January 16

Events

1458 BC

Hatshepsut dies at the age of 50 and is buried in the Valley of the Kings.

At age 50, Pharaoh Hatshepsut passed away and was laid to rest in Egypt’s famed Valley of the Kings.
Pharaoh Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful and successful female rulers, died unexpectedly at the age of 50. Her reign marked a period of prosperity, extensive building projects, and strengthened trade networks. Following her death, she was ceremonially interred in a tomb within the Valley of the Kings. Archaeologists later uncovered her hidden mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari, revealing her importance in Egyptian history. Her legacy played a crucial role in shaping subsequent pharaohs’ portrayals and the understanding of female leadership in antiquity. Her monuments and inscriptions continue to intrigue historians and visitors to this day.
1458 BC Hatshepsut Valley of the Kings
27 BC

Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus is granted the title Augustus by the Roman Senate, marking the beginning of the Roman Empire.

In 27 BC, Gaius Octavian was proclaimed Augustus by the Roman Senate, marking his rise as the first Roman Emperor.
On January 16, 27 BC, the Roman Senate bestowed the title Augustus upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus after years of civil war. This honor signified his supreme authority and effectively ended the Roman Republic’s era of political strife. Augustus established a new constitutional framework that balanced power between the emperor and the Senate. Under his rule, Rome experienced the Pax Romana—a period of relative peace and stability across the empire. He initiated administrative reforms, expanded the empire’s borders, and supported cultural and architectural projects. Augustus’s reign laid the foundation for over two centuries of imperial governance in Rome.
27 BC Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus Augustus Roman Senate Roman Empire
378day.year

General Siyaj K'ak' conquers Tikal, enlarging the domain of King Spearthrower Owl of Teotihuacán.

In 378, General Siyaj K'ak' led Teotihuacán forces to conquer the Maya city of Tikal, expanding King Spearthrower Owl’s domain.
General Siyaj K'ak', a military leader from the powerful city-state of Teotihuacán, invaded Tikal in 378 AD. His conquest represented a major shift in Maya geopolitics and brought the influence of central Mexico to the Maya lowlands. The victory installed Spearthrower Owl, a ruler with ties to Teotihuacán, on Tikal’s throne. This event marked the beginning of a new dynasty and an era of architectural and cultural exchange. Archaeological evidence shows the introduction of Teotihuacán-style talud-tablero architecture at Tikal following the conquest. The alliance reshaped trade networks and political alliances across the Maya region for decades.
378 Siyaj K'ak' Tikal Spearthrower Owl Teotihuacán
550day.year

Gothic War: The Ostrogoths, under King Totila, conquer Rome after a long siege, by bribing the Isaurian garrison.

In 550, King Totila’s Ostrogoths seized Rome by bribing its garrison after a protracted siege during the Gothic War.
During the protracted Gothic War, Ostrogothic King Totila laid siege to Rome in 550 AD. After months of blockade, Totila persuaded the Isaurian garrison to abandon their post in exchange for a hefty bribe. This cunning tactic allowed the Ostrogoths to capture the city without extensive bloodshed. Totila’s occupation restored Gothic control over Rome and momentarily weakened Byzantine influence in Italy. He sought to win popular support by restoring civic amenities and distributing food to the city’s inhabitants. Totila’s conquest underscored the shifting power dynamics of post-Roman Western Europe.
550 Gothic War Ostrogoths Totila Isaurian
929day.year

Emir Abd-ar-Rahman III establishes the Caliphate of Córdoba.

In 929, Abd-ar-Rahman III declared himself Caliph of Córdoba, elevating Al-Andalus to a political and religious rival of Baghdad.
Abd-ar-Rahman III, the Umayyad emir of Córdoba, proclaimed himself Caliph in 929 AD. This declaration asserted both political and spiritual independence from the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad. Under his leadership, Córdoba became a center of learning, culture, and economic prosperity in medieval Europe. He commissioned grand palaces, fortified defenses, and established a standing army known as the Mazuna. The Caliphate of Córdoba fostered advancements in science, philosophy, and the arts that influenced both Islamic and Christian worlds. Abd-ar-Rahman’s reign marked the pinnacle of Umayyad rule in the Iberian Peninsula.
929 Emir Abd-ar-Rahman III Caliphate of Córdoba
1120day.year

Crusades: The Council of Nablus is held, establishing the earliest surviving written laws of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem.

In 1120, the Council of Nablus convened to create the first surviving laws for the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem.
The Council of Nablus gathered church leaders and secular lords in 1120 AD to legislate order in the fragile Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. Seeking to address moral conduct, property disputes, and ecclesiastical jurisdiction, they produced the earliest extant legal code of the Latin East. These laws covered issues from adultery and sodomy to tithes and clerical protections. By codifying rules, the Council aimed to stabilize relations between Frankish settlers, native populations, and the Church. The council’s decrees influenced subsequent legal developments in the Crusader states. Its statutes provide historians with insight into medieval governance in a frontier society.
1120 Crusades Council of Nablus Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem
1275day.year

Edward I permits his mother Eleanor of Provence to expel the Jews from the towns Worcester, Marlborough, Cambridge and Gloucester.

In 1275, King Edward I authorized the expulsion of Jewish communities from several English towns, intensifying medieval anti-Jewish measures.
In January 1275, Edward I allowed his mother, Queen Eleanor of Provence, to eject Jewish residents from Worcester, Marlborough, Cambridge, and Gloucester. This order followed rising tensions over moneylending debts and religious prejudices against Jews in medieval England. Families were forced to abandon homes and livelihoods, facing displacement or migration to less hostile regions. The expulsions foreshadowed the eventual nationwide expulsion of Jews from England in 1290. Surviving records reveal the social and economic upheaval experienced by Jewish communities under royal decree. The 1275 expulsion exemplifies the precarious status of minorities in medieval European societies.
1275 Edward I Eleanor of Provence Worcester Marlborough Cambridge Gloucester
1362day.year

Saint Marcellus's flood kills at least 25,000 people on the shores of the North Sea.

The Saint Marcellus flood of 1362 unleashed powerful storm tides on the North Sea coast, claiming at least 25,000 lives.
On January 16, 1362, a catastrophic storm surge known as Saint Marcellus’s flood battered the coasts of the North Sea. Violent winds and high tides breached dikes and inundated towns and farmland across present-day Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Contemporary chronicles estimate at least 25,000 fatalities from drowning, disease, and the loss of shelter. The deluge reshaped the coastline, creating new waterways and submerging entire settlements. Survivors faced shortages of food and resources as fields lay under saltwater, devastating agriculture. The disaster spurred improvements in medieval flood defenses and coastal management techniques.
1362 Saint Marcellus's flood North Sea
1537day.year

Bigod's Rebellion, an armed insurrection attempting to resist the English Reformation, begins.

Bigod’s Rebellion erupted in 1537 as a Northumbrian uprising against Henry VIII’s religious reforms.
In January 1537, Sir Francis Bigod led a revolt in Northumberland aiming to resist the English Reformation policies of King Henry VIII. The uprising followed the earlier Pilgrimage of Grace but lacked widespread support from local gentry and commoners. Bigod’s poorly planned attack on garrisons and strategic castles failed to mobilize a significant force. The swift suppression by royal troops resulted in Bigod’s capture and subsequent execution. This rebellion underscored deep unrest over the dissolution of monasteries and religious change in Tudor England. Its failure reinforced the Crown’s authority and deterred further large-scale rebellions during Henry’s reign.
1537 Bigod's Rebellion English Reformation
1547day.year

Grand Duke Ivan IV of Muscovy becomes the first Tsar of Russia, replacing the 264-year-old Grand Duchy of Moscow with the Tsardom of Russia.

In 1547, Ivan IV of Muscovy was crowned as the first Tsar of All Russia, transforming the Grand Duchy into the Tsardom.
On January 16, 1547, Grand Duke Ivan IV of Muscovy assumed the title of Tsar, a move formalizing his autocratic rule. His coronation marked the transition from the Grand Duchy of Moscow to the Tsardom of Russia. Ivan’s new status elevated Russia’s standing among European powers and shaped its national identity. He enacted reforms in military organization, local administration, and law during his early reign. Known later as Ivan the Terrible, his policies combined modernization with ruthless consolidation of power. Ivan’s elevation to Tsar established a precedent for the absolute monarchy that endured in Russia for centuries.
1547 Ivan IV Muscovy Tsar of Russia Grand Duchy of Moscow Tsardom of Russia
1556day.year

Philip II becomes King of Spain.

Philip II ascends to the Spanish throne at age 28, marking the start of his 42-year reign over one of Europe's greatest empires.
Following the abdication of Emperor Charles V, his son Philip II ascended to the Spanish throne at age 28. His 42-year reign saw the Spanish Empire reach its height in Europe and the Americas. He centralized royal power, upheld strict Catholic orthodoxy, and led campaigns against Protestant movements. Philip patronized the arts, commissioning works by El Greco and others. He also faced challenges such as the Dutch Revolt and the ill-fated Spanish Armada.
1556 Philip II
1572day.year

Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk is tried and found guilty of treason for his part in the Ridolfi plot to restore Catholicism in England.

Thomas Howard is convicted of treason for his role in the Ridolfi Plot to restore Catholicism in England.
Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, was tried before the House of Lords for his involvement in the Ridolfi Plot to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I and restore Catholicism. Evidence linked him to a conspiracy backed by Spain and the Pope. He was found guilty of high treason and sentenced to death, highlighting the Elizabethan government's resolve against religious threats. His execution in June 1572 marked the end of the highest-ranking treason case of the reign. The trial underscored the fierce sectarian tensions of Tudor England.
1572 Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk Ridolfi plot Catholicism