January 27

Events

98day.year

Trajan succeeds his adoptive father Nerva as Roman emperor.

In 98 AD, Trajan succeeded Nerva as Roman emperor, ushering in an era of stability and growth.
Upon the death of Emperor Nerva on January 27, 98, Trajan ascended to the throne as his adoptive son and heir. His accession marked the beginning of Rome's 'Golden Age' under the so-called Five Good Emperors. Born in Italica in the province of Hispania, Trajan was noted for his military prowess and administrative skill. He later led successful campaigns in Dacia, significantly expanding the empire’s borders and wealth. Trajan commissioned ambitious building projects in Rome, including Trajan's Forum and the famed Trajan's Column. He also introduced social welfare programs, such as the alimenta scheme to support poor children. His reign is often regarded as the pinnacle of Roman peace and prosperity.
98 Trajan Nerva Roman emperor
945day.year

The co-emperors Stephen and Constantine are overthrown and forced to become monks by Constantine VII, who becomes sole emperor of the Byzantine Empire.

In 945, Constantine VII deposed his co-emperors Stephen and Constantine, compelling them into monastic exile and becoming sole ruler of Byzantium.
Following the death of Emperor Romanos I, his sons Stephen and Constantine briefly shared power with Constantine VII. On January 27, 945, Constantine VII orchestrated a coup, forcing his co-rulers into monasteries. This bold move ended a period of divided authority and restored centralized rule under Constantine VII. His sole reign ushered in the Macedonian Renaissance, a revival of art, literature, and learning. Despite initial doubts about his legitimacy, Constantine’s administrative reforms strengthened the Byzantine state. He patronized scholars and chroniclers, ensuring the preservation of classical Greek texts and history.
945 Stephen Constantine Constantine VII Byzantine Empire
1186day.year

Henry VI, the son and heir of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I, marries Constance of Sicily.

In 1186, Henry VI married Constance of Sicily, forging a dynastic alliance that extended Hohenstaufen influence into southern Italy.
On January 27, 1186, Henry VI wed Constance of Sicily, the heiress of King William II, in a union of imperial ambition and royal inheritance. Constance’s vast Mediterranean realm bolstered the power of the Hohenstaufen dynasty and challenged papal interests. As son of Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, Henry’s claim to Sicily was backed by formidable imperial authority. The marriage sparked tensions with the papacy, which feared encirclement by Hohenstaufen territories. After William II’s death in 1189, Henry asserted his right to the Sicilian crown through his wife’s lineage. This pivotal alliance reshaped the balance of power in Italy and laid groundwork for future Hohenstaufen rule.
1186 Henry VI Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Constance of Sicily
1302day.year

Dante Alighieri is condemned in absentia and exiled from Florence.

In 1302, the poet Dante Alighieri was condemned in absentia by Florence and forced into permanent exile.
On January 27, 1302, Dante Alighieri was formally charged with corruption and barratry by the victorious Black Guelph faction in Florence. Unable to appear in court or pay fines, Dante faced a sentence of perpetual exile and loss of his property. His banishment sent him wandering through Italian courts, where he composed major works of poetry and philosophy. Dante’s exile deeply influenced his masterpiece, the Divine Comedy, blending political critique with spiritual allegory. He became a symbol of the artist’s conflict with civic authority and the enduring power of literary expression. Dante never returned to Florence, but his legacy remains inseparable from the city’s turbulent politics.
1302 Dante Alighieri Florence
1343day.year

Pope Clement VI issues the papal bull Unigenitus, laying out the scriptural justification for indulgences, identifying only the Pope and episcopate as capable of accessing the treasury of merit, and establishing a jubilee year every half century.

In 1343, Pope Clement VI promulgated Unigenitus, defining the doctrine of indulgences and inaugurating a jubilee every fifty years.
On January 27, 1343, Clement VI issued Unigenitus to provide a theological foundation for the sale and distribution of indulgences. The bull asserted that only the Pope and the episcopate could dispense the merits stored in Christ’s 'treasury of merit.' It sanctioned the practice of indulgences, shaping medieval penitential and financial systems within the Church. Unigenitus also established a half-century jubilee, encouraging pilgrimages and acts of piety. The decree influenced the economic and spiritual life of Late Medieval Christendom and sparked later debates during the Reformation. Its provisions underscored the central authority of the papacy over matters of grace and remission.
1343 Pope Clement VI papal bull Unigenitus indulgences treasury of merit jubilee year
1606day.year

Gunpowder Plot: The trial of Guy Fawkes and other conspirators begins, ending with their execution on January 31.

On January 27, 1606, Guy Fawkes and his fellow Gunpowder Plot conspirators were tried for high treason in London.
After his capture at the vault beneath the Houses of Parliament, Guy Fawkes stood before the court at Westminster Hall on January 27, 1606. He and his co-conspirators faced charges of plotting to assassinate King James I and blow up Parliament. Despite pleas for clemency, the jury quickly returned guilty verdicts, sealing their fate. On January 31, Fawkes and five others were executed, fueling anti-Catholic sentiment across England. The trial’s drama and intrigue gave rise to the annual commemoration of Guy Fawkes Night on November 5. Their story endures as a powerful example of early modern political and religious conflict.
1606 Gunpowder Plot Guy Fawkes
1695day.year

Mustafa II becomes the Ottoman sultan and Caliph of Islam in Istanbul on the death of Ahmed II. Mustafa rules until his abdication in 1703.

On January 27, 1695, Mustafa II ascended to the Ottoman throne and became Caliph after Sultan Ahmed II’s death.
Following the passing of Sultan Ahmed II, Mustafa II was proclaimed Sultan and Caliph in Istanbul on January 27, 1695. He inherited an empire embroiled in the Great Turkish War against the Habsburgs and their allies. Known for his personal piety and military zeal, Mustafa II led campaigns to defend Ottoman frontiers. His rule saw efforts at administrative and financial reform amid the pressures of prolonged warfare. Internal discontent over war fatigue and taxation peaked in the 1703 Edirne uprising, forcing his abdication. Mustafa II’s reign highlights the challenges faced by the Ottoman state at the dawn of the 18th century.
1695 Mustafa II Ottoman sultan Caliph of Islam Istanbul Ahmed II 1703
1759day.year

Spanish forces clash with indigenous Huilliches of southern Chile in the battle of Río Bueno.

In 1759, Spanish colonial troops engaged Huilliche warriors at the Río Bueno in southern Chile, marking a key frontier clash.
On January 27, 1759, Spanish soldiers advanced into Huilliche territory and met fierce resistance along the Río Bueno. The encounter formed part of Spain’s efforts to expand its southern colonial frontier in Chile. Huilliche fighters, adept at guerrilla tactics, used the rugged landscape to their advantage. While neither side achieved a decisive victory, the skirmish underscored persistent indigenous opposition. In the aftermath, officials negotiated fragile peace agreements and reinforced frontier garrisons. The battle remains a notable episode in the contested history of colonial expansion in Patagonia.
1759 Huilliches battle of Río Bueno
1776day.year

American Revolutionary War: Henry Knox's "noble train of artillery" arrives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

On January 27, 1776, Henry Knox completed his remarkable transport of captured cannon from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Over a harsh winter, Colonel Henry Knox hauled 59 heavy guns more than 300 miles from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge. Dubbed the 'Noble Train of Artillery,' the expedition traversed frozen lakes, mountains, and rough roads. By January 27, Knox’s arrival bolstered General Washington’s siege of Boston with much-needed firepower. The artillery was positioned on Dorchester Heights, commanding both the city and harbor. Faced with these batteries, British forces evacuated Boston on March 17, 1776. Knox’s feat of logistics and perseverance became legendary in the annals of the American Revolution.
1776 American Revolutionary War Henry Knox noble train of artillery Cambridge, Massachusetts
1785day.year

The University of Georgia is founded, the first state-chartered public university in the United States.

On January 27, 1785, the University of Georgia was established as the nation’s first state-chartered public university.
The Georgia General Assembly granted a charter for the University of Georgia on January 27, 1785, pioneering public higher education in America. Grounded in Enlightenment ideals, the institution sought to provide accessible learning for the state's citizens. Classes officially began in 1801 under the leadership of President Abraham Baldwin. UGA’s early curriculum emphasized agriculture, the classics, and civic responsibility. The university’s founding model influenced later land-grant colleges and the expansion of state universities. Today, UGA is a major research institution renowned for its contributions to science, business, and the arts.
1785 University of Georgia
1820day.year

A Russian expedition led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev discovers the Antarctic continent, approaching the Antarctic coast.

Russian explorers Fabian von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev become the first to sight the Antarctic continent, marking a milestone in polar exploration.
In 1820, the Russian explorers Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev embarked on a daring voyage into the Southern Ocean. Their expedition braved treacherous seas and dense ice floes to approach the icy shores of Antarctica, providing the first recorded sighting of the continent. This achievement filled a major gap in global geography, confirming the existence of the southern landmass long speculated by scholars. They charted previously unknown coasts and collected valuable scientific observations that would inform future research. Their discovery inspired generations of polar explorers and opened a new frontier for scientific study.
1820 Russian Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev Antarctic
1825day.year

The U.S. Congress approves Indian Territory (in what is present-day Oklahoma), clearing the way for forced relocation of the Eastern Indians on the "Trail of Tears".

The U.S. Congress establishes Indian Territory, paving the way for the forced removal of Eastern tribes along the tragic Trail of Tears.
In 1825, the United States Congress approved legislation creating Indian Territory in lands that would become Oklahoma. This act authorized the federal government to relocate Eastern tribes, including the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole, to the new territory. The policy led to the infamous Trail of Tears, a series of forced migrations marked by hardship, disease, and high mortality. Thousands of Native Americans endured brutal conditions during their journey westward, suffering immense loss of life and culture. The establishment of Indian Territory represents a dark chapter in American history and continues to resonate in discussions of indigenous rights and federal policy.
1825 U.S. Congress Indian Territory Oklahoma Eastern Indians Trail of Tears