1148 – Louis VII of France would begin the Siege of Damascus, as part of the Second Crusade. The siege would end 5 days later, in a sound defeat for the Crusaders, and begun the collapse of that Crusade.
1567 – Mary, Queen of Scots, was forced to abdicate the Scottish Crown in favor of her infant son, now James VI. She would be held at Loch Leven Castle for another year, before she escaped, attempted to regain her throne, but lost in her attempt. She then fled to England where she would be kept as a prisoner by nobles of Elizabeth I.
2001 – Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was sworn in as Prime Minister of Bulgaria. Simeon had been the last Tsar of Bulgaria as a small child and ruled under a regency. He lived in exile after the fall of Bulgaria to the Soviets and is the only monarch to return to elected office after his overthrow.
1860 – Princess Charlotte of Prussia was born in Potsdam to the future Emperor Frederick III and Victoria, Princess Royal of the United Kingdom. She was the younger sister of Kaiser Wilhelm II, and a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. She was married to Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Meiningen in 1878, and in 1914, they became the Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen, but by the end of World War I, her husband abdicated. She was said to have a nervous personality at a young age, and had a terrible relationship with her only child, a daughter named Feodora.
1568 – Carlos, Prince of Asturias died in Madrid at age 23. He was the eldest son of the future Phillip II of Spain and his first wife, Princess Maria of Portugal. His father would attempt several betrothals to various prominent houses, but none would come through. He was said to be mentally unstable. In 1567, he was angry with his father over a government position he was promised, and spoke of helping the revolts in the Netherlands, and he may have spoke of his father’s murder. Phillip had him arrested, and he died in prison.
Have a great day!