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In the spring of 1192, the political landscape was dominated by a fierce conflict between Conrad of Montferrat and Richard I of England regarding the claim to the throne of Jerusalem. On April 24, while safely ensconced in his fortress at Tyre, Conrad received word of his election as king. However, mere days later, tragedy struck.
On April 28, as he returned from a visit to Philip, Bishop of Beauvais, Conrad was ambushed by two men who fatally attacked him with daggers. His death was swift, with one assailant killed on the spot while the other, despite being wounded, was captured and subjected to interrogation. This second assailant was identified as a member of the notorious Assassins, a sect derived from Nizari Shia Islam, reputedly incited to violence under the influence of hashish by their leader, often referred to as the ‘Old Man of the Mountain.’
Many sensational accounts associated with the Assassins likely stemmed from embellished tales. The conspirators behind Conrad’s assassination were more likely linked to local political rivalries, specifically involving Richard the Lionheart. Notably, during Richard’s subsequent imprisonment by Leopold of Austria, the assassination of Conrad was prominently cited in the charges against him.
28 April 1442
On this date, Edward of March, the son of Richard, Duke of York, and Cicely Neville, entered the world in Rouen. He would later become King Edward IV in 1461, solidifying his rule at the Battle of Towton and marrying Elizabeth Woodville three years later.
28 April 1503
The forces of Spain, commanded by de Cordoba, achieved a decisive victory over a French army led by the Duke of Nemours at the Battle of Cerignola in Apulia. This battle stands out as a significant milestone, being recognized as the first major engagement predominantly won with gunpowder small arms.
28 April 1611
The University of Santo Tomas was established in Intramuros, Manila, driven by the vision of Miguel de Benavides, the third Archbishop of Manila, who had passed away six years prior.
28 April 1859
An unfortunate maritime disaster occurred when the Pomona, an American clipper transporting emigrants from Liverpool to New York, ran aground off the coast of Wexford, Ireland. This incident resulted in the tragic loss of nearly 400 lives in the early morning hours.
28 April 1908
Oskar Schindler, a German businessman renowned for his humanitarian efforts during the Second World War, was born in Moravia. He is celebrated for rescuing numerous Jews by employing them in his factories, thus saving them from persecution.
28 April 1910
Pilot Claude Grahame-White achieved a significant aviation milestone by completing the first night flight in Europe. This flight took him from Roade in Northamptonshire to Lichfield in Staffordshire as part of the Daily Mail London to Manchester race.
28 April 1937
Saddam Hussein was born near Tikrit in Iraq, marking the beginning of a complex and controversial life that would eventually see him rise to power as the leader of Iraq.
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