21 March in history
8 events that happened on 21 March, from 630 to 1960.
✦ Anniversary of the day
717 CE 1,309 years ago
Charles Martel defeats Chilperic II and Ragenfrid at Vincy
Near Cambrai, Charles Martel and the Austrasians defeated the Neustrian king Chilperic II and his mayor of the palace, Ragenfrid, in the civil war after Pepin of Herstal's death. The victory was a decisive step in Charles's rise to power.
867 CE 1,159 years ago
The Great Heathen Army defeats Northumbria's army at York
An army of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria tried to recapture York from the Vikings of the Great Heathen Army and was defeated in the city. The Scandinavian army went on to overrun East Anglia and much of Mercia.
1556 CE 470 years ago
Thomas Cranmer burned at the stake in Oxford
The former Archbishop of Canterbury, author of the Book of Common Prayer, withdrew his recantations before Mary I's officials. He thrust the hand that had signed them into the flames first.
1788 CE 238 years ago
Great fire destroys much of New Orleans
A Good Friday fire burned 856 buildings in the Spanish colonial city. With a second fire in 1794, it led to the rebuilding of the French Quarter in brick and tile.
1800 CE 226 years ago
Pius VII crowned pope in Venice
With Rome occupied by the French, the cardinals met in Venice, where Barnaba Chiaramonti was crowned Pope Pius VII. He later signed a concordat with Napoleon and was held captive by him.
1960 CE 66 years ago
Police kill 69 protesters at Sharpeville
South African police fired on an unarmed crowd protesting against the pass laws, killing 69 people. The government banned the ANC and PAC, and 21 March is now Human Rights Day in South Africa.
Born on 21 March 4
Died on 21 March 6
Dates as the sources give them: in the Julian calendar before 1582, and in some countries for longer (Britain until 1752, Russia until 1918). Only people whose day of birth or death the records agree on are listed.