January 24

Events

41day.year

Claudius is proclaimed Roman emperor by the Praetorian Guard after they assassinate the previous emperor, his nephew Caligula.

In AD 41, the Praetorian Guard assassinated Emperor Caligula and proclaimed Claudius as the new Roman emperor.
On January 24, AD 41, the elite Praetorian Guard turned against Emperor Caligula, assassinating him in a conspiracy fueled by discontent and fear. In the power vacuum that followed, they proclaimed Claudius - Caligula's uncle and consul - as the new emperor at the palace. Claudius had been perceived as weak and was overlooked by many senators, making his sudden elevation a surprise. His accession marked a dramatic shift in the Julio-Claudian dynasty and demonstrated the sardonic power of the Praetorian Guard. Despite initial skepticism, Claudius would go on to implement significant administrative reforms and expand the empire. The events of this day underscored the lethal interplay of military might and imperial politics in ancient Rome.
41 Claudius Roman emperor Praetorian Guard Caligula
914day.year

Start of the First Fatimid invasion of Egypt.

The First Fatimid invasion of Egypt began, marking the start of Fatimid ambitions to control the rich and strategic region.
On January 24, 914, the Fatimid Caliphate launched its first invasion of Egypt under the leadership of General al-Qa'im. The Fatimids, an Ismaili Shi'a dynasty based in North Africa, sought to overthrow Sunni Abbasid control in Egypt and establish their own rule. The invasion force crossed the Libyan desert, facing supply challenges and resistance from local garrisons loyal to the Abbasids. Despite initial successes capturing frontier towns, the campaign ultimately stalled due to logistical issues and strong defensive responses. The incursion set the stage for future attempts by the Fatimids, who would eventually conquer Egypt in 969. This first invasion demonstrated both the strategic importance of Egypt and the enduring contest between rival caliphates for supremacy in the Islamic world.
914 First Fatimid invasion of Egypt
1438day.year

The Council of Basel suspends Pope Eugene IV.

The Council of Basel, in a rare assertion of conciliar authority, suspended Pope Eugene IV amidst disputes over church reform and papal power.
On January 24, 1438, the Council of Basel, convened to address ecclesiastical reforms and the Hussite heresy, took the unprecedented step of suspending Pope Eugene IV. The council accused Eugene of obstructing reform efforts and exceeding his authority by dissolving the assembly. The suspension highlighted a deep conflict between conciliarists, who believed ultimate authority lay with church councils, and papalists, who defended the supremacy of the pope. Despite the suspension, Eugene garnered support in Rome and convened a rival council at Ferrara and Florence. The episode intensified the ongoing struggle over church governance and foreshadowed the further fracturing of ecclesiastical unity. While Pope Eugene IV eventually triumphed politically, the Council of Basel left a lasting legacy on debates over reform and authority within the Catholic Church.
1438 Council of Basel Pope Eugene IV
1458day.year

Matthias Corvinus is elected King of Hungary.

Matthias Corvinus, renowned for his intellect and patronage of Renaissance culture, was elected King of Hungary.
On January 24, 1458, the Hungarian nobles convened in Stuhlweissenburg and elected Matthias Corvinus as king following the death of his father, John Hunyadi. At just 15 years old, Matthias faced internal factions and external threats from the Ottoman Empire. Despite his youth, he quickly consolidated power, enacting judicial reforms and centralizing royal authority. Matthias cultivated a court steeped in Renaissance learning, amassing a celebrated library known as the Bibliotheca Corviniana. His reign saw military victories that expanded Hungary’s borders and secured its position as a bulwark against Ottoman expansion. Matthias Corvinus’s election marked the beginning of one of Hungary’s most prosperous and culturally vibrant eras.
1458 Matthias Corvinus
1536day.year

King Henry VIII of England suffers an accident while jousting, leading to a brain injury that historians say may have influenced his later erratic behaviour and possible impotence.

King Henry VIII suffered a severe head injury during a jousting tournament, an event some historians link to his later authoritarian rule.
On January 24, 1536, King Henry VIII of England took part in a jousting match at Greenwich Palace and was struck hard in the head by his opponent's lance. The impact fractured his skull and lodged a splinter near his brain, causing a serious, potentially life-threatening wound. Contemporary accounts describe the king's prolonged pain, dizziness, and memory lapses following the accident. Some historians believe this injury precipitated significant personality changes, contributing to his increasingly erratic and harsh decisions in later years, including the execution of two more of his six wives. The tournament itself was a grand spectacle celebrating Henry's reign, making the accident all the more shocking to the Tudor court. This incident remains one of the most debated turning points in English royal history.
1536 King Henry VIII of England jousting
1651day.year

Arauco War: Spanish and Mapuche authorities meet in the Parliament of Boroa renewing the fragile peace established at the parliaments of Quillín in 1641 and 1647.

Spanish and Mapuche leaders met at the Parliament of Boroa, renewing a tenuous peace in the long-running Arauco War.
On January 24, 1651, representatives of the Spanish colonial authorities and the Mapuche people gathered at Boroa in southern Chile to negotiate the terms of a renewed armistice. This meeting followed earlier agreements at Quillín in 1641 and 1647 but faced challenges due to ongoing frontier skirmishes and mutual distrust. The Parliament of Boroa reaffirmed boundaries, prisoner exchanges, and tribute arrangements intended to stabilize the uneasy coexistence. While the peace held for several years, it ultimately proved fragile, as both sides resumed conflict over land and autonomy. The event highlighted the complexities of colonial diplomacy and indigenous resistance in early modern South America. It also underscored the Mapuche’s resilience in defending their territory against Spanish encroachment.
1651 Arauco War Mapuche Parliament of Boroa 1641
1679day.year

King Charles II of England dissolves the Cavalier Parliament.

King Charles II dissolved the long-serving Cavalier Parliament amid tensions over succession and religious policy.
On January 24, 1679, Charles II of England exercised his royal prerogative to dissolve the Cavalier Parliament, which had been in session since 1661. The decision came after growing disputes between the king and parliamentarians over issues such as the Exclusion Crisis, which sought to bar his Catholic brother James from the throne. The dissolution effectively ended a body that had largely supported the monarchy but increasingly resisted the king's policies. Charles then called new elections, hoping to secure a more compliant assembly. This move intensified political upheaval in the lead-up to the Glorious Revolution. It also revealed the shifting balance of power between the English crown and an assertive parliament in the late 17th century.
1679 Charles II of England Cavalier Parliament
1742day.year

Charles VII Albert becomes Holy Roman Emperor.

Charles VII of Bavaria ascended to the imperial throne, becoming the first non-Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor in centuries.
On January 24, 1742, Charles Albert, Elector of Bavaria, was crowned Holy Roman Emperor as Charles VII, breaking the Habsburg dynasty's longstanding hold on the title. His election was backed by France and other powers seeking to curb Habsburg influence during the War of the Austrian Succession. Charles faced immediate challenges in asserting his authority over traditional Habsburg territories and securing recognition from key princes. His reign was marked by military campaigns, diplomatic maneuvering, and the struggle to finance an imperial court. Despite initial enthusiasm, Charles's tenure proved turbulent and brief, ending with his death in 1745. Nevertheless, his elevation reshaped the political landscape of central Europe and underscored the fragility of imperial power.
1742 Charles VII Albert Holy Roman Emperor
1758day.year

During the Seven Years' War the leading burghers of Königsberg submit to Elizabeth of Russia, thus forming Russian Prussia (until 1763).

Bürgers of Königsberg pledged allegiance to Empress Elizabeth, creating Russian Prussia during the Seven Years’ War.
On January 24, 1758, amid the broader conflict of the Seven Years’ War, the city council and leading burghers of Königsberg declared their submission to Empress Elizabeth of Russia. This act established a Russian protectorate over East Prussia, alternately called Russian Prussia, displacing Prussian authority under Frederick the Great. The arrangement allowed Russian troops to occupy key fortresses and secure supply lines for the Eastern Front. Local elites acquiesced in hopes of preserving civic privileges and avoiding wartime devastation. However, the Russian occupation was deeply unpopular with many Prussians and strained relations with the Orthodox-ruled occupiers. The episode demonstrated the ebb and flow of territorial control in Europe’s most comprehensive 18th-century conflict.
1758 Seven Years' War Königsberg Elizabeth of Russia Russian Prussia
1817day.year

Crossing of the Andes: Many soldiers of Juan Gregorio de las Heras are captured during the action of Picheuta.

During the liberation campaign, many of General Juan Gregorio de las Heras’s troops were captured at the action of Picheuta as they crossed the Andes.
On January 24, 1817, as part of the Venezuelan and Argentine struggle for independence, General Juan Gregorio de las Heras led a column across the Andes toward Chile. At the small mountain pass of Picheuta, poorly supplied and fatigued, his soldiers encountered Spanish royalist patrols. Surprised by the enemy and hampered by harsh winter conditions, many patriots were captured or forced to retreat. Despite the setback, the main army under José de San Martín pressed on and would achieve victory at the Battle of Chacabuco in February. The action of Picheuta highlighted the daunting logistical and human challenges of the Andean crossing. It also underscored the resolve of the independence fighters in their campaign against colonial rule.
1817 Crossing of the Andes Juan Gregorio de las Heras action of Picheuta
1835day.year

Slaves in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, stage a revolt, which is instrumental in ending slavery there 50 years later.

Enslaved people in Salvador da Bahia staged a major revolt in 1835, inspiring decades of resistance that led to the end of slavery in Brazil in 1888.
On January 24, 1835, enslaved Africans and Afro-Brazilians in Salvador da Bahia rose in a bold uprising against colonial authorities. Although the revolt was quickly suppressed, it became a powerful symbol of resistance. Participants organized secret meetings and seized strategic points in the city. Eyewitnesses reported fierce clashes with local militias. The rebellion exposed the deep unrest within Brazil's slave population. In the decades that followed, it inspired abolitionist movements across the nation. Ultimately, Brazil abolished slavery in 1888, marking the end of centuries of bondage. Today, this revolt is remembered as a landmark in Brazil's struggle for freedom.
1835 Salvador da Bahia stage a revolt
1848day.year

California Gold Rush: James W. Marshall finds gold at Sutter's Mill near Sacramento.

James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in California in 1848, igniting a massive gold rush that transformed the American West.
On January 24, 1848, carpenter James W. Marshall uncovered flakes of gold in the American River at Sutter's Mill near Sacramento. News of the discovery spread rapidly, drawing hundreds of prospectors known as 'forty-niners' to California. The Gold Rush triggered a massive migration from around the globe, swelling the state's population and accelerating its path to statehood. Boomtowns sprang up overnight, and vast fortunes were made and lost. The influx of settlers brought significant economic growth but also conflict with Indigenous peoples. The Gold Rush reshaped trade, transportation, and the cultural fabric of the American West. Its legacy endures in California's diverse population and booming economy.
1848 California Gold Rush James W. Marshall gold Sutter's Mill Sacramento