25 February
1616: On 25 February 1616, Galileo renounced his theory that Earth orbits the Sun.
He renounced his theory with great reluctance having been ordered to by Cardinal Bellarmine.
According to Cardinal Bellarmine, Galileo had "to give up altogether the false doctrine... and if you should refuse.. you will be imprisoned."
Given such a choice, Galileo made a renouncement, but he knew that it would not change the real facts of Earth's motion.
