681day.year
Twelfth Council of Toledo: King Erwig of the Visigoths initiates a council in which he implements diverse measures against the Jews in Spain.
In 681, King Erwig convened the Twelfth Council of Toledo, enacting measures that targeted the Jewish community in Visigothic Spain.
In 681, King Erwig of the Visigoths summoned the Twelfth Council of Toledo to consolidate his rule.
The council introduced stringent laws restricting Jewish citizenship, property rights, and religious practices.
Decrees included bans on interfaith marriage, restrictions on synagogue worship, and property confiscation.
These measures reflected mounting anti-Jewish sentiment and the influence of ecclesiastical authorities.
The council's canons would shape Visigothic law and set precedents for future religious legislation.
681
Twelfth Council of Toledo
Erwig
Visigoths
1038day.year
An earthquake in Dingxiang, China kills an estimated 32,300.
A devastating earthquake struck Dingxiang in 1038, claiming over 32,000 lives.
In 1038, a violent earthquake shook the region around Dingxiang in what is now northern China.
Historical records estimate the death toll at over 32,000, marking one of the deadliest quakes of the era.
The tremor caused widespread destruction of buildings and infrastructure in the imperial frontier.
Survivors faced harsh winter conditions and shortages of food and shelter.
Contemporary annals chronicle the disaster's impact on local governance and relief efforts.
The event remains a significant marker in the seismic history of China.
1038
earthquake
Dingxiang
1127day.year
Jin–Song Wars: Invading Jurchen soldiers from the Jin dynasty besiege and sack Bianjing (Kaifeng), the capital of the Song dynasty of China, and abduct Emperor Qinzong of Song and others, ending the Northern Song period.
In 1127, Jurchen forces sacked Kaifeng, capturing Emperor Qinzong and ending the Northern Song dynasty.
In 1127, during the Jin–Song Wars, Jurchen armies of the Jin dynasty laid siege to Bianjing, the Song capital.
After breaching the city's defenses, they plundered and set fire to imperial palaces and temples.
Emperor Qinzong of Song and members of the royal court were taken prisoner in what became known as the Jingkang Incident.
The fall of Bianjing brought the Northern Song dynasty to a dramatic close and shifted the capital southward.
This event reshaped Chinese politics, leading to the rise of the Southern Song dynasty under Emperor Gaozong.
The Jingkang Incident remains a symbol of dynastic upheaval and foreign domination in Chinese history.
1127
Jin–Song Wars
Jurchen
Jin dynasty
besiege and sack
Bianjing
Song dynasty
Emperor Qinzong of Song
Northern Song period
1349day.year
The Jewish population of Basel, believed by the residents to be the cause of the ongoing Black Death, is rounded up and incinerated.
In 1349, amid Black Death hysteria, Basel residents rounded up and incinerated the city's Jewish population.
During the plague of 1349, fear and superstition spread across Europe, fueling anti-Jewish violence.
On January 9, Basel's authorities arrested the entire Jewish community, accusing them of poisoning wells.
Over the following days, hundreds were forcibly confined and burned at the city's Judengasse.
This atrocity exemplified the tragic scapegoating faced by Jews during the Black Death.
Survivors fled to neighboring regions, and the massacre left a lasting scar on Basel's history.
1349
Basel
Black Death
rounded up and incinerated
1431day.year
The trial of Joan of Arc begins in Rouen.
The trial of Joan of Arc began in Rouen in 1431, leading to her eventual execution.
Charged with heresy and wearing male attire, Joan of Arc was brought to trial before an ecclesiastical court in Rouen.
The proceedings were overseen by Bishop Pierre Cauchon, a supporter of the English cause in France.
Over several months, Joan faced rigorous questioning about her visions and military leadership.
Despite maintaining her innocence and divine inspiration, she was condemned for her alleged transgressions.
Her trial and conviction laid the groundwork for her eventual execution by burning.
1431
trial of Joan of Arc
Rouen
1693day.year
Sicily earthquake: The first of two earthquakes destroys parts of Sicily and Malta. After the second quake on 11 January, the death toll is estimated at between 60,000 and 100,000 people.
The first of two powerful earthquakes struck Sicily on January 9, 1693, devastating parts of Sicily and Malta.
At dawn on January 9, 1693, a major earthquake rocked southeastern Sicily, destroying towns and villages.
The tremor and ensuing aftershocks leveled buildings across the Val di Noto and affected neighboring Malta.
Contemporary accounts describe a thunderous roar and the ground opening in fissures.
When the second quake struck on January 11, the combined death toll soared between 60,000 and 100,000.
The disaster prompted extensive rebuilding in the Baroque style, giving rise to the Val di Noto UNESCO World Heritage sites.
1693
Sicily earthquake
Sicily
Malta
1760day.year
Ahmad Shah Durrani defeats the Marathas in the Battle of Barari Ghat.
In 1760, Ahmad Shah Durrani defeated the Marathas at the Battle of Barari Ghat, solidifying his influence in northern India.
On January 9, 1760, Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Durrani engaged Maratha forces at Barari Ghat in present-day Madhya Pradesh.
Durrani's seasoned cavalry exploited the terrain, overrunning the Maratha positions in a swift attack.
The victory disrupted Maratha control in the region and reaffirmed Durrani's authority in the north.
This battle was part of a series of conflicts that shaped the power balance in 18th-century India.
The outcome paved the way for further Afghan incursions into the Indian subcontinent.
1760
Ahmad Shah Durrani
Marathas
Battle of Barari Ghat
1787day.year
The nationally known image of the Black Nazarene in the Philippines was transferred from what is now Rizal Park to its present shrine in the minor basilica of Quiapo Church. This is annually commemorated through its Traslación (solemn transfer) in the streets of Manila and is attended by millions of devotees.
In 1787, the revered Black Nazarene image was transferred to Quiapo Church in Manila, beginning an annual Filipino devotion.
On January 9, 1787, Manila's religious authorities moved the Black Nazarene image from Rizal Park to its new shrine in Quiapo Church.
The Bronzewood carving, believed to be miraculous, quickly became a focal point of popular Catholic devotion.
Each year, millions of devotees reenact this transfer, known as the Traslación, through Manila's streets.
Participants endure long hours, intense crowds, and torrential weather to touch the image's carriage.
The annual procession is one of the largest religious gatherings in Asia, reflecting deep faith and cultural tradition.
1787
Black Nazarene
Philippines
Rizal Park
minor basilica
Quiapo Church
Manila
1788day.year
Connecticut becomes the fifth state to ratify the United States Constitution.
Connecticut became the fifth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on January 9, 1788, strengthening the new federal government.
By ratifying the Constitution on January 9, 1788, Connecticut supported the establishment of a stronger central government.
The state's decision followed heated debates over the balance of power between states and the federal authority.
Connecticut's approval provided critical momentum toward the Constitution's adoption by the required nine states.
Often called the 'Constitution State,' Connecticut played a key role in shaping the new union.
Its early ratification underscored the importance of compromise and unity in the republic's founding.
1788
Connecticut
United States Constitution
1792day.year
Treaty of Jassy between Russian and Ottoman Empire is signed, ending the Russo-Turkish War of 1787–92.
The Treaty of Jassy was signed on January 9, 1792, ending the Russo-Turkish War of 1787–92.
Representatives of the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Porte signed the Treaty of Jassy in modern-day Iasi, Romania.
The treaty recognized Russia's annexation of Crimea and granted additional territories along the Black Sea.
By formalizing peace, it concluded the protracted Russo-Turkish War that had begun in 1787.
The agreement secured Russian dominance in the Black Sea region and weakened Ottoman influence in Eastern Europe.
This diplomatic resolution shifted the balance of power and shaped 19th-century geopolitics.
1792
Treaty of Jassy
Russian
Ottoman Empire
Russo-Turkish War of 1787–92
1793day.year
Jean-Pierre Blanchard becomes the first person to fly in a balloon in the United States.
In 1793, Jean-Pierre Blanchard completed the first successful manned balloon flight in the United States, ushering in a new era of aerial exploration.
Jean-Pierre Blanchard, a pioneering French aeronaut, achieved the first manned balloon ascent on American soil on January 9, 1793. Launching from Philadelphia, he soared above the city in his hot air balloon, captivating onlookers with this unprecedented spectacle. The flight demonstrated the practical potential of balloon travel for observation and communication. Blanchard's daring venture laid the groundwork for future advancements in aviation technology. His achievement was celebrated as a triumph of scientific ingenuity during the early years of the United States.
1793
Jean-Pierre Blanchard
balloon
1799day.year
British Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger introduces an income tax of two shillings to the pound to raise funds for Great Britain's war effort in the Napoleonic Wars.
In 1799, William Pitt the Younger introduced Britain's first income tax to finance the nation's war efforts against Napoleonic France.
Facing mounting expenses in the Napoleonic Wars, British Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger established an income tax of two shillings to the pound on January 9, 1799. This measure marked the first time Britain levied a general tax on individual earnings to fund military operations. The progressive tax applied different rates to various income brackets and stirred public debate over government authority. Despite opposition, the levy successfully generated critical revenue for Britain's war chest. Pitt's policy set a precedent for modern income taxation and reshaped the relationship between the state and its citizens.
1799
British Prime Minister
William Pitt the Younger
income tax
shillings
pound
Napoleonic Wars