By Day: Historical Events on March 19th

The Battle of Zama takes place, where Roman general Scipio Africanus defeats Carthaginian leader Hannibal, ending the Second Punic War.

The Great Fire of Rome begins, lasting for six days and destroying a significant portion of the city.

King Mieszko II Lambert of Poland dies, leading to a period of instability.

Pope Gelasius II excommunicates Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor.

The Third Lateran Council opens in Rome under Pope Alexander III.

Pope Honorius III issues the papal bull Religiosam vitam initiating the Fifth Crusade.

The Reign of the Song Dynasty which ruled parts of China ends after ruling for more than three centuries when a Mongol fleet defeated a Song fleet in the Battle of Yamen and completed its conquest of China. More

Edmund Crouchback, son of Henry III of England, is created Earl of Lancaster.

Preparations for Henry V's invasion of France begin in England.

The Siege of Montargis in France takes place during the Hundred Years' War.

Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, dies.

The rebuilt Greenwich Observatory is completed by Sir Christopher Wren.

Sir Robert Walpole becomes the first Prime Minister of Great Britain.

President George W. Bush announces that U.S. forces have begun a military operation into Iraq. U.S. forces invaded Iraq vowing to destroy Iraqi weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and end the dictatorial rule of Saddam Hussein. When WMD intelligence proved illusory and a violent insurgency arose, the war lost public support. 4,700 U.S. and allied troop deaths, and more than one hundred thousand Iraqi civilians were killed and 31,994 U.S. troops wounded in action (WIA). More