763day.year
Following the Battle of Bakhamra between Alids and Abbasids near Kufa, the Alid rebellion ends with the death of Ibrahim, brother of Isa ibn Musa.
In 763, the Alid rebellion against the Abbasid Caliphate comes to an end after the Battle of Bakhamra near Kufa, marked by the death of Ibrahim, brother of Isa ibn Musa.
The Alids, descendants of Ali ibn Abi Talib, mounted a rebellion against the ruling Abbasid Caliphate in Mesopotamia.
They clashed with Abbasid forces near Kufa in a battle that would determine control of the region.
Despite initial Alid resistance, the Abbasid army prevailed decisively against Ibrahim's troops.
Ibrahim himself was killed in the fighting, effectively ending the uprising.
The victory bolstered Abbasid control and quelled further immediate threats from dynastic challengers.
This battle underscored the Abbasids' determination to maintain central authority during their consolidation of power.
763
Battle of Bakhamra
Alids
Abbasids
Kufa
Isa ibn Musa
1525day.year
The Swiss Anabaptist Movement is founded when Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, George Blaurock, and about a dozen others baptize each other in the home of Manz's mother in Zürich, breaking a thousand-year tradition of church-state union.
In 1525, Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, and fellow reformers perform the first adult baptisms in Zürich, founding the Swiss Anabaptist Movement and challenging church-state unity.
Amid the broader Protestant Reformation, radicals in Zürich sought a return to New Testament principles.
On January 21, 1525, Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, and George Blaurock baptized each other in Manz's mother's home, rejecting infant baptism.
This act established the Swiss Anabaptist Movement, emphasizing voluntary faith and church autonomy.
By separating church and state, they broke a millennium-old tradition of ecclesiastical union.
Their beliefs spread rapidly and provoked severe persecution across Europe.
The Anabaptists' emphasis on believer's baptism laid a foundation for modern notions of religious liberty.
1525
Swiss
Anabaptist
Conrad Grebel
Felix Manz
George Blaurock
Zürich
1535day.year
Following the Affair of the Placards, the French king leads an anti-Protestant procession through Paris.
In 1535, King Francis I of France leads an anti-Protestant procession in Paris in response to the Affair of the Placards, intensifying the crackdown on reformers.
The Affair of the Placards saw anti-Catholic posters appear in public throughout France, including on the king's bedchamber door.
Shocked by this act of protest, King Francis I ordered a massive procession through Paris to reaffirm Catholic orthodoxy.
The January 21, 1535, event marked a turning point in royal policy against Protestantism.
It triggered widespread persecution of Huguenots, closing printing presses and banning Protestant literature.
The king's display of force signaled the end of early toleration and the beginning of harsher repression.
This crackdown deepened religious divisions that would later fuel the French Wars of Religion.
1535
Affair of the Placards
the French king
Protestant
1720day.year
Sweden and Prussia sign the Treaty of Stockholm.
On January 21, 1720, Sweden and Prussia sign the Treaty of Stockholm, concluding their hostilities and reshaping Northern European alliances after the Great Northern War.
The Treaty of Stockholm formally ended the conflict between Sweden and Prussia during the Great Northern War.
Under its terms, Sweden ceded territories and recognized Prussian gains in Pomerania.
Prussia secured strategic ports along the Baltic coast, enhancing its maritime presence.
The treaty marked a shift in power, diminishing Sweden's dominance in the region.
It also laid the groundwork for future Prussian expansion and influence in European politics.
This diplomatic settlement reflected the evolving balance of power on the continent.
1720
Prussia
Treaty of Stockholm
1749day.year
The Teatro Filarmonico in Verona is destroyed by fire, as a result of a torch being left behind in the box of a nobleman after a performance. It is rebuilt in 1754.
On January 21, 1749, a torch left in a nobleman’s box ignites the Teatro Filarmonico in Verona, reducing the famed opera house to ashes; it is rebuilt five years later.
After a performance at Verona's prestigious Teatro Filarmonico, a forgotten torch sparked a devastating blaze.
The fire consumed the entire auditorium and stage, destroying the building's ornate interiors.
Despite efforts to contain the flames, the historic theater was left in ruins.
The loss disrupted Verona's vibrant opera culture, forcing performances to relocate.
In 1754, the Teatro Filarmonico was meticulously reconstructed, restoring its Baroque grandeur.
The incident remains a cautionary tale about safety in performance venues.
1749
Teatro Filarmonico
1774day.year
Abdul Hamid I becomes Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and Caliph of Islam.
On January 21, 1774, Abdul Hamid I ascends to the Ottoman throne and is proclaimed Sultan and Caliph, steering the empire through post-war recovery and reforms.
Following the death of his brother, Sultan Mustafa III, Abdul Hamid I was acclaimed Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
He assumed the title of Caliph of Islam, combining spiritual leadership with imperial authority.
His reign began amid the challenges of the Russo-Turkish War and internal financial strains.
Abdul Hamid initiated administrative and military reforms to stabilize the state.
He also sought to improve provincial governance and fiscal systems.
His leadership laid foundations for the later modernizing efforts of the empire.
1774
Abdul Hamid I
Sultan of the Ottoman Empire
Caliph of Islam
1789day.year
The first American novel, The Power of Sympathy or the Triumph of Nature Founded in Truth by William Hill Brown, is printed in Boston.
In 1789, William Hill Brown’s The Power of Sympathy is published in Boston as the first American novel, pioneering a new era of national literature.
William Hill Brown's epistolary novel The Power of Sympathy explores themes of seduction, morality, and familial duty.
As the first novel printed in the United States, it marked a significant milestone in American letters.
Set against the backdrop of post-Revolutionary America, the book warned of the dangers of unchecked passions.
Its publication demonstrated the budding literary culture in the new nation.
While its moralistic tone limits its modern appeal, its historical importance remains undeniable.
Brown's work paved the way for future American novelists to explore national identity through fiction.
1789
The Power of Sympathy or the Triumph of Nature Founded in Truth
William Hill Brown
Boston
1793day.year
After being found guilty of treason by the French National Convention, Louis XVI of France is executed by guillotine.
On January 21, 1793, King Louis XVI of France is executed by guillotine after a treason conviction, signaling the radical phase of the French Revolution.
Following his trial by the National Convention, Louis XVI was condemned for conspiring against the unity of the Republic.
On the Place de la Révolution in Paris, the former monarch faced the guillotine before a vast crowd.
His execution marked the definitive end of the Bourbon monarchy in France.
It intensified the revolutionary government's move toward radicalization and the Reign of Terror.
European monarchies reacted with horror, leading to renewed coalitions against revolutionary France.
The event remains one of the most dramatic turning points in modern European history.
1793
National Convention
Louis XVI
guillotine
1824day.year
The Ashantis defeat British forces in the Gold Coast during the First Anglo-Ashanti War.
On January 21, 1824, Ashanti warriors secure a major victory over British forces in the Gold Coast, marking the outset of the First Anglo-Ashanti War.
Tensions over trade and territorial control led to open conflict between the Ashanti Empire and the British on the Gold Coast.
Ashanti troops engaged and routed a British expeditionary force, demonstrating their military prowess.
The defeat forced the British to rethink their strategy and fortify coastal positions.
This early victory emboldened the Ashanti kingdom's regional influence.
The war would continue for several years, highlighting the clash between African states and European colonial powers.
The encounter set the stage for future colonial campaigns in West Africa.
1824
Ashantis
defeat
Gold Coast
First Anglo-Ashanti War
1854day.year
The RMS Tayleur sinks off Lambay Island on her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Australia with great loss of life.
On January 21, 1854, the iron clipper ship RMS Tayleur sinks off Lambay Island during its maiden voyage from Liverpool to Australia, resulting in heavy casualties.
Designed by William Patterson, the RMS Tayleur was one of the largest iron-hulled ships of its time.
Launched on its maiden voyage, the vessel encountered navigational errors and stormy seas near Ireland.
It struck Lambay Island, causing a rapid breach in its hull and eventual sinking.
Of the over 650 people aboard, hundreds perished in the freezing waters.
The disaster prompted changes in maritime safety regulations and ship design.
The wreck remains a poignant reminder of the perils of early iron ship travel.
1854
RMS Tayleur
Lambay Island
1893day.year
The Tati Concessions Land, formerly part of Matabeleland, is formally annexed to the Bechuanaland Protectorate, now Botswana.
In 1893, the British Empire annexed the Tati Concessions Land into the Bechuanaland Protectorate, shaping the future borders of modern Botswana.
The Tati Concessions Land was originally part of Matabeleland and managed under a concession system.
On January 21, 1893, British authorities formally incorporated it into the Bechuanaland Protectorate.
This annexation expanded British colonial administration in southern Africa and laid groundwork for today's Botswana.
Local mining interests and European settlers had long eyed the mineral-rich region.
The move also reflected strategic interests in securing trade routes and regional influence against other colonial powers.
By integrating Tati, the Protectorate gained both economic assets and a more defined territorial boundary.
1893
Tati Concessions Land
Matabeleland
Bechuanaland Protectorate
Botswana
1908day.year
New York City passes the Sullivan Ordinance, making it illegal for women to smoke in public, only to have the measure vetoed by the mayor.
In 1908, New York City's Sullivan Ordinance banned women from smoking in public before being vetoed by Mayor George B. McClellan Jr.
The Sullivan Ordinance was passed by the New York City Board of Aldermen on January 21, 1908.
It sought to prohibit women from smoking tobacco in public spaces, reflecting social anxieties over gender and morality.
Mayor McClellan vetoed the measure just days later, criticizing its impracticality and potential for public ridicule.
The ordinance sparked national debate over women's rights and public decency during the early Progressive Era.
Though short-lived, it underscored changing gender norms and the limits of moral legislation in urban America.
The incident became a symbol of evolving attitudes toward women's autonomy and public conduct.
1908
Sullivan Ordinance