The past leaves a trace.

Apollo Program: Apollo 5 lifts off carrying the first Lunar module into space.

Apollo Program: Apollo 5 lifts off carrying the first Lunar module into space.

World War II: The Allies commence Operation Shingle, an assault on Anzio and Nettuno, Italy.

World War II: The Allies commence Operation Shingle, an assault on Anzio and Nettuno, Italy.

The Allies, or Allied powers, formally referred to as the United Nations from 1942, were an international military coalition formed during World War II (1939–1945) to oppose the Axis powers. Its principal members were the "Big Four"—the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and China.

Anglo-Zulu War: the Battle of Isandlwana results in a Zulu victory.

Anglo-Zulu War: the Battle of Isandlwana results in a Zulu victory.

The Anglo-Zulu War, or simply the Zulu War, was fought in present-day South Africa from January to early July 1879 between forces of the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom. Two famous battles of the war were the Zulu victory at Isandlwana and the British defence at Rorke's Drift.

The Convention Parliament convenes to determine whether James II and VII, the last Roman Catholic monarch…

The Convention Parliament convenes to determine whether James II and VII, the last Roman Catholic monarch of England, Ireland and Scotland, had vacated the thrones of England and Ireland when he fled to France in 1688.

The English Convention was an assembly of the Parliament of England which met between 22 January and 12 February 1689 and transferred the crowns of England and Ireland from James II to William III and Mary II.

Death of Wang Zhi

Died: Wang Zhi, Chinese pirate.

Wang Zhi, art name Wufeng , was a Chinese pirate lord of the 16th century, one of the main figures among the wokou pirates prevalent during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor. Originally a salt merchant, Wang Zhi turned to smuggling during the Ming dynasty's period of maritime prohibitions banning all private overseas trade, and eventually became the head of a pirate syndicate stretching across the East and South China Seas, from Japan to Thailand. Through his clandestine trade, he is credited for spreading European firearms throughout East Asia, and for his role in leading the first Europeans to reach Japan in 1543.

Birth of Ivan III of Russia

Born: Ivan III of Russia (died 1505).

Ivan III Vasilyevich, also known as Ivan the Great, was Grand Prince of Moscow and all Russia from 1462 until his death in 1505. Ivan served as the co-ruler and regent for his blind father Vasily II before he officially ascended the throne.

Battle of Basing: The West Saxons led by King Æthelred I are defeated by the Danelaw Vikings at Basing.

Battle of Basing: The West Saxons led by King Æthelred I are defeated by the Danelaw Vikings at Basing.

The Battle of Basing was a victory of a Viking army over the West Saxons at the royal estate of Basing in Hampshire on about 22 January 871.

Eight-month-old Heraclius Constantine is crowned as co-emperor (Caesar) by his father Heraclius at…

Eight-month-old Heraclius Constantine is crowned as co-emperor (Caesar) by his father Heraclius at Constantinople.