1076day.year
Having received a letter during the Lenten synod of 14–20 February demanding that he abdicate, Pope Gregory VII excommunicates Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor.
In 1076, Pope Gregory VII excommunicated Emperor Henry IV, sparking a pivotal clash between papal and imperial authority.
In early 1076, tensions between the papacy and the Holy Roman Empire reached a critical point.
During the Lenten synod in Rome, a letter accused Henry IV of overstepping his authority and demanded his abdication.
When the emperor refused, Pope Gregory VII excommunicated him on February 22.
This dramatic move intensified the Investiture Controversy, a major medieval conflict over church-state power.
Excommunication deprived Henry IV of his subjects' allegiance and changed the balance of authority in Europe.
The showdown set the stage for decades of political and religious struggle across Christendom.
1076
Pope Gregory VII
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
1316day.year
The Battle of Picotin, between Ferdinand of Majorca and the forces of Matilda of Hainaut, ends in victory for Ferdinand.
At the Battle of Picotin in 1316, Ferdinand of Majorca defeats Matilda of Hainaut's forces, consolidating his claim in the Morea region.
In February 1316, rival dynastic claims came to blows at Picotin in the Peloponnese region.
Ferdinand of Majorca led his Aragonese army against the garrison loyal to Matilda of Hainaut.
After intense combat, Ferdinand secured a decisive victory on February 22.
This triumph strengthened his bid to control the Principality of Achaea.
The outcome shifted regional power dynamics and influenced subsequent crusading politics in Greece.
It exemplified the feudal rivalries that characterized late medieval Europe.
1316
Battle of Picotin
Ferdinand of Majorca
Matilda of Hainaut
1371day.year
Robert II becomes King of Scotland, beginning the Stuart dynasty.
Robert II ascends the Scottish throne in 1371, founding the long-lasting Stuart dynasty.
On February 22, 1371, Robert Stewart was crowned King Robert II of Scotland.
He became the first monarch of the Stewart (Stuart) line, ending years of succession disputes.
His reign brought a measure of stability after the Wars of Scottish Independence.
Robert II worked to reconcile powerful noble factions and strengthen royal authority.
Under his leadership, Scotland saw renewed trade links with Europe and internal reforms.
The Stuart dynasty he founded would shape British history for centuries to come.
1371
Robert II
Scotland
Stuart
1495day.year
King Charles VIII of France enters Naples to claim the city's throne.
French King Charles VIII marches into Naples in 1495 to press his dynastic claim to the throne.
In February 1495, Charles VIII of France led his army across Italy toward Naples.
He aimed to enforce his inheritance rights to the Kingdom of Naples against rival Aragonese claims.
Entering the city on February 22, Charles established French control over southern Italy.
This bold move ignited the Italian Wars, drawing in Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Papal States.
The campaign transformed Renaissance Italy into a battleground for European powers.
Charles’s invasion reshaped the geopolitical map of the Mediterranean.
1495
Charles VIII of France
Naples
1632day.year
Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, the dedicatee, receives the first printed copy of Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems.
Grand Duke Ferdinando II de' Medici receives Galileo’s Dialogue, marking a milestone in the Scientific Revolution.
On February 22, 1632, Ferdinando II de' Medici, a noted patron of science, received the first printed copy of Galileo Galilei’s Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems.
The Dialogue presented bold arguments for the heliocentric model, challenging the geocentric view endorsed by the Church.
Galileo dedicated the work to the Grand Duke, hoping for protection against ecclesiastical censure.
Its publication fueled intellectual debates across Europe and set the stage for Galileo’s trial.
This event symbolizes the rising conflict between emerging scientific inquiry and traditional authority.
It marked a key moment in the broader Scientific Revolution.
1632
Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Galileo
Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems
1651day.year
St. Peter's Flood: A storm surge floods the Frisian coast, drowning 15,000 people.
A devastating storm surge known as St. Peter’s Flood inundates the Frisian coast in 1651, killing 15,000 people.
On February 22, 1651, a massive North Sea storm surge struck the low-lying Frisian coast.
High winds and crashing waves breached dikes, flooding villages across present-day Netherlands and Germany.
The disaster, known as St. Peter’s Flood, claimed an estimated 15,000 lives.
Entire communities were swept away, farmland was ruined, and livestock perished en masse.
The catastrophe led to renewed efforts in coastal engineering and water management.
It remains one of Europe’s deadliest floods and a somber reminder of nature’s power.
1651
St. Peter's Flood
Frisian coast
1744day.year
War of the Austrian Succession: The Battle of Toulon causes several Royal Navy captains to be court-martialed, and the Articles of War to be amended.
Following the Battle of Toulon in 1744, several Royal Navy captains face court-martial and the Articles of War are revised.
During the War of the Austrian Succession, British and Franco-Spanish fleets clashed off Toulon in February 1744.
The British command hesitated to press the attack, resulting in an inconclusive engagement.
In the aftermath, Admiralty authorities court-martialed several Royal Navy captains for their conduct in battle.
The controversy highlighted ambiguities in naval regulations and officers’ duties.
As a result, the Articles of War were amended to clarify expectations and responsibilities.
These changes reshaped Royal Navy discipline and future fleet engagements.
1744
War of the Austrian Succession
Battle of Toulon
Royal Navy
court-martialed
Articles of War
1770day.year
British customs officer Ebenezer Richardson fires blindly into a crowd during a protest in North End, Boston, fatally wounding 11-year-old Christopher Seider; the first American fatality of the American Revolution.
In 1770, a British customs officer fires into a Boston crowd, killing 11-year-old Christopher Seider—the Revolution’s first fatality.
On February 22, 1770, colonial tensions in Boston surged over British customs enforcement.
In the North End, officer Ebenezer Richardson fired into an angry protest crowd.
Eleven-year-old Christopher Seider was struck and later died from his wounds.
Seider’s death ignited colonial outrage and became a rallying point for patriot leaders.
His funeral procession drew immense public support and helped galvanize revolutionary sentiment.
This tragic incident foreshadowed the violent clashes that would erupt later that year.
1770
North End, Boston
Christopher Seider
American Revolution
1797day.year
The last Invasion of Britain begins near Fishguard, Wales.
The last attempted invasion of Britain lands near Fishguard, Wales, in 1797, marking a brief French incursion.
In late February 1797, a French expeditionary force under Colonel William Tate landed near Fishguard in southwest Wales.
Their objective was to distract British troops and inspire Welsh rebellion against London.
Local militia and civilian volunteers resisted fiercely, preventing French forces from advancing.
Facing logistical difficulties and stiff opposition, the invaders surrendered on February 24.
This skirmish, remembered as the Last Invasion of Britain, had minimal strategic impact.
It remains a curious episode in the wider context of the French Revolutionary Wars.
1797
last Invasion of Britain
Fishguard
1819day.year
By the Adams–Onís Treaty, Spain sells Florida to the United States for five million U.S. dollars.
Through the Adams–Onís Treaty of 1819, Spain cedes Florida to the United States for five million dollars.
On February 22, 1819, Spain and the United States signed the Adams–Onís Treaty in Washington, D.C.
Spain agreed to relinquish all claims to Florida in exchange for five million U.S. dollars.
The treaty also defined the western boundary of the Louisiana Purchase territories.
It resolved ongoing border disputes and helped suppress cross-border conflicts with Seminole groups.
The U.S. Senate ratified the agreement in 1821, leading to formal American governance of Florida.
This diplomatic achievement substantially expanded U.S. territory and influence.
1819
Adams–Onís Treaty
sells Florida
1847day.year
Mexican–American War: The Battle of Buena Vista: Five thousand American troops defeat 15,000 Mexican troops.
American forces triumphed over a significantly larger Mexican army at the Battle of Buena Vista during the Mexican–American War.
On February 22, 1847, Major General Zachary Taylor led 5,000 United States troops against 15,000 Mexican soldiers under General Santa Anna near Buena Vista, Mexico. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the American forces held their defensive lines and inflicted heavy casualties. The intense fighting saw artillery and infantry clashes across difficult terrain. This decisive victory bolstered U.S. morale and elevated Taylor's national standing, paving the way for his future presidency. The Battle of Buena Vista remains one of the most celebrated engagements of the Mexican–American War.
1847
Mexican–American War
Battle of Buena Vista
Mexican
1848day.year
The French Revolution of 1848, which would lead to the establishment of the French Second Republic, begins.
The 1848 French Revolution begins, setting the stage for the creation of the Second French Republic.
On February 22, 1848, Parisian workers and students rose up against the July Monarchy of King Louis-Philippe, sparking a revolutionary wave across France. Demonstrations erupted over economic hardship and demands for political reform, leading to clashes with royal troops. By day's end, public pressure forced Louis-Philippe to abdicate, and a provisional government was established. This upheaval led to the proclamation of the French Second Republic and inspired revolutionary movements throughout Europe. The events of February 22 marked a pivotal moment in 19th-century democratic aspirations.
1848
French Revolution of 1848
French Second Republic