BBeiraLife
DIGITAL ALMANAC · EUROPE/LISBON

Historical events for
Saturday, 28 March 2026

1810
Birth

Alexandre Herculano

Alexandre Herculano (born March 28, 1810, and died September 13, 1877) was an illustrious Portuguese novelist, historian, and thinker. A magna figure of Romanticism in Portugal, the rigor of his writing and his relentless defense of liberalism shaped the country's modern historiography.

13/9/1877
1851
Birth

Bernardino Machado's birthday

Bernardino Machado (born March 28, 1851, and died April 29, 1944) was a historic Portuguese politician, professor, and diplomat. A central figure of the First Republic, he assumed the highest office in the nation, serving as President of the Republic in two distinct terms (1915-1917 and 1925-1926).

29/4/1944
1868
Birth

Máximo Gorki

Maxim Gorky (born March 28, 1868, and died June 18, 1936) was a formidable Russian writer and playwright. Founder of socialist realism in literature, his profound works portrayed with compassion and rawness the struggles of the working classes and the marginalized.

18/6/1936
1930
Birth

Robert Ashley

Robert Ashley (born March 28, 1930, and died March 3, 2014) was an avant-garde American composer. He is widely recognized for his pioneering work in contemporary opera and electronic music, innovatively fusing spoken language with sonic experimentation.

3/3/2014
1936
Birth

Mario Vargas Llosa

Mario Vargas Llosa (born March 28, 1936, and died April 13, 2025) was one of the most prestigious contemporary writers and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature (2010). A central figure of the Latin American "boom", his vast work explored political and social tensions with a masterful command of narrative and critical thinking.

13/4/2025
1959
Birth

🎂 Anwar Gargash

Anwar Gargash (b. 1959) is an experienced and refined diplomat from the United Arab Emirates. With a degree in Political Science from Cambridge University and acting as a presidential diplomatic advisor, he is a crucial analytical voice in explaining complex Gulf strategies to the Western bloc.

1980
Birth

Angela Rayner

Angela Rayner (b. 1980) is an incisive and influential British politician. With an authentic trajectory rooted in union activism and social care, she became a leading figure in the Labour Party, taking on crucial portfolios linked to labor rights and national governance.

1986
Birth

Lady Gaga

Stefani Germanotta, immortalized as Lady Gaga (b. 1986), is a titanic American artist and actress. Known for her shocking visual reinvention and flawless vocals, she fused dance music with performance art, becoming an undisputed icon.

1977
History

Portugal's formal application to join the EEC

On March 28, 1977, Prime Minister Mário Soares formally presented Portugal's application for membership to the European Economic Community (EEC). This historic act marked the structural modernization of the country and its definitive and peaceful integration into the European project.

1993
History

National Day of Historic Centers

Established in Portugal in 1993, the National Day of Historic Centers is marked on the birth date of Alexandre Herculano, one of the greatest defenders of Lusitanian heritage. The date aims to raise awareness for the safeguarding, rehabilitation, and revitalization of the historic cores of cities.

2026
History

Guru Rinpoche Day (Padmasambhava)

In the Tibetan Buddhist calendar, Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) Day is marked, honoring the 8th-century master instrumental in introducing Vajrayana Buddhism to Tibet. Revered as the "Second Buddha", this day, marked on the 10th day of the lunar month, is dedicated to spiritual purification, meditation, and mantra recitation.

2026
History

Earth Hour

Global WWF initiative calling for a voluntary 60-minute lights-out to raise awareness about climate change.

History

St. Sixtus III Day

The Church celebrates the memory of Pope Saint Sixtus III, who governed the Church between 432 and 440. His pontificate stood out for the construction of important basilicas in Rome, such as Santa Maria Maggiore, and for his fundamental role in pacifying theological conflicts in the East.