This Day That Year

February 3

in History

Normans Gain Imperial Favor — The Holy Roman Emperor legitimizes Norse warriors
Southern ItalyMedieval
1047

Normans Gain Imperial Favor

The Holy Roman Emperor legitimizes Norse warriors

Emperor Henry III declared Drogo of Hauteville to be count of all Apulian and Calabrian Normans, granting imperial legitimacy to the Norse warriors who had carved out territories in southern Italy. This recognition transformed the Normans from adventurous mercenaries into legitimate feudal lords, setting the stage for the eventual Norman conquest of southern Italy and Sicily that would reshape the Mediterranean world.

1047 AD
Portuguese Empire — The Portuguese navy defeats a joint fleet of the Ottoman Empire, the Republic of Venice, the Sultan of Gujarat, the.
Early Modern
1509

Portuguese Empire

The Portuguese navy defeats a joint fleet of the Ottoman Empire, the Republic of Venice, the Sultan of Gujarat, the.

The Portuguese navy defeats a joint fleet of the Ottoman Empire, the Republic of Venice, the Sultan of Gujarat, the Mamlûk Burji Sultanate of Egypt, the Zamorin of Calicut, and the Republic of Ragusa at the Battle of Diu in Diu, India.

1509 AD
Mabel Mercer Was Born — The singer who taught Sinatra how to phrase
Staffordshire, EnglandEarly 20th Century
1900

Mabel Mercer Was Born

The singer who taught Sinatra how to phrase

Mabel Mercer was born in Staffordshire, England, a future cabaret legend whose artistry would influence the greatest singers of the twentieth century. Performing at Chez Bricktop in Paris and the finest clubs of New York, Mercer's intimate storytelling style captivated audiences and artists alike. Frank Sinatra himself acknowledged her as his greatest influence, attending her shows regularly and emulating her masterful phrasing.

1900 AD