March 21 is the 80th day of the year (81st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 285 days remaining until the end of the year.
It is the traditional date of the Marchequinox, although it often falls on March 20.
Events
Up to 1900
537 - Siege of Rome: King Vitiges attempts to assault the northern and eastern city walls, but is prevented from doing so at the Praenestine Gate, known as Vivarium, by the defenders under Byzantine generals Bessas and Peranius.
1788 – A fire destroys 856 buildings in New Orleans and leaves most of the town in ruins.
1800 – With the church leadership driven out of the Vatican during an armed conflict, Pius VII was crowned Pope in Venice with a temporary papal tiara made of papier-mâché.
1800 - The Republic of the Ionian Islands is founded. Currently, the islands are part of Greece.
1801 – The Battle of Alexandria was fought between British and French forces near the ruins of Nicopolis in Egypt.
1935 – Shah Reza Pahlavi formally asked the international community to call Persia by its native name, Iran, which means 'Land of the Aryans'.
1937 - Ponce Massacre: 19 people, including a 7-year-old girl, are killed in Ponce, Puerto Rico, being gunned down by police guard acting under orders of US-appointed Governor Blanton C. Winship.
1945 - World War II: Bulgaria and the Soviet Union successfully complete their defense of the north bank of the Drava River as the Battle of the Transdanubian Hills concludes.
1970 – Vinko Bogataj crashes during a ski-jumping championship in Germany; his image becomes that of the "agony of defeat guy" in the opening credits of ABC's Wide World of Sports.
1980 – On the season finale of the soap operaDallas, the infamous character J.R. Ewing is shot by an unseen assailant, leading to the catchphrase "Who Shot JR?"
2004 – In Malaysia, the 11th Federal and State elections are held, returning the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional to power with an increased majority.