455-King Gaiseric and the Vandals sack Rome, looting continues for 14 days
1862-Robert E. Lee takes command of Confederate armies of North Virginia during the American Civil War
1896-Italian engineer and inventor Guglielmo Marconi applies for the first ever patent for a system of wireless telegraphy in the United Kingdom
1946-Italian plebiscite chooses republic over monarchy (National Day)
1953-Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey, London, England
1989-10,000 Chinese soldiers are blocked by 100,000 citizens in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, protecting students demonstrating for democracy