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
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
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
1974day.year
The British election ended in a hung parliament after the Jeremy Thorpe-led Liberal Party achieved their biggest vote share since 1929.
On February 28, 1974, the British general election resulted in a hung parliament, with the Liberal Party under Jeremy Thorpe winning its highest vote share since 1929.
The February 1974 UK general election produced an unprecedented deadlock as neither the Conservatives nor Labour secured a majority in the House of Commons. Prime Minister Edward Heath’s Conservatives and Harold Wilson’s Labour Party each won 297 seats, while Jeremy Thorpe’s Liberals captured 14 seats and 19.3 percent of the vote. Attempts by Heath to form a coalition government failed, leading Wilson to form a minority administration. The outcome underscored shifting public sentiments and the resurgence of the Liberal Party after decades of marginalization. Political leaders engaged in intense negotiations before calling a second election later that year. This election highlighted the complexities of multi-party democracy in Britain and set the stage for electoral reform debates.
1974
British election
hung parliament
Jeremy Thorpe
Liberal Party
1986day.year
Olof Palme, 26th Prime Minister of Sweden, is assassinated in Stockholm.
On February 28, 1986, Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was assassinated while walking home from a cinema in central Stockholm.
Olof Palme, renowned for his progressive leadership and vocal opposition to apartheid and the Vietnam War, was shot at close range on the busy Sveavägen street intersection. He collapsed beside his wife Lisbeth without having time to reach for help. The assassination stunned Sweden, a nation unaccustomed to political violence, and sparked the largest criminal investigation in its history. Despite extensive inquiries, the killer remained unidentified for decades, fueling numerous conspiracy theories. In 2020, prosecutors named a late suspect, reviving public interest in the long-unsolved case. Palme’s death led to heightened security for Swedish politicians and left a lasting impact on the country’s political landscape.
1986
Olof Palme
Prime Minister of Sweden
assassinated in Stockholm
1993day.year
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agents raid the Branch Davidian church in Waco, Texas with a warrant to arrest the group's leader David Koresh, starting a 51-day standoff.
ATF agents raided the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, on February 28, 1993, sparking a 51-day siege.
On February 28, 1993, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents executed a search warrant at the Branch Davidian church near Waco, Texas. Their goal was to arrest leader David Koresh on weapons violations and allegations of child abuse. The initial raid resulted in a deadly shootout, killing four agents and six Branch Davidians. The confrontation evolved into a 51-day standoff involving FBI negotiators and tactical teams. Authorities cut off the group's utilities and used psychological tactics to induce a surrender. Koresh and his followers barricaded themselves inside the fortified compound. The siege ended on April 19 when a fire consumed the building, causing significant loss of life. The Waco incident remains a controversial episode in U.S. law enforcement history, influencing public opinion and policy on domestic standoffs.
1993
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
raid
Branch Davidian
Waco, Texas
David Koresh
51-day standoff
1997day.year
A Turkish military memorandum resulted in the collapse of the coalition government in Turkey.
A Turkish military memorandum on February 28, 1997, forced the collapse of the nation's coalition government amid rising Islamist tensions.
On February 28, 1997, the Turkish military issued a memorandum to Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan, demanding secular reforms and denouncing rising Islamist influences. This move, later dubbed the 'post-modern coup,' leveraged military pressure without direct intervention. Faced with an ultimatum, Erbakan's coalition government resigned within days, averting potential conflict. The military's action underscored the enduring power of secularist forces within Turkey's political establishment. Key demands included shutting down religious schools and limiting political activities by religious parties. The incident deepened divides between secular and Islamist factions and reshaped the nation's political landscape. It led to the eventual banning of Erbakan's Welfare Party and influenced Turkey's approach to secularism and democracy.
Turkish military memorandum
2013day.year
Pope Benedict XVI resigns as the pope of the Catholic Church, becoming the first pope to do so since Pope Gregory XII in 1415.
Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation on February 28, 2013, becoming the first pope to step down since 1415.
On February 28, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI became the first pontiff to resign in nearly six centuries, stepping down from his role due to advanced age and declining health. His unprecedented decision broke a tradition of life-long papacies, the last voluntary resignation occurring in 1415 with Pope Gregory XII. The resignation took effect that day, creating a vacancy in the papal office and convening the 2013 conclave. The election of his successor, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, marked a new chapter as Pope Francis. Benedict assumed the title Pope Emeritus and retired to a life of prayer and study within the Vatican grounds. His resignation sparked global debate about modernizing church leadership and set a precedent for future pontiffs.
2013
Pope Benedict XVI
resigns
Catholic Church
Pope Gregory XII