AD 51day.year
Nero, later to become Roman emperor, is given the title princeps iuventutis (head of the youth).
In AD 51, Nero, the future Roman emperor, is granted the title princeps iuventutis, marking his early rise within the imperial hierarchy.
At around thirteen years old, Nero receives the honorary title princeps iuventutis, meaning "first among the youth", in a ceremony orchestrated by his adoptive father Emperor Claudius. The designation highlights Nero's prominent status and foreshadows his succession to the throne. This event cements his position as heir apparent and strengthens his public image. The youth of Rome viewed Nero's elevation as a signal of a new generation of leadership. The bestowal underscores the political rituals of the Julian-Claudian dynasty. Nero's assumption of the title paves the way for his eventual accession in AD 54 as one of Rome's most famous emperors.
AD 51
Nero
Roman emperor
princeps iuventutis
581day.year
Yang Jian declares himself Emperor Wen of Sui, ending the Northern Zhou and beginning the Sui dynasty.
In 581, Yang Jian proclaims himself Emperor Wen of Sui, marking the transition from the Northern Zhou to the Sui dynasty in China.
After serving as regent for the Northern Zhou, Yang Jian seizes control and declares himself Emperor Wen of Sui on March 4, 581. His usurpation brings an end to decades of disunity following the fall of the Western Jin dynasty. Under his leadership, the Sui dynasty initiates major reforms in administration, law, and infrastructure. Emperor Wen standardizes the bureaucracy and reinstates the examination system to recruit officials by merit. He orders the construction of canals and roads, laying foundations for economic growth. His reign sets the stage for the grand accomplishments of his successor, Emperor Yang. The Sui dynasty’s brief but transformative rule paves the way for the cultural flourishing of the Tang era.
581
Yang Jian
Emperor Wen of Sui
Northern Zhou
Sui dynasty
852day.year
Croatian Knez Trpimir I issues a statute, a document with the first known written mention of the Croats name in Croatian sources.
In 852, Knez Trpimir I issues the first known Croatian legal statute, containing the earliest recorded mention of the Croats in their native sources.
Ruler of Dalmatian Croatia, Trpimir I promulgates a statute on March 4, 852, addressing church lands and legal privileges for monastic institutions. The document, preserved in Latin, is the first written source to reference the Croats name in a domestic context. It affirms Trpimir’s authority and strengthens ties between the Christian church and the Croatian state. The statute offers insights into early medieval legal practice on the Balkan peninsula. Its discovery illuminates the origins of Croatian identity and statecraft. Trpimir’s reign lays foundations for the development of a cohesive Croatian polity.
852
Knez
Trpimir I
statute
Croats
1152day.year
Frederick I Barbarossa is elected King of Germany.
Frederick I Barbarossa is elected King of Germany in 1152, beginning his storied reign within the Holy Roman Empire.
On March 4, 1152, a council of German princes convenes at Mainz and elects Frederick Barbarossa as King of Germany following the death of King Conrad III. Aged around 40 and hailing from the powerful Hohenstaufen dynasty, he secures broad support by promising military leadership and internal reform. Frederick’s election marks the resurgence of imperial authority after years of weak kingship and civil strife. He is crowned at Aachen, reviving the ancient coronation traditions of the Carolingian and Ottonian emperors. Frederick embarks on campaigns in Italy to assert imperial rights and negotiate with the papacy. His diplomatic acumen and martial prowess earn him the epithet
1152
Frederick I Barbarossa
King of Germany
1351day.year
Ramathibodi becomes King of Siam.
In 1351, Ramathibodi I ascends the throne of Ayutthaya, laying the foundations of the Siamese kingdom’s golden age.
Born as Uthong and known post-coronation as Ramathibodi I, he becomes the first king of the independent Ayutthaya Kingdom on March 4, 1351. Under his rule, Ayutthaya emerges as a major regional power, establishing administrative codes and legal systems influenced by both Khmer and Srivijayan traditions. He reforms land ownership and taxation, strengthening central authority over local chieftains. Buddhism is patronized and state temples are constructed, cementing the religion’s role in governance. Ramathibodi expands trade by forging diplomatic ties with China, India, and the Maldives. His reign sets cultural precedents that endure throughout the Ayutthaya period. The kingdom later becomes one of Southeast Asia’s most prosperous maritime hubs.
1351
Ramathibodi
King of Siam
1386day.year
Władysław II Jagiełło (Jogaila) is crowned King of Poland.
On March 4, 1386, Grand Duke Jogaila of Lithuania is crowned Władysław II Jagiełło, King of Poland, marking the Polish–Lithuanian union's beginnings.
The union is sealed through Jogaila’s marriage to Queen Jadwiga of Poland, bringing Catholicism to Lithuania and forging a powerful political alliance. Jogaila adopts the name Władysław II Jagiełło upon his coronation in Kraków, aligning himself with Polish nobility and clergy. This dynastic pact stabilizes the region and creates one of medieval Europe’s largest states. Jagiełło’s reign focuses on consolidating royal authority and defending against the Teutonic Knights. The union accelerates cultural and religious integration, while Lithuania benefits from Poland’s administrative structures. The Jagiellonian dynasty established on this day endures for centuries, shaping Central European geopolitics.
1386
Władysław II Jagiełło
King of Poland
1628day.year
The Massachusetts Bay Colony is granted a Royal charter.
In 1628, King Charles I granted a Royal charter to the Massachusetts Bay Company, formalizing the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
On March 4, 1628, King Charles I granted a Royal charter to the Massachusetts Bay Company. The charter authorized the company to govern and settle the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Puritan leaders used this document to establish a self-governing community in New England. It defined the colony’s corporate structure, land rights, and legal authority. The charter laid the foundation for one of the most influential colonial governments in America. It remained the basis for Massachusetts governance until the late 17th century.
1628
Massachusetts Bay Colony
Royal charter
1681day.year
Charles II grants a land charter to William Penn for the area that will later become Pennsylvania.
In 1681, King Charles II granted William Penn a land charter for what became Pennsylvania, establishing a new English colony.
On March 4, 1681, King Charles II granted William Penn a land charter for the territory that became Pennsylvania. Penn, a Quaker, envisioned a colony based on religious freedom and fair treatment of Indigenous peoples. The charter gave him broad powers to govern and distribute land. Under his leadership, Philadelphia emerged as a model of urban planning and civic order. Pennsylvania’s liberal policies attracted settlers from diverse backgrounds. The colony’s foundations influenced the future values of American liberty and democracy.
1681
William Penn
Pennsylvania
1789day.year
In New York City, the first Congress of the United States meets, putting the United States Constitution into effect.
In 1789, the first United States Congress convened in New York City, putting the U.S. Constitution into effect.
On March 4, 1789, the first United States Congress convened at Federal Hall in New York City. This session officially put the U.S. Constitution into effect and launched the new federal government. Members organized legislative committees, established the federal judiciary, and managed the nation’s finances. George Washington was chosen as President of the Senate and presided over the inaugural meeting. The assembly laid the legislative foundations of the United States. It marked the transition from the Articles of Confederation to a stronger national union.
1789
first
Congress of the United States
United States Constitution
1790day.year
France is divided into 83 départements, cutting across the former provinces in an attempt to dislodge regional loyalties based on ownership of land by the nobility.
France reorganizes its territory into 83 départements to replace the old provinces and curb regional loyalties.
On March 4, 1790, the National Constituent Assembly enacted a sweeping territorial reform in France. The old provincial boundaries were dismantled and replaced by 83 new départements of roughly equal size. This measure aimed to weaken the traditional power of the nobility and centralize authority under the revolutionary government. Each département was named after geographical features such as rivers and mountains. Local administration was standardized to promote equal representation and uniform governance. The reform laid the foundation for the modern administrative structure of France and remains largely intact today.
1790
départements
former provinces
1791day.year
Vermont is admitted to the United States as the fourteenth state.
Vermont joins the United States as the 14th state, becoming the first addition to the original Union.
On March 4, 1791, Vermont officially entered the Union as the 14th state of the United States. The former independent Republic of Vermont negotiated its statehood after years of settlement disputes with New York. Admission to the Union granted Vermont representation in Congress and full participation in federal governance. Its admission set a precedent for the orderly expansion of the United States through statehood. Vermont’s state constitution was influenced by progressive ideas, including early anti-slavery provisions. The state’s admission marked a key moment in shaping the young nation’s western frontier.
1791
Vermont
admitted to the United States
state
1794day.year
The 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is passed by the U.S. Congress.
Congress approves the 11th Amendment, limiting the ability of individuals to sue states in federal court without consent.
On March 4, 1794, the United States Congress passed the 11th Amendment to the Constitution. This amendment established that federal courts could not entertain suits against a state by citizens of another state or foreign country without the state’s consent. The measure responded to concerns raised by the Supreme Court’s decision in Chisholm v. Georgia (1793). It aimed to protect the sovereign immunity of states and to balance federal and state judicial authority. By restricting federal jurisdiction, the amendment strengthened state sovereignty under the new constitutional system. The 11th Amendment remains a cornerstone in the legal doctrine of state immunity in the United States.
1794
11th Amendment
U.S. Congress