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
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
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
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
1945day.year
World War II: A coup d'état by Japanese forces in French Indochina removes the French from power.
Japanese forces in Indochina executed a coup d'état in 1945, seizing power from the French colonial administration.
On March 9, 1945, Imperial Japanese troops in French Indochina launched a sudden coup d'état against the Vichy French authorities. The operation aimed to preempt potential Allied landings and secure logistical support for Japan’s war efforts in Southeast Asia. French colonial officials were swiftly arrested or expelled, and Japanese military governors took full control of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Colonial troops loyal to France were disarmed, and pro-Japanese puppet regimes were established to administer local affairs. The coup dissolved the longstanding French colonial administration and deepened regional resentment. This strategic takeover paved the way for postwar independence movements and reshaped the political landscape of Indochina.
1945
A coup d'état
French Indochina
1954day.year
McCarthyism: CBS television broadcasts the See It Now episode, "A Report on Senator Joseph McCarthy", produced by Fred Friendly.
CBS aired the pivotal See It Now episode 'A Report on Senator Joseph McCarthy' in 1954, challenging McCarthy's anti-communist campaign.
On March 9, 1954, CBS broadcast an episode of its news program See It Now titled "A Report on Senator Joseph McCarthy," produced by Fred Friendly and narrated by Edward R. Murrow. The segment presented archival footage, interviews, and expert commentary to critically examine Senator McCarthy’s tactics and allegations during the height of the Red Scare. It exposed inconsistencies in McCarthy’s claims and highlighted the personal toll of his aggressive accusations on government employees and private citizens. The broadcast is credited with shifting public opinion and weakening McCarthy’s influence in Washington. As one of the earliest examples of television journalism directly confronting powerful political figures, it set a new standard for the medium’s role in democracy. See It Now’s report is widely regarded as a landmark moment in the history of broadcast news.
1954
McCarthyism
CBS
See It Now
Joseph McCarthy
Fred Friendly
1956day.year
Soviet forces suppress mass demonstrations in the Georgian SSR, reacting to Nikita Khrushchev's de-Stalinization policy.
Soviet troops suppressed large demonstrations in Tbilisi in 1956, reacting to Khrushchev's de-Stalinization policies.
On March 9, 1956, mass demonstrations erupted in Tbilisi, the capital of the Georgian SSR, as citizens protested Nikita Khrushchev’s denunciation of Joseph Stalin during the 20th Party Congress. The protesters, many of whom revered Stalin as a national hero, demanded an end to de-Stalinization and the restoration of his legacy. Soviet authorities dispatched military units and riot police to disperse the crowds, resulting in violent clashes and numerous arrests. Official reports downplayed the death toll, but witnesses estimated dozens were killed and hundreds detained. The crackdown revealed deep-seated tensions within the Soviet Union and foreshadowed similar uprisings in Hungary later that year. The Tbilisi demonstration remains a significant episode in the history of Soviet dissent and policy reform.
1956
Soviet forces
mass demonstrations
Georgian SSR
Nikita Khrushchev
de-Stalinization
2012day.year
A truce between the Salvadoran government and gangs in the country goes into effect when 30 gang leaders are transferred to lower security prisons.
El Salvador’s government and major gangs implement a historic truce by relocating 30 gang leaders to lower-security prisons.
On March 9, 2012, the Salvadoran government enacted a controversial truce with the nation’s most powerful gangs. As part of the agreement, 30 gang leaders were transferred from maximum-security penitentiaries to less restrictive facilities. The ceasefire initially led to a dramatic drop in the country’s homicide rate, offering hope to residents. Critics, however, argued the deal legitimized criminal organizations and lacked accountability. The truce later unraveled, but it sparked ongoing debates about alternative approaches to curbing gang violence in El Salvador.
2012
truce
2020day.year
Giuseppe Conte, Prime Minister of Italy, announces in a televised address and signs the decree imposing the first nationwide COVID-19 lockdown in the world.
Italy imposes the world's first nationwide COVID-19 lockdown under Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.
On March 9, 2020, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte officially announced the first nationwide lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a televised address, he described the decree as a necessary step to curb the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus.
This unprecedented measure restricted travel, closed non-essential businesses, and enforced social distancing across the entire country.
Italy's bold decision served as a model for other nations grappling with escalating infection rates and inspired global policy shifts.
The lockdown had profound social and economic impacts, reshaping daily life and accelerating the adoption of remote work.
2020
Giuseppe Conte
Prime Minister of Italy
first nationwide
COVID-19 lockdown