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What happened on April 17

On April 17, 1080: Harald III of Denmark dies and is succeeded by Canute IV, who would later be the first Dane to be canonized.

Events

44

across history

Notable births

50

Notable deaths

50

Zodiac

Aries

Featured moment · 1080

Harald III of Denmark dies and is succeeded by Canute IV, who would later be the first Dane to be canonized.

Harald Hen was King of Denmark from 1076 to 1080. Harald III was an illegitimate son of Danish king Sweyn II Estridsson, and contested the crown with some of his brothers. He was a peaceful ruler who initiated a number of reforms.

People

Born on April 17

Antonio Nusa 2005– Norwegian footballer (born 2005)
Shin Ryujin 2001– South Korean rapper and singer (born 2001)
Violette Dorange 2001– French offshore sailor
Anna Odine Strøm 1998– Norwegian ski jumper (born 1998)
Suppapong Udomkaewkanjana (Saint) 1998– Thai actor, producer and host (born 1998)
Lorna Fitzgerald 1996– British actress
Caitlin Parker 1996– Australian boxer (born 1996)
Helene Spilling 1996– Norwegian dancer (born 1996)
Jung Wheein 1995– South Korean singer
Show 9 more — notable births on April 17
Alanna Goldie 1994– Canadian fencer (born 1994)
Yang Hongseok 1994– South Korean singer and actor
Lachlan Maranta 1992– Australian professional rugby player
Jo Jinho 1992– South Korean singer (born 1992)
Jonathan Brown 1990– Welsh footballer
Paraskevi Papachristou 1989– Greek athlete (born 1989)
Avi Kaplan 1989– American singer-songwriter (born 1989)
Takahiro Moriuchi 1988– Japanese singer-songwriter (born 1988)
Romain Grosjean 1986– French and Swiss racing driver (born 1986)

People

Died on April 17

Radu Lupu Romanian pianist (1945–2022)
Alan García President of Peru (1985–1990 and 2006–2011)
Gwen Marston American quilter (1936–2019)
Barbara Bush First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993
Carl Kasell American radio personality (1934–2018)
Chyna American professional wrestler and bodybuilder (1969–2016)
Doris Roberts American actress (1930–2016)
Robert P. Griffin American politician
Scotty Probasco American heir, businessman and philanthropist
Show 9 more — notable deaths on April 17
Jeremiah J. Rodell United States Air Force general
A. Alfred Taubman American businessman (1924–2015)
Gabriel García Márquez Colombian writer and Nobel laureate (1927–2014)
Bernat Klein Serbian textile designer and painter
Wojciech Leśnikowski American architect
Karpal Singh Former Malaysian politician and lawyer
Carlos Graça Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1994 to 1995
Bi Kidude Tanzanian singer (c. 1910– 2013)
Yngve Moe Musical artist

Timeline

Every April 17 on record

  1. 1080 Harald III of Denmark dies and is succeeded by Canute IV, who would later be the first Dane to be canonized.

    King of Denmark from 1076 to 1080

    Harald Hen was King of Denmark from 1076 to 1080. Harald III was an illegitimate son of Danish king Sweyn II Estridsson, and contested the crown with some of his brothers. He was a peaceful ruler who initiated a number of reforms.

  2. 1349 The rule of the Bavand dynasty in Mazandaran is brought to an end by the murder of Hasan II.

    State in present-day northern Iran from 651 to 1349

    The Bavand dynasty, or simply the Bavandids, was an Iranian dynasty that ruled in parts of Tabaristan in what is now northern Iran from 651 until 1349, alternating between outright independence and submission as vassals to more powerful regional rulers. They ruled for 698 years, which is the second longest dynasty of Iran after the Baduspanids.

  3. 1362 Kaunas Castle falls to the Teutonic Order after a month-long siege.

    Medieval Gothic castle in Kaunas, Lithuania

    Kaunas Castle is a medieval castle in Kaunas, the second-largest city in Lithuania. Archeological evidence suggests that it was built during the mid-14th century in the Gothic style. Its site is strategic—a rise on the banks of the Nemunas River near its confluence with the Neris River.

  4. 1492 Spain and Christopher Columbus sign the Capitulations of Santa Fe for his voyage to Asia to acquire spices.

    Italian navigator and explorer (1451–1506)

    Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed four Spanish transatlantic voyages in the name of the Catholic Monarchs, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas. His expeditions were the first known European contact with the Caribbean and Central and South America.

  5. 1521 Trial of Martin Luther over his teachings begins during the assembly of the Diet of Worms. Initially intimidated, he asks for time to reflect before answering and is given a stay of one day.

    German priest, theologian and author (1483–1546)

    Martin Luther was a German priest, theologian, author, hymnwriter, professor, and former Augustinian friar. Luther was the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation, and his theological beliefs form the basis of Lutheranism. He is considered one of the most influential figures in Western and Christian history.

  6. 1524 Giovanni da Verrazzano reaches New York harbor.
  7. 1783 American Revolutionary War: Colbert's Raid: A Spanish garrison under Captain Jacobo du Breuil defeat British irregulars at Arkansas Post.
  8. 1797 Sir Ralph Abercromby attacks San Juan, Puerto Rico, in what would be one of the largest invasions of the Spanish territories in the Americas.
  9. 1797 Citizens of Verona begin an unsuccessful eight-day rebellion against the French occupying forces.
  10. 1861 The state of Virginia's secession convention votes to secede from the United States; Virginia later becomes the eighth state to join the Confederate States of America.
  11. 1863 American Civil War: Grierson's Raid begins: Troops under Union Army Colonel Benjamin Grierson attack central Mississippi.
  12. 1864 American Civil War: The Battle of Plymouth begins: Confederate forces attack Plymouth, North Carolina.
  13. 1869 Morelos is admitted as the 27th state of Mexico.
  14. 1876 Catalpa rescue: The rescue of six Fenian prisoners from Fremantle Prison in Western Australia.
  15. 1895 The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed. This marks the end of the First Sino-Japanese War, and the defeated Qing Empire is forced to renounce its claims on Korea and to concede the southern portion of the Fengtian province, Taiwan and the Penghu to Japan.
Show 15 earlier entries from April 17
  1. 1905 The Supreme Court of the United States decides Lochner v. New York, which holds that the "right to free contract" is implicit in the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
  2. 1907 The Ellis Island immigration center processes 11,747 people, more than on any other day.
  3. 1912 Russian troops open fire on striking goldfield workers in northeast Siberia, killing at least 150.
  4. 1925 The Communist Party of Korea (CPK) was founded in Japanese-ruled Korea (Chōsen) in Keijō (now Seoul) by Kim Yong-bom and Pak Hon-yong.
  5. 1931 After negotiations between Catalan and Spanish provisional governments, the Catalan Republic proclaimed in April 14 becomes the Generalitat de Catalunya, the autonomous government of Catalonia within the Spanish Republic.
  6. 1941 World War II: The Axis powers invasion of Yugoslavia is completed when it signs an armistice with Germany and Italy.
  7. 1942 World War II: French prisoner of war General Henri Giraud escapes from his castle prison in Königstein Fortress.
  8. 1944 Forces of the Communist-controlled Greek People's Liberation Army attack the smaller National and Social Liberation resistance group, which surrenders. Its leader Dimitrios Psarros is murdered.
  9. 1945 World War II: Montese, Italy, is liberated from Nazi forces.
  10. 1945 Historian Tran Trong Kim is appointed the Prime Minister of the Empire of Vietnam.
  11. 1946 The last French troops are withdrawn from Syria.
  12. 1951 The Peak District becomes the United Kingdom's first National Park.
  13. 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion: A group of Cuban exiles financed and trained by the CIA lands at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba with the aim of ousting Fidel Castro.
  14. 1964 Jerrie Mock completes the first around-the-world airplane flight by a woman. Her solo flight in the Spirit of Columbus, which took 29+1⁄2 days, took off and landed at the Port Columbus International Airport in Ohio.
  15. 1969 Sirhan Sirhan is convicted of assassinating Robert F. Kennedy.

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