222day.year
Roman emperor Elagabalus is murdered alongside his mother, Julia Soaemias. He is replaced by his 14-year old cousin, Severus Alexander.
Roman emperor Elagabalus was assassinated alongside his mother, Julia Soaemias, in 222 AD, and his 14-year-old cousin Severus Alexander was proclaimed emperor.
Emperor Elagabalus ascended the Roman throne in 218 AD after the assassination of his cousin Caracalla. His unconventional religious practices, which prioritized the worship of the Syrian sun god Elagabal, provoked distrust among the Roman Senate and the Praetorian Guard. Rumors of extravagant banquets and controversial ceremonies further alienated the ruling class. On March 13, 222 AD, a palace conspiracy culminated in his assassination alongside his mother, Julia Soaemias. Following the coup, the Praetorian Guard proclaimed Severus Alexander, Elagabalus’s 14-year-old cousin, as the new emperor. Alexander’s accession marked a return to more traditional Roman governance and efforts to stabilize the empire. His youth and inexperience, however, presented new challenges for the Roman state.
222
Elagabalus
Julia Soaemias
Severus Alexander
1809day.year
Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden is deposed in the Coup of 1809.
King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden was deposed in the coup of March 13, 1809, leading to significant constitutional reforms and the end of his reign.
After a series of military defeats and unpopular domestic policies, Gustav IV Adolf’s rule became increasingly contested by Swedish nobles and military officers. On March 13, 1809, officers led by General Carl Johan Adlercreutz arrested the king in Stockholm. The coup was bloodless and swiftly organized, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction among Sweden’s elite. Gustav IV Adolf was forced into abdication, and his uncle, Duke Charles, assumed the throne as Charles XIII. The new government enacted a liberal constitution limiting royal power and establishing a more parliamentary system. This political shift set the stage for Sweden’s modern constitutional monarchy and eventual union with Norway.
1809
Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden
Coup of 1809
1815day.year
Participants at the Congress of Vienna declare Napoleon an outlaw following his escape from Elba
At the Congress of Vienna in 1815, delegates declared Napoleon Bonaparte an outlaw after his escape from exile on Elba.
On March 13, 1815, delegates at the Congress of Vienna formally declared Napoleon Bonaparte an outlaw after his escape from exile on the island of Elba. This move reflected the restored monarchies’ determination to prevent his return to power. By branding him an outlaw, the European powers authorized any nation to detain or kill him if encountered. The decree underscored the fragile peace in Europe following the Napoleonic Wars and the challenges of the Vienna settlement. Despite the outlaw status, Napoleon returned to France and briefly regained control before his final defeat at Waterloo in June 1815. The decision at Vienna shaped diplomatic relations and set the stage for the final chapter of Napoleonic history.
1815
Congress of Vienna
Napoleon
outlaw
Elba
1862day.year
The Act Prohibiting the Return of Slaves is passed by the United States Congress, effectively annulling the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and setting the stage for the Emancipation Proclamation.
In 1862, the U.S. Congress passed the Act Prohibiting the Return of Slaves, undermining the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
On March 13, 1862, the U.S. Congress passed the Act Prohibiting the Return of Slaves. This law nullified the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 by forbidding federal officials from recapturing escaped slaves. It represented a significant step toward abolition and set legal groundwork for President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Northern lawmakers and abolitionists celebrated the act as a moral victory against the institution of slavery. The legislation intensified tensions between Union and Confederate states during the Civil War. It signaled a shift in federal policy toward the protection of escaped slaves seeking freedom in the North.
1862
Act Prohibiting the Return of Slaves
United States Congress
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
Emancipation Proclamation
1920day.year
The Kapp Putsch briefly ousts the Weimar Republic government from Berlin.
On March 13, 1920, the Kapp Putsch briefly overthrew the Weimar Republic government in Berlin.
On March 13, 1920, the Kapp Putsch briefly overthrew Germany’s Weimar Republic government in Berlin. Led by Wolfgang Kapp and noble officers, right-wing forces seized government buildings and proclaimed a new regime. Civil servants and military units joined the coup, while workers and unions mobilized in resistance. A general strike paralyzed Berlin and forced the putschists to abandon power within days. The failure of the coup highlighted the fragility of the Weimar Republic and the strength of popular opposition. Kapp’s attempt exposed deep divisions in post-World War I Germany and foreshadowed future political turmoil.
1920
Kapp Putsch
Weimar Republic
Berlin
1957day.year
Cuban student revolutionaries storm the presidential palace in Havana in a failed attempt on the life of President Fulgencio Batista.
Cuban student revolutionaries storm Havana’s presidential palace in a failed assassination attempt on President Fulgencio Batista.
In the early hours of March 13, 1957, a group of young Cuban revolutionaries infiltrated the presidential palace in Havana seeking to assassinate President Fulgencio Batista. Although they managed to breach the palace, the plot faltered and defenders repelled the attackers, who suffered heavy losses. The daring raid revealed deep divisions within Cuban society and bolstered opposition to Batista’s regime. While the coup attempt failed, it galvanized later efforts by Fidel Castro and others to overthrow the government. The event remains a dramatic prelude to the Cuban Revolution.
1957
Cuban
presidential palace
Havana
Fulgencio Batista
1979day.year
The New Jewel Movement, headed by Maurice Bishop, ousts the Prime Minister of Grenada, Eric Gairy, in a coup d'état.
Maurice Bishop’s New Jewel Movement stages a coup, overthrowing Prime Minister Eric Gairy in Grenada.
In the pre-dawn hours of March 13, 1979, the New Jewel Movement led by Maurice Bishop executed a swift coup d’état in Grenada. The bloodless takeover ousted Prime Minister Eric Gairy, who was criticized for corruption and authoritarian rule. Bishop established a revolutionary government focused on socialist reforms, land redistribution, and improved social services. International reactions ranged from concern in Western nations to support from other socialist-leaning countries. The coup set Grenada on a new political path until the later U.S.-led invasion in 1983. Today, the event is seen as a pivotal moment in Caribbean revolutionary history.
1979
New Jewel Movement
Maurice Bishop
Prime Minister of Grenada
Eric Gairy
coup d'état
2013day.year
The 2013 papal conclave elects Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio taking the name Pope Francis as the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio is elected Pope Francis, becoming the 266th leader of the Catholic Church.
On March 13, 2013, the College of Cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI, who had resigned the previous month. After five ballots, Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio emerged as the favored candidate and chose the papal name Francis in homage to Saint Francis of Assisi. He became the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit to lead the Church, and the youngest pontiff since 1846. The white smoke that signaled his election appeared at 19:06 local time, prompting cheers and applause from crowds in St. Peter's Square. In his first remarks, Pope Francis stressed mercy, humility, and outreach to the poor, setting a reform-minded tone for his papacy. His election marked a historic shift toward a more global and evangelical era for the Church.
2013
2013 papal conclave
Pope Francis
266th
Pope
Catholic Church
2020day.year
President Donald Trump declares the COVID-19 pandemic to be a national emergency in the United States.
On March 13, 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump declared the COVID-19 outbreak a national emergency, unlocking federal resources and powers to combat the pandemic.
On March 13, 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump declared the COVID-19 outbreak a national emergency.
This pivotal decision unlocked billions of dollars in federal funding and allowed states to access emergency medical supplies.
The declaration empowered the Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies to coordinate the pandemic response.
Trump stated the move would accelerate development of treatments and protective equipment.
Critics argued that the administration's response had been delayed and called for more aggressive action.
The emergency status remained in place as COVID-19 cases surged across the country.
By invoking the Stafford Act, the administration aimed to streamline assistance for hospitals and first responders.
This declaration marked a significant escalation in the U.S. government's fight against the pandemic.
2020
Donald Trump
COVID-19 pandemic
national emergency
2020day.year
Katerina Sakellaropoulou is sworn in as the first female President of Greece amid strict COVID-19 measures.
On March 13, 2020, Katerina Sakellaropoulou was inaugurated as Greece’s first female President in a ceremony conducted under strict pandemic restrictions.
On March 13, 2020, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, former Council of State president, was sworn in as the first female President of Greece.
Her inauguration in Athens took place with limited attendance, mandatory masks, and social distancing due to COVID-19.
Sakellaropoulou, a jurist renowned for her work in environmental law, succeeded Prokopis Pavlopoulos to serve a five-year term.
Her selection by the Hellenic Parliament marked a milestone for gender equality in Greek politics.
She pledged to uphold the constitution, promote unity, and defend democratic institutions during the health crisis.
Before her presidency, she led Greece’s highest administrative court and earned respect for her impartiality.
The ceremony underscored the seriousness of the pandemic while celebrating a historic advancement for women’s leadership in Greece.
Her presidency signaled hope for inclusive governance amid unprecedented global challenges.
Katerina Sakellaropoulou
President of Greece
COVID-19 measures