161day.year
Marcus Aurelius and L. Commodus (who changes his name to Lucius Verus) become joint emperors of Rome on the death of Antoninus Pius.
In 161 AD, following the death of Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus became joint emperors of Rome.
In March 161 AD, the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius died after a peaceful and prosperous reign. Instead of appointing a single successor, the Senate and imperial council proclaimed Marcus Aurelius and his adoptive brother Lucius Verus as co-emperors. This power-sharing arrangement marked a unique diarchy in Roman governance. Marcus Aurelius, known for his Stoic philosophy, focused on legal and administrative reforms while Lucius Verus prepared for military command. Their joint rule reinforced dynastic stability and set a precedent for subsequent co-emperors. Lucius Verus adopted his regnal name upon accession to affirm his standing. The two rulers guided the empire through both internal administration and external defense.
161
Marcus Aurelius
Lucius Verus
Antoninus Pius
1138day.year
Konrad III von Hohenstaufen was elected king of Germany at Coblenz in the presence of the papal legate Theodwin.
In 1138, Konrad III von Hohenstaufen was elected King of Germany at Coblenz in the presence of papal legate Theodwin.
In March 1138, German princes convened at Coblenz to choose a successor to the recently vacated imperial throne. Konrad III von Hohenstaufen, scion of the influential Hohenstaufen dynasty, secured his election amid rival claims. His selection in the presence of papal legate Theodwin highlighted the Church’s role in imperial politics. Konrad’s reign initiated the Hohenstaufen era in Germany, characterized by struggles for central authority over regional nobles. He faced challenges in uniting duchies and asserting imperial prerogatives. Papal endorsement brought legitimacy but also entailed diplomatic expectations. Konrad III’s kingship set the stage for the power dynamics of the Holy Roman Empire.
1138
Konrad III von Hohenstaufen
Theodwin
1277day.year
The University of Paris issues the last in a series of condemnations of various philosophical and theological theses.
In 1277, the University of Paris issued its final condemnation of various philosophical and theological theses.
On March 7, 1277, the University of Paris released the last in a series of condemnations targeting contentious philosophical and theological propositions. Spearheaded by the Bishop of Paris, these decrees aimed to curb the influence of Aristotelian and secular interpretations within Christian scholarship. The condemned theses covered topics ranging from the eternity of the world to the nature of divine power. This action sparked widespread debate among scholars and reshaped the intellectual landscape of medieval Europe. Many academics revised or abandoned disputed arguments in response. The condemnations underscored the Church’s authority over university teachings. This decisive moment influenced the trajectory of scholastic philosophy and reinforced doctrinal orthodoxy.
1277
condemnations
1573day.year
A peace treaty is signed between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice, ending the Ottoman–Venetian War and leaving Cyprus in Ottoman hands.
In 1573, the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice signed a peace treaty, ending the Ottoman–Venetian War and ceding Cyprus to Ottoman control.
On March 7, 1573, the Treaty of Constantinople was signed between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice, formally ending the 1570–73 Ottoman–Venetian War. Exhausted by the prolonged siege of Famagusta, Venice agreed to surrender Cyprus to Ottoman rule. The treaty solidified Ottoman naval dominance in the eastern Mediterranean and reshaped regional trade routes. Venice received a modest indemnity but lost its strategic island outpost and commercial influence. The agreement marked the decline of Venetian power and the ascent of Ottoman supremacy. It had lasting political and cultural repercussions across the Mediterranean world. Cyprus remained under Ottoman governance for centuries, altering the island’s history.
1573
Ottoman Empire
Republic of Venice
Ottoman–Venetian War
Cyprus
Ottoman hands
1799day.year
Napoleon Bonaparte captures Jaffa in Palestine and his troops proceed to kill more than 2,000 Albanian captives.
In 1799, during his Syrian campaign, Napoleon Bonaparte captured Jaffa in Palestine and ordered the execution of over two thousand Albanian prisoners.
On March 7, 1799, General Napoleon Bonaparte seized the fortified city of Jaffa as part of his expedition in Egypt and Syria. Facing reports of resistance and out of concern for his own supply lines, Napoleon decided to execute more than two thousand Albanian captives. The mass killing shocked contemporary observers and stained the campaign’s legacy. Napoleon defended his decision as a necessary measure to thwart uprising among prisoners. The Jaffa executions highlighted the ruthless realities of Napoleonic warfare and tested the limits of Enlightenment ethics. This incident became a focal point of criticism against Napoleon’s military conduct. It foreshadowed debates on the morality of wartime actions.
1799
Napoleon Bonaparte
captures
Jaffa
Palestine
Albanian
1814day.year
Emperor Napoleon I of France wins the Battle of Craonne.
On March 7, 1814, Emperor Napoleon I achieved a tactical victory at the Battle of Craonne against Allied forces.
During the War of the Sixth Coalition, Napoleon I confronted advancing Allied armies near Craonne in northern France. Despite being outnumbered and facing difficult terrain, French troops under Napoleon managed to repel Russian and Prussian forces. The engagement resulted in heavy casualties on both sides but delayed the Allies’ approach to Paris. This tactical success demonstrated Napoleon’s strategic acumen and the fighting prowess of his veteran soldiers. However, the victory was pyrrhic and did little to reverse the overall momentum of the coalition. The Battle of Craonne exemplified Napoleon’s resilience but foreshadowed the impending collapse of his empire. It remains a notable study in Napoleonic military leadership under pressure.
1814
Battle of Craonne
1826day.year
Shrigley abduction: 15-year old Ellen Turner is abducted by Edward Gibbon Wakefield, a future figure in the establishment of colonies in South Australia and New Zealand.
In 1826, 15-year-old Ellen Turner was abducted in the Shrigley abduction by Edward Gibbon Wakefield.
On March 7, 1826, Edward Gibbon Wakefield kidnapped 15-year-old heiress Ellen Turner from her home in Cheshire, England. Wakefield intended to force a marriage and gain control of her considerable inheritance. The shocking crime quickly attracted widespread media coverage and public outrage. Ellen was rescued by her determined father and British authorities after Wakefield fled to France. The subsequent trial led to Wakefield’s extradition and a life sentence in prison. The case prompted legal reforms concerning abduction, consent, and child protection. The Shrigley abduction remains one of the most notorious criminal scandals of early nineteenth-century England.
1826
Shrigley abduction
abducted
Edward Gibbon Wakefield
1850day.year
Senator Daniel Webster gives his "Seventh of March" speech endorsing the Compromise of 1850 in order to prevent a possible civil war.
On March 7, 1850, Senator Daniel Webster delivered his 'Seventh of March' speech, endorsing the Compromise of 1850 to help prevent civil war in the United States.
Appearing before the U.S. Senate, Daniel Webster appealed to both Northern and Southern legislators to support measures aimed at preserving the Union. His eloquent address emphasized that national survival was more important than sectional interests over slavery. Webster’s stance alienated many abolitionists but gained him support among moderates seeking peace. The speech helped secure passage of key components of the Compromise of 1850, including the Fugitive Slave Act and territorial governance provisions. Webster argued that concessions to the South were painful but essential for national unity. While controversial, his speech underscored the deep divisions tearing at the United States. The 'Seventh of March' address remains a defining moment in the nation’s pre–Civil War history.
1850
Senator
Daniel Webster
Compromise of 1850
civil war
1876day.year
Alexander Graham Bell is granted a patent for an invention he calls the "telephone".
On March 7, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell was granted the first patent for his invention, the telephone.
Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone patent marked a breakthrough in electrical communication technology. Bell’s device converted sound vibrations into electrical signals and transmitted them over wires to reproducing receivers. The patent formalized his priority over rival inventors and set the stage for global commercialization of telephony. This innovation revolutionized personal and business communications, shrinking distances across continents. Bell’s work spurred advancements in electrical engineering and audio science. His invention laid the groundwork for the modern telecommunications industry. The telephone’s development transformed social interactions and economic activity worldwide.
1876
Alexander Graham Bell
patent
invention
telephone
1902day.year
Second Boer War: Boers, led by Koos de la Rey, defeat the British at the Battle of Tweebosch.
On March 7, 1902, Boer forces under Koos de la Rey defeated the British at the Battle of Tweebosch during the Second Boer War.
During the concluding phase of the Second Boer War, Boer commandos led by General Koos de la Rey ambushed British troops near Tweebosch in South Africa. Utilizing guerrilla tactics and intimate knowledge of the terrain, the Boers secured a decisive victory against a larger enemy force. The battle resulted in the capture of British Major General Charles Tucker and inflicted significant casualties on the invaders. This triumph briefly bolstered Boer morale and disrupted British strategic plans in the region. Despite the success, the broader conflict increasingly favored the industrial might of the British Empire. The Battle of Tweebosch remains a notable example of asymmetrical warfare and the effectiveness of mobile Boer commandos.
1902
Second Boer War
Boers
Koos de la Rey
Battle of Tweebosch
1921day.year
The short-lived socialist Labin Republic is proclaimed.
Workers in Labin, Istria, proclaimed a short-lived socialist republic in protest of working conditions on March 7, 1921.
In March 1921, Italian workers in the mining town of Labin, Istria, established the self-proclaimed Labin Republic to protest harsh labor conditions. Inspired by socialist and anarchist ideals in the aftermath of World War I, they formed workers’ councils to take control of local governance. The republic lasted less than a day before Italian military forces moved in to suppress the uprising. Key leaders were arrested and mines returned to private management, ending the experiment. Despite its brief existence, the Labin Republic became a symbol of labor resistance and early 20th-century worker movements.
1921
Labin Republic
1931day.year
The Parliament House of Finland is officially inaugurated in Helsinki, Finland.
Finland officially inaugurated its new Parliament House in Helsinki on March 7, 1931.
Designed by architect Johan Sigfrid Sirén, Finland's Parliament House (Eduskuntatalo) was constructed between 1926 and 1931. On March 7, 1931, the building was officially inaugurated in a ceremony attended by President Pehr Evind Svinhufvud and members of Parliament. The neoclassical structure became the permanent seat of the Finnish legislature and a symbol of Finland’s independence. Its grand façade, with 14 columns of red granite, remains an iconic feature of Helsinki. The inauguration marked a milestone in Finnish democracy during the interwar period.
1931
Parliament House of Finland
Helsinki