This Day in History: April 24

1479 BC: Thutmose III ascends to the throne of Egypt

Thutmose III is one of the most successful pharaohs in Egyptian history, known for his military conquests and expansion of the empire. However, during his early reign, his stepmother, Hatshepsut, effectively ruled as regent and even proclaimed herself pharaoh. This period of co-regency between Thutmose III and Hatshepsut is known as the “Two Ladies” era.

1184 BC: The Greeks enter Troy using the Trojan Horse (traditional date)

This event is legendary and is based on the epic poem, “The Iliad,” by Homer. According to the story, after a ten-year siege, the Greeks constructed a giant wooden horse and left it at the gates of Troy as an offering. However, Greek soldiers were hiding inside the horse and were able to infiltrate and capture the city, ending the Trojan War.

858: Nicholas I succeeds Benedict III as pope

Nicholas I was pope from 858 to 867 and is known for his strong defense of papal authority and his conflicts with secular rulers, particularly the Byzantine emperor. During his pontificate, he also played a role in the conversion of the Bulgarians to Christianity.

1066: Halley’s Comet sparks English monk to predict country will be destroyed

Halley’s Comet is one of the most famous comets in history and is visible from Earth approximately every 76 years. In 1066, it was seen as a harbinger of doom, and an English monk named Eilmer of Malmesbury famously predicted that the comet was a sign that “England would be changed and perhaps destroyed.”

1185: Battle at Danoura: Yoshitsune Minamoto’s fleet beats the Taira during Japan’s Genpei War

The Genpei War was a conflict between two powerful clans in medieval Japan, the Taira and the Minamoto. The Battle of Danoura was a decisive naval battle that resulted in the defeat of the Taira and the establishment of the Minamoto shogunate. One of the most famous figures in the war was the warrior-monk, Benkei, who fought alongside Yoshitsune.

1288: Jews of Troyes France are accused of ritual murder

Anti-Semitic accusations of ritual murder have a long history in Europe, and in 1288, Jews in the city of Troyes were accused of murdering a Christian child for religious purposes. This led to a wave of persecution and violence against Jews in the region.

1311: General Malik Kafur returns to Delhi after campaign in South India

Malik Kafur was a powerful general and advisor to the sultan of Delhi, Alauddin Khilji. He led several successful campaigns in southern India and is credited with expanding the Delhi Sultanate’s control over much of the Indian subcontinent.

1364: Pope Urban V names John V van Virneburg as Bishop of Utrecht

Pope Urban V was pope from 1362 to 1370 and was known for his efforts to reform the Catholic Church and to end the Avignon Papacy, which had seen the papacy move to France.