What is March 20?
{{calendar}} {{day}} March 20 is usually the first day of [[Spring (season)|spring]] in the [[Northern Hemisphere]], and the first day of [[autumn]] in the [[Southern Hemisphere]]. == Events == === Up to 1800 === * [[325]] &ndash; The [[First Council of Nicaea]] – the first [[Ecumenical Council]] of the Christian Church – is held. * [[526]] &ndash; An [[List of earthquakes|earthquake]] kills about 300,000 people in [[Syria]] and [[Antiochia]]. * [[685]] &ndash; The [[Battle of Nechtansmere]] is fought between a [[Pictish]] army under King [[Bridei III]] and the invading [[Northumbrians]] under King [[Ecgfrith of Northumbria|Ecgfrith]], who are decisively defeated. * [[1217]] &ndash; The [[Second Battle of Lincoln]] is fought near [[Lincoln, Lincolnshire|Lincoln]], [[England]], resulting in the defeat of [[Prince Louis of France]] by [[William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke]]. * [[1293]] &ndash; King [[Sancho IV of Castile]] creates the [[Universidad Complutense de Madrid|Study of General Schools of Alcalá]]. * [[1413]] &ndash; [[Henry V of England]] becomes [[King]]. * [[1497]] &ndash; [[John Cabot]] sets sail from [[Bristol]], [[England]], on his ship ''The Mathew'' looking for a route to the west (other documents give a [[May 2]] date). * [[1498]] &ndash; [[Portugal|Portuguese]] explorer [[Vasco da Gama]] arrives at [[Kozhikode]] (previously known as Calicut), [[India]]. * [[1521]] &ndash; [[Battle of Pampeluna]]. * [[1570]] &ndash; [[Cartography|Cartographer]] [[Abraham Ortelius]] issues the first modern atlas. * [[1600]] &ndash; [[Linkoping]] bloodbath in [[Sweden]]. * [[1602]] &ndash; The [[Dutch East India Company]] is founded. * [[1631]] &ndash; The city of [[Magdeburg]] in [[Germany]] is seized by forces of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] and most of its inhabitants massacred, in one of the bloodiest incidents of the [[Thirty Years War]]. * [[1690]] &ndash; England passes the [[Act of Grace]], forgiving followers of [[Catholic]] [[James II of England|James II]]. * [[1713]] &ndash; An [[earthquake]] destroys mo