(RNN) - March 15 has a case for being the most important date in human history.
By this point, we should all be familiar with the Ides of March and death of Roman Dictator Julius Caesar.
If you’re not, shame on your history and literature teachers for not hammering this pivotal moment home. (This kind of led to the Roman Empire, no big deal.)
I'll help you catch up.
In 44 BC, Caesar's best friend, Brutus, conspired with about 59 others to totally just stab Caesar.
A seer had been warning Caesar that harm would come to him before the Ides, or middle, of March. William Shakespeare dramatized this interaction in his play, "Julius Caesar," and introduced the phrase "Beware the Ides of March."
When March 15 arrived, Caesar made his way to the Senate and stumbled upon the seer again. Happy to still be unharmed, he told the seer, "The Ides of March are come," joking that the prophecy had not been fulfilled.
The seer replied, "Aye, Caesar; but not gone."
Caesar arrived at Theatre of Pompey where the Senators stabbed him nearly 30 times. Shakespeare would have you believe his final words were "Et Tu, Brute?" However, there is no historical proof Caesar actually said that.
His death led to a civil war and sparked the Roman Empire, but that's another story. The important thing is, you're all caught up thanks to an oversimplification of history.
While the Ides of March is mostly known as the day Caesar died, it is far from the only thing that happened on March 15.
Here’s a list of lesser-known moments from the Ides of March.
- Christopher Columbus, 1493. – Christopher Columbus returned to Spain after his first trip to the Americas.
Tsar Nicholas II, 1917 - Nicholas II abdicates the Russian throne. It ended the 304-year Romanov dynasty.
Hitler marches into Czechoslovakia, 1939 - Nazi troops seized the provinces of Bohemia and Moravia.
"We shall overcome," 1965 - Days after Bloody Sunday took place in Selma, AL, President Lyndon B. Johnson fulfilled his promise to send a voting rights bill to Congress. He told Congress "We shall overcome" while advocating for the bill.
"Ed Sullivan Show," 1971 - CBS pulled the plug on its longtime variety show. The network replaced it that fall with the CBS Sunday Night Movie.
Symbolics.com, 1985 - The first Internet domain name was registered.
SARS, 2003 - The World Health Organization issued a heightened global alert after reports of a mysterious respiratory disease. It later became known as Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
Syrian Civil War, 2011 - Protest demanding political reform and the release of political prisoners began in Damascus. security forces open fire on the demonstrators, thus starting the Syrian Civil War.
Who else shares a death date with Caesar?
- Odoacer, 493 - After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Odoacer served as the first King of Italy.
- Pope Zachary, 752 - His Holiness reigned as the last pope of the Byzantine Papacy
- Isabella of Hainault, 1190 - Isabella was the Queen of France and the first spouse of King Philip II.
- G. David Low, 2008 - Low was a space shuttle astronaut who spent a total of 29 days, 18 hours and five minutes in space.
- Nate Dogg, 2011 - Hip Hop legend Nate Dogg passed away at 41 after complications with multiple strokes.
- Bo Callaway, 2014 - Calloway was an American soldier and politician who served as the 11th Secretary of the Army.
What about the people born on March 15?
- Saint Nicholas, 270 - Yes, that St. Nick. The namesake of Santa Claus was a Greek monk in the fourth century. He was known for giving generous gifts to the poor. We cannot confirm he ever uttered the phrase "ho, ho, ho"
- Andrew Jackson. 1767 - The seventh president of the United States was born on March 15, 1767. he also served as a general and judge.
- Bobby Bonds, 1946 - Bonds was the father of MLB home run king Barry Bonds. But the elder bonds was a solid slugger in his own right. He finished with 332 career homers.
- Clay Matthews Jr., 1956 - A four-time NFL Pro Bowler, Matthews spent 18 years in the league. He's also the father of current NFL stars Clay Matthews III and the brother of hall of famer Bruce Matthews.
- Mike Tomlin. 1972 - Tomlin is the current head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He won Super Bowl XLIII and appeared in Super Bowl XV.
- will.i.am, 1975 - Born William James Adams Jr., he is a founding member of The Black Eyed Peas.
- Eva Longoria, 1975 - Longoria is best known for her role on "Desperate Housewives." Aside from acting, she's also a producer, director and activist.
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