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
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
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
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
1951day.year
Iranian prime minister Ali Razmara is assassinated by Khalil Tahmasebi, a member of the Islamic fundamentalist Fada'iyan-e Islam, outside a mosque in Tehran.
Iranian Prime Minister Ali Razmara was assassinated outside a Tehran mosque on March 7, 1951.
Iranian Prime Minister Ali Razmara was assassinated outside the Shah Abdol-Azim Shrine in Tehran on March 7, 1951. The shooter, Khalil Tahmasebi, was a member of the radical Fada'iyan-e Islam group opposing Razmara’s moderate policies. Razmara had clashed with religious leaders over oil nationalization and court reforms, making him a target for extremist factions. His death created a political crisis that accelerated moves toward nationalizing Iran’s oil industry under Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. The assassination highlighted tensions between secular government officials and religious activists in mid-20th-century Iran.
Ali Razmara
Khalil Tahmasebi
Fada'iyan-e Islam
Tehran
1989day.year
Iran and the United Kingdom break diplomatic relations after a fight over Salman Rushdie and his controversial novel, The Satanic Verses.
Iran and the United Kingdom severed diplomatic ties over the Salman Rushdie controversy on March 7, 1989.
Iran officially severed diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on March 7, 1989, following violent protests over Salman Rushdie’s novel The Satanic Verses. Iranian leaders condemned the book as blasphemous, and a fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khomeini in 1988 called for Rushdie’s death. Furious crowds stormed and damaged the British embassy in Tehran the previous November, prompting the UK to expel Iranian diplomats. The diplomatic break lasted until 1998, straining political and economic ties between the two nations. The crisis underscored tensions between secular western values and religious fundamentalism.
1989
Iran
diplomatic relations
Salman Rushdie
The Satanic Verses
2007day.year
Reform of the House of Lords: The British House of Commons votes to make the upper chamber, the House of Lords, 100% elected.
In 2007, the British House of Commons voted to transform the House of Lords into a fully elected chamber, signaling a bold push for democratic reform.
On March 7, 2007, the UK House of Commons approved a motion to make the upper chamber, the House of Lords, entirely elected rather than inherited. The proposal aimed to enhance legitimacy by reducing the influence of hereditary peers and life appointments. Supporters argued that an elected second chamber would strengthen legislative accountability and modernize Britain’s centuries-old parliamentary system. Critics warned of potential gridlock between two elected bodies and the loss of expert oversight. Although the vote did not immediately enact legal change, it intensified debates on constitutional reform. The outcome spurred further discussions on the composition, powers, and functions of the House of Lords, leaving a lasting imprint on Britain’s political evolution.
2007
Reform of the House of Lords
2024day.year
Sweden officially joins NATO, becoming its 32nd member.
In 2024, Sweden formally entered NATO as its 32nd member, ending decades of military non-alignment.
On March 7, 2024, Sweden officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, concluding its historic policy of neutrality. The accession followed unanimous ratification by existing member states and a national consensus driven by security concerns. Sweden’s decision was influenced by the changing security landscape in Europe, particularly Russia’s actions in Ukraine. As the 32nd member, Sweden committed to collective defense under Article 5 and contributed advanced military capabilities to the alliance. The move strengthened NATO’s presence in the Baltic Sea region and underscored Northern Europe’s strategic importance. Swedish armed forces began integrating with alliance operations and joint exercises. The accession marked a turning point in Sweden’s defense posture and underscored the enduring value of transatlantic partnerships.
2024
Sweden
NATO