41day.year
After a night of negotiation, Claudius is accepted as Roman emperor by the Senate.
Roman Senate accepts Claudius as emperor after overnight negotiations, confirming his rule following Caligula's assassination.
In the wake of Caligula's murder on January 24, AD 41, the Praetorian Guard proclaimed Claudius emperor. Senators met through the night to deliberate his legitimacy and potential capacity to rule. Facing pressure from military forces and public sentiment, the Senate formally acknowledged his accession on January 25. Claudius, uncle of the slain emperor, overcame doubts about his fitness for power. His reign would later bring administrative reforms, monumental building projects, and the conquest of Britain.
41
Claudius
Roman emperor
Senate
750day.year
In the Battle of the Zab, the Abbasid rebels defeat the Umayyad Caliphate, leading to the overthrow of the dynasty.
Abbasid forces crush the Umayyad Caliphate at the Battle of the Zab, paving the way for a new dynasty in the Islamic world.
On January 25, 750, the Abbasid rebel army, led by Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah, clashed with Umayyad forces near the Great Zab River. The decisive Abbasid victory shattered the military strength of the Umayyad Caliphate. Marwan II was forced into flight and later killed, ending over a century of Umayyad rule. The Abbasids established their capital at Baghdad, ushering in a cultural and scientific golden age. This shift redefined political and religious authority across the Middle East.
750
Battle of the Zab
Abbasid
Umayyad Caliphate
1327day.year
Fourteen-year-old Edward III ascends the throne of England after his father the king is forced to abdicate by Queen Isabella and her lover, Roger Mortimer.
Fourteen-year-old Edward III is crowned King of England after his father Edward II is forced to abdicate by Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer.
After a coup led by Queen Isabella and her ally Roger Mortimer, Edward II was compelled to relinquish the throne on January 25, 1327. His son, Edward III, formally ascended to kingship at Windsor Castle in a ceremony attended by nobility and clergy. Isabella and Mortimer assumed regency, wielding effective control over the young monarch's decisions. Edward III's long reign would later see military campaigns in France and the establishment of the Order of the Garter. His rule strengthened royal authority and laid foundations for the Hundred Years' War.
1327
Edward III
his father the king
Queen Isabella
Roger Mortimer
1348day.year
A strong earthquake strikes the South Alpine region of Friuli in modern Italy, causing considerable damage to buildings as far away as Rome.
A powerful earthquake strikes Friuli in northeastern Italy, causing extensive damage as far south as Rome.
On January 25, 1348, a strong earthquake shook the South Alpine region of Friuli in present-day Italy. The tremor collapsed buildings, churches, and defensive walls across local towns, leaving many inhabitants homeless. Shockwaves were felt over 300 kilometers away, with reports of cracked walls in Rome. The disaster compounded the hardships of a Europe already suffering from famine and plague. Contemporary accounts describe widespread fear and the arduous process of reconstruction that followed.
1348
strong earthquake
Friuli
Italy
1479day.year
The Treaty of Constantinople ends the 16-year-long First Ottoman–Venetian War.
The Treaty of Constantinople ends the First Ottoman–Venetian War, reshaping control in the eastern Mediterranean.
After sixteen years of conflict over Aegean islands and coastal strongholds, Venice and the Ottoman Empire signed the Treaty of Constantinople on January 25, 1479. Under its terms, Venice ceded key territories such as Negroponte and Lepanto to the Ottomans. In exchange, the Republic retained vital trading rights and received annual tribute payments. The agreement confirmed the rise of Ottoman naval power and altered the balance of trade in the region. It set a diplomatic precedent for future Christian-Muslim relations in the Mediterranean.
1479
Treaty of Constantinople
First Ottoman–Venetian War
1494day.year
Alfonso II becomes King of Naples.
Alfonso II, known as the Magnanimous, ascends to the Neapolitan throne, inheriting a realm at the heart of Italian Renaissance politics.
On January 25, 1494, Alfonso II of Naples succeeded his father, Ferdinand I, becoming the new king of the Kingdom of Naples. Nicknamed the Magnanimous, Alfonso inherited a realm poised between Venetian, Papal, and Aragonese interests in Italy. His brief reign focused on fortifying the kingdom's defenses and patronizing the arts. The new king commissioned architectural projects that enriched Naples' cultural landscape. His rule was soon tested by the impending French invasion under Charles VIII, igniting the Italian Wars.
1494
Alfonso II
Naples
1515day.year
Coronation of Francis I of France takes place at Reims Cathedral, where the new monarch is anointed with the oil of Clovis and girt with the sword of Charlemagne.
Francis I is crowned King of France at Reims Cathedral, symbolically linking his reign to Clovis and Charlemagne.
On January 25, 1515, Francis I received the French crown in a grand ceremony at Reims Cathedral. He was anointed with the sacred oil traditionally associated with Clovis and girded with the legendary sword of Charlemagne. This ritual reinforced the continuity of French monarchy and its divine right. Francis's patronage kicked off the French Renaissance, attracting artists and scholars from across Europe. His reign laid foundations for French cultural and political influence in the 16th century.
1515
Coronation
Francis I of France
Reims Cathedral
Charlemagne
1533day.year
Henry VIII of England secretly marries his second wife Anne Boleyn.
Henry VIII secretly marries Anne Boleyn, a decision that accelerates England's break with the Catholic Church.
On January 25, 1533, King Henry VIII of England wed Anne Boleyn in a private ceremony at Whitehall Palace. The clandestine marriage defied papal authority and bypassed traditional ecclesiastical approval. Within weeks, Henry initiated steps to annul his first marriage, leading to the English Reformation. Anne was crowned queen the following May, solidifying her position at court. Their union reshaped England's religious institutions and royal succession.
1533
Henry VIII of England
Anne Boleyn
1554day.year
São Paulo, Brazil, is founded by Jesuit priests.
Jesuit priests establish a mission that evolves into São Paulo, which will become the most populous city in Brazil.
On January 25, 1554, Jesuit missionaries Manuel da Nóbrega and José de Anchieta founded the College of São Paulo on a plateau near present-day São Paulo. The institution aimed to convert indigenous peoples to Christianity and serve as an educational and cultural center. The settlement drew farmers, traders, and settlers, fostering rapid population growth. Over the centuries, the mission community expanded into a bustling colonial town. Today, São Paulo stands as a global metropolis rooted in this humble Jesuit outpost.
1554
São Paulo
Jesuit
1573day.year
Battle of Mikatagahara: In Japan, Takeda Shingen defeats Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Takeda Shingen inflicts a major defeat on Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Mikatagahara during Japan's Sengoku period.
On January 25, 1573, Takeda Shingen led his renowned cavalry to victory against the forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu near Mikatagahara in Mikawa Province. The Takeda army's strategic use of terrain and coordinated assaults overwhelmed the Tokugawa troops. Ieyasu was forced to withdraw and regroup, marking a significant setback in his bid for dominance. The victory enhanced Shingen's reputation as one of the era's preeminent warlords. This clash influenced subsequent alliances and battles that ultimately shaped Japan's path to unification.
1573
Battle of Mikatagahara
Takeda Shingen
Tokugawa Ieyasu
1575day.year
Luanda, the capital of Angola, is founded by the Portuguese navigator Paulo Dias de Novais.
In 1575, Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias de Novais founded Luanda, which would become Angola’s capital and a major Atlantic trade port.
In 1575, Portuguese navigator Paulo Dias de Novais established the settlement of Sao Paulo de Luanda on the coast of present-day Angola. Commissioned by King Sebastian of Portugal, the outpost served as a fortified trading post and administrative base. Over time, Luanda thrived through the Atlantic slave trade, connecting West Africa with colonial Brazil. Strategic location and strong fortifications helped it survive regional conflicts and rival European interests. By the 19th century, Luanda had grown into the colonial capital of Portuguese Angola. Today it remains the nation’s largest city, reflecting its complex history from colonial hub to modern metropolis.
1575
Luanda
Angola
Paulo Dias de Novais
1585day.year
Walter Raleigh is knighted, shortly after renaming North America region "Virginia", in honor of Elizabeth I, Queen of England, sometimes referred to as the "Virgin Queen".
In 1585, Sir Walter Raleigh was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I and christened the New World region 'Virginia' to honor her 'Virgin Queen' title.
In 1585, English explorer Walter Raleigh was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I in recognition of his exploits in the New World. Shortly before the ceremony, Raleigh designated the coastal region of North America as 'Virginia' in her honor, referencing the queen’s epithet as the 'Virgin Queen.' His expedition to the Chesapeake Bay marked one of the earliest English attempts at colonization. Although the Roanoke colony ultimately failed, Raleigh’s efforts paved the way for future settlement. The naming of Virginia symbolized England’s growing ambitions in the Americas. Today the state of Virginia carries this legacy as the first enduring English colony on the continent.
1585
Walter Raleigh