Today In History: May 6, 2010

1527 Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. 147 Swiss Guards, including their commander, died fighting the forces of Charles V during the Sack of Rome in order to allow Pope Clement VII to escape into Castel Sant'Angelo.

1856 Birth - Sigmund Freud Freiberg Moravia, cigar smoker, father of psycho-analysis

1861 American Civil War: Arkansas secedes from the Union.

1890 Mormon Church renounces polygamy [1006-Truth Restored (Morman pub)]

1987 Death - William J Casey director of CIA (1981-87), dies at 73