William the Conqueror invades England (1066), and Mexican tour guide Fernando Rios killed in New Orleans (1958). Born on this day: Brigitte Bardot, Sheikh Hasina Wazed and Naomi Watts. Died: Louis Pasteur, Ferdinand Marcos and Blessed John Paul I.
27 events, 81 births and 56 deaths on this date.
William, Duke of Normandy, sailed across the Channel with a Franco-Norman army and defeated Harold Godwinson's English forces at Hastings. That victory began the Norman Conquest, after which William ruled England as its first Norman king.
Myrabella · Public domainThe Bayeux TapestryHear the story in ChunksFernando Rios, a Mexican tour guide, was murdered in a homophobic attack in the city. His death is recorded as an example of anti-gay violence in New Orleans.
Procopius, a rival claimant to the throne, used money to win over two legions passing Constantinople and had himself declared emperor. His challenge to the eastern emperor Valens set off a brief civil war.
Fleming noticed a mould in his London lab that stopped bacteria from growing around it. That accidental find led to penicillin, which became one of the first antibiotics and transformed the treatment of infection.
After losing to Caesar at Pharsalus, Pompey fled to Egypt seeking refuge, only to be struck down as he arrived. His killer, Lucius Septimius, removed Caesar's chief rival in the civil war.
Alphanidon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Pontian, bishop of Rome, stepped down while exiled on Sardinia during Maximinus Thrax's persecution of Christians. He was the first pope to resign, and his move let the Church choose a successor and end an eighteen-year schism.
Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain
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French actress and singer who became a defining screen figure of the 1950s and 1960s, best known for And God Created Woman. After leaving acting in 1973, she devoted herself to animal rights and founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.
MGM · Public domain
Bangladeshi politician who led her country as prime minister across two long spells, in 1996 to 2001 and from 2009 until 2024. She is Bangladesh's longest-serving prime minister and also a daughter of its first president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Press Information Department · Public domain
British actress best known for her breakthrough in David Lynch's Mulholland Drive and her Oscar-nominated performance in 21 Grams. Her career spans independent films, blockbusters such as King Kong, and television including Twin Peaks.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America · CC BY-SA 2.0
Louis Pasteur, the French chemist and microbiologist, died in 1895. He is remembered for pasteurisation, the method of heating milk and wine to kill bacteria, and for vaccines against rabies and anthrax.
Paul Nadar · Public domain
Ferdinand Marcos ruled the Philippines as president for twenty years, the last nine under martial law, before a popular uprising drove him from power in 1986. He died in exile in Hawaii, having left a lasting and bitterly contested legacy.
Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain
Pope John Paul I, born Albino Luciani, led the Catholic Church for just 33 days before his death. His brief reign, marked by a warm, smiling manner, earned him the Italian nickname the Pope of the smile.
Anefo · CC0
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