TDIH - February 4 This Day in (Medieval) History: February 4 708 – Death of Pope Sisinnius. 856 – Death of Archbishop Rabanus Maurus. 870 – Death of Archbishop Ceolnoth. 1169 – Death of John of Ajello, Bishop of Catania. 1169 – The Ionian coast of Sicily was hit by a major earthquake. 1447 – Birth of Lodovico Lazzarelli, Italian poet. 1454 – The Thirteen Years' War began when the Prussian Confederation refused to render obedience to the Teutonic Knights. 1495 – Birth of Francesco II Sforza, Duke of Milan. 1495 – Birth of Jean Parisot de Valette, Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller. 1498 – Death of Antonio del Pollaiolo, Italian artist. 1505 – Death of Jeanne de Valois, daughter of Louis XI of France.