March 6

Augustus Becomes Pontifex Maximus

Emperor and high priest become one

Emperor Augustus was named Pontifex Maximus, the highest religious office in Rome, merging sacred and secular authority in a single person. By incorporating the position into the imperial title, Augustus ensured that future emperors would control not just the armies and treasury of Rome, but its spiritual life as well. This fusion of religious and political power would endure for centuries, shaping the relationship between church and state throughout Western history.

Gina Cigna Was Born

A soprano who conquered opera's greatest stages

Gina Cigna was born in Paris to Italian parents, a future soprano whose powerful voice and dramatic intensity would make her one of the leading opera singers of the interwar era. Her performances in Verdi, Puccini, and Wagner roles at La Scala and other great opera houses earned her international acclaim. Cigna's remarkable longevity, living past one hundred, made her one of the last living links to opera's pre-war golden age.

MS Herald of Free Enterprise

The ferry Herald of Free Enterprise capsized while leaving the harbour of Zeebrugge, Belgium, killing 193 people on board.