On this day…

In 1099 15,000 starving Christian soldiers march in religious procession around Jerusalem as its Muslim defenders look on, in what was the First Crusade.

In 1497 Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama departs on his first voyage, becoming the 1st European to reach India by sea

In 1777 Vermont introduces new constitution making it the 1st US state to abolish slavery.

In 1994 Kim Jong-il takes office as the Supreme Leader of North Korea, Popularly known as “Dear Leader” in his country, Kim Jong-il took North Korea’s highest office after the death of his father, Kim Il-sung.

In 1996 British girls group the Spice Girls release their debut single “Wannabe” in the UK.

In 2011 the Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched for the last time. This was also the last flight of NASA’s 30-year long and successful Space Shuttle program. STS-135, as this final mission was called, was the program’s 135th flight.

CD