February 15

Events

438day.year

Roman emperor Theodosius II publishes the law codex Codex Theodosianus

Emperor Theodosius II publishes the Codex Theodosianus, a pivotal compendium of Roman law.
On February 15, 438, Roman Emperor Theodosius II ordered the publication of the Codex Theodosianus. This six-book codex systematically compiled imperial constitutiones issued since Constantine the Great. It served as a foundational legal source for the Eastern Roman Empire and influenced later legal traditions in medieval Europe. The codification aimed to simplify and standardize laws across the empire. Its enduring legacy can be traced in modern civil law systems.
438 Roman Theodosius II Codex Theodosianus
590day.year

Khosrau II is crowned king of Persia.

Khosrau II is crowned king of Persia, marking a new era for the Sasanian Empire.
On February 15, 590, Khosrau II ascended the throne as the new shah of the Sasanian Empire. Following a period of internal strife and dynastic conflict, his coronation at Ctesiphon restored stability to Persia. Khosrau II’s reign would later be noted for cultural flourishing and military campaigns against Byzantium. His leadership strengthened the empire’s borders and revitalized urban centers. The event set the stage for a renaissance in Sasanian art, architecture, and scholarship.
590 Khosrau II Persia
706day.year

Byzantine emperor Justinian II has his predecessors Leontios and Tiberios III publicly executed in the Hippodrome of Constantinople.

Byzantine Emperor Justinian II orders the public execution of his predecessors Leontios and Tiberios III in Constantinople’s Hippodrome.
On February 15, 706, Emperor Justinian II staged a dramatic execution of former emperors Leontios and Tiberios III before the crowds at the Hippodrome of Constantinople. Seeking to eliminate rivals and assert his authority, Justinian II had overthrown Leontios and Tiberios III during his return to power. The public spectacle served as a warning to potential rebels and solidified his grip on the Byzantine throne. However, his brutal methods sowed seeds of dissent that would ultimately contribute to his downfall. This event highlights the ruthless nature of Byzantine court politics in the early 8th century.
706 Byzantine Justinian II Leontios Tiberios III Hippodrome of Constantinople
1002day.year

At an assembly at Pavia of Lombard nobles, Arduin of Ivrea is restored to his domains and crowned King of Italy.

Arduin of Ivrea is restored to his domains and crowned King of Italy at Pavia, challenging imperial authority.
On February 15, 1002, Lombard nobles assembled in Pavia to reinstate Marquis Arduin of Ivrea as King of Italy. After the death of Emperor Otto III, Italian magnates seized the chance to assert local autonomy. Arduin’s coronation represented a bold assertion of regional power against the Holy Roman Empire. His reign faced immediate opposition from German forces, setting the stage for years of conflict. Although ultimately short-lived, Arduin’s kingship inspired Italian resistance to imperial control and foreshadowed later struggles for self-rule.
1002 Pavia Lombard Arduin of Ivrea King of Italy
1113day.year

Pope Paschal II issues Pie Postulatio Voluntatis, recognizing the Order of Hospitallers.

Pope Paschal II issues Pie Postulatio Voluntatis, formally recognizing the Order of Hospitallers.
On February 15, 1113, Pope Paschal II promulgated the papal bull Pie Postulatio Voluntatis. This decree granted formal recognition to the Order of Hospitallers, a group dedicated to caring for pilgrims and the sick in the Holy Land. The bull confirmed the order’s possessions and liberties, securing its status within Christendom. With papal support, the Hospitallers expanded their charitable work and military role during the Crusades. This landmark authorization marked the beginning of one of the most influential religious and military orders of the medieval era.
1113 Pope Paschal II Pie Postulatio Voluntatis the Order of Hospitallers
1214day.year

During the Anglo-French War (1213–1214), an English invasion force led by John, King of England, lands at La Rochelle in France.

An English force under King John lands at La Rochelle during the Anglo-French War of 1213–1214.
On February 15, 1214, King John of England led an expeditionary force to land at La Rochelle on the French coast. This move aimed to relieve allied Poitevin barons and challenge Capetian control in Aquitaine. The landing marked the opening of a Frankish front against Philip II of France. Despite initial successes, logistical challenges and divided command hampered the English campaign. The conflict would culminate later that year in the Battle of Bouvines, shaping the balance of power in medieval Western Europe.
1214 Anglo-French War (1213–1214) John, King of England La Rochelle France
1493day.year

While on board the Niña, Christopher Columbus writes an open letter (widely distributed upon his return to Portugal) describing his discoveries and the unexpected items he came across in the New World.

While aboard the Niña, Christopher Columbus writes an open letter describing his New World discoveries.
On February 15, 1493, during his return voyage to Europe, Christopher Columbus penned an open letter proclaiming the wonders of the lands he had encountered. Aboard the ship Niña, he detailed new plant species, unfamiliar animals, and the customs of indigenous peoples. The letter, later widely circulated in Portugal and Spain, helped spark widespread interest in overseas exploration. Columbus’s enthusiastic account fueled European imaginations and ambitions in the Age of Discovery. This epistolary report played a key role in the early colonization efforts of the Americas.
1493 Niña Christopher Columbus writes an open letter Portugal New World
1637day.year

Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor.

Ferdinand III is crowned Holy Roman Emperor, succeeding Ferdinand II.
On February 15, 1637, Ferdinand III assumed the title of Holy Roman Emperor following the death of his father, Ferdinand II. His accession took place amid the turmoil of the Thirty Years' War. Known for his diplomatic approach, Ferdinand III sought peace and stability after decades of conflict. He later signed the Peace of Prague, laying groundwork for the negotiations that led to Westphalia. His reign marked a transition from religious warfare toward diplomatic resolution in the Holy Roman Empire.
1637 Ferdinand III Holy Roman Emperor
1690day.year

Constantin Cantemir, Prince of Moldavia, and the Holy Roman Empire sign a secret treaty in Sibiu, stipulating that Moldavia would support the actions led by the House of Habsburg against the Ottoman Empire.

Moldavian Prince Constantin Cantemir and the Holy Roman Empire sign a secret treaty supporting Habsburg actions against the Ottoman Empire.
On February 15, 1690, Prince Constantin Cantemir of Moldavia and envoys of the Holy Roman Empire concluded a clandestine agreement in Sibiu. The treaty stipulated Moldavian military support for Habsburg campaigns against Ottoman forces. Moldavia’s alliance aimed to curb Ottoman influence and secure greater autonomy for the principality. This covert pact highlighted the complex diplomacy in Eastern Europe during the Great Turkish War. It underscored the fragile allegiances that shaped the region’s balance of power in the late 17th century.
1690 Constantin Cantemir Moldavia Holy Roman Empire Sibiu House of Habsburg Ottoman Empire
1764day.year

The city of St. Louis is established in Spanish Louisiana (now in Missouri, USA).

The settlement of St. Louis is established in Spanish Louisiana, laying the foundation for a future American city.
On February 15, 1764, French fur traders under Spanish rule founded the settlement that would become St. Louis. Located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, it served as a strategic trading post between French, Spanish, and Native American communities. The city’s advantageous position facilitated commerce in furs, lead, and agricultural products. Over time, St. Louis grew into a key gateway for westward expansion in North America. Its multicultural origins and riverfront location shaped its emergence as a major American metropolis.
1764 St. Louis Spanish Louisiana Missouri
1798day.year

The Roman Republic is proclaimed after Louis-Alexandre Berthier, a general of Napoleon, had invaded the city of Rome five days earlier.

General Berthier proclaimed the Roman Republic in Rome under the influence of revolutionary France.
In February 1798, forces led by General Louis-Alexandre Berthier, acting on behalf of the French First Republic, invaded the Papal States and captured Rome. Five days after the fall of the city, on February 15th, Berthier officially proclaimed the Roman Republic, abolishing the temporal power of the Pope. The new government was modeled on revolutionary France and sought to implement republican ideals in central Italy. Papal authorities were expelled, and secular institutions replaced the previous ecclesiastical administration. The proclamation of the republic provoked resistance among loyalists but marked a significant shift in the political landscape of Italy. Although short-lived, the Roman Republic of 1798-99 inspired later nationalist and unification movements across the Italian peninsula.
1798 Roman Republic Louis-Alexandre Berthier Napoleon Rome
1835day.year

Serbia's Sretenje Constitution briefly comes into effect.

The Sretenje Constitution was briefly enacted in Serbia, introducing one of the first modern constitutions in the Balkans.
On February 15, 1835, Prince Miloš Obrenović and his advisory council adopted the Sretenje Constitution for the Principality of Serbia. It established a constitutional framework with a hereditary prince, a council of state, and basic civil liberties for citizens. The constitution curtailed arbitrary rule and introduced legal equality, freedom of speech, and press rights. However, under pressure from neighboring powers fearing revolutionary ideas, the charter was suspended just weeks later. Despite its short lifespan, the Sretenje Constitution represented a key step towards modern governance in Serbia and inspired later constitutional movements in the region.
1835 Sretenje Constitution