141 BC
Liu Che, posthumously known as Emperor Wu of Han, assumes the throne over the Han dynasty of China.
Emperor Wu of Han, one of China’s most influential rulers, ascends the throne in 141 BC.
On March 9, 141 BC, Liu Che took power as Emperor Wu of Han following the death of his predecessor. Known for his ambitious military campaigns and centralization of power, he expanded the Han dynasty’s territory beyond previous limits. His reign lasted over 50 years, marking one of the longest in Chinese imperial history. Emperor Wu established Confucianism as the state philosophy, strengthening bureaucratic governance. He opened the Silk Road, fostering trade with Central Asia and beyond. Under his rule, the Han dynasty reached its peak in culture, economy, and international influence.
141 BC
posthumously
Emperor Wu of Han
Han dynasty
1009day.year
First known mention of Lithuania, in the annals of the monastery of Quedlinburg.
The name “Lithuania” appears for the first time in a German monastery’s annals.
On March 9, 1009, the annals of Quedlinburg Abbey recorded the name “Lithuania,” marking the earliest known reference to this Baltic region. These entries, maintained by monks in what is now Germany, reflect the growing awareness of a distinct Lithuanian tribe. This moment predates the formation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania by over a century, offering historians a vital glimpse into early medieval Europe. The mention underscores the monastery’s role in chronicling events far beyond its local surroundings. It highlights the interconnectedness of church scholars and emerging nations on the European stage.
1009
Lithuania
annals
Quedlinburg
1226day.year
Khwarazmian sultan Jalal ad-Din conquers the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.
Khwarazmian forces under Jalal ad-Din seize the Georgian capital Tbilisi.
On March 9, 1226, Sultan Jalal ad-Din of the Khwarazmian Empire captured Tbilisi, the heart of the Georgian kingdom. This victory resulted from his campaigns to reclaim territories lost to the Mongols. The fall of Tbilisi disrupted the regional balance of power in the Caucasus. The conquest was marked by both military prowess and reports of heavy plunder. Although his rule in Tbilisi was brief, it demonstrated the resilience and ambition of Khwarazmian leadership during tumultuous times. The event remains a pivotal moment in Georgian history, foreshadowing further struggles against external invasions.
1226
Khwarazmian
sultan
Jalal ad-Din
Georgian
Tbilisi
1230day.year
Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Asen II defeats Theodore of Epirus in the Battle of Klokotnitsa.
Tsar Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria triumphs over Theodore of Epirus at Klokotnitsa.
On March 9, 1230, the armies of Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Asen II confronted the forces of Theodore of Epirus near the village of Klokotnitsa. Employing clever tactics, the Bulgarians routed the Epirote troops, capturing Theodore himself. This decisive victory expanded Bulgarian territories deep into the Balkans. It marked the height of the Second Bulgarian Empire’s power and influence in Southeast Europe. The battle reshaped the political landscape, curbing Byzantine fragmentation. Ivan Asen II’s success brought decades of stability and economic growth to his realm, leaving a lasting legacy in medieval Bulgarian history.
1230
Bulgarian
Tsar Ivan Asen II
Theodore of Epirus
Battle of Klokotnitsa
1500day.year
The fleet of Pedro Álvares Cabral leaves Lisbon for the Indies. The fleet will discover Brazil which lies within boundaries granted to Portugal in the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494.
Pedro Álvares Cabral sets sail from Lisbon, embarking on the voyage that leads to the discovery of Brazil.
On March 9, 1500, Portuguese navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral departed Lisbon with a fleet destined for the Indies. Following the route outlined by the Treaty of Tordesillas, his expedition veered westward into uncharted Atlantic waters. This unexpected detour led Cabral to the Brazilian coast, marking Europe’s first documented encounter with South America. The discovery opened a new chapter in global exploration, laying the foundation for Portuguese colonization. Cabral’s voyage underscored the era’s navigational advances and imperial ambitions. Brazil’s rich resources soon attracted settlers, forever altering the region’s cultural and ecological landscape. The expedition exemplifies the Age of Discovery’s spirit of adventure and international rivalry.
1500
Pedro Álvares Cabral
Lisbon
Indies
Brazil
Treaty of Tordesillas
1701day.year
Safavid troops retreat from Basra, ending a three-year occupation.
Safavid forces withdraw from Basra, ending their three-year occupation.
On March 9, 1701, the Safavid Persian army completed its withdrawal from the strategic port city of Basra. The occupation, which began in 1698, aimed to secure Persian influence over the vital trade gateway. However, logistical challenges and Ottoman countermeasures forced the retreat. Basra returned to Ottoman control, restoring a key link in Middle Eastern commerce. The episode illustrated the ongoing rivalry between the two great empires for regional supremacy. Though brief, the Safavid presence impacted local governance and trade dynamics. The withdrawal marked a turning point in Safavid-Ottoman relations, emphasizing both powers’ fluctuating fortunes along their contested border.
1701
Safavid
Basra
ending a three-year occupation
1765day.year
After a campaign by the writer Voltaire, judges in Paris posthumously exonerate Jean Calas of murdering his son. Calas had been tortured and executed in 1762 on the charge, though his son may have actually died by suicide.
Voltaire’s advocacy leads to the posthumous exoneration of Jean Calas in Paris.
On March 9, 1765, the Parlement of Paris overturned the conviction of Jean Calas, who had been executed in 1762 for the alleged murder of his son. The campaign, championed by Enlightenment writer Voltaire, highlighted issues of religious intolerance and judicial abuse in France. Voltaire’s relentless criticism of the case mobilized public opinion and exposed flaws in the legal system. The exoneration marked a victory for the Enlightenment’s push for reason, justice, and human rights. The affair influenced later reforms by showcasing the power of intellectuals to shape public policy. Jean Calas’s case remains a symbol of the fight against prejudice and miscarriage of justice.
1765
Voltaire
Jean Calas
1762
1776day.year
Scottish philosopher Adam Smith publishes The Wealth of Nations, ushering in the classical period of political economy.
Adam Smith publishes The Wealth of Nations, founding modern economics.
On March 9, 1776, Scottish philosopher Adam Smith released An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. This seminal work laid the groundwork for classical economics, advocating free markets, division of labor, and the invisible hand principle. Smith’s analysis contrasted mercantilist policies, emphasizing that national prosperity stems from productive activity rather than hoarded gold. His arguments influenced economic policy across Europe and North America. The Wealth of Nations remains a cornerstone of economic theory and political economy. Its insights continue to shape debates on trade, regulation, and market dynamics centuries later.
1776
Adam Smith
The Wealth of Nations
classical period
political economy
1796day.year
Napoléon Bonaparte marries his first wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais.
Napoléon Bonaparte marries Joséphine de Beauharnais in a Paris ceremony.
On March 9, 1796, French military leader Napoléon Bonaparte married Joséphine de Beauharnais in a civil ceremony at Paris’s town hall. Joséphine, a widow with two children, soon became his devoted partner and Empress of the French. Their union blended Napoléon’s rising political ambitions with Joséphine’s social influence in revolutionary France. Though the marriage faced strains due to Joséphine’s inability to produce an heir, it shaped Napoléon’s personal life and public image. Joséphine’s connections aided his ascent, while salons at their residence became hubs of political discussion. The couple’s relationship has endured in history as both passionate and turbulent until their divorce in 1810.
1796
Napoléon Bonaparte
Joséphine de Beauharnais
1811day.year
Paraguayan forces defeat Manuel Belgrano at the Battle of Tacuarí.
Paraguayan troops defeat Manuel Belgrano’s forces at the Battle of Tacuarí.
On March 9, 1811, in the Battle of Tacuarí, Paraguayan forces engaged the army of Argentine general Manuel Belgrano. The conflict along the Tacuarí River ended in a clear Paraguayan triumph, compelling Belgrano’s troops to withdraw. This success fostered a sense of distinct Paraguayan identity and resistance to Argentine revolutionary campaigns. The battle’s outcome paved the way for Paraguay’s neutral stance and later sovereignty. Celebrated annually in Paraguayan military history, the victory symbolizes national pride and early assertions of independence. It remains a cornerstone event in Paraguay’s journey toward self-determination.
1811
Manuel Belgrano
Battle of Tacuarí
1815day.year
Francis Ronalds describes the first battery-operated clock in the Philosophical Magazine.
In 1815, British scientist Francis Ronalds unveiled the first battery-powered clock, pioneering electrically powered timekeeping.
British scientist and inventor Francis Ronalds built and described the first battery-operated clock in an 1815 issue of the Philosophical Magazine.
The device used voltaic cells to power a pendulum mechanism, replacing traditional weight or spring-driven systems.
Ronalds' innovation demonstrated the potential of electrical energy for precise and continuous time measurement.
Although not immediately commercialized, the concept influenced later developments in chronometry and telegraph technology.
His work laid the groundwork for electrically driven public clocks and contributed to the growing interest in electrical engineering.
This early experiment marked a significant milestone in the intersection of physics, chemistry, and mechanical engineering.
1815
Francis Ronalds
Philosophical Magazine
1841day.year
The U.S. Supreme Court rules in the United States v. The Amistad case that captive Africans who had seized control of the ship carrying them had been taken into slavery illegally.
In 1841, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Africans aboard La Amistad had been illegally enslaved and ordered their freedom.
In 1839, Mende people from Sierra Leone seized control of the Spanish schooner La Amistad after being kidnapped into slavery.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case as United States v. The Amistad and delivered its decision on March 9, 1841.
By a 7–1 majority, the Court found that the Africans had been illegally enslaved and ordered their release.
Former President John Quincy Adams argued before the Court, persuading justices by appealing to principles of natural justice.
The Amistad decision energized the abolitionist movement and became a symbol of the legal struggle against the transatlantic slave trade.
The freed captives later returned to Africa, and their story inspired books, plays, and the 1997 film 'Amistad'.
1841
U.S. Supreme Court
United States v. The Amistad
slavery