473day.year
Gundobad (nephew of Ricimer) nominates Glycerius as emperor of the Western Roman Empire.
In 473, Gundobad, nephew of the powerful Ricimer, nominates Glycerius as emperor of the Western Roman Empire.
Gundobad, nephew of the powerful magister militum Ricimer, put forward Glycerius as emperor of the Western Roman Empire in 473 after the death of Libius Severus. Lacking traditional dynastic lineage, Glycerius was chosen for his proven administrative skills and loyalty to Ricimer's faction. This appointment underscored the era's military-dominated politics, where generals and warlords controlled imperial succession. Despite his elevation, Glycerius faced immediate legitimacy challenges, as Emperor Leo I of the Eastern Roman Empire refused to recognize his rule. The nomination marked the height of Ricimer's influence and highlighted the fragility of the late Western imperial office. Glycerius's brief reign would remain contested amid the empire's ongoing decline.
473
Gundobad
Ricimer
Glycerius
Western Roman Empire
724day.year
Empress Genshō abdicates the throne in favor of her nephew Shōmu who becomes emperor of Japan.
In 724, Empress Genshō abdicates the Japanese throne in favor of her nephew, Prince Obito, who ascends as Emperor Shōmu.
Genshō, daughter of Emperor Monmu, reigned from 715 as the fifth and final empress regnant of early Japan. On March 3, 724, she abdicated peacefully in favor of her nephew Prince Obito, who became Emperor Shōmu. This transfer ensured dynastic continuity and stability during the Nara period. Under her stewardship, Japan conducted its first nationwide census and saw the growth of Buddhist institutions. Shōmu would later commission the Great Buddha at Tōdai-ji, marking a golden age of art and religion. Genshō's abdication remains a unique example of female imperial succession in Japanese history.
724
Empress Genshō
Shōmu
Japan
1845day.year
Florida is admitted as the 27th U.S. state.
In 1845, Florida is admitted to the United States as the 27th state.
On March 3, 1845, Florida officially joined the Union as the 27th state after over two decades as a U.S. territory. Statehood was achieved following the drafting of a constitution and negotiations over boundaries with Spain. Florida’s admission maintained the balance of free and slave states during a period of rising sectional tensions. The new state’s economy centered on plantation agriculture, especially cotton and tobacco, relying heavily on enslaved labor. Early statehood challenges included Seminole resistance, infrastructure development, and integrating diverse communities. Florida’s entry into the Union expanded American influence in the Southeast and set the stage for future growth and conflict.
1845
Florida
1849day.year
The Territory of Minnesota is created.
In 1849, the United States establishes the territory of Minnesota as part of its westward expansion.
On March 3, 1849, Congress passed an act creating the Minnesota Territory, carved from parts of the Wisconsin and Iowa territories. The territory stretched north to the Canadian border, encompassing vast forests and fertile prairies. A territorial government was established with a governor and bicameral legislature to guide settlement and governance. The organization of Minnesota Territory reflected the era’s Manifest Destiny and the push for western expansion. Settlers were drawn by logging opportunities, farmland, and the promise of new communities. The foundations laid during the territorial period paved the way for Minnesota’s admission as a state in 1858.
1849
Territory of Minnesota
1861day.year
Alexander II of Russia signs the Emancipation Manifesto, freeing serfs.
Tsar Alexander II issued the Emancipation Manifesto on March 3, 1861, liberating millions of Russian serfs.
On March 3, 1861, Tsar Alexander II signed the Emancipation Manifesto, the landmark decree that liberated more than 23 million serfs across the Russian Empire. This reform ended centuries of serfdom, granting former serfs the rights to marry, own property, and conduct business. The manifesto divided land between landowners and peasants, who received 'temporary obligation' on redemption payments. Although it aimed to modernize Russia's economy and prevent peasant uprisings, many former serfs struggled with heavy debts and limited land allotments. The decree marked a turning point in Russian social history and set the stage for further reforms under Alexander II. It also influenced other European nations grappling with feudal legacies. Despite its flaws, the Emancipation Manifesto remains celebrated as a major milestone in the struggle for personal freedom on this day.
1861
Alexander II of Russia
Emancipation Manifesto
serfs
1873day.year
Censorship in the United States: The U.S. Congress enacts the Comstock Law, making it illegal to send any "obscene literature and articles of immoral use" through the mail.
Congress passed the Comstock Law on March 3, 1873, banning the mailing of obscene literature and materials.
On March 3, 1873, the U.S. Congress passed the Comstock Law, a federal statute that criminalized the mailing of 'obscene literature and articles of immoral use.' Championed by postal inspector Anthony Comstock and moral reformers, the law targeted materials related to sex education, contraception, abortion, and erotic content. It granted postal authorities broad powers to seize and destroy offending items and punish violators with fines or imprisonment. The Comstock Law reflected Victorian-era attitudes about morality and public decency, and it significantly limited free speech and information access. Over the following decades, it was used to suppress literature by authors such as D.H. Lawrence and Margaret Sanger's birth control advocacy. Legal challenges and changing social norms gradually eroded its reach, but elements of the statute persisted into the 20th century. The law’s legacy continues to inform debates over censorship and reproductive rights.
1873
Censorship in the United States
Comstock Law
1924day.year
The Ottoman Caliphate is abolished, when the Caliph Abdülmecid II of the Ottoman dynasty is deposed. The last remnant of the old monarchy gives way to the reformed Turkey of Kemal Atatürk.
On March 3, 1924, the Ottoman Caliphate was abolished and Caliph Abdülmecid II was deposed, marking the end of the centuries-old Islamic imperial institution.
On March 3, 1924, Turkey's Grand National Assembly officially abolished the Ottoman Caliphate, removing Caliph Abdülmecid II from power.
The decision marked the final dissolution of Ottoman imperial institutions that had endured for over six centuries.
This reform followed the establishment of the Republic of Turkey by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who sought to modernize and secularize the new nation-state.
Abdülmecid II was stripped of his title and exiled, ending the religious authority of the caliphate.
The abolition severed spiritual leadership ties across the Muslim world and symbolized the shift from empire to republic.
This landmark event reshaped the political and religious landscape of the Middle East.
1924
Ottoman Caliphate
Caliph
Abdülmecid II
Ottoman dynasty
Turkey
Kemal Atatürk
1924day.year
The Free State of Fiume is annexed by the Kingdom of Italy.
The Free State of Fiume was annexed by the Kingdom of Italy, ending its short-lived independence under the Treaty of Rome.
Following World War I, Fiume was declared an independent Free State in 1920 under the Treaty of Rapallo.
Tensions between Italy and Yugoslavia over the Adriatic port city persisted for years.
On March 3, 1924, the Treaty of Rome formalized Italy's annexation of Fiume.
This agreement dissolved the Free State and integrated the territory into the Kingdom of Italy.
Residents faced a rapid transition to Italian administration, language, and law.
The annexation reconfigured the postwar balance in the region and left a legacy of diplomatic dispute.
Free State of Fiume
Kingdom of Italy
1958day.year
Nuri al-Said becomes Prime Minister of Iraq for the eighth time.
Nuri al-Said was appointed Prime Minister of Iraq for the eighth time.
On March 3, 1958, veteran statesman Nuri al-Said assumed the premiership of Iraq for an unprecedented eighth term. Known for his pro-Western policies and strong ties to the monarchy, al-Said's return reflected ongoing power struggles in the Hashemite kingdom. His government faced mounting domestic unrest and regional tensions amid the Cold War. The repeated appointments underscored both his political skill and the fragility of Iraq's parliamentary system. This term preceded the July 1958 revolution that would dramatically reshape Iraqi politics and end the monarchy.
1958
Nuri al-Said
Prime Minister of Iraq
1986day.year
The Australia Act 1986 commences, causing Australia to become fully independent from the United Kingdom.
The Australia Act 1986 came into force, making Australia fully independent from the UK.
On March 3, 1986, the Australia Act 1986 took effect, severing the remaining constitutional links between Australia and the United Kingdom. The Act abolished the British Parliament's ability to legislate for Australian states and removed the power of the UK's Privy Council to hear Australian appeals. It solidified Australia's legislative and judicial sovereignty, affirming complete legislative independence. The passage of the Act represented a milestone in Australia's evolution as an independent nation within the Commonwealth. Legal scholars consider the Act the final step in Australia's constitutional maturation.
1986
Australia Act 1986
Australia
United Kingdom
2005day.year
Margaret Wilson is elected as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, beginning a period lasting until August 23, 2006, where all the highest political offices (including Elizabeth II as Head of State), were occupied by women, making New Zealand the first country for this to occur.
On March 3, 2005, Margaret Wilson became Speaker of the New Zealand House, initiating a historic era with women holding all top offices.
Margaret Wilson's election as Speaker marked a significant milestone in New Zealand's political history. From March 3, 2005, to August 23, 2006, the country saw Elizabeth II as Head of State, Dame Silvia Cartwright as Governor-General, Helen Clark as Prime Minister, Sian Elias as Chief Justice, and Wilson herself presiding over Parliament. This unprecedented lineup made New Zealand the first nation to have women simultaneously in all of its highest political roles. The event highlighted the progress of gender equality in government and attracted global attention. Wilson, a seasoned Labour Party member and former law academic, was praised for her leadership and impartiality. Her tenure set a powerful example for women in politics and underscored New Zealand's reputation for progressive representation.
Margaret Wilson
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
Elizabeth II