241 BC
First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates: The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing the First Punic War to an end.
The Battle of the Aegates Islands marked Rome’s decisive naval victory that ended the First Punic War in 241 BC.
On March 10, 241 BC, the Roman fleet clashed with and destroyed the Carthaginian navy at the Aegates Islands, securing a pivotal win after years of conflict. This defeat compelled Carthage to sue for peace, bringing the First Punic War to a close. Under the Treaty of Lutatius, Sicily was ceded to Rome and heavy indemnities were imposed on Carthage. The victory established Roman dominance in the western Mediterranean and showcased evolving naval tactics. The success also spurred advancements in Roman shipbuilding and set the stage for future maritime campaigns.
241 BC
First Punic War
Battle of the Aegates
Romans
Carthaginian
298day.year
Roman Emperor Maximian concludes his campaign in North Africa and makes a triumphal entry into Carthage.
Emperor Maximian concludes his North African campaign with a triumphal entry into Carthage in 298 AD.
In the spring of 298 AD, Roman Emperor Maximian completed a military expedition in North Africa aimed at quelling unrest and solidifying imperial authority. After restoring order in key provinces like Tripolitania and Numidia, he entered Carthage in grand triumph before assembled troops and local dignitaries. The ceremony reinforced the strength and unity of the Tetrarchy under Diocletian and Maximian. It showcased Rome’s commitment to securing its southern territories and protecting vital grain supplies. The successful campaign and celebration strengthened frontier defenses and affirmed Maximian’s reputation as a capable commander.
298
Maximian
North Africa
Carthage
947day.year
The Later Han is founded by Liu Zhiyuan. He declares himself emperor.
General Liu Zhiyuan proclaims himself emperor and founds the Later Han dynasty in 947.
During the chaotic Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Liu Zhiyuan emerged as a key military governor in northern China. On March 10, 947, he declared the establishment of the Later Han dynasty at Kaifeng and assumed the imperial title. His accession sought to restore Han Chinese rule and centralize authority after years of fragmentation. Liu implemented military reforms, land grants to veteran soldiers, and fiscal policies to revive the war-torn economy. Although his reign was brief, it marked a significant step toward reunifying China and set administrative precedents for subsequent dynasties.
947
Later Han
Liu Zhiyuan
1496day.year
After establishing the city of Santo Domingo, Christopher Columbus departs for Spain, leaving his brother in command.
After founding Santo Domingo, Christopher Columbus leaves his brother in command and sails back to Spain on March 10, 1496.
Christopher Columbus had established the first permanent European settlement in the Americas at Santo Domingo on the island of Hispaniola. Facing challenges such as limited supplies and native resistance, he appointed his brother Bartolomeo as governor before departing. On March 10, 1496, Columbus set sail for Spain to report on the colony’s progress and seek reinforcements. His return voyage underscored the growing importance of the Caribbean as a hub for Spanish exploration and colonial enterprise. Santo Domingo would later become a vital port and administrative center for Spain’s New World empire.
1496
Santo Domingo
Christopher Columbus
1535day.year
Spaniard Fray Tomás de Berlanga, the fourth Bishop of Panama, discovers the Galápagos Islands by chance on his way to Peru.
Bishop Tomás de Berlanga accidentally discovers the Galápagos Islands while en route to Peru in 1535.
En route to Lima in 1535, Bishop Tomás de Berlanga found his expedition stalled by calm winds and ocean currents. On March 10, he spotted a remote group of volcanic islands near the equator, later known as the Galápagos. Lacking fresh water and supplies, the bishop named them the 'Enchanted Isles' for their mysterious allure. His accidental discovery introduced the archipelago to European cartography and natural history. The islands’ unique flora and fauna would later captivate scientists like Charles Darwin and become a cornerstone of evolutionary study.
1535
Tomás de Berlanga
Panama
Galápagos Islands
Peru
1607day.year
Susenyos I defeats the combined armies of Yaqob and Abuna Petros II at the Battle of Gol in Gojjam, making him Emperor of Ethiopia.
Susenyos I secures the Ethiopian throne by defeating rival forces at the Battle of Gol in 1607.
On March 10, 1607, Susenyos I confronted the combined armies of rival claimants Yaqob and Abuna Petros II in the Gojjam region. Backed by firearms and military advisors from Portugal, Susenyos executed decisive cavalry and infantry maneuvers to break enemy lines. His victory at Gol eliminated major opposition and cleared the path to his coronation as Emperor of Ethiopia. The new ruler pursued closer ties with European powers and introduced reforms in military organization. However, his later attempts to align the Ethiopian Church with Rome sparked internal resistance, foreshadowing religious conflicts during his reign.
1607
Susenyos I
Yaqob
Abuna
Gojjam
Emperor of Ethiopia
1629day.year
Charles I dissolves the Parliament of England, beginning the eleven-year period known as the Personal Rule.
King Charles I dissolves the English Parliament, initiating the Eleven Years' Personal Rule in 1629.
Amid growing disputes over taxation and royal prerogative, King Charles I dismissed the English Parliament on March 10, 1629. Opting to govern without parliamentary consent, he began a period historians refer to as the 'Eleven Years' Tyranny' or Personal Rule. During this time, Charles relied on non-parliamentary revenue methods such as ship money and royal monopolies. His actions alienated Puritans and landed gentry who objected to arbitrary taxation and perceived abuses of power. The absence of parliamentary oversight deepened political tensions and contributed to the constitutional crises that led to the English Civil War.
1629
Charles I
Parliament of England
Personal Rule
1661day.year
French "Sun King" Louis XIV begins his personal rule of France after the death of his premier, the Cardinal Mazarin.
Louis XIV assumes personal control of the French government after Cardinal Mazarin’s death in 1661.
Following the death of his chief minister, Cardinal Mazarin, on March 10, 1661, Louis XIV took full command of France at the age of twenty-two. Embracing absolute monarchy, he centralized authority and diminished the influence of the high nobility. Louis initiated reforms to strengthen the royal bureaucracy and reorganized the military into a standing professional army. He also became a patron of the arts, commissioning projects that glorified his reign and France’s prestige. This decision laid the groundwork for the Sun King’s long and impactful rule, defined by grandeur and centralization of state power.
1661
Louis XIV
France
Mazarin
1735day.year
An agreement between Nader Shah and Russia is signed near Ganja, Azerbaijan and Russian troops are withdrawn from occupied territories.
Nader Shah and Russia sign a treaty near Ganja in 1735, ending Russian occupation of Azerbaijani territories.
On March 10, 1735, Persian ruler Nader Shah and emissaries of Empress Anna of Russia concluded the Treaty of Ganja near the city of Ganja. The agreement required Russian forces to withdraw from territories they had occupied in the Caucasus during previous conflicts. In exchange, Russia secured favorable trading rights and diplomatic recognition of its northern borders. The treaty reaffirmed Persian sovereignty over key regions of modern-day Azerbaijan. It highlighted Nader Shah’s diplomatic skill in balancing relations with powerful neighbors and stabilizing his realm after extensive military campaigns.
1735
Nader Shah
Ganja, Azerbaijan
1762day.year
French Huguenot Jean Calas, who had been wrongly convicted of killing his son, dies after being tortured by authorities; the event inspired Voltaire to begin a campaign for religious tolerance and legal reform.
The torture death of Jean Calas in 1762 prompts Voltaire to campaign for legal reform and religious tolerance.
Jean Calas, a French Huguenot merchant, was accused of murdering his son and subjected to brutal torture before dying on March 10, 1762. His tragic and unjust execution exposed deep flaws in the French judicial system and prevalent anti-Protestant sentiment. Enlightenment writer Voltaire took up Calas’s cause, investigating the case and mobilizing public opinion through pamphlets and letters. His advocacy led to a posthumous exoneration of Calas in 1765 and fueled broader movements for civil liberties and judicial reform. The Calas affair became a landmark struggle for human rights in pre-revolutionary France.
1762
Huguenot
Jean Calas
Voltaire
1814day.year
Emperor Napoleon I is defeated at the Battle of Laon in France.
In 1814, Napoleon I suffers a major defeat at the Battle of Laon, undermining his defense of France.
On 10 March 1814, during the War of the Sixth Coalition, Emperor Napoleon I's forces clashed with Prussian and Russian troops at Laon in northeastern France. The French army, weakened by successive retreats, was positioned on the heights but was outmaneuvered by the coalition forces. The battle saw intense artillery bombardments and infantry assaults that forced the French to withdraw. Napoleon's defeat at Laon further eroded his hold on the French capital, Paris. This setback paved the way for the coalition invasion of France. It marked one of the final blows in the campaign that led to Napoleon's abdication later that year.
1814
Napoleon I
Battle of Laon
1830day.year
The Royal Netherlands East Indies Army is created.
The Royal Netherlands East Indies Army is established in 1830 to serve Dutch colonial interests in Southeast Asia.
On 10 March 1830, the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) was created by royal decree to secure and expand Dutch colonial rule in the East Indies. Composed of European officers and indigenous soldiers, the KNIL played a central role in military campaigns throughout the archipelago. The formation provided a permanent colonial force distinct from the metropolitan Dutch army. It engaged in conflicts such as the Java War and later the Aceh War, shaping the region's history. Over a century of service, the KNIL influenced political and social structures across Southeast Asia. Its legacy remains complex, reflecting both colonial ambitions and local resistance. The army was disbanded following Indonesian independence in 1950.
1830
Royal Netherlands East Indies Army