March 11

Events

843day.year

Triumph of Orthodoxy: Empress Theodora II restores the veneration of icons in the Orthodox churches in the Byzantine Empire.

In 843, Empress Theodora II ended the ban on religious icons in the Byzantine Empire, restoring their veneration across Orthodox churches.
In 843, after decades of iconoclastic conflict, Empress Theodora II convened the Council of Constantinople to overturn the ban on sacred images. She formally restored the veneration of icons in Orthodox liturgy, reuniting church and state in religious practice. Icons, once hidden or destroyed, were returned to churches and public worship, reaffirming their spiritual significance. The "Triumph of Orthodoxy" celebrated the victory of traditionalist bishops and faithful believers. This decision strengthened imperial authority over religious matters and shaped Eastern Orthodox identity for centuries. The annual feast of Orthodoxy, observed on the first Sunday of Lent, commemorates this historic restoration.
843 Triumph of Orthodoxy Theodora II veneration of icons Orthodox Byzantine Empire
1343day.year

Arnošt of Pardubice becomes the last Bishop of Prague (3 March 1343 O.S.), and, a year later, the first Archbishop of Prague.

Arnošt of Pardubice was appointed the last Bishop of Prague under the Holy Roman Empire in 1343, later becoming the city's first archbishop.
In 1343, Arnošt of Pardubice ascended as the final Bishop of Prague, a critical position within the Bohemian church hierarchy. A year later, Pope Clement VI elevated him to Archbishop, reflecting Prague’s growing religious and political stature. Arnošt championed education and legal reforms, founding the University of Prague’s jurisprudence faculty. His leadership guided the diocese through political tensions between local nobility and imperial authorities. He fostered ties with the papacy, shaping the structure and influence of the Czech church for generations.
1343 Arnošt of Pardubice Bishop of Prague O.S.
1387day.year

Battle of Castagnaro: Padua, led by John Hawkwood, is victorious over Giovanni Ordelaffi of Verona.

In 1387, Padua's forces led by English mercenary John Hawkwood defeated Verona's Giovanni Ordelaffi at the Battle of Castagnaro.
The Battle of Castagnaro was fought on 11 March 1387, during the wars between northern Italian city-states. Sir John Hawkwood, commanding Paduan troops, staged a masterful ambush near the River Bacchiglione. Verona’s defender, Giovanni Ordelaffi, was caught off guard, leading to a decisive Paduan victory. The triumph solidified Hawkwood’s reputation as one of the era’s most skilled condottieri. It shifted the regional balance of power and influenced the military tactics of Italian city-states.
1387 Battle of Castagnaro Padua John Hawkwood Giovanni Ordelaffi Verona
1641day.year

Guaraní forces living in the Jesuit reductions defeat bandeirantes loyal to the Portuguese Empire at the Battle of Mbororé in present-day Panambí, Argentina.

In 1641, Guaraní warriors from Jesuit missions defeated Portuguese bandeirantes at the Battle of Mbororé in present-day Argentina.
At Panambí in modern Argentina, Guaraní defenders from Jesuit reductions repelled the Portuguese Empire’s bandeirantes on 11 March 1641. Led by mission-trained chiefs, they employed fortifications and guerrilla tactics against better-armed mercenaries. The victory secured the autonomy of Jesuit communities and hindered Portuguese expansion in the Río de la Plata region. It showcased the military organization of indigenous allies and the protective reach of Jesuit missions. The battle remains a symbol of indigenous resistance and collaboration in colonial Latin America.
1641 Guaraní Jesuit reductions bandeirantes Portuguese Empire Battle of Mbororé Panambí, Argentina
1649day.year

The Frondeurs and the French government sign the Peace of Rueil.

The Peace of Rueil was signed in 1649, ending the first phase of the Fronde civil wars in France.
On 11 March 1649, royal negotiators and Frondeur leaders signed the Peace of Rueil outside Paris. The agreement halted hostilities between the young King Louis XIV’s government and rebellious nobles. It granted amnesties, restored confiscated estates, and eased tax burdens on certain provinces. Although temporary, it revealed deep tensions over royal authority and noble privileges. The Fronde would resume, but Rueil exposed the fragility of French absolutism in its early years.
1649 Frondeurs Peace of Rueil
1702day.year

The Daily Courant, England's first national daily newspaper, is published for the first time.

On 11 March 1702, The Daily Courant became England’s first national daily newspaper, launching a new era in journalism.
The Daily Courant was published in London by newspaper printer Elizabeth Mallet on 11 March 1702. Printed on a single quarto sheet, it presented summaries of foreign news without domestic commentary. As the first daily, it catered to the growing literate public and coffeehouse readers. Its concise, impartial style set the standard for later newspapers across Europe. The publication laid the groundwork for modern daily journalism and press freedom.
1702 The Daily Courant
1708day.year

Queen Anne withholds Royal Assent from the Scottish Militia Bill, the last time a British monarch vetoes legislation.

Queen Anne withheld Royal Assent from the Scottish Militia Bill in 1708, marking the last British royal veto of legislation.
On 11 March 1708, Queen Anne refused to sanction a Scottish Militia Bill proposed by the newly formed Parliament of Great Britain. This veto prevented the establishment of a standing militia in Scotland after the Acts of Union. No subsequent British monarch has exercised a similar veto, making it a unique constitutional moment. The decision reflected concerns over Jacobite unrest and the balance of power between Crown and Parliament. It remains a landmark in the evolution of Britain’s parliamentary monarchy.
1708 Queen Anne Royal Assent Scottish Militia Bill British
1784day.year

The signing of the Treaty of Mangalore brings the Second Anglo-Mysore War to an end.

The Treaty of Mangalore was signed in 1784, ending the Second Anglo-Mysore War between Mysore and the British East India Company.
Signed on 11 March 1784, the Treaty of Mangalore concluded the conflict between Tipu Sultan of Mysore and the British East India Company. The agreement restored captured territories to their pre-war rulers and released prisoners on both sides. It marked the last occasion on which an Indian ruler negotiated peace directly with the Company on equal terms. The treaty temporarily checked British expansion in southern India but foreshadowed future hostilities. Its diplomatic terms influenced subsequent treaties during the era of colonial rivalry.
1784 Treaty of Mangalore Second Anglo-Mysore War
1795day.year

The Battle of Kharda is fought between the Maratha Confederacy and the Nizam of Hyderabad, resulting in Maratha victory.

On 11 March 1795, the Maratha Confederacy defeated the Nizam of Hyderabad at the Battle of Kharda in India.
The Battle of Kharda was fought on 11 March 1795 between the Maratha Confederacy and the Nizam of Hyderabad. Maratha forces under Peshwa Madhavrao II outmaneuvered the Nizam’s troops, securing a decisive victory. The triumph forced the Nizam to concede territory and pay heavy indemnities, expanding Maratha influence. It was one of the last major battles before the Marathas faced British power in subsequent decades. The outcome underscored the Confederacy’s military strength at its peak.
1795 Battle of Kharda Maratha Confederacy Nizam of Hyderabad
1845day.year

Flagstaff War: Unhappy with translational differences regarding the Treaty of Waitangi, chiefs Hōne Heke, Kawiti and Māori tribe members chop down the British flagpole for a fourth time and drive settlers out of Kororāreka, New Zealand.

Chiefs Hōne Heke and Kawiti led Māori fighters to cut down the British flagstaff at Kororāreka in 1845, sparking the Flagstaff War.
On 11 March 1845, Māori chiefs Hōne Heke and Kawiti felled the British flagstaff in Kororāreka, New Zealand, for the fourth time. They protested differences in English and Māori interpretations of the Treaty of Waitangi’s sovereignty clauses. The act ignited the Flagstaff War, leading to clashes between colonial forces and Northern Māori warriors. It highlighted the growing tensions over land, authority, and colonial governance in New Zealand. The conflict became a seminal event in the country’s early colonial history.
1845 Flagstaff War Treaty of Waitangi Hōne Heke Kawiti Māori Kororāreka
1848day.year

Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine and Robert Baldwin become the first Prime Ministers of the Province of Canada to be democratically elected under a system of responsible government.

Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine and Robert Baldwin become the first democratically elected Prime Ministers of the Province of Canada under responsible government.
On March 11, 1848, Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine and Robert Baldwin were elected as joint heads of the Province of Canada under a new responsible government system. This landmark vote introduced the principle that the executive must answer to an elected assembly rather than the colonial governor. It represented a major advance in British North America’s move toward self-government and parliamentary democracy. Their collaborative leadership helped bridge French and English-speaking communities and paved the way for confederation. The reforms they championed influenced Canada’s constitutional evolution and democratic institutions. Today, their election is remembered as a foundational moment in Canada’s political history.
1848 Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine Robert Baldwin Province of Canada responsible government
1851day.year

The first performance of Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi takes place in Venice.

Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Rigoletto premieres in Venice.
On March 11, 1851, Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto, one of his most acclaimed operas, debuted at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice. Commissioned for its innovative score, the opera introduced audiences to Verdi’s dramatic mastery and bold thematic content. The tragic tale of the jester Rigoletto and his daughter Gilda captivated listeners with its haunting arias and powerful orchestration. Its premiere success established Verdi as a leading force in Italian opera and influenced countless composers. Rigoletto’s themes of vengeance, love, and corruption resonated with 19th-century audiences and continue to enthrall opera lovers today. The work remains a staple of the international repertoire, celebrated for its emotional depth and musical brilliance.
1851 Rigoletto Giuseppe Verdi Venice