1440day.year
The Prussian Confederation is formed.
Cities and nobles in Prussia unite to form the Prussian Confederation in 1440 to challenge Teutonic Order rule.
In 1440, several Prussian cities and noble families formed the Prussian Confederation to resist the political and economic control of the Teutonic Knights. The alliance sought greater local autonomy, relief from taxation, and the defense of trade rights in eastern Prussia. By creating a formal league, its members aimed to present a unified front in negotiations and potential military actions. The Confederation later played a pivotal role in inviting the Polish crown to intervene, leading to the Thirteen Years’ War. Its formation marks a significant moment in the decline of the Teutonic Order’s dominance and the reshaping of Central European politics.
1440
Prussian Confederation
1613day.year
Mikhail I is unanimously elected Tsar by a national assembly, beginning the Romanov dynasty of Imperial Russia.
Mikhail I is elected Tsar by a national assembly in 1613, founding the Romanov dynasty in Russia.
On February 21, 1613, Mikhail Romanov was unanimously chosen as Tsar by a national assembly convened in Moscow after years of political chaos known as the Time of Troubles. At just 16 years old and backed by influential boyar families, his election ended a period of foreign intervention and pretenders. The choice of Mikhail ushered in nearly three centuries of Romanov rule, profoundly shaping the future of Imperial Russia. His reign began the stabilization of the Russian state and restoration of autocratic monarchy. The establishment of the Romanov dynasty laid the foundations for Russia’s expansion and transformation into a major European power.
1613
Mikhail I
Tsar
national assembly
Romanov dynasty
Imperial Russia
1848day.year
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels publish The Communist Manifesto.
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels publish The Communist Manifesto in 1848, articulating the principles of communism.
On February 21, 1848, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels released The Communist Manifesto, a political pamphlet outlining the theory of class struggle and proletarian revolution. Commissioned by the Communist League, the work argued that history was driven by economic conflicts and called for the working class to overthrow capitalist systems. It introduced famous slogans like 'Workers of the world, unite!' and shaped socialist movements across Europe. Though initially reaching a limited audience, the Manifesto's ideas spread rapidly amid social upheavals. Its publication marked a foundational moment in political theory, influencing revolutions, labor movements, and governments worldwide.
1848
Karl Marx
Friedrich Engels
The Communist Manifesto
1861day.year
Mariehamn, the capital city of Åland, is founded.
In 1861, the town of Mariehamn is officially established on the Åland Islands as its new administrative center.
Mariehamn was founded under a decree by the Grand Duchy of Finland (then part of the Russian Empire) to provide a safe harbor and stimulate trade in the Baltic region.
Named in honor of the Russian Empress Maria Alexandrovna, the settlement quickly grew as a maritime hub.
Its strategic location on the coast facilitated shipping and contributed to the local economy’s development.
Over time, Mariehamn became the cultural and political capital of Åland, preserving unique Swedish-speaking traditions.
Today, the city remains a vital ferry port and a symbol of Åland’s autonomy and heritage.
1861
Mariehamn
Åland
1913day.year
Ioannina is incorporated into the Greek state after the Balkan Wars.
Following the Balkan Wars, the city of Ioannina is officially integrated into the Kingdom of Greece.
Ioannina, previously under Ottoman rule for nearly five centuries, was captured by the Greek army in March 1913 during the First Balkan War.
The subsequent Treaty of London solidified Greece’s territorial gains, formally incorporating Ioannina on February 21, 1913.
This transfer expanded Greece’s borders into Epirus and bolstered its strategic position in the Balkans.
The incorporation had a profound impact on the region’s demographics and administration, with many Turkish and Jewish residents emigrating.
Ioannina today reflects a blend of Greek, Ottoman, and Jewish heritage, with its historic castle and lakeside setting attracting visitors.
1913
Ioannina
Greek state
Balkan Wars
1919day.year
German socialist Kurt Eisner is assassinated. His death results in the establishment of the Bavarian Soviet Republic and parliament and government fleeing Munich, Germany.
Bavarian State Premier Kurt Eisner is assassinated in Munich, triggering political upheaval and the rise of a Soviet-style government.
Kurt Eisner, a Jewish socialist leader who proclaimed Bavaria a free state in November 1918, was gunned down on February 21, 1919, at Munich’s Feldherrnhalle.
His assassination by right-wing activist Anton Graf von Arco auf Valley sparked outrage among workers and soldiers.
In the ensuing power vacuum, socialist and communist factions declared the Bavarian Soviet Republic in April 1919.
The move drove the parliamentary government into exile in Bamberg and ignited a brief but intense period of revolutionary rule.
The Bavarian Soviet Republic was ultimately crushed by Freikorps units, leaving a legacy of radical politics and post-war turmoil.
1919
Kurt Eisner
assassinated
Bavarian Soviet Republic
Munich
1921day.year
Constituent Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Georgia adopts the country's first constitution.
The Georgian Constituent Assembly adopted the country's first constitution in 1921, laying the legal foundations of the Democratic Republic of Georgia.
In 1921, the Constituent Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Georgia gathered to draft the nation's inaugural constitution.
This foundational document established a bicameral legislature, fundamental rights, and governmental structures.
It was a milestone in Georgian state-building following independence from the Russian Empire.
The constitution enshrined parliamentary democracy and civil liberties.
Though short-lived due to Soviet invasion later that year, it remains a symbol of Georgian sovereignty.
1921
Constituent Assembly
Democratic Republic of Georgia
1921day.year
Rezā Shāh takes control of Tehran during a successful coup.
In 1921, Rezā Shāh seized Tehran in a military coup, ending the Qajar dynasty and ushering in the Pahlavi era.
In February 1921, Colonel Rezā Shāh led a military coup in Tehran against the Qajar dynasty.
The swift takeover marked the end of Qajar rule and the beginning of the Pahlavi era.
Rezā Shāh implemented extensive modernization, centralization, and secular reforms.
His reign transformed Iran's infrastructure, education, and military.
This coup set the stage for Iran's 20th-century development and lasting political changes.
Rezā Shāh
successful coup
1937day.year
The League of Nations bans foreign national "volunteers" in the Spanish Civil War.
The League of Nations banned foreign volunteers in the Spanish Civil War in 1937, aiming to curb international involvement.
In 1937, the League of Nations adopted a resolution banning foreign volunteers in the Spanish Civil War.
The decree aimed to limit international interference in the conflict between Republicans and Nationalists.
Despite the ban, thousands continued to join International Brigades on both sides.
The move highlighted the League's struggle to enforce collective security.
It foreshadowed the organization's ultimate weakness in curbing aggression leading to World War II.
1937
League of Nations
volunteers
Spanish Civil War
1952day.year
The British government, under Winston Churchill, abolishes identity cards in the UK to "set the people free".
In 1952, Churchill's government abolished compulsory identity cards, restoring civil liberties in postwar Britain.
On February 21, 1952, Winston Churchill's government abolished compulsory identity cards in the United Kingdom.
Introduced during World War II for security, the ID cards were seen as a limitation on personal freedom.
Churchill declared the move would 'set the people free' from wartime controls.
The repeal sparked debate over privacy versus national security.
It marked a significant step in postwar British civil liberty reforms.
1952
Winston Churchill
identity cards
1971day.year
The Convention on Psychotropic Substances is signed at Vienna.
Nations convene in Vienna to sign the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, laying the groundwork for global regulation of psychoactive drugs.
On February 21, 1971, representatives from countries around the world gathered in Vienna to sign the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances. The treaty aimed to control and monitor the manufacture, distribution, and use of psychotropic medications, including stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens. It established schedules classifying substances based on their medical applications and potential for abuse. By creating an international legal framework, the convention sought to combat illegal drug trafficking and safeguard public health. Member states committed to implementing national legislation in accordance with the treaty’s provisions. The agreement remains a cornerstone of international drug control policy, influencing regulations and enforcement strategies to this day.
1971
Convention on Psychotropic Substances
Vienna
1972day.year
United States President Richard Nixon visits China to normalize Sino-American relations.
President Richard Nixon makes a historic visit to China, initiating the normalization of Sino-American relations after decades of estrangement.
On February 21, 1972, U.S. President Richard Nixon arrived in Beijing, marking the first visit by an American president to the People's Republic of China. The trip followed secret negotiations and represented a strategic pivot in Cold War geopolitics. Nixon met with Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai to discuss cultural exchanges, trade, and regional security. The visit produced the Shanghai Communiqué, in which both nations expressed their desire to normalize diplomatic relations while acknowledging differences over Taiwan. The breakthrough helped ease tensions between the superpowers and reshaped the global balance of power. Nixon's China visit is widely regarded as one of the most significant diplomatic achievements of the 20th century.
1972
Richard Nixon
Sino-American relations