356day.year
The anti-paganism policy of Constantius II forbids the worship of pagan idols in the Roman Empire.
In 356, Emperor Constantius II enacted an anti-paganism policy banning the worship of pagan idols across the Roman Empire.
In 356 AD, Emperor Constantius II intensified his campaign to unify the Roman Empire under Christianity.
He issued an edict forbidding the public and private worship of traditional pagan idols and shrines.
The decree led to the closure of many temples and the confiscation of sacred relics.
This policy was part of a broader trend of religious reforms aimed at suppressing pagan practices.
Although enforcement varied across provinces, the edict fundamentally shifted the empire towards Christian orthodoxy.
The anti-pagan measures sparked debate and resistance among traditionalists, reshaping Rome's religious landscape.
356
anti-paganism policy of Constantius II
1594day.year
Having already been elected to the throne of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1587, Sigismund III of the House of Vasa is crowned King of Sweden, having succeeded his father John III of Sweden in 1592.
In 1594, Sigismund III of the House of Vasa was crowned King of Sweden, succeeding his father John III and uniting the crowns of Poland-Lithuania and Sweden.
Sigismund III, already King of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth since 1587, ascended the Swedish throne in 1594 after his father's death.
His coronation in Uppsala marked a rare personal union between two major European powers.
As a Catholic monarch in a predominantly Protestant Sweden, his reign faced religious tensions and political opposition.
The union fueled rivalries with his uncle Duke Charles and contributed to the outbreak of civil conflict.
Sigismund's dual monarchy ambitions ultimately faltered, leading to his deposition from the Swedish throne in 1599.
Nonetheless, his rule left a lasting impact on the political landscape of Northern Europe.
1594
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Sigismund III
House of Vasa
John III of Sweden
1674day.year
England and the Netherlands sign the Treaty of Westminster, ending the Third Anglo-Dutch War. A provision of the agreement transfers the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam to England.
In 1674, England and the Netherlands signed the Treaty of Westminster, ending the Third Anglo-Dutch War and transferring New Amsterdam to English control.
On February 19, 1674, the Treaty of Westminster formally concluded the Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672–1674).
Negotiated in Westminster, London, the agreement restored peace and commerce between both naval powers.
A key provision ceded control of New Amsterdam (modern-day New York) from the Dutch Republic to England.
The transfer reshaped colonial dynamics in North America and expanded English influence.
The treaty also addressed trade disputes and maritime rights, stabilizing European colonial competition.
By ending hostilities, the peace paved the way for future diplomatic relations and colonial development.
1674
Treaty of Westminster
Third Anglo-Dutch War
New Amsterdam
1726day.year
The Supreme Privy Council is established in Russia.
In 1726, Russia established the Supreme Privy Council as a powerful advisory body to the monarch.
On February 19, 1726, Empress Catherine I of Russia created the Supreme Privy Council to strengthen central governance.
Composed of high-ranking nobles and statesmen, the council advised on foreign policy, finance, and legal reforms.
It wielded significant authority, effectively sharing power with the reigning monarch.
The institution reflected the continued evolution of Russia's autocratic administration following Peter the Great's reforms.
However, tensions between the council and future monarchs, notably Elizabeth and Peter III, led to its dissolution in 1730.
The council's brief existence highlighted the complexities of power and governance in Imperial Russia.
1726
Supreme Privy Council
1807day.year
Former Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr is arrested for treason in Wakefield, Alabama, and confined to Fort Stoddert.
In 1807, former Vice President Aaron Burr was arrested for treason in Alabama and confined to Fort Stoddert.
On February 19, 1807, Aaron Burr, the third Vice President of the United States, was seized in Wakefield, Alabama, on charges of treason.
Accused of plotting to create an independent nation in the western territories, he was held at Fort Stoddert.
The arrest followed suspicions about Burr's dealings and correspondence with frontier governors.
His trial in Richmond later drew national attention to constitutional definitions of treason.
Although Burr was ultimately acquitted, the scandal ruined his political career and legacy.
The events underscored early America's fears of secession and the limits of executive authority.
1807
Vice President of the United States
Aaron Burr
Wakefield, Alabama
Fort Stoddert
1836day.year
King William IV signs Letters Patent establishing the province of South Australia.
King William IV formally established the province of South Australia, initiating its free-settler governance model.
On February 19, 1836, King William IV signed Letters Patent creating the province of South Australia. This Act defined the colony’s borders, administrative framework, and land regulations. Unlike other Australian settlements, it was conceived as a freely populated province rather than a penal colony. The Letters Patent granted representative government powers under British sovereignty. It paved the way for the founding of Adelaide later that year. This milestone set South Australia on a unique path within the British Empire.
1836
William IV
South Australia
1846day.year
In Austin, Texas, the newly formed Texas state government is officially installed. The Republic of Texas government officially transfers power to the State of Texas government following the annexation of Texas by the United States.
The State of Texas government was officially installed in Austin, marking the formal end of the Republic of Texas following U.S. annexation.
On February 19, 1846, in Austin, the newly formed government of the State of Texas held its inauguration ceremony. This event followed the annexation of Texas by the United States, transferring authority from the Republic of Texas. Key offices were sworn in under the framework of U.S. state governance. The transition symbolized Texas’s shift from independent republic to U.S. statehood. Citizens celebrated the legal and administrative realignment with the broader Union. This marked a defining moment in both Texan identity and American territorial expansion.
1846
Austin, Texas
Republic of Texas
State of Texas
annexation
1913day.year
Pedro Lascuráin becomes President of Mexico for 45 minutes; this is the shortest term to date of any person as president of any country.
Pedro Lascuráin served as President of Mexico for only 45 minutes, recording the shortest presidential term in history.
On February 19, 1913, amid political turmoil following a military coup, Foreign Minister Pedro Lascuráin briefly assumed the Mexican presidency. He succeeded President Francisco I. Madero under pressure from rebel leader Victoriano Huerta. During his 45-minute tenure, Lascuráin signed the resignations of Madero and Vice President José María Pino Suárez. He then transferred power to General Huerta, completing a legal veneer for the coup d’état. This sequence gave Lascuráin the shortest presidential term ever recorded. His fleeting administration highlights a tumultuous chapter in Mexican political history.
1913
Pedro Lascuráin
President of Mexico
1942day.year
World War II: United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs executive order 9066, allowing the United States military to relocate Japanese Americans to internment camps.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the internment of Japanese Americans.
On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt enacted Executive Order 9066, granting the military authority to designate exclusion zones and relocate residents. This order led to the forced removal and incarceration of over 110,000 Japanese Americans, two-thirds of whom were U.S. citizens. Camps were established in remote areas under harsh conditions, disrupting families and livelihoods. The order reflected wartime fears and racial prejudice following the attack on Pearl Harbor. It remained in effect until 1946, leaving a lasting legacy of injustice. In later decades, the U.S. government formally apologized and provided reparations to surviving internees.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
executive order 9066
Japanese Americans
internment camps
1948day.year
The Conference of Youth and Students of Southeast Asia Fighting for Freedom and Independence convenes in Calcutta.
Activists from across Southeast Asia convene in Calcutta to coordinate regional independence efforts.
In 1948, the Conference of Youth and Students of Southeast Asia Fighting for Freedom and Independence brought together delegates from across the region in Calcutta. Attendees, many representing newly decolonized nations or those still under colonial rule, shared experiences and coordinated efforts. The conference served as a platform to discuss anti-colonial strategies, human rights, and cultural solidarity. Delegates organized committees on education, press freedom, and student mobilization to support liberation struggles. Influential leaders delivered speeches on unity and the importance of international support. The meeting fostered networks that would underpin subsequent independence movements in Southeast Asia. It also highlighted the role of youth and students in shaping post-war regional politics.
1948
Conference of Youth and Students of Southeast Asia Fighting for Freedom and Independence
Calcutta
1953day.year
Book censorship in the United States: The Georgia Literature Commission is established.
Georgia establishes a commission to review and censor books deemed obscene or undesirable.
In 1953, the state of Georgia formed the Georgia Literature Commission to oversee the censorship of books considered obscene or morally harmful. Empowered by state law, the commission reviewed publications before they could be sold or distributed. Its mandate reflected post-war concerns about juvenile delinquency and the influence of literature. Critics argued the commission infringed on free speech and academic freedom. The agency reviewed novels, magazines, and educational materials, leading to bans and sanctions against publishers. The commission's work sparked legal challenges and broader debates on First Amendment rights. While it operated for decades, changing social attitudes and court rulings eventually curtailed its authority, marking a shift in American views on censorship.
1953
Book censorship in the United States
1954day.year
Transfer of Crimea: The Soviet Politburo of the Soviet Union orders the transfer of the Crimean Oblast from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR.
The Soviet Politburo orders the transfer of Crimea from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR.
On February 19, 1954, the Presidium of the Soviet Union's Supreme Soviet approved a decree transferring the Crimean Oblast from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. The transfer commemorated the 300th anniversary of Ukraine's alliance with Russia under the Pereiaslav Agreement. Officially, it aimed to strengthen economic, cultural, and administrative ties between the regions. Actual decision-making was influenced by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, who had close connections to Ukraine. The move had little immediate impact within the centralized Soviet system but became central to post-Soviet territorial disputes. Upon Ukraine's independence in 1991, Crimea remained part of Ukraine, setting the stage for future geopolitical tensions. The transfer remains a significant point of contention in modern Russian-Ukrainian relations.
1954
Transfer of Crimea
Soviet Politburo
Crimean Oblast
Russian SFSR
Ukrainian SSR