11th June 1963: Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thích Quảng Đức burns himself to death to protest again the government of Ngô Đình Diệm

Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thích Quảng Đức burned himself to death at a busy crossroads in Saigon.

23rd February 303: Start of Emperor Diocletian’s ‘Great Persecution’

Emperor Diocletian ordered the destruction of the new church in the ancient city of Nicomedia, marking the start of the ‘Great Persecution’ of Christians.

4th February 1555: John Rogers became the first Protestant martyr under ‘Bloody’ Mary I of England

John Rogers became the first English Protestant martyr under Mary I after he was burnt at the stake.