1229day.year
The Sixth Crusade: Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, signs a ten-year truce with al-Kamil, regaining Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem with neither military engagements nor support from the papacy.
In 1229, Frederick II negotiated a peaceful ten-year truce with Sultan al-Kamil, regaining key holy cities without military conflict or papal backing.
In 1229, Emperor Frederick II of the Holy Roman Empire managed to secure a diplomatic victory in the Sixth Crusade. Without engaging in significant military conflicts or obtaining sanction from the papacy, he negotiated a ten-year truce with Sultan al-Kamil of Egypt. The agreement restored Christian control over Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem. Frederick’s unique approach emphasized negotiation over warfare, challenging contemporary crusading norms. The treaty temporarily eased hostilities in the Holy Land and showcased Frederick’s political acumen.
1229
Sixth Crusade
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
truce
al-Kamil
Jerusalem
Nazareth
Bethlehem
papacy
1478day.year
George, Duke of Clarence, convicted of treason against his older brother Edward IV of England, is executed in private at the Tower of London.
George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, was executed for treason in the Tower of London in 1478, accused of plotting against his brother King Edward IV.
George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, was executed on February 18, 1478, following his conviction for treason against his brother, King Edward IV of England. Accused of plotting to overthrow the Yorkist ruler, Clarence faced a private trial at the Tower of London. Historical accounts claim he was drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine, though details remain debated. His execution eliminated a key rival in the dynastic struggles of the Wars of the Roses. The event highlights the harsh measures taken to secure royal power in late medieval England.
1478
George, Duke of Clarence
treason
Edward IV of England
executed
Tower of London
1791day.year
Congress passes a law admitting the state of Vermont to the Union, effective 4 March, after that state had existed for 14 years as a de facto independent largely unrecognized state.
On February 18, 1791, the US Congress passed a law admitting Vermont as the 14th state, formalizing its long-standing de facto independence.
On February 18, 1791, the United States Congress passed legislation admitting Vermont as the 14th state of the Union, effective March 4. Previously, Vermont had functioned as an independent republic for 14 years, its sovereignty unrecognized by other states. The admission resolved territorial disputes with New York and solidified the federal framework. Vermont’s statehood marked the first expansion of the Union beyond the original thirteen colonies. This milestone paved the way for further growth and the incorporation of other territories.
1791
admitting
Vermont
a de facto independent largely unrecognized state
1861day.year
In Montgomery, Alabama, Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as the provisional President of the Confederate States of America.
Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as the provisional President of the Confederate States of America in Montgomery, Alabama.
On February 18, 1861, delegates of seceding Southern states convened in Montgomery, Alabama, to form the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis was chosen as its provisional President and took the oath of office on this date. His inauguration symbolized the formal establishment of a separate government committed to preserving slavery and states' rights. Davis faced the challenge of uniting the newly formed states and organizing a military and administrative structure. His administration set in motion events that led to the American Civil War. The provisional capital in Montgomery served briefly before the seat of government moved to Richmond.
1861
Montgomery, Alabama
Jefferson Davis
Confederate States of America
1861day.year
With Italian unification almost complete, Victor Emmanuel II of Piedmont, Savoy and Sardinia assumes the title of King of Italy.
Victor Emmanuel II assumes the title of King of Italy, marking the near completion of Italian unification.
With the Risorgimento movement achieving its goals, Victor Emmanuel II of Piedmont-Sardinia assumed the crown of a unified Kingdom of Italy on February 18, 1861. This proclamation followed the annexation of Lombardy, the annexation of central Italian duchies, and the unification under the House of Savoy. Victor Emmanuel II became the first monarch to rule a united Italy since the medieval era. His reign laid the foundation for the modern Italian state and symbolized the end of foreign domination and internal fragmentation. Celebrations and political rallies broke out in major cities, reflecting widespread nationalist sentiment. The unification process continued with the integration of Venetia and Rome in subsequent years.
Italian unification
Victor Emmanuel II
Piedmont
Savoy
Sardinia
King of Italy
1873day.year
Bulgarian revolutionary leader Vasil Levski is executed by hanging in Sofia by the Ottoman authorities.
Bulgarian national hero Vasil Levski is executed by hanging in Sofia under Ottoman rule.
On February 18, 1873, Vasil Levski, a leading figure in the Bulgarian liberation movement against Ottoman rule, was executed in Sofia. Known as the Apostle of Freedom, Levski had organized a clandestine network aiming to secure an independent Bulgarian state. His capture in 1872 led to a trial and death sentence for high treason. Despite international appeals for clemency, the Ottoman authorities carried out the hanging. Levski’s martyrdom fueled further support for Bulgarian independence and inspired the April Uprising of 1876. Today he is revered as a national icon and symbol of resistance.
1873
Bulgarian
Vasil Levski
hanging
Sofia
Ottoman
1932day.year
The Empire of Japan creates the independent state of Manzhouguo (the obsolete Chinese name for Manchuria) free from the Republic of China and installed former Chinese Emperor Aisin Gioro Puyi as Chief Executive of the State.
The Empire of Japan establishes the puppet state of Manchukuo and installs former Emperor Puyi as its Chief Executive.
On February 18, 1932, Japan officially declared the independence of Manchukuo, carving it out of Manchuria and severing ties with the Republic of China.
The new state was proclaimed under the leadership of Aisin Gioro Puyi, the last Qing emperor, who served as Chief Executive.
Manchukuo functioned as a puppet regime for Japanese strategic and economic interests in northeastern China.
Its creation intensified regional tensions and contributed to the escalation of military conflicts leading to the Second Sino-Japanese War.
International recognition was limited, and Manchukuo's sovereignty remained widely disputed until its dissolution in 1945.
1932
Empire of Japan
Manzhouguo
Manchuria
Republic of China
Chinese Emperor
Aisin Gioro Puyi
1943day.year
World War II: Joseph Goebbels delivers his Sportpalast speech.
Joseph Goebbels delivers his infamous Sportpalast speech, rallying German support for total war.
On February 18, 1943, Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels addressed a massive crowd at the Berlin Sportpalast in his Total War speech.
He passionately called for the German population to embrace a more intensive war effort and sacrifice all for victory.
The speech marked a shift towards total mobilization of the economy and society for the war.
Goebbels used emotional rhetoric and nationalist fervor to galvanize public morale amid mounting military losses.
Historians view this address as a pivotal moment in Nazi propaganda and the escalation of Germany's war commitment.
Joseph Goebbels
Sportpalast speech
1957day.year
Walter James Bolton becomes the last person legally executed in New Zealand.
Walter James Bolton is hanged, becoming the last person legally executed in New Zealand.
On February 18, 1957, Walter James Bolton was executed by hanging at New Plymouth Prison, marking the final legal execution in New Zealand’s history. Bolton had been convicted of murdering his wife a year earlier, a crime that drew significant public attention. His death prompted national debate over capital punishment and justice. In 1961, New Zealand formally abolished the death penalty for murder, partly in response to growing opposition sparked by cases like Bolton’s. Since then, no one has been legally executed in the country, and the death penalty remains absent from New Zealand law. Bolton’s execution stands as a historical turning point in the nation’s criminal justice system.
Walter James Bolton
legally executed
1965day.year
The Gambia becomes independent from the United Kingdom.
The Gambia gains full independence from the United Kingdom, becoming a sovereign nation.
On February 18, 1965, The Gambia officially achieved independence from British colonial rule. The tiny West African nation, formerly the Gambia Colony and Protectorate, had been under British administration since the early 19th century. At independence, Dawda Jawara became the country’s first Prime Minister, later serving as President. The newly sovereign state adopted a parliamentary democracy under the Commonwealth. Independence celebrations included parades and ceremonies, reflecting national pride and optimism for self-governance. The Gambia’s separation from the UK marked a significant moment in the broader wave of decolonization across Africa.
1965
The Gambia
1970day.year
The Chicago Seven are found not guilty of conspiring to incite riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
The Chicago Seven are acquitted of conspiracy and inciting riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
On February 18, 1970, a federal jury in Chicago found the group known as the Chicago Seven not guilty of conspiracy to incite riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The defendants, prominent anti–Vietnam War activists, had been charged amid allegations of plotting mass unrest during the convention protests. The trial was marked by courtroom theatrics, heated exchanges, and political tensions. Their acquittal represented a triumph for free speech advocates and the counterculture movement of the 1960s. Although some members still faced contempt citations for their behavior during the trial, the verdict underscored limits on governmental power to suppress dissent. The case remains a landmark in United States legal and civil rights history.
1970
Chicago Seven
1968 Democratic National Convention
1972day.year
The California Supreme Court in the case of People v. Anderson, (6 Cal.3d 628) invalidates the state's death penalty and commutes the sentences of all death row inmates to life imprisonment.
California Supreme Court rules the state’s death penalty unconstitutional, commuting sentences of all death row inmates.
On February 18, 1972, the California Supreme Court issued its decision in People v. Anderson, declaring the state’s death penalty unconstitutional under the state constitution. The court found that capital punishment constituted cruel or unusual punishment and violated equal protection guarantees. As a result, all existing death sentences were automatically commuted to life imprisonment. The ruling made California the first state in decades to abolish its death penalty through judicial action. The decision sparked intense political debate and led to a referendum in 1972 to reinstate capital punishment, which ultimately failed. People v. Anderson set an important legal precedent in the national conversation over the death penalty and criminal justice reform.
1972
California Supreme Court
People v. Anderson
death penalty
death row