March 12

Events

538day.year

Vitiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving the city to the victorious Byzantine general, Belisarius.

In AD 538, Ostrogothic King Vitiges abandons the siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, conceding victory to Byzantine General Belisarius.
In 538 AD, King Vitiges of the Ostrogoths lifts his protracted siege of Rome after failing to breach its formidable defenses. He withdraws to the strategic stronghold of Ravenna, leaving Byzantium’s fortunes to rise under General Belisarius. This retreat marks a turning point in the Gothic War, emboldening Emperor Justinian’s campaign to reclaim former Roman territories in the west. Belisarius’s triumph reinforces the reputation of the Byzantine military and secures Rome from further Gothic assault. The event underscores the shifting power dynamics in Italy during the 6th century.
538 Vitiges king Ostrogoths siege of Rome Ravenna Byzantine Belisarius
1088day.year

Election of Urban II as the 159th Pope of the Catholic Church. He is best known for initiating the Crusades.

In 1088, Urban II is elected the 159th Pope, later inspiring the First Crusade that would reshape medieval Christendom.
On March 12, 1088, Cardinal Odo of Châtillon ascends as Pope Urban II, taking the helm of the Catholic Church. His papacy quickly becomes defined by his call to Western Christendom for a crusade to reclaim the Holy Land. Urban II’s impassioned sermon at the Council of Clermont in 1095 rallies thousands under the banner of faith and papal authority. His election reflects the Church’s growing influence over European monarchs and society. The crusading movement he launched leaves a profound legacy on medieval politics, culture, and interfaith relations.
1088 Election of Urban II 159th Pope Catholic Church Crusades
1158day.year

German city Munich (München) is first mentioned as forum apud Munichen in the Augsburg arbitration by Holy Roman Emperor Friedrich I.

The German city of Munich receives its earliest known mention in an imperial document from 1158, recorded as forum apud Munichen.
In 1158, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa arbitrates a dispute in Augsburg, referring to a settlement known as forum apud Munichen. This document provides the first written record of Munich’s existence. The name likely denotes its origin as a market ('forum') settled by monks near the Isar River. This early mention marks the beginning of Munich’s transformation from a modest trading post to a major medieval city. Over the following centuries, Munich would grow into a political and cultural center in Bavaria.
1158 Augsburg arbitration Friedrich I
1579day.year

Start of the Siege of Maastricht, part of the Eighty Years' War.

The Siege of Maastricht begins in 1579 during the Eighty Years’ War as Dutch rebels confront Spanish imperial forces.
On March 12, 1579, Spanish forces under Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, commence the Siege of Maastricht, a strategic fortress on the Meuse River. Protestant Dutch defenders and civilian inhabitants brace for a protracted struggle. The siege forms part of the Eighty Years’ War, as the Dutch revolt against Spanish Habsburg rule. Maastricht’s fall would give Spain a critical foothold in the rebellious Low Countries. The event highlights the religious and political tensions that fuelled one of Europe’s longest conflicts.
1579 Siege of Maastricht Eighty Years' War
1622day.year

Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier, founders of the Society of Jesus, are canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.

In 1622, the Catholic Church canonizes Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier, the pioneering founders of the Jesuit order.
Pope Gregory XV proclaims Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier as saints on March 12, 1622, recognizing their foundational roles in the Society of Jesus. Ignatius’s spiritual exercises and Francis’s missionary zeal define Jesuit identity. Their canonizations solidify the order’s influence in the Counter-Reformation, emphasizing education, theological scholarship, and global missions. Jesuit institutions spread across Europe and Asia, shaping intellectual and religious life. This event celebrates two figures whose legacy endures in schools, universities, and communities worldwide.
1622 Ignatius of Loyola Francis Xavier Society of Jesus Roman Catholic Church
1689day.year

James II of England landed at Kinsale, starting the Williamite War in Ireland.

In 1689, the deposed King James II lands in Kinsale, igniting the Williamite War in Ireland between Jacobites and Williamites.
After his deposition in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, James II arrives at Kinsale, Ireland, on March 12, 1689, seeking to reclaim the English throne. His arrival galvanizes Irish Catholic support against William III of Orange. The ensuing Williamite War in Ireland features key engagements such as the Siege of Derry and the Battle of the Boyne. The conflict ultimately ends in 1691 with the Treaty of Limerick, cementing Protestant ascendancy. James’s campaign in Ireland remains a pivotal chapter in the struggle over monarchy and religious authority in Britain and Ireland.
1689 James II of England Kinsale Williamite War in Ireland
1811day.year

Peninsular War: A day after a successful rearguard action, French Marshal Michel Ney once again successfully delays the pursuing Anglo-Portuguese force at the Battle of Redinha.

On March 12, 1811, French Marshal Michel Ney successfully delays Anglo-Portuguese forces at the Battle of Redinha during the Peninsular War.
During the Peninsular War, Marshal Michel Ney oversees a masterful rearguard action at Redinha on March 12, 1811. His tactics slow the advance of the Duke of Wellington’s Anglo-Portuguese army, allowing the main French force to retreat in good order. Ney’s skillful deployment of troops and artillery in the rugged Portuguese terrain exemplifies his reputation as 'the bravest of the brave.' The engagement preserves French cohesion and delays the Allied pursuit towards Coimbra. Redinha highlights the ebb and flow of Napoleonic campaigns on the Iberian Peninsula.
1811 Peninsular War rearguard French Marshal Michel Ney Portuguese Battle of Redinha
1912day.year

The Girl Guides (later renamed the Girl Scouts of the USA) are founded in the United States.

The Girl Guides, later renamed the Girl Scouts of the USA, are founded in the United States in 1912 to empower young girls.
On March 12, 1912, Juliette Gordon Low establishes the Girl Guides in Savannah, Georgia, marking the birth of what becomes the Girl Scouts of the USA. Her vision promotes leadership, self-reliance, and community service among American girls. Starting with just 18 members, the organization rapidly expands nationwide. Girl Scouts adopt uniforms, badges, and camping activities that foster teamwork and practical skills. The movement endures as a major youth organization, shaping generations of leaders and advocates.
1912 Girl Guides Girl Scouts of the USA United States
1913day.year

The future capital of Australia is officially named Canberra.

Australia’s future capital is officially named Canberra in 1913, resolving a long-standing rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne.
Under the Seat of Government Act of 1908, a compromise site between Sydney and Melbourne is selected, and on March 12, 1913, it is officially named Canberra. The name, derived from an Indigenous word meaning 'meeting place,' reflects the site’s intended role as a unifying seat of government. Designed through an international competition won by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, Canberra’s planned layout emphasizes grand avenues and expansive green spaces. The new capital city is formally opened in 1927, symbolizing Australia’s national identity and federal unity.
1913 Australia Canberra
1918day.year

Moscow becomes the capital of Russia again after Saint Petersburg held this status for most of the period since 1713.

Moscow is reinstated as Russia’s capital in 1918, replacing Saint Petersburg amid the upheaval of revolution.
In the wake of the Russian Revolution, the Bolshevik government transfers the capital from Petrograd (formerly Saint Petersburg) back to Moscow on March 12, 1918. The move responds to Petrograd’s vulnerability to foreign intervention and its geographical proximity to the Western front. Moscow’s central location offers greater security and control for the new Soviet regime. The shift also marks a break from imperial traditions associated with the old capital. Moscow remains the political and administrative heart of Russia through the Soviet era and into the present day.
1918 Moscow Russia Saint Petersburg
1920day.year

The Kapp Putsch begins when the Marinebrigade Ehrhardt is ordered to march on Berlin.

A right-wing coup attempt in post-WWI Germany led by the Marinebrigade Ehrhardt marching on Berlin.
In March 1920, disaffected officers and conservative nationalists staged an attempted coup to overthrow Germany's fledgling Weimar Republic. Led by Wolfgang Kapp and the Freikorps unit Marinebrigade Ehrhardt, troops marched on Berlin and seized key government buildings. Facing a political crisis, President Ebert fled the capital, and a counter-government briefly installed. Workers across the country launched a massive general strike, shutting down transportation, communications, and essential services. The lack of public and military support forced the putschists to abandon their coup after just four days. Although unsuccessful, the Kapp Putsch underscored the deep divisions in postwar Germany and the fragility of its democracy.
1920 Kapp Putsch Marinebrigade Ehrhardt
1928day.year

In California, the St. Francis Dam fails; the resulting floods kill 431 people.

The catastrophic failure of California's St. Francis Dam triggers a deadly flood that claims over 400 lives.
In the early hours of March 12, 1928, the St. Francis Dam in Los Angeles County catastrophically collapsed. A massive wall of water swept down the San Francisquito Canyon, engulfing communities and farms. The deluge raced toward the Santa Clara River, reaching the Pacific Ocean in under an hour. Rescue efforts were hampered by the sheer force of the floodwaters and the remote terrain. Official reports recorded 431 fatalities, making it the deadliest dam disaster in U.S. history at the time. The tragedy prompted major reforms in dam safety standards, engineering oversight, and state regulation.
1928 California St. Francis Dam