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Oct
31

On This Day

43 events  ·  97 deaths  ·  230 births

Events on 31 October 43

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Year 475

Romulus Augustulus is proclaimed Western Roman Emperor.

Year 683

During the Siege of Mecca, the Kaaba catches fire and is burned down.

Year 802

Empress Irene is deposed and banished to Lesbos. Conspirators place Nikephoros, the minister of finance, on the Byzantine throne.

Year 1517

Protestant Reformation: Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.

Year 1587

Leiden University Library opens its doors after its founding in 1575.

Year 1614

First performance of Ben Jonson's comedy Bartholomew Fair by the Lady Elizabeth's Men company at the Hope Theatre in London.

Year 1822

Emperor Agustín de Iturbide attempts to dissolve the Congress of the Mexican Empire.

Year 1861

American Civil War: Citing failing health, Union General Winfield Scott resigns as Commander of the United States Army.

Year 1863

The Maori Wars resume as British forces in New Zealand led by General Duncan Cameron begin their Invasion of the Waikato.

Year 1864

Nevada is admitted as the 36th U.S. state.

Public Holidays Around The World On This Day 5

Birthdays on 31 October 230

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Philippe de Vitry
b. 1291 – d. 1361
Philippe de Vitry, French composer, poet, and theorist (d. 1361)
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Ferdinand I of Portugal
b. 1345 – d. 1383
Ferdinand I, king of Portugal (d. 1383)
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Edward, King of Portugal
b. 1391 – d. 1438
Edward, King of Portugal (d. 1438)
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Władysław III of Poland
b. 1424 – d. 1444
Władysław III of Poland (b. 1424)
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Hedwig, Abbess of Quedlinburg
b. 1445 – d. 1511
Hedwig, Abbess of Quedlinburg, Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg (d. 1511)
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Wang Yangming
b. 1472 – d. 1529
Wang Yangming, Chinese Neo-Confucian scholar (d. 1529)
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Henriette of Cleves
b. 1542 – d. 1601
Henriette of Cleves, Duchess of Nevers, Countess of Rethel (d. 1601)
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Denzil Holles, 1st Baron Holles
b. 1599 – d. 1680
Denzil Holles, 1st Baron Holles, English politician (d. 1680)
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John Evelyn
b. 1620 – d. 1706
John Evelyn, English gardener and author (d. 1706)
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Johannes Vermeer
b. 1632 – d. 1675
Johannes Vermeer, Dutch painter and educator (b. 1632)
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Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria
b. 1636 – d. 1679
Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria (d. 1679)
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Meindert Hobbema
b. 1638 – d. 1709
Meindert Hobbema, Dutch painter (d. 1709)

Deaths on 31 October 97

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Al-Muqtadir
d. 932 (b. 895)
Al-Muqtadir, Arab caliph (b. 895)
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Wolfgang of Regensburg
d. 994 (b. 934)
Wolfgang of Regensburg, German bishop and saint (b. 934)
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Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester
d. 1147 (b. 1100)
Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester, son of Henry I of England (b. 1100)
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Eleanor of England, Queen of Castile
d. 1214 (b. 1162)
Eleanor of England, queen of Castile (b. 1163)
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Ricold of Monte Croce
d. 1320 (b. 1242)
Ricold of Monte Croce, Italian Dominican missionary (b. 1242)
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Marie of Évreux
d. 1335 (b. 1303)
Marie of Évreux, French noblewoman (b. 1303)
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John VIII Palaiologos
d. 1448 (b. 1390)
John VIII Palaiologos, Byzantine emperor (b. 1390)
Fra Bartolomeo
Fra Bartolomeo
d. 1517 (b. 1472)
Fra Bartolomeo, Italian artist (b. 1472)
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Cornelis Jol
d. 1641 (b. 1597)
Cornelis Jol, Dutch admiral (b. 1597)
John Bradshaw (judge)
John Bradshaw (judge)
d. 1659 (b. 1602)
John Bradshaw, English lawyer and judge, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (b. 1602)
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Köprülü Mehmed Pasha
d. 1661 (b. 1575)
Köprülü Mehmed Pasha, Ottoman politician, 109th Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire (b. 1575)
Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
d. 1723 (b. 1642)
Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (b. 1642)