EVENTS
1173: Thomas
Á Becket canonized
The Archbishop of Canterbury, one-time friend and opponent to
King Henry II of
England, had been murdered less than three years earlier, and the
swift canonization by Pope
Alexander III was a clear message of rebuke to the king.
1431: Public trial of Joan
of Arc begins
The trial that had begun in secret in January was at last brought
before the public. Joan's request to attend mass beforehand was
refused, but she swore to tell the truth and she did so. However, she
managed to evade revealing anything she'd said to her king.
Ultimately, Joan was sentenced to death and burned at the stake.
The above events were suggested by John Herrman. Thanks, John!
WHO DIED
1437: King James I of Scotland
King
James the First of Scotland was murdered in the Dominican Friary
at Perth by a group led by Sir Robert Graham. James' son, Sir Robert
Stewart, was the King's Chamberlain, and it was he who found a
willing assassin in Sir Robert Graham, a man with his own grudge and
a scarred memory of the imprisonment and banishment. Graham and his
eight confederates broke into the room, dragged out the fighting
King, and butchered him with twenty-eight dagger-strokes. The Queen
was wounded in her efforts to save her husband, and Walter of Atholl,
Robert Stewart, Robert Graham and his hired cutthroats were soon
taken, and suffered long and appalling torture until the Queen's
grief was satisfied and they were sent to the merciful headsman.
This item was submitted by John Herrman. Thanks again, John!
1513: Pope Julius II
