 and 21, 1506, a wave of violent anti-Jewish rioting swept through Lisbon. Fueled by religious fervor and false rumors, Portuguese Catholics attacked suspected Jewish households on Holy Monday. By the end of the three-day massacre, more than 1,900 men, women, and children had been slaughtered. The mob violence was partly tolerated by local authorities, reflecting widespread anti-Semitic sentiment. King Manuel I later issued edicts to quell the unrest but did not punish the perpetrators. The massacre foreshadowed the forced conversions and expulsions that would soon follow.
1506 Lisbon Massacre
1509day.year

Henry VIII ascends the throne of England on the death of his father, Henry VII.

Following the death of Henry VII, his son Henry VIII is crowned King of England, beginning a new Tudor reign.
On April 21, 1509, Henry VIII succeeded his father, Henry VII, as King of England at the age of 17. His accession was met with widespread celebration and hope for economic and dynastic stability. Shortly after taking the throne, Henry VIII married his brother's widow, Catherine of Aragon. He would later become known for his role in the English Reformation and the establishment of the Church of England. Henry's ambitious foreign policy and lavish court set the tone for a dynamic Tudor era. His 38-year reign left a lasting impact on English politics, religion, and culture.
1509 Henry VIII Henry VII
1526day.year

The last ruler of the Lodi dynasty, Ibrahim Lodi is defeated and killed by Babur in the First Battle of Panipat.

Babur defeats and kills Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, marking the end of the Lodi dynasty and the rise of the Mughal Empire.
On April 21, 1526, the armies of Babur clashed with Ibrahim Lodi's forces at Panipat in northern India. Babur employed innovative tactics and artillery, overcoming the numerically superior Lodi army. Ibrahim Lodi was killed in the battle, ending over a century of Lodi dynasty rule. The victory paved the way for the establishment of the Mughal Empire under Babur. Panipat became a landmark in military history for its use of gunpowder and field fortifications. The battle reshaped the subcontinent's political landscape for centuries to come.
1526 Lodi dynasty Ibrahim Lodi Babur First Battle of Panipat
1615day.year

The Wignacourt Aqueduct is inaugurated in Malta.

The Wignacourt Aqueduct is inaugurated in Malta, bringing fresh water from springs to the capital city of Valletta.
On April 21, 1615, the Wignacourt Aqueduct was inaugurated to supply Valletta with fresh water. Commissioned by Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt of the Knights Hospitaller, construction began in 1610. The 15-kilometer aqueduct stretched from springs near Dingli to fountains in the capital. Its elegant arches and stone channels became an architectural landmark. The new water supply greatly improved public health and urban development in Malta. Sections of the aqueduct and its surviving fountains remain symbols of the island's heritage.
1615 Wignacourt Aqueduct Malta
1782day.year

The city of Rattanakosin, now known internationally as Bangkok, is founded on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River by King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke.

King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke establishes the city of Rattanakosin (modern Bangkok) as the new Siamese capital in 1782.
On April 21, 1782, King Rama I (Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke) founded the city of Rattanakosin on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. The new capital featured fortified walls and a network of canals for defense and transport. It became the seat of the Chakri dynasty, which continues to reign in Thailand today. The city layout combined traditional Thai architecture with influences from Chinese and European designs. Rattanakosin's establishment marked a cultural renaissance and political consolidation. The city was later renamed Bangkok and remains Thailand's vibrant capital.
1782 Bangkok founded Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
1789day.year

John Adams sworn in as first US Vice President (nine days before George Washington).

John Adams is sworn in as the first Vice President of the United States, serving under President George Washington.
On April 21, 1789, John Adams took the oath of office as the first Vice President of the United States. His inauguration occurred nine days before George Washington was sworn in as President. The Vice President's primary role was to preside over the Senate and cast tie-breaking votes. Adams's tenure helped define the responsibilities of the newly created executive office. He served under Washington during the formative years of the American republic. Adams later succeeded Washington as the nation's second President.
1789 John Adams US Vice President
1789day.year

George Washington's reception at Trenton is hosted by the Ladies of Trenton as he journeys to New York City for his first inauguration.

A welcoming reception is held for George Washington in Trenton as he travels to New York City for his first presidential inauguration, reflecting broad support for the new republic.
On April 21, 1789, as George Washington journeyed from Mount Vernon to New York City for his inauguration as the first President of the United States, he was greeted with great enthusiasm in Trenton, New Jersey. The Ladies of Trenton organized a formal reception, adorning the streets with banners and cheering citizens. This event symbolized the widespread support and optimism for the newly established federal government under the Constitution. Washington’s reception in Trenton became one of the earliest public celebrations of presidential authority and set a precedent for future inaugural journeys. The gathering underscored the unity of diverse communities in the young nation and foreshadowed the ceremonious traditions of American inaugural processions.
George Washington's reception at Trenton first inauguration
1792day.year

Tiradentes, a revolutionary leading a movement for Brazil's independence, is hanged, drawn and quartered.

Tiradentes, a leader of Brazil's independence movement, is executed by hanging, drawing, and quartering, becoming a martyr for Brazilian liberty.
On April 21, 1792, Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, known as Tiradentes, was brutally executed in Rio de Janeiro for leading an early conspiracy seeking Brazilian independence from Portuguese rule. He was hanged, drawn, and quartered, and his body parts were displayed as a warning to other rebels. Tiradentes had championed ideals of freedom and equality and organized the Inconfidência Mineira uprising in Minas Gerais the year before. His martyrdom resonated deeply with the Brazilian people, transforming him into a national symbol of resistance. In later centuries, April 21 was chosen as Brazil's national holiday in his honor, underlining his enduring legacy in the nation's history.
1792 Tiradentes revolutionary Brazil's independence hanged, drawn and quartered