February 24

Events

484day.year

King Huneric of the Vandals replaces Nicene bishops with Arian ones, and banishes some to Corsica.

In 484 AD, Vandal King Huneric deposed Nicene bishops and installed Arian clergy, exiling opponents to Corsica.
In 484 AD, Huneric, the Vandal king known for his Arian Christian beliefs, initiated a sweeping ecclesiastical purge in North Africa. He removed Nicene bishops from their sees and installed Arian clergy in their place. Many Nicene clerics faced harsh treatment and were forced into exile on Corsica. This act exacerbated tensions between differing Christian doctrines of the era and fueled religious conflict across the region. Huneric’s actions reflected the broader struggle between Arianism and Nicene orthodoxy in the late Roman world.
484 Huneric Nicene Arian Corsica
1303day.year

The English are defeated at the Battle of Roslin, in the First War of Scottish Independence.

In 1303, Scottish forces defeated the English at the Battle of Roslin during the First War of Scottish Independence.
The Battle of Roslin took place on February 24, 1303 near Roslin, Scotland. Scottish knights and foot soldiers, led by John Comyn and Simon Fraser, ambushed the English army under Robert Neville. The engagement resulted in a surprising Scottish victory despite being outnumbered. This clash demonstrated the effectiveness of Scottish tactics and bolstered morale among the rebel forces. The victory at Roslin is celebrated as a key moment in Scotland's struggle to maintain its independence from England.
1303 Battle of Roslin First War of Scottish Independence
1386day.year

King Charles III of Naples and Hungary is assassinated at Buda.

King Charles III of Naples and Hungary was assassinated by conspirators in Buda in 1386.
On February 24, 1386, Charles III, who ruled both Naples and Hungary, arrived in Buda to claim his Hungarian crown. His unpopularity among certain noble factions culminated in a deadly conspiracy. Conspirators led by Elizabeth of Bosnia and her supporters ambushed the king in the royal palace. Charles was stabbed multiple times and died from his wounds shortly after. His assassination plunged the kingdom into further instability and civil strife. The event underscored the fierce dynastic rivalries of medieval Europe.
1386 Charles III of Naples Buda
1525day.year

A Spanish-Austrian army defeats a French army at the Battle of Pavia.

A Spanish-Austrian coalition decisively defeated the French army at the Battle of Pavia in 1525.
On February 24, 1525, near Pavia in northern Italy, Imperial forces commanded by Charles de Lannoy and Fernando d'Avalos engaged and overwhelmed a French army led by King Francis I. The battle featured innovative Spanish arquebusiers who broke the French heavy cavalry charges. Francis I was captured along with much of his court, marking a turning point in the Italian Wars. The victory secured Habsburg dominance in Italy and shifted the balance of power in Europe. The French defeat weakened Francis's position and led to a period of Habsburg ascendancy. The outcome of Pavia had lasting implications for European diplomacy and warfare.
1525 Spanish-Austrian Battle of Pavia
1527day.year

Coronation of Ferdinand I as the king of Bohemia in Prague.

Ferdinand I was crowned King of Bohemia in Prague on February 24, 1527.
Ferdinand I, brother of Emperor Charles V and a member of the Habsburg dynasty, ascended the Bohemian throne in 1527. His coronation in Prague signified the consolidation of Habsburg authority in Central Europe. Ferdinand's reign aimed to stabilize the region and defend against Ottoman incursions. The ceremony followed Bohemian traditions and was attended by leading nobles and clergy. This event also cemented the close ties between the Bohemian crown and the Holy Roman Empire. Ferdinand would later become Holy Roman Emperor, shaping European politics for decades to come.
1527 Ferdinand I Prague
1538day.year

Treaty of Nagyvárad between Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I and King John Zápolya of Hungary and Croatia.

The Treaty of Nagyvárad was signed in 1538 between Emperor Ferdinand I and King John Zápolya, dividing Hungary between them.
On February 24, 1538, Ferdinand I of Habsburg and John Zápolya, rival claimants to the Hungarian throne, met at Nagyvárad (now Oradea in Romania) to negotiate peace. The treaty recognized John Zápolya as the ruler of eastern Hungary, while Ferdinand secured western territories. They agreed that upon the death of one, the survivor would inherit the entire kingdom. This pragmatic compromise temporarily eased hostilities and Ottoman interference in Hungarian affairs. However, the arrangement ultimately failed to prevent further conflict. The treaty illustrated the complex political landscape of 16th-century Central Europe.
1538 Treaty of Nagyvárad Ferdinand I John Zápolya
1582day.year

With the papal bull Inter gravissimas, Pope Gregory XIII announces the Gregorian calendar.

Pope Gregory XIII issued the papal bull Inter gravissimas in 1582, announcing the adoption of the Gregorian calendar.
On February 24, 1582, Pope Gregory XIII promulgated the papal bull Inter gravissimas, authorizing a calendar reform to correct inaccuracies of the Julian system. The new Gregorian calendar adjusted leap year rules and omitted ten days to realign the calendar with the solar year. The reform aimed to restore the date of the spring equinox to March 21 for proper Easter calculation. Catholic countries adopted the new calendar immediately, while some Protestant and Orthodox states resisted for centuries. The Gregorian calendar eventually became the international standard for civil use. This historic change had profound effects on timekeeping, astronomy, and worldwide coordination of dates.
1582 papal bull Inter gravissimas Pope Gregory XIII Gregorian calendar
1597day.year

The last battle of the Cudgel War takes place on the Santavuori Hill in Ilmajoki, Ostrobothnia.

The final battle of the Finnish Cudgel War took place at Santavuori Hill in 1597, ending the peasant uprising.
On February 24, 1597, the Cudgel War, a peasant revolt against oppressive Swedish nobles, reached its climax at Santavuori Hill near Ilmajoki in Ostrobothnia. Poorly armed Finnish peasants wielding clubs and other improvised weapons faced the better-equipped mercenary forces of the Swedish crown. Despite their bravery, the rebels were decisively defeated, suffering heavy casualties. The crushing of the uprising reaffirmed Swedish control over Finland. The Cudgel War became a symbol of peasant resistance and highlighted the social tensions of late 16th-century Scandinavian society. Monuments at Santavuori Hill later commemorated this dramatic chapter in Finnish history.
1597 Cudgel War Santavuori Hill Ilmajoki Ostrobothnia
1607day.year

L'Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi, one of the first works recognized as an opera, receives its première performance.

Claudio Monteverdi's L'Orfeo, one of the earliest operas, premiered on February 24, 1607.
L'Orfeo, composed by Claudio Monteverdi, received its first performance at the Ducal Palace in Mantua on February 24, 1607. Drawing on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, Monteverdi blended music, drama, and stagecraft in new ways. The opera's expressive vocal writing and innovative orchestration marked a turning point in the early Baroque era. L'Orfeo's success established the opera genre as a powerful art form. Its elaborate prologue, featuring the figure of Apollo, set a high standard for subsequent composers. Monteverdi's work influenced music history and continues to be performed worldwide.
1607 L'Orfeo Claudio Monteverdi opera
1711day.year

Rinaldo by George Frideric Handel, the first Italian opera written for the London stage, is premièred.

George Frideric Handel's Italian opera Rinaldo premiered in London on February 24, 1711.
Rinaldo was the first Italian-language opera composed specifically for the London stage, debuting at the Queen's Theatre on February 24, 1711. Handel's score featured elaborate arias, dramatic choruses, and innovative orchestration. The story, drawn from Torquato Tasso's epic poem Gerusalemme Liberata, captivated audiences with its heroic themes and magical stage effects. Rinaldo's success established Handel as a leading operatic composer in England. The work's opening aria, Lascia ch'io pianga, remains a beloved example of Baroque melody. Rinaldo's production marked a milestone in London's cultural life and shaped the city's operatic future.
1711 Rinaldo George Frideric Handel opera
1739day.year

Battle of Karnal: The army of Iranian ruler Nader Shah defeats the forces of the Mughal emperor of India, Muhammad Shah.

In 1739, Nader Shah's Persian army decisively defeated the Mughal forces at the Battle of Karnal, leading to the sack of Delhi.
The Battle of Karnal was fought on 24 February 1739 near Karnal in present-day Haryana, India. Nader Shah, founder of the Afsharid dynasty, led a modernized Persian force against the Mughal Empire under Muhammad Shah. Despite being outnumbered, the Persian troops used superior tactics and firepower to rout the Mughal army in under three hours. The victory opened the road to Delhi, which Nader Shah looted extensively, seizing immense treasures including the Peacock Throne and Koh-i-Noor diamond. The sack of Delhi inflicted a severe blow on Mughal prestige and contributed to the empire's eventual decline. This battle demonstrated the rising military power of Persia and altered the balance of power in the Indian subcontinent.
1739 Battle of Karnal Iranian Nader Shah Mughal India Muhammad Shah
1803day.year

In Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court of the United States establishes the principle of judicial review.

In 1803, the U.S. Supreme Court asserted its power of judicial review in Marbury v. Madison, shaping American constitutional law.
Marbury v. Madison was decided on 24 February 1803 by the Supreme Court of the United States. Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that the Court has authority to review acts of Congress and determine their constitutionality. This landmark decision established the principle of judicial review, empowering the judiciary as a co-equal branch of government. By invalidating a portion of the Judiciary Act of 1789, the Court asserted its role in interpreting the Constitution. Marbury v. Madison laid the foundation for the modern American legal system and reinforced the checks and balances among the branches of government.
1803 Marbury v. Madison Supreme Court of the United States judicial review