February 28

Events

202 BC

Liu Bang is enthroned as the Emperor of China, beginning four centuries of rule by the Han dynasty.

Liu Bang declares himself Emperor in 202 BC, founding the Han dynasty that would rule China for four centuries.
In 202 BC, Liu Bang declared himself Emperor of China after years of rebellion against the Qin dynasty. He took the regnal name Emperor Gaozu and established the Western Han dynasty with its capital at Chang'an. His rise marked the end of the short-lived Qin empire and ushered in four centuries of Han rule. Liu Bang implemented policies to reduce harsh legalist laws and lighten the tax burden on peasants. Under his leadership, the empire stabilized through reconciliation with former rivals and promotion of Confucian ideals. The Han dynasty would become one of China's golden ages, influencing the region's culture, politics, and society for generations.
202 BC Liu Bang Emperor of China Han dynasty
870day.year

The Fourth Council of Constantinople closes.

The Fourth Council of Constantinople, an ecumenical synod of the Christian church, concluded in 870.
The Fourth Council of Constantinople convened in 869 under Pope Adrian II to address religious and political disputes within the Byzantine Empire. It aimed to resolve conflicts over papal authority, iconoclasm, and the filioque clause in the Nicene Creed. After deliberations in Rome and Constantinople, the council closed in February 870 with decrees against Patriarch Photios I. The synod reaffirmed papal primacy and condemned several theological positions endorsed by the Byzantine court. It had lasting effects on East-West relations, setting the stage for future schisms between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Although later contested by Byzantine emperors, its canons remained influential in Western canon law.
870 Fourth Council of Constantinople
1525day.year

Aztec king Cuauhtémoc is executed on the order of conquistador Hernán Cortés.

Aztec ruler Cuauhtémoc was executed on Hernán Cortés' orders, ending the last indigenous resistance to Spanish conquest in 1525.
Cuauhtémoc ascended as the last emperor of the Aztec empire following the fall of Tenochtitlan. In an effort to suppress continuing resistance, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés ordered his capture and execution. On February 28, 1525, Cuauhtémoc was accused of plotting against the Spanish and was hanged. His death symbolized the definitive collapse of Aztec sovereignty and the consolidation of Spanish rule in central Mexico. Despite his brief reign, Cuauhtémoc is remembered as a valiant defender of his people against overwhelming odds. Today, he is celebrated in Mexican history and culture as a national hero and symbol of resistance.
1525 Aztec Cuauhtémoc Hernán Cortés
1638day.year

The Scottish National Covenant is signed in Edinburgh.

The Scottish National Covenant was signed in Edinburgh, uniting Scots in opposition to King Charles I's religious reforms.
In 1638, Scottish nobles, clergy, and laity gathered in Edinburgh to sign the National Covenant. They pledged to uphold the Presbyterian doctrine and resist attempts by King Charles I to impose Anglican practices. Drafted by Alexander Henderson and other church leaders, the covenant combined political and religious commitments. It marked a decisive moment in the struggle over church governance and royal authority in 17th-century Scotland. The movement laid the groundwork for the Bishops’ Wars and helped spark the wider Wars of the Three Kingdoms. The covenant demonstrated the power of popular resistance and foreshadowed the rise of parliamentary forces against the monarchy.
1638 National Covenant Edinburgh
1835day.year

Elias Lönnrot signed and dated the first version of the Kalevala, the so-called foreword to the Old Kalevala.

Finnish scholar Elias Lönnrot signed the first version of the Kalevala's foreword, marking the birth of Finland's national epic.
On February 28, 1835, folklorist and physician Elias Lönnrot finalized the foreword to the Old Kalevala in Helsinki. The Kalevala compiled centuries of Finnish oral poetry and mythology into a unified epic narrative. Lönnrot’s work played a crucial role in the 19th-century Romantic nationalism movement in Finland. It inspired a renaissance in Finnish literature, art, and music, notably influencing composer Jean Sibelius. The Kalevala became a symbol of Finnish cultural identity and helped fuel aspirations for political autonomy. Today, it remains a cornerstone of Finnish heritage and is celebrated worldwide for its mythic grandeur.
1835 Elias Lönnrot Kalevala
1844day.year

A gun explodes on board the steam warship USS Princeton during a pleasure cruise down the Potomac River, killing six, including Secretary of State Abel Upshur. President John Tyler, who was also on board, was not injured from the blast.

A cannon exploded aboard the USS Princeton wooden steam warship, killing six dignitaries during a Potomac River cruise.
During a pleasure cruise on February 28, 1844, aboard the USS Princeton, a newly commissioned U.S. Navy warship, disaster struck. The ship's largest gun, named the 'Peacemaker', burst during a demonstration, hurling metal fragments across the deck. Six people, including Secretary of State Abel Upshur, were killed instantly. President John Tyler, observing nearby, escaped injury but the tragedy stunned the nation's political leadership. The accident exposed flaws in naval ordnance design and led to calls for improved safety in weapon manufacturing. It became one of the deadliest peacetime naval accidents in U.S. history and influenced future naval protocols.
1844 explodes on board USS Princeton Potomac River Abel Upshur John Tyler
1922day.year

The United Kingdom ends its protectorate over Egypt through a Unilateral Declaration of Independence.

The United Kingdom unilaterally ended its protectorate over Egypt, granting nominal independence on February 28, 1922.
On February 28, 1922, Britain issued a Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence. The declaration formally terminated the British protectorate established in 1914. King Fuad I ascended as the Sultan of an officially independent Egypt, though British influence remained strong. Britain retained control of defense, foreign affairs, the security of imperial communications, and the Sudan. The move was a response to growing Egyptian nationalist pressure, led by the Wafd Party and large-scale protests. Full sovereignty would not be realized until the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936, which adjusted the terms of British presence.
1922 protectorate Egypt Unilateral Declaration of Independence
1925day.year

The Charlevoix-Kamouraska earthquake strikes northeastern North America.

A powerful earthquake shook northeastern North America near Charlevoix and Kamouraska, causing widespread panic and damage.
On February 28, 1925, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Charlevoix-Kamouraska region of Quebec, Canada. The tremor was felt across northeastern North America, with reports from as far south as New York and Boston. In Quebec, it caused cracked walls, fallen chimneys, and terrorized residents unaccustomed to seismic activity. Sirens wailed and people fled homes in Montreal, Quebec City, and even across the border in the United States. Though no fatalities were reported, the quake spurred new studies on seismic risks in eastern Canada. It remains one of the most significant earthquakes ever recorded in the Charlevoix region.
1925 Charlevoix-Kamouraska earthquake
1947day.year

February 28 incident: In Taiwan, civil disorder is put down with the death of an estimated 18,000 - 28,000 civilians.

The February 28 Incident in Taiwan ended in a violent crackdown, with estimated 18,000 to 28,000 civilians killed.
Beginning on February 28, 1947, tensions in Taiwan boiled over into mass protests against corrupt officials of the Chinese Nationalist government. What started as street demonstrations quickly escalated when government forces opened fire on unarmed civilians. Over the next weeks, an estimated 18,000 to 28,000 Taiwanese were killed in reprisals and martial law operations. The massacre and subsequent White Terror suppressed political dissent for decades under Kuomintang rule. For many years, the February 28 Incident was taboo, but in recent decades it has been officially acknowledged and commemorated. It remains a pivotal event in Taiwan's history, shaping its identity and future democratization movements.
1947 February 28 incident Taiwan
1948day.year

The 1948 Accra riots erupted following a march by ex-servicemen of the Gold Coast Regiment towards the seat of the colonial government at Christiansborg Castle where they were fired upon by Superintendant Colin Imray leading to the killing of Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey and the arrest of the Big Six in the Gold Coast.

A protest by ex-servicemen at Christiansborg Castle turned deadly when colonial police opened fire, killing three and prompting the arrest of the Big Six.
On February 28, 1948, ex-servicemen of the Gold Coast Regiment marched on Christiansborg Castle to demand pensions and fair treatment. Colonial police Superintendent Colin Imray ordered his officers to fire on the demonstrators. Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe, and Private Odartey Lamptey were killed, sparking widespread outrage. The riots marked a turning point in the colony, galvanizing nationalist sentiment against British rule. In the aftermath, six leading activists known as the Big Six were arrested and imprisoned. These events laid the groundwork for the Gold Coast's eventual independence as Ghana in 1957.
1948 1948 Accra riots Gold Coast Regiment Christiansborg Castle Sergeant Adjetey Corporal Attipoe Private Odartey Lamptey the Big Six Gold Coast
1958day.year

A school bus in Floyd County, Kentucky hits a wrecker truck and plunges down an embankment into the rain-swollen Levisa Fork river. The driver and 26 children die in one of the worst school bus accidents in U.S. history.

On February 28, 1958, a school bus in Floyd County, Kentucky collided with a wrecker truck and plunged into the swollen Levisa Fork river, killing the driver and 26 children.
In the afternoon of February 28, 1958, a church-sponsored school bus carrying local children attempted to pass a slow-moving wrecker truck on a rain-slick mountain road in Floyd County, Kentucky. The bus clipped the truck, lost control, and plunged down an embankment into the Levisa Fork river. Local residents and emergency crews braved the swift, icy currents to reach the submerged vehicle, but all 26 children and the driver perished. Shockwaves from the tragedy spread nationwide, prompting calls for stricter school bus safety regulations. The disaster remains one of the deadliest school bus accidents in U.S. history and led to reforms in vehicle design and emergency response protocols.
1958 Floyd County, Kentucky Levisa Fork one of the worst school bus accidents
1959day.year

Discoverer 1, an American spy satellite that is the first object intended to achieve a polar orbit, is launched but fails to achieve orbit.

On February 28, 1959, the United States launched Discoverer 1, the first American attempt to place an object into polar orbit, but the satellite failed to achieve orbit.
Discoverer 1 marked the inaugural mission of the U.S. Corona reconnaissance program, aiming to test polar orbit insertion for global surveillance. Launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base aboard a Thor-Agena rocket, the satellite encountered a second-stage malfunction and never reached its intended trajectory. Although it reentered the atmosphere without returning any imagery, the mission provided crucial engineering data for future designs. Lessons learned from Discoverer 1 informed the success of later Corona flights, which ultimately revolutionized Cold War intelligence gathering. The program’s achievements laid the groundwork for modern satellite reconnaissance.
1959 Discoverer 1 spy satellite polar orbit