Historical Writings

During Easter Week, Bishop Ambrose of Milan risks imprisonment and death, defying orders of the Roman empress to surrender one of his churches for use by Arians. With the church surrounded by imperial troops, he continues to hold mass five times a day. Eventually the government capitulates.

Death of Paulus Diaconis. This monk had been called to Charlemagne's court where he compiled a book of homilies from the church fathers which received wide circulation throughout the empire. He also prepared an accurate history of the Lombards and numerous other historical and religious works.

Pope Nicholas II decreed that future popes could be elected by cardinals only.

The Edict of Nantes was promulgated by France's King Henry IV (of Navarre), granting his Huguenot (Protestant) subjects a large measure of religious freedom. (The Edict remained in effect for 87 years.)

Death in Constantinople of Meletius Syrigos, one of the most learned Orthodox preachers and theologians of his day, but combative.

Death in England of Christian poet Jane Taylor, just forty years old. One of her best known hymns has the words “Ye tempting sweets, forbear, Ye dearest idols, fall, My heart ye can not share, For Jesus must have all.” She also wrote the nursery rhyme “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”

Loyola College in Baltimore was chartered under Roman Catholic auspices.

At 10 p.m. emissaries of the Paris Commune enter the city's deaconess house, revolvers in hand, demanding that deaconesses state if any of them have been abused by the sisters in charge. None of the girls speaks badly of the sisters although held captive until 3 a.m.

Ordination in Cincinnati of J. Wilbur Chapman, who will become a leading Presbyterian evangelist, working in tandem with music vocalist Charles Alexander.

Delegates from independent Baptist churches in Shafter, Oildale, Lamont and Taft organized the first association of Southern Baptists in California.

At the Antioch Baptist Church of Portland, representatives of 15 local congregations organized the Baptist General Convention of Oregon-Washington, the first organization of its kind in the Pacific Northwest.

Death of Mahay Choramo of the Wolaitta Kale Heywat Church of Ethiopia. He had evangelized widely in the Omo region and suffered many imprisonments and beatings for preaching the gospel - sometimes at the hands of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. He had even gone naked when one culture demanded it but gradually taught the people to wear clothes.