1042 Deposition, blinding, & castration of Byzantine Emperor Michael V (Dec 10, 1041-Apr 20, 1042), d. in a monastery, Aug 24, 1042

1283 Sicilian naval hero Roger de Lauria becomes Grand Admiral of Catalonia

1505 Philbert of Luxemburg expels the Jews from Burgundy

1653 Coup by Oliver Cromwell dissolves the "Rump" Parliament and institutes a dictatorship under the title "Lord Protector" (1653-1658)

1775 American patriots blockade the British in Boston

1789 George Washington is sworn in as the first POTUS, Federal Hall, NY

1792 Republican France declares war on Austria, Prussia, & Piedmont, initiating the War of the First Coalition

1799 Napoleon issues a decree calling for settling Jews in Jerusalem

1809 Battle of Abensberg: The French defeat the Austrians

1813 Battle of Bautzen, Day 1: Napoleon v. the Russo-Prussians

1836 Skirmish between Texian and Mexican outposts near San Jacinto

1861 Robert E Lee resigns from the United States Army

1861 Union forces burn and abandon Gosport (Norfolk, Va) Navy Yard.

1864 Confederates capture 85th NY at Plymouth, NC

1915 US Navy issues its first contract for the lighter-than-aircraft.

1919 Polish Army captures Vilno from the Red Army

1934 Heinrich Himmler becomes head of the Prussian secret police

1936 The Battle of Petach Tikvah: Jews beat off an Arab attack on their Kibutz

1941 German bombers raid Athens

1941 Switzerland beats Germany 2-1 in soccer, on Hitler's birthday!

1942 Burma: British forces begin a general withdrawal.

1942 Malta subject to a heavy Axis air raid, as USS 'Wasp' (CV-7) launches 47 Spitfires to reinforce the defenses

1942 Learning that Task Force 17 is to visit her country, Queen Salote Tupou of Tonga orders all young women into the hills,

1943 USS 'Runner" (SS-275) lays mines off Hong Kong.

1944 Burma: Chinese New 38th Div ejects Japanese from terrain near Kamaing, as the British approach the Yenangyaung oil fields.

1944 India: British lift siege of Kohima, the Japanese hold the road to Imphal

1945 Okinawa: U.S. forces capture Motobu Heights, in the north

1945 US Seventh Army captures Nuremberg, site of Nazi Party rallies

1947 Peleliu: 27 Japanese troops surrender, 18 months after VJ-Day

1951 Ticker tape parade on Broadway for General of the Army Douglas MacArthur

1987 US deports Karl Linnas, charged with Nazi war crimes, to USSR