History Trivia

March 4,51 Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, was given the title princeps iuventutis (head of the youth. 303 or 304 Martyrdom of Saint Adrian of Nicomedia.
932 Translation of the relics of martyr Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, Prince of the Czechs. 1152 Frederick I was elected Holy Roman Emperor. Also known as "Barbarossa" (red-beard), Frederick was frequently at odds with the papacy over issues of authority and was even excommunicated by Pope Alexander III. He was able to consolidate power in Germany but lost territory in northern Italy. Frederick drowned while crossing the Saleph River during the Third Crusade. 1193 Saladin died.
1215 King John of England made an oath to Pope Innocent III as a crusader to gain his support. 1461 Edward IV took over the English throne. In the long and convoluted English Wars of the Roses, Edward and his supporters (including Warwick the Kingmaker,after a victory at Mortimer's Cross,reached London before the rival Lancastrians and was proclaimed king. He then sealed his ascent to the throne with a victory at Towton from which his primary opponent,Henry VI's queen Margaret of Anjou, fled.