98day.year
On the death of Nerva, Trajan is declared Roman emperor in Cologne, the seat of his government in lower Germany.
In 98 AD, upon the death of Emperor Nerva, Trajan was proclaimed Roman Emperor in Cologne, heralding the era of the "Five Good Emperors."
In 98 AD, Emperor Nerva died leaving no direct heir, plunging Rome into a brief succession crisis.
Marcus Ulpius Traianus, then governor of Germania Inferior, was quickly acclaimed emperor by the legions at Cologne.
He became the first Roman emperor born outside the Italian peninsula, hailed for his military prowess and fairness.
Trajan's elevation marked the beginning of the "Five Good Emperors" period, a golden age of stability and growth.
Under his rule, Rome would expand to its greatest territorial extent and enjoy economic prosperity.
This smooth transition set a precedent for adopting capable successors in Imperial Rome.
98
Nerva
Trajan
Cologne
814day.year
The death of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, brings about the accession of his son Louis the Pious as ruler of the Frankish Empire.
Charlemagne dies and his son Louis the Pious succeeds him as ruler of the vast Frankish Empire.
On this day in 814, Charlemagne, who had forged the Carolingian Empire and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor, passed away at Aachen.
His son, Louis the Pious, automatically succeeded him, inheriting a vast realm spanning modern France, Germany, and beyond.
Louis faced the challenge of maintaining unity among powerful nobles and preserving his father's legacy.
His reign would be marked by internal revolts and efforts to strengthen ecclesiastical reform.
The transition underscored the importance of hereditary succession in medieval Christendom.
Charlemagne's passing closed an era of conquest and cultural revival known as the Carolingian Renaissance.
814
Charlemagne
Holy Roman Emperor
Louis the Pious
Frankish Empire
1077day.year
Walk to Canossa: The excommunication of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, is lifted after he humbles himself before Pope Gregory VII at Canossa in Italy.
Henry IV humbles himself before Pope Gregory VII at Canossa, leading to the lifting of his excommunication.
In 1077, amid the Investiture Controversy, Emperor Henry IV journeyed to Canossa Castle in northern Italy.
Standing barefoot in the snow for three days, he humbled himself before Pope Gregory VII to lift his excommunication.
This dramatic penance secured his readmission to the Church but did little to resolve the underlying power struggle.
The Walk to Canossa became a symbol of the tension between secular and papal authority in medieval Europe.
Although temporarily reconciled, conflict over the right to appoint bishops continued for decades.
1077
Walk to Canossa
excommunication
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Pope Gregory VII
1521day.year
The Diet of Worms begins, lasting until May 25.
The Diet of Worms convenes to examine Martin Luther's teachings, marking a key moment in the Protestant Reformation.
On January 28, 1521, Emperor Charles V summoned Martin Luther to appear before the Diet of Worms in the city of Worms.
Luther was asked to recant his critiques of Church practices but steadfastly refused, affirming his beliefs.
His declaration, "Here I stand," resonated across Europe and galvanized reform movements.
The Diet's failure to reach consensus led to the Edict of Worms, branding Luther an outlaw.
This watershed event deepened the divide between Catholic and emerging Protestant traditions.
It set the stage for religious, political, and social upheaval across the continent.
1521
Diet of Worms
May 25
1547day.year
Edward VI, the nine-year-old son of Henry VIII, becomes King of England on his father's death.
Nine-year-old Edward VI ascends to the English throne following the death of his father, Henry VIII.
In 1547, the death of King Henry VIII ushered his nine-year-old son Edward VI onto the throne of England.
A council of regency led by Edward's uncle, Edward Seymour, oversaw governance during the young king's minority.
The period saw accelerated Protestant reforms, including changes to church services and liturgy.
Edward's reign, though brief, laid foundations for England's break from Rome.
His youth and ill health limited his direct influence on policy.
Edward's early death in 1553 opened a contested succession that would reshape the country's religious landscape.
1547
Edward VI
Henry VIII
1568day.year
The Edict of Torda prohibits the persecution of individuals on religious grounds in John Sigismund Zápolya's Eastern Hungarian Kingdom.
John Sigismund Zápolya issues the Edict of Torda, outlawing religious persecution in his realm.
In 1568, the Eastern Hungarian Kingdom under John Sigismund Zápolya proclaimed the Edict of Torda.
This decree prohibited persecution based on religious beliefs and allowed communities to choose their creed.
It represented one of the earliest legal guarantees of religious tolerance in Europe.
Motivated by the diverse confessions within his realm, Zápolya sought to maintain internal peace.
The edict influenced later policies on religious freedom across the continent.
Though limited in scope, it stood as a landmark in the gradual shift toward secular governance and individual rights.
1568
Edict of Torda
John Sigismund Zápolya
Eastern Hungarian Kingdom
1573day.year
Articles of the Warsaw Confederation are signed, sanctioning freedom of religion in Poland.
The Warsaw Confederation formally guarantees religious freedom for nobles in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
On January 28, 1573, Polish nobles signed the Articles of the Warsaw Confederation in Warsaw.
These articles guaranteed religious freedom and mutual tolerance among Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox communities.
It was the first such religious charter in Europe, reflecting the Commonwealth's political pluralism.
Leaders aimed to prevent sectarian conflict and strengthen union among the nobility.
The confederation set a precedent for constitutional protections and influenced later human rights concepts.
The unique agreement helped preserve stability in one of Europe's most religiously diverse states.
1573
Warsaw Confederation
freedom of religion
1591day.year
Execution of Agnes Sampson, accused of witchcraft in Edinburgh.
Agnes Sampson, accused of witchcraft, is executed in Edinburgh during the North Berwick witch trials.
In 1591, Agnes Sampson, a Scottish midwife and healer, was accused of witchcraft in Edinburgh.
Under severe interrogation, she was blamed for conjuring storms that threatened King James VI's voyage.
Her forced confession implicated other supposed witches and escalated the North Berwick trials.
She was subjected to harsh interrogation, forced confession, and then executed by strangling and burning.
Her death exemplified the paranoia and harsh punishments of early modern European witch hunts.
The case had a lasting impact on Scottish law and the historical narrative of witchcraft persecution.
1591
Agnes Sampson
witchcraft
1624day.year
Sir Thomas Warner founds the first British colony in the Caribbean, on the island of Saint Kitts.
Sir Thomas Warner establishes the first British colony on Saint Kitts, marking the beginning of British colonial presence in the Caribbean.
In 1624, English explorer Sir Thomas Warner led an expedition that established the first permanent British colony on the island of Saint Kitts. This settlement marked the beginning of sustained English presence in the Caribbean and challenged Spanish dominance in the region. Warner negotiated with the local Kalinago people, securing land for the colony while alliances shifted among European powers. The colony quickly adopted tobacco cultivation, later transitioning to sugar cane, which would drive the economy and labor demands. The founding of Saint Kitts laid the groundwork for further British colonization efforts across the Lesser Antilles. Over time, the island became a strategic naval and trading post, influencing the balance of power between colonial empires. The legacy of this early settlement is reflected in the island's cultural and political history as part of the British West Indies.
1624
Sir Thomas Warner
Saint Kitts
1896day.year
Walter Arnold of East Peckham, Kent, becomes the first person to be convicted of speeding. He was fined one shilling, plus costs, for speeding at 8 mph (13 km/h), thereby exceeding the contemporary speed limit of 2 mph (3.2 km/h).
Walter Arnold becomes the first person convicted of speeding in 1896 after exceeding the 2 mph limit in Kent, UK.
In 1896, Walter Arnold, a resident of East Peckham, Kent, made history as the first person to be convicted of speeding. He was caught driving at 8 mph, well above the legal limit of 2 mph. At his trial, Arnold was fined one shilling plus court costs for his transgression. This landmark case highlighted the challenges of enforcing early traffic laws and public safety. It marked the beginning of modern speed regulation and the development of road safety measures.
1896
East Peckham
speeding
shilling
1908day.year
Members of the Portuguese Republican Party fail in their attempted coup d'état against the administrative dictatorship of Prime Minister João Franco.
In 1908, Portuguese Republicans attempt a coup against Prime Minister João Franco’s dictatorship but fail to seize power.
On January 28, 1908, members of the Portuguese Republican Party launched an unsuccessful coup d'état against the authoritarian regime of Prime Minister João Franco. The conspirators aimed to end what they viewed as an administrative dictatorship and restore parliamentary governance. However, the uprising lacked sufficient military and popular support and was swiftly suppressed. Following the failure, political tensions in Portugal continued to rise, setting the stage for the 1910 revolution. The event highlighted deep societal divisions and the growing strength of republican sentiments.
1908
Portuguese Republican Party
attempted coup d'état
João Franco
1909day.year
United States troops leave Cuba, with the exception of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, after being there since the Spanish–American War.
In 1909, U.S. forces withdraw from Cuba after the Spanish–American War, retaining only Guantanamo Bay as a naval base.
After the conclusion of the Spanish–American War, the United States maintained an occupying force in Cuba to oversee its transition to independence. On January 28, 1909, American troops completed their withdrawal from Cuban territory, except for the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. This retention was enabled by the 1901 Platt Amendment and would establish a lasting U.S. military presence. Later in 1909, Cuba formed its own republic and constitution. The departure of U.S. forces marked a key moment in Cuba’s path toward sovereign governance under continued American influence.
1909
Cuba
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Spanish–American War