January 10

Events

49 BC

Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signalling the start of civil war.

In 49 BC, Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River, defying the Roman Senate and igniting a civil war that ultimately transformed the Roman Republic into an empire.
In 49 BC, Julius Caesar defied the Roman Senate and marched his legions across the Rubicon River, a boundary that commanders were forbidden to cross with troops. This bold action marked the start of a civil war against Pompey and the Senate's forces. Caesar's gamble paid off as he rapidly advanced into Italy, causing political allies to abandon Pompey. The ensuing conflict destabilized the Republic and ultimately led to Caesar's dictatorship. Historians view the Rubicon crossing as a decisive turning point that ushered in the end of the Roman Republic and set the stage for the Roman Empire.
49 BC Julius Caesar Rubicon civil war
9day.year

The Western Han dynasty ends when Wang Mang claims that the divine Mandate of Heaven called for the end of the dynasty and the beginning of his own, the Xin dynasty.

In AD 9, Wang Mang usurped the Western Han throne, invoking the Mandate of Heaven to legitimize his Xin dynasty and reshape Chinese imperial rule.
In AD 9, Wang Mang, a powerful official, deposed the Liu family and proclaimed the end of the Western Han dynasty. Claiming that Heaven had withdrawn its mandate from the Han, he established the Xin dynasty with himself as emperor. His radical reforms included land redistribution and currency changes, aiming to address social inequality and economic distress. However, these measures faced fierce resistance from wealthy landowners and led to widespread unrest. Within a decade, rebellions broke out, ultimately toppling Wang Mang and restoring the Han dynasty. The brief Xin period remains one of the most controversial interludes in Chinese imperial history.
9 Han dynasty Wang Mang Mandate of Heaven Xin dynasty
69day.year

Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus is appointed by Galba as deputy Roman Emperor.

In AD 69, Emperor Galba appointed Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus as his co-ruler in an attempt to stabilize Rome during the chaotic Year of the Four Emperors.
In AD 69, the first year of the tumultuous Year of the Four Emperors, Galba sought to ensure his succession by adopting Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus as his heir. Piso was a respected senator with strong ties to Rome’s elite, chosen to appease traditionalist factions. The announcement was intended to stabilize the empire after Nero's fall. However, Galba's failure to reward his military supporters led to growing discontent. Otho, feeling sidelined, orchestrated a plot that resulted in the assassination of both Galba and Piso. This power struggle exemplified the chaos of imperial succession in Rome.
69 Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus Galba deputy Roman Emperor
236day.year

Pope Fabian succeeds Anterus to become the twentieth pope of Rome.

In AD 236, Fabian succeeded Anterus as the twentieth Pope of Rome, guiding the early church during a period of political tension in the empire.
In AD 236, following the death of Pope Anterus, Fabian was elected as his successor to lead the Christian community in Rome. His election is notable for the reported miraculous guidance of a dove landing on his head during the voting process. Fabian focused on organizing the church’s administrative structure, dividing Rome into seven dioceses managed by deacons. He also maintained diplomatic channels with Emperor Maximinus I during a period of frequent persecution. Under his leadership, the Christian church continued to grow despite official hostility. Fabian's martyrdom under later Emperor Decius solidified his legacy as a steadfast early pope.
236 Pope Fabian Anterus Rome
1072day.year

Robert Guiscard conquers Palermo in Sicily for the Normans.

In 1072, Norman adventurer Robert Guiscard captured Palermo, securing Norman dominance over Sicily and altering Mediterranean power dynamics.
In 1072, Robert Guiscard, the Norman adventurer and Duke of Apulia, launched a campaign to seize Sicily from Muslim rule. Palermo, a thriving Mediterranean port, fell after a strategic siege and internal betrayal. Capturing the city enabled the Normans to establish control over the island, strengthening Guiscard's power base. This conquest marked a pivotal moment in Norman expansion into southern Italy and the Mediterranean. The integration of Byzantine and Arab influences in Sicily under Norman governance led to a unique cultural synthesis. Palermo would remain a center of Norman authority for decades.
1072 Robert Guiscard Palermo
1430day.year

Philip the Good, the Duke of Burgundy, establishes the Order of the Golden Fleece, the most prestigious, exclusive, and expensive order of chivalry in the world.

In 1430, Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, established the prestigious Order of the Golden Fleece, cementing Burgundian influence and chivalric tradition in Europe.
On January 10, 1430, Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, founded the Order of the Golden Fleece to reward loyalty and celebrate chivalric ideals. Modeled after Arthurian legends, the order’s lavish ceremonies and strict membership criteria reinforced Burgundian prestige. Knights wore a distinctive gold fleece pendant symbolizing valor and fraternity. Membership was limited to high nobility, making it one of Europe’s most exclusive orders of chivalry. The order fostered diplomatic ties among the Burgundian court and other European powers. Over time, it became a symbol of the region’s cultural and political influence in the Late Middle Ages.
1430 Philip the Good Duke of Burgundy Order of the Golden Fleece order of chivalry
1475day.year

Stephen III of Moldavia defeats the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Vaslui.

In 1475, Stephen III of Moldavia achieved a decisive victory over the Ottoman forces at the Battle of Vaslui, preserving Moldavian independence.
In 1475, the Moldavian prince Stephen III faced a vastly superior Ottoman army at the Battle of Vaslui in eastern Moldavia. Defying expectations, Stephen implemented cunning terrain tactics and ambushes in marshy forests. His forces decimated the Ottoman ranks and forced a retreat under harsh winter conditions. This victory bolstered Moldavian morale and secured a rare triumph against Ottoman expansion. Stephen was later honored by the Pope with the title Athleta Christi (Champion of Christ). The Battle of Vaslui remains celebrated as one of Stephen the Great’s greatest military achievements.
1475 Stephen III of Moldavia Ottoman Empire Battle of Vaslui
1645day.year

Archbishop William Laud is beheaded for treason at the Tower of London.

In 1645, Archbishop William Laud was executed for treason at the Tower of London, marking a dramatic episode in the turmoil of the English Civil War.
In 1645, amidst the turmoil of the English Civil War, Archbishop William Laud was tried and convicted of high treason. A staunch supporter of King Charles I and liturgical reforms, Laud had long been a controversial figure in the Church of England. His centralization of church authority and perceived Catholic sympathies alienated Puritan factions. After years of imprisonment in the Tower of London, he was executed by beheading on Tower Hill. His death marked a dramatic assertion of Parliamentary power over ecclesiastical authority. Laud’s legacy remains a focused example of the conflict between religious innovation and political control in 17th-century England.
1645 William Laud Tower of London
1776day.year

American Revolution: Thomas Paine publishes his pamphlet Common Sense.

In 1776, Thomas Paine published the influential pamphlet Common Sense, galvanizing American colonists toward independence from Britain.
In 1776, Thomas Paine released Common Sense, a concise and persuasive pamphlet advocating American independence. Written in plain language, it directly challenged British rule and monarchy, reaching a broad colonial audience. Millions of copies circulated throughout the Thirteen Colonies, fueling revolutionary sentiment. Paine’s arguments for self-governance and natural rights galvanized public opinion in favor of separation from Britain. Common Sense is credited with transforming the debate into a mass movement for independence. Its enduring influence makes it one of the most important political writings in American history.
1776 Thomas Paine Common Sense
1791day.year

The Siege of Dunlap's Station begins near Cincinnati during the Northwest Indian War.

In 1791, the Siege of Dunlap's Station began near Cincinnati as part of the Northwest Indian War, highlighting tensions on the American frontier.
On January 10, 1791, the Siege of Dunlap’s Station commenced near present-day Cincinnati during the Northwest Indian War. American settlers fortified the station to defend against confederated Native American forces resisting U.S. territorial expansion. The attacking force laid siege for several days, cutting off supplies and testing the defenders’ resilience. Despite limited resources and manpower, the settlers held out until reinforcements arrived. The siege underscored the fierce resistance encountered on the western frontier and the challenges of early American expansion. It became a symbol of pioneer determination in the face of adversity.
1791 Siege of Dunlap's Station Cincinnati Northwest Indian War
1812day.year

The first steamboat on the Ohio River or the Mississippi River arrives in New Orleans, 82 days after departing from Pittsburgh.

In 1812, the steamboat New Orleans completed an 82-day voyage from Pittsburgh to New Orleans, marking the dawn of steam navigation on America's western rivers.
On January 10, 1812, the steamboat New Orleans arrived in the eponymous city after departing Pittsburgh 82 days earlier. Designed by Robert Fulton and Robert R. Livingston, it was the first vessel to demonstrate successful steam-powered navigation on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. The journey showcased the potential of steam technology to transform inland transportation, slashing travel times and freight costs. It opened the Mississippi basin to greater trade and settlement, accelerating economic growth in the frontier regions. This breakthrough laid the groundwork for the expansion of steamboat lines that would dominate 19th-century American river transport.
1812 first steamboat Ohio River Mississippi River New Orleans Pittsburgh
1861day.year

American Civil War: Florida becomes the third state to secede from the Union.

In 1861, Florida seceded from the Union, becoming the third state to join the Confederacy and deepening the divide that led to the American Civil War.
Florida's Secession Convention convened in Tallahassee and voted on January 10, 1861, to withdraw from the United States. Following South Carolina and Mississippi, it was the third state to join the Confederacy. Delegates cited states' rights and the protection of the institution of slavery as key motivations. Florida's departure provided the Confederacy with vital supplies of cotton and strategic Gulf Coast ports. This event further crystallized the rift between North and South, paving the way for the outbreak of full-scale war.
1861 American Civil War Florida Union