diff --git a/lib/edtf/date.rb b/lib/edtf/date.rb
index fa58a75..370ed5e 100644
--- a/lib/edtf/date.rb
+++ b/lib/edtf/date.rb
@@ -19,7 +19,10 @@ class Date
   extend Forwardable
 
   class << self
-
+    def gregorian(year = -4712, month = 1, mday = 1)
+      new(year, month, mday, Date::GREGORIAN)
+    end
+    
     def edtf(input, options = {})
       edtf!(input, options)
     rescue
diff --git a/lib/edtf/parser.rb b/lib/edtf/parser.rb
index f03b4d2..e77999d 100644
--- a/lib/edtf/parser.rb
+++ b/lib/edtf/parser.rb
@@ -889,21 +889,21 @@ def next_token
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 23)
   def _reduce_6(val, _values, result)
-     result = Date.new(val[0]).year_precision!
+     result = Date.gregorian(val[0]).year_precision!
     result
   end
 .,.,
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 24)
   def _reduce_7(val, _values, result)
-     result = Date.new(*val.flatten).month_precision!
+     result = Date.gregorian(*val.flatten).month_precision!
     result
   end
 .,.,
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 25)
   def _reduce_8(val, _values, result)
-     result = Date.new(*val.flatten).day_precision!
+     result = Date.gregorian(*val.flatten).day_precision!
     result
   end
 .,.,
@@ -1057,7 +1057,7 @@ def _reduce_38(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 99)
   def _reduce_39(val, _values, result)
-                    result = Date.new(val[0][0]).year_precision!
+                    result = Date.gregorian(val[0][0]).year_precision!
                 result.unspecified.year[2,2] = val[0][1]
 
     result
@@ -1099,7 +1099,7 @@ def _reduce_46(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 125)
   def _reduce_47(val, _values, result)
-        result = Date.new(val[0]).unspecified!(:month)
+        result = Date.gregorian(val[0]).unspecified!(:month)
     result.precision = :month
 
     result
@@ -1108,7 +1108,7 @@ def _reduce_47(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 130)
   def _reduce_48(val, _values, result)
-        result = Date.new(*val[0]).unspecified!(:day)
+        result = Date.gregorian(*val[0]).unspecified!(:day)
 
     result
   end
@@ -1116,7 +1116,7 @@ def _reduce_48(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 134)
   def _reduce_49(val, _values, result)
-        result = Date.new(val[0]).unspecified!([:day,:month])
+        result = Date.gregorian(val[0]).unspecified!([:day,:month])
 
     result
   end
@@ -1212,7 +1212,7 @@ def _reduce_67(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 181)
   def _reduce_73(val, _values, result)
-          result = Date.new(val[1])
+          result = Date.gregorian(val[1])
       result.precision = :year
 
     result
@@ -1221,7 +1221,7 @@ def _reduce_73(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 186)
   def _reduce_74(val, _values, result)
-          result = Date.new(-1 * val[2])
+          result = Date.gregorian(-1 * val[2])
       result.precision = :year
 
     result
@@ -1305,7 +1305,7 @@ def _reduce_90(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 231)
   def _reduce_91(val, _values, result)
-          result = Date.new(val[0].year * 10 ** val[2]).year_precision!
+          result = Date.gregorian(val[0].year * 10 ** val[2]).year_precision!
 
     result
   end
@@ -1313,7 +1313,7 @@ def _reduce_91(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 235)
   def _reduce_92(val, _values, result)
-          result = Date.new(val[1] * 10 ** val[3]).year_precision!
+          result = Date.gregorian(val[1] * 10 ** val[3]).year_precision!
 
     result
   end
@@ -1321,7 +1321,7 @@ def _reduce_92(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 239)
   def _reduce_93(val, _values, result)
-          result = Date.new(-1 * val[2] * 10 ** val[4]).year_precision!
+          result = Date.gregorian(-1 * val[2] * 10 ** val[4]).year_precision!
 
     result
   end
@@ -1448,49 +1448,49 @@ def _reduce_113(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 289)
   def _reduce_114(val, _values, result)
-     result = Date.new(*val[0]).day_precision!
+     result = Date.gregorian(*val[0]).day_precision!
     result
   end
 .,.,
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 290)
   def _reduce_115(val, _values, result)
-     result = Date.new(*val[0]).month_precision!
+     result = Date.gregorian(*val[0]).month_precision!
     result
   end
 .,.,
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 291)
   def _reduce_116(val, _values, result)
-     result = Date.new(val[0]).year_precision!
+     result = Date.gregorian(val[0]).year_precision!
     result
   end
 .,.,
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 294)
   def _reduce_117(val, _values, result)
-     result = (Date.new(*val[0]).day_precision! .. Date.new(*val[2]).day_precision!)
+     result = (Date.gregorian(*val[0]).day_precision! .. Date.gregorian(*val[2]).day_precision!)
     result
   end
 .,.,
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 295)
   def _reduce_118(val, _values, result)
-     result = (Date.new(*val[0]).month_precision! .. Date.new(*val[2]).month_precision!)
+     result = (Date.gregorian(*val[0]).month_precision! .. Date.gregorian(*val[2]).month_precision!)
     result
   end
 .,.,
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 296)
   def _reduce_119(val, _values, result)
-     result = (Date.new(val[0]).year_precision! .. Date.new(val[2]).year_precision!)
+     result = (Date.gregorian(val[0]).year_precision! .. Date.gregorian(val[2]).year_precision!)
     result
   end
 .,.,
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 302)
   def _reduce_120(val, _values, result)
-          result = Date.new(val[0][0], val[2], val[4])
+          result = Date.gregorian(val[0][0], val[2], val[4])
       result.unspecified.year[2,2] = val[0][1]
 
     result
@@ -1499,7 +1499,7 @@ def _reduce_120(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 307)
   def _reduce_121(val, _values, result)
-          result = Date.new(val[0][0], val[2], 1)
+          result = Date.gregorian(val[0][0], val[2], 1)
       result.month_precision!
       result.unspecified.year[2,2] = val[0][1]
 
@@ -1509,7 +1509,7 @@ def _reduce_121(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 313)
   def _reduce_122(val, _values, result)
-          result = Date.new(val[0][0], 1, val[5])
+          result = Date.gregorian(val[0][0], 1, val[5])
       result.unspecified.year[2,2] = val[0][1]
       result.unspecified!(:month)
 
@@ -1519,7 +1519,7 @@ def _reduce_122(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 319)
   def _reduce_123(val, _values, result)
-          result = Date.new(val[0][0], 1, 1)
+          result = Date.gregorian(val[0][0], 1, 1)
       result.unspecified.year[2,2] = val[0][1]
       result.unspecified!([:month, :day])
 
@@ -1529,7 +1529,7 @@ def _reduce_123(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 325)
   def _reduce_124(val, _values, result)
-          result = Date.new(val[0][0], val[2], 1)
+          result = Date.gregorian(val[0][0], val[2], 1)
       result.unspecified.year[2,2] = val[0][1]
       result.unspecified!(:day)
 
@@ -1539,7 +1539,7 @@ def _reduce_124(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 331)
   def _reduce_125(val, _values, result)
-          result = Date.new(val[0], 1, val[5])
+          result = Date.gregorian(val[0], 1, val[5])
       result.unspecified!(:month)
 
     result
@@ -1578,7 +1578,7 @@ def _reduce_130(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 344)
   def _reduce_131(val, _values, result)
-     result = uoa(Date.new(val[0]), val[1], :year)
+     result = uoa(Date.gregorian(val[0]), val[1], :year)
     result
   end
 .,.,
@@ -1593,7 +1593,7 @@ def _reduce_132(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 351)
   def _reduce_133(val, _values, result)
-            result = [uoa(Date.new(val[0], val[2]), val[3], [:year, :month])]
+            result = [uoa(Date.gregorian(val[0], val[2]), val[3], [:year, :month])]
 
     result
   end
@@ -1601,7 +1601,7 @@ def _reduce_133(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 354)
   def _reduce_134(val, _values, result)
-            result = [uoa(Date.new(val[0], val[2]), val[4], [:month]), true]
+            result = [uoa(Date.gregorian(val[0], val[2]), val[4], [:month]), true]
 
     result
   end
@@ -1633,7 +1633,7 @@ def _reduce_137(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 369)
   def _reduce_138(val, _values, result)
-            result = uoa(uoa(Date.new(val[0], val[2], val[5]), val[4], :month), val[6], :day)
+            result = uoa(uoa(Date.gregorian(val[0], val[2], val[5]), val[4], :month), val[6], :day)
 
     result
   end
@@ -1641,7 +1641,7 @@ def _reduce_138(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 372)
   def _reduce_139(val, _values, result)
-            result = uoa(Date.new(val[0][0], val[0][1], val[2]), val[3])
+            result = uoa(Date.gregorian(val[0][0], val[0][1], val[2]), val[3])
 
     result
   end
@@ -1649,7 +1649,7 @@ def _reduce_139(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 375)
   def _reduce_140(val, _values, result)
-            result = uoa(Date.new(val[0][0], val[0][1], val[2]), val[4], [:day])
+            result = uoa(Date.gregorian(val[0][0], val[0][1], val[2]), val[4], [:day])
 
     result
   end
@@ -1657,7 +1657,7 @@ def _reduce_140(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 378)
   def _reduce_141(val, _values, result)
-            result = uoa(Date.new(val[0], val[2], val[4]), val[6], [:month, :day])
+            result = uoa(Date.gregorian(val[0], val[2], val[4]), val[6], [:month, :day])
 
     result
   end
@@ -1665,7 +1665,7 @@ def _reduce_141(val, _values, result)
 
 module_eval(<<'.,.,', 'parser.y', 381)
   def _reduce_142(val, _values, result)
-            result = Date.new(val[0], val[2], val[4])
+            result = Date.gregorian(val[0], val[2], val[4])
         result = uoa(result, val[6], [:day])
         result = uoa(result, val[8], [:month, :day])
 
diff --git a/lib/edtf/parser.y b/lib/edtf/parser.y
index 976be02..930b163 100644
--- a/lib/edtf/parser.y
+++ b/lib/edtf/parser.y
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@ rule
                      ;
 
   date :
-    year             { result = Date.new(val[0]).year_precision! }
-    | year_month     { result = Date.new(*val.flatten).month_precision! }
-    | year_month_day { result = Date.new(*val.flatten).day_precision! }
+    year             { result = Date.gregorian(val[0]).year_precision! }
+    | year_month     { result = Date.gregorian(*val.flatten).month_precision! }
+    | year_month_day { result = Date.gregorian(*val.flatten).day_precision! }
     ;
 
 
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ rule
 
   unspecified : unspecified_year
               {
-                result = Date.new(val[0][0]).year_precision!
+                result = Date.gregorian(val[0][0]).year_precision!
                 result.unspecified.year[2,2] = val[0][1]
               }
               | unspecified_month
@@ -123,16 +123,16 @@ rule
     }
 
   unspecified_month : year '-' U U {
-    result = Date.new(val[0]).unspecified!(:month)
+    result = Date.gregorian(val[0]).unspecified!(:month)
     result.precision = :month
   }
 
   unspecified_day : year_month '-' U U {
-    result = Date.new(*val[0]).unspecified!(:day)
+    result = Date.gregorian(*val[0]).unspecified!(:day)
   }
 
   unspecified_day_and_month : year '-' U U '-' U U {
-    result = Date.new(val[0]).unspecified!([:day,:month])
+    result = Date.gregorian(val[0]).unspecified!([:day,:month])
   }
 
   level_1_interval : level_1_interval_closed | level_1_interval_open | level_1_interval_unknown
@@ -179,12 +179,12 @@ rule
   long_year_simple :
     LONGYEAR long_year
     {
-      result = Date.new(val[1])
+      result = Date.gregorian(val[1])
       result.precision = :year
     }
     | LONGYEAR '-' long_year
     {
-      result = Date.new(-1 * val[2])
+      result = Date.gregorian(-1 * val[2])
       result.precision = :year
     }
     ;
@@ -229,15 +229,15 @@ rule
   long_year_scientific :
     long_year_simple E integer
     {
-      result = Date.new(val[0].year * 10 ** val[2]).year_precision!
+      result = Date.gregorian(val[0].year * 10 ** val[2]).year_precision!
     }
     | LONGYEAR int1_4 E integer
     {
-      result = Date.new(val[1] * 10 ** val[3]).year_precision!
+      result = Date.gregorian(val[1] * 10 ** val[3]).year_precision!
     }
     | LONGYEAR '-' int1_4 E integer
     {
-      result = Date.new(-1 * val[2] * 10 ** val[4]).year_precision!
+      result = Date.gregorian(-1 * val[2] * 10 ** val[4]).year_precision!
     }
     ;
 
@@ -287,49 +287,49 @@ rule
 
   earlier : DOTS date { result = val[1] }
 
-  later : year_month_day DOTS { result = Date.new(*val[0]).day_precision! }
-        | year_month DOTS     { result = Date.new(*val[0]).month_precision! }
-        | year DOTS           { result = Date.new(val[0]).year_precision! }
+  later : year_month_day DOTS { result = Date.gregorian(*val[0]).day_precision! }
+        | year_month DOTS     { result = Date.gregorian(*val[0]).month_precision! }
+        | year DOTS           { result = Date.gregorian(val[0]).year_precision! }
         ;
 
-  consecutives : year_month_day DOTS year_month_day { result = (Date.new(*val[0]).day_precision! .. Date.new(*val[2]).day_precision!) }
-               | year_month DOTS year_month         { result = (Date.new(*val[0]).month_precision! .. Date.new(*val[2]).month_precision!) }
-               | year DOTS year                     { result = (Date.new(val[0]).year_precision! .. Date.new(val[2]).year_precision!) }
+  consecutives : year_month_day DOTS year_month_day { result = (Date.gregorian(*val[0]).day_precision! .. Date.gregorian(*val[2]).day_precision!) }
+               | year_month DOTS year_month         { result = (Date.gregorian(*val[0]).month_precision! .. Date.gregorian(*val[2]).month_precision!) }
+               | year DOTS year                     { result = (Date.gregorian(val[0]).year_precision! .. Date.gregorian(val[2]).year_precision!) }
                ;
 
   partial_unspecified :
     unspecified_year '-' month '-' day
     {
-      result = Date.new(val[0][0], val[2], val[4])
+      result = Date.gregorian(val[0][0], val[2], val[4])
       result.unspecified.year[2,2] = val[0][1]
     }
     | unspecified_year '-' month
     {
-      result = Date.new(val[0][0], val[2], 1)
+      result = Date.gregorian(val[0][0], val[2], 1)
       result.month_precision!
       result.unspecified.year[2,2] = val[0][1]
     }
     | unspecified_year '-' U U '-' day
     {
-      result = Date.new(val[0][0], 1, val[5])
+      result = Date.gregorian(val[0][0], 1, val[5])
       result.unspecified.year[2,2] = val[0][1]
       result.unspecified!(:month)
     }
     | unspecified_year '-' U U '-' U U
     {
-      result = Date.new(val[0][0], 1, 1)
+      result = Date.gregorian(val[0][0], 1, 1)
       result.unspecified.year[2,2] = val[0][1]
       result.unspecified!([:month, :day])
     }
     | unspecified_year '-' month '-' U U
     {
-      result = Date.new(val[0][0], val[2], 1)
+      result = Date.gregorian(val[0][0], val[2], 1)
       result.unspecified.year[2,2] = val[0][1]
       result.unspecified!(:day)
     }
     | year '-' U U '-' day
     {
-      result = Date.new(val[0], 1, val[5])
+      result = Date.gregorian(val[0], 1, val[5])
       result.unspecified!(:month)
     }
     ;
@@ -342,17 +342,17 @@ rule
     | pua_year_month     { result = val[0][0].month_precision! }
     | pua_year_month_day { result = val[0].day_precision! }
 
-  pua_year : year UA { result = uoa(Date.new(val[0]), val[1], :year) }
+  pua_year : year UA { result = uoa(Date.gregorian(val[0]), val[1], :year) }
 
   pua_year_month :
     pua_year '-' month ua {
       result = [uoa(val[0].change(:month => val[2]), val[3], [:month, :year])]
     }
     | year '-' month UA {
-        result = [uoa(Date.new(val[0], val[2]), val[3], [:year, :month])]
+        result = [uoa(Date.gregorian(val[0], val[2]), val[3], [:year, :month])]
     }
     | year '-(' month ')' UA {
-        result = [uoa(Date.new(val[0], val[2]), val[4], [:month]), true]
+        result = [uoa(Date.gregorian(val[0], val[2]), val[4], [:month]), true]
     }
     | pua_year '-(' month ')' UA {
         result = [uoa(val[0].change(:month => val[2]), val[4], [:month]), true]
@@ -367,19 +367,19 @@ rule
         result = uoa(val[0][0].change(:day => val[2]), val[4], [:day])
     }
     | year '-(' month ')' UA day ua {
-        result = uoa(uoa(Date.new(val[0], val[2], val[5]), val[4], :month), val[6], :day)
+        result = uoa(uoa(Date.gregorian(val[0], val[2], val[5]), val[4], :month), val[6], :day)
     }
     | year_month '-' day UA {
-        result = uoa(Date.new(val[0][0], val[0][1], val[2]), val[3])
+        result = uoa(Date.gregorian(val[0][0], val[0][1], val[2]), val[3])
     }
     | year_month '-(' day ')' UA {
-        result = uoa(Date.new(val[0][0], val[0][1], val[2]), val[4], [:day])
+        result = uoa(Date.gregorian(val[0][0], val[0][1], val[2]), val[4], [:day])
     }
     | year '-(' month '-' day ')' UA {
-        result = uoa(Date.new(val[0], val[2], val[4]), val[6], [:month, :day])
+        result = uoa(Date.gregorian(val[0], val[2], val[4]), val[6], [:month, :day])
     }
     | year '-(' month '-(' day ')' UA ')' UA {
-        result = Date.new(val[0], val[2], val[4])
+        result = Date.gregorian(val[0], val[2], val[4])
         result = uoa(result, val[6], [:day])
         result = uoa(result, val[8], [:month, :day])
     }
diff --git a/spec/edtf/date_spec.rb b/spec/edtf/date_spec.rb
index ae83540..382a7a9 100644
--- a/spec/edtf/date_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/edtf/date_spec.rb
@@ -4,6 +4,20 @@
     it 'responds to edtf' do
       expect(Date).to respond_to(:edtf)
     end
+    
+    describe 'gregorian' do
+      it 'returns a proleptic Gregorian date for pre-Gregorian dates' do
+        date = Date.gregorian(1582, 9, 30)
+        expect(date).to be_gregorian
+        expect(date).to eq(Date.new(1582, 9, 30, Date::GREGORIAN))
+      end
+      
+      it 'returns a Gregorian date for valid Gregorian dates' do
+        date = Date.gregorian(1582, 10, 30)
+        expect(date).to be_gregorian
+        expect(date).to eq(Date.new(1582, 10, 30))
+      end
+    end
   end
 
   describe 'instance methods' do
diff --git a/spec/edtf/parser_spec.rb b/spec/edtf/parser_spec.rb
index 78f573d..308663b 100644
--- a/spec/edtf/parser_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/edtf/parser_spec.rb
@@ -17,6 +17,17 @@ module EDTF
       it 'parses year zero' do
         expect(Parser.new.parse('0000').to_s).to eq('0000-01-01')
       end
+      
+      it 'handles the Gregorian 10-day correction' do
+        (4..15).each do |mday|
+          date_str = '1582-10-%02d' % mday
+          date = Parser.new.parse(date_str)
+          expect(date).to be_gregorian
+          expect(date.year).to eq(1582)
+          expect(date.month).to eq(10)
+          expect(date.mday).to eq(mday)
+        end
+      end
 
       it 'parses date/time with time zones' do
         expect(Parser.new.parse('2011-08-15T11:19:00+01:00').to_s).to eq('2011-08-15T11:19:00+01:00')