Today in Medieval History, February 17

Good morning! Today is February 17, 2010

On this date in Medieval History:

Notable Births

1444 - Rudolf Agricola [Roelof Huysman], Dutch humanist/organist
1490 - Charles de Bourbon officer/governor (Lombardy)
1519 - François de Guise [Balafré], French general strategist (Calais)
1583 - J Henry Alting Dutch theologist
1653 - Arcangelo Corelli Fusignano Italy, violinist/composer (Concerto Grosso)
1667 - Georg Bronner composer
1675 - Johann Melchior Conradi composer
1696 - Baron Ernst Gottlieb composer
1697 - Louis-Maurice de La Pierre composer
1699 - Hans Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff German architect (Sanssouci)

Notable Deaths

0364 - Flavius Jovianus Christian emperor of Rome (363-64), dies at about 32
0956 - Hugo the Great earl of Paris/duke of Francia, dies at about 55

0603 - Death of St. Fintan of Cloneenagh

0661 - Death of St. Finan

1247 - Death of Henry Raspe, King of Germany
1600 -Giordano Bruno advocate of Copernican theory & plurality of worlds, burned at stake by the Inquisition in Rome
1612 - Ernst of Bayern prince/bishop of Luik/archbishop of Cologne, dies at 57
1612 - Jodocus Hondius Flemish cartoonist/mathematician, dies at 48
1652 - Gregorio Allegri Italian singer/composer (Miserere), dies at about 67
1654 - Michael Lohr composer, dies at 62
1673 - Jean Baptiste Poquelin French author & dramatist, dies
1673 - Molière [Jean Baptiste Poquelin] French playwright (Learned Lady), dies in Paris at 51
1688 - Reverend James Renwick hanged in Scotland for being a Presbyterian

Notable Events

1317 - The French Inquisition is set after the Spirituals

1370 - Battle at Rudau Germany beats Lithuania

1387 - "Heathen" religions banned in Poland

1400 - Richard, deposed King of England, murdered

1454 - Philip "the Good," of Burgundy, takes the Vow of the Pheasant

1461 - FIRST ST. ALBANS (War of the Roses)
1568 - Holy Roman Emperor agrees to pay annual tribute to Sultan for peace
1598 - Boris Godunov chosen tsar of Russia
1621 - Miles Standish appointed 1st commander of Plymouth colony
1634 - William Prynne tried in Star Chamber for publishing "Histriomastix"
1670 - France & Bavaria sign military assistance treaty
1676 - Kings Charles II & Louis XIV sign secret treaty
1691 - Thomas Neale granted British patent for American postal service