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
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
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
1859day.year
The United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia (later named Romania) is formed as a personal union under the rule of Domnitor Alexandru Ioan Cuza.
In 1859, Moldavia and Wallachia united under Alexandru Ioan Cuza, creating a personal union that laid the groundwork for modern Romania.
On January 24, 1859, the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia decided to unite under the leadership of Domnitor Alexandru Ioan Cuza, achieving a personal union known as the United Principalities. The dual election of Cuza in both regions circumvented strict Ottoman provisions and advanced the cause of Romanian autonomy. The union brought administrative, judicial, and fiscal reforms that modernized the newly formed state. It fostered a sense of national identity and unity among Romanians in both principalities. Over subsequent decades, the union evolved into the Kingdom of Romania, recognized internationally in 1878. Cuza's reforms laid the groundwork for Romania's political and cultural development. Today, this 1859 union is celebrated as the birth of the modern Romanian state.
1859
United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia
Alexandru Ioan Cuza
1916day.year
In Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., the Supreme Court of the United States declares the federal income tax constitutional.
In Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad (1916), the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the federal income tax, shaping American fiscal policy.
On January 24, 1916, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered its decision in Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., affirming the federal government's power to levy income taxes under the Sixteenth Amendment. The case arose when railroad investor Frank H. Brushaber challenged the Income Tax Act of 1913, arguing it was unconstitutional. Chief Justice Edward Douglass White authored the majority opinion, ruling that the Sixteenth Amendment removed previous apportionment requirements for income taxes. The decision settled longstanding debates over federal tax authority and funded government operations, including World War I efforts. It established legal precedent for progressive taxation and paved the way for modern fiscal policy. Brushaber remains a landmark case in U.S. constitutional and tax law. Its impact endures in debates over taxation and government revenue powers.
1916
Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad Co.
Supreme Court of the United States
income tax
1918day.year
The Gregorian calendar is introduced in Russia by decree of the Council of People's Commissars effective February 14 (New Style).
In 1918, Soviet Russia adopted the Gregorian calendar, realigning its dates with most of the world and modernizing civil timekeeping.
On January 24, 1918, the Council of People's Commissars of Soviet Russia decreed the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, effective February 14 (New Style), replacing the Julian calendar in use since the Tsarist era. The reform eliminated the 13-day discrepancy with Western Europe, facilitating international relations, trade, and official communications. The transition required skipping 13 days, with February 1 (Julian) immediately followed by February 14 (Gregorian) in 1918. The change reflected the Bolshevik government's effort to modernize and break from imperial traditions. Calendar reform also synchronized religious observances and civil holidays with global practices. Over time, the Soviet calendar served as a model for other Eastern European nations. The 1918 decree remains a key moment in Russia's post-revolutionary transformation.
1918
Gregorian calendar
Council of People's Commissars
February 14
1933day.year
The 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, changing the beginning and end of terms for all elected federal offices.
The 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1933, shifting the start and end dates of congressional and presidential terms to curb the lame-duck session.
On January 24, 1933, the 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution was officially ratified, moving the start of presidential, vice-presidential, and congressional terms to reduce the 'lame-duck' period. The President's term began on January 20 instead of March 4, while Congress convened on January 3. The amendment aimed to address governmental inefficiency and lack of accountability during transition periods, issues highlighted by the Great Depression. Adoption required approval by three-fourths of the states, which was achieved rapidly amid calls for reform. The first President inaugurated under the new schedule was Franklin D. Roosevelt in March 1937. The 'Lame Duck Amendment' streamlined U.S. governance and remains a critical component of American constitutional structure.
1933
20th Amendment to the United States Constitution
1943day.year
World War II: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill conclude a conference in Casablanca.
In 1943, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill concluded the Casablanca Conference to plan Allied strategy in World War II.
Between January 14 and 24, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill met in Casablanca, Morocco, to discuss the next phases of the Allied war effort. The conference produced the famous declaration demanding unconditional surrender from the Axis powers. Key military strategies, including the invasions of Sicily and Italy, were outlined. Though Soviet leader Joseph Stalin did not attend, the meeting shaped overall Allied coordination. The outcomes reinforced cooperation between the United States and Britain and set the stage for future European operations.
1943
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Winston Churchill
conference in Casablanca
1946day.year
The United Nations General Assembly passes its first resolution to establish the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission.
The United Nations General Assembly passed its first resolution in 1946 to create the Atomic Energy Commission for global nuclear oversight.
On January 24, 1946, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 1, establishing the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission (UNAEC). The commission's mandate was to propose measures for the control and peaceful use of atomic energy and prevent nuclear proliferation. This landmark resolution came just months after the first nuclear bombs were used at the end of World War II. Member states were tasked with reporting on their nuclear activities and collaborating on safety standards. Though political tensions hindered some proposals, the UNAEC laid the groundwork for future international nuclear agreements. The creation of the commission signaled the UN's early commitment to managing the rising threat of atomic weapons.
1946
United Nations General Assembly
United Nations Atomic Energy Commission
1989day.year
Notorious serial killer Ted Bundy, with over 30 known victims, is executed in the electric chair at the Florida State Prison.
On January 24, 1989, notorious serial killer Ted Bundy was executed in Florida's electric chair, concluding one of the most sensational criminal cases in American history.
On January 24, 1989, Ted Bundy, convicted of a series of brutal murders across multiple states, was executed by electrocution at Raiford Prison in Florida. Bundy had confessed to at least 30 homicides targeting young women, shocking the nation with his deceptive charm and calculated brutality. His trials, escape attempts, and televised confession sessions captivated intense media scrutiny over more than a decade. The execution ended a long and contentious legal saga and reignited debates over the death penalty, criminal profiling, and mental health treatment in the justice system. Victims' families, having endured years of uncertainty, viewed the execution as a grim closure to their trauma. Bundy's case influenced law enforcement techniques, forensic psychology, and public awareness of serial violent crime. The event underscored the complexities of administering capital punishment and its psychological impact on all involved. It remains a stark reminder of the profound consequences of violent crime and the controversies surrounding state-sanctioned executions.
1989
Ted Bundy
Florida State Prison