March 14

Events

1074day.year

Battle of Mogyoród: Dukes Géza and Ladislaus defeat their cousin Solomon, King of Hungary, forcing him to flee to Hungary's western borderland.

In 1074, Dukes Géza and Ladislaus defeated King Solomon at the Battle of Mogyoród, reshaping the Hungarian throne.
In March 1074, the rival dukes Géza and Ladislaus confronted their cousin King Solomon at Mogyoród. The battle concluded with a decisive victory for Géza and Ladislaus, forcing Solomon to flee to the western borderland. The conflict arose from a dynastic dispute over the Hungarian crown. Géza and Ladislaus consolidated their power, reshaping Hungary's monarchy. The outcome weakened Solomon's claim and realigned alliances among the Hungarian nobility.
1074 Battle of Mogyoród Géza Ladislaus Solomon, King of Hungary
1590day.year

Battle of Ivry: Henry of Navarre and the Huguenots defeat the forces of the Catholic League under Charles, Duke of Mayenne, during the French Wars of Religion.

In 1590, Henry of Navarre’s Huguenot army defeated the Catholic League at the Battle of Ivry, advancing his claim to the French throne.
In March 1590, Huguenot forces led by Henry of Navarre faced the Catholic League under Charles, Duke of Mayenne at Ivry. Henry’s cavalry launched a fierce charge that broke the League’s infantry lines. Despite being outnumbered, the Protestant victory opened the road to Paris for Henry’s army. The triumph bolstered Henry’s position in the French Wars of Religion and undermined Catholic resistance. It showcased the tactical impact of mobile artillery and disciplined infantry in late 16th-century warfare. The battle’s outcome influenced subsequent negotiations and laid groundwork for the Edict of Nantes.
1590 Battle of Ivry Henry of Navarre Huguenots Catholic League Charles, Duke of Mayenne French Wars of Religion
1647day.year

Thirty Years' War: Bavaria, Cologne, France and Sweden sign the Truce of Ulm.

In 1647, Bavaria, Cologne, France, and Sweden signed the Truce of Ulm, momentarily pausing hostilities in the Thirty Years' War.
On March 14, 1647, Bavaria, Cologne, France, and Sweden agreed to the Truce of Ulm during the Thirty Years' War. The accord temporarily halted fighting on the Upper Rhine front. It reflected shifting alliances as Catholic and Protestant powers negotiated an uneasy peace. Bavaria gained time to replenish its forces, while France and Sweden sought to isolate Habsburg influence. Although short-lived, the truce demonstrated the diplomatic complexities underpinning the protracted conflict. Hostilities resumed soon after, culminating in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648.
1647 Thirty Years' War Bavaria Cologne France Sweden Truce of Ulm
1663day.year

According to his own account, Otto von Guericke completes his book Experimenta Nova (ut vocantur) Magdeburgica de Vacuo Spatio, detailing his experiments on vacuum and his discovery of electrostatic repulsion.

In 1663, Otto von Guericke published Experimenta Nova Magdeburgica, detailing his vacuum experiments and electrostatic repulsion discovery.
Otto von Guericke completed and released Experimenta Nova (ut vocantur) Magdeburgica de Vacuo Spatio in 1663. He described his famous Magdeburg hemispheres experiment, revealing the power of atmospheric pressure. The book also documented his pioneering observations of electrostatic repulsion using sulfur globes. Guericke’s work laid important groundwork for future studies in pneumatics and electrostatics. His experimental approach helped establish the principles of modern experimental physics. The publication marked a milestone in the Scientific Revolution of the 17th century.
1663 Otto von Guericke electrostatic repulsion
1674day.year

The Third Anglo-Dutch War: The Battle of Ronas Voe results in the Dutch East India Company ship Wapen van Rotterdam being captured with a death toll of up to 300 Dutch crew and soldiers.

In 1674, during the Third Anglo-Dutch War, the Dutch ship Wapen van Rotterdam was captured at Ronas Voe with heavy Dutch casualties.
The Battle of Ronas Voe occurred on March 14, 1674, off the coast of Shetland during the Third Anglo-Dutch War. The English Royal Navy intercepted and captured the Dutch East India Company ship Wapen van Rotterdam. The fierce engagement resulted in up to 300 Dutch crew and soldiers losing their lives. The action disrupted Dutch trade routes and demonstrated England’s naval reach. It underscored the global dimension of 17th-century maritime conflicts over commerce and empire. Prisoners were taken, and the encounter influenced later peace negotiations.
1674 Third Anglo-Dutch War Battle of Ronas Voe Dutch East India Company
1757day.year

Admiral Sir John Byng is executed by firing squad aboard HMS Monarch for breach of the Articles of War.

In 1757, Admiral Sir John Byng was executed by firing squad aboard HMS Monarch for failing to relieve Minorca in the Seven Years' War.
On March 14, 1757, Admiral John Byng was executed by a Royal Navy firing squad aboard HMS Monarch. He was convicted under the Articles of War for not adequately relieving the British garrison at Minorca. Byng’s death sparked public debate over military justice and command responsibility. Voltaire famously satirized the event by noting the British shoot an admiral 'pour encourager les autres'. The case highlighted the harsh discipline of 18th-century naval warfare and political scapegoating. It prompted reforms in naval law and the treatment of officers in the Royal Navy.
1757 John Byng executed by firing squad HMS Monarch Articles of War
1780day.year

American Revolutionary War: Spanish forces capture Fort Charlotte in Mobile, Alabama, the last British frontier post capable of threatening New Orleans.

In 1780, Spanish forces captured Fort Charlotte in Mobile, ending Britain’s last Gulf Coast threat to New Orleans in the American Revolutionary War.
Under Governor Bernardo de Gálvez, Spanish troops seized Fort Charlotte on March 14, 1780. The fort was Britain’s final stronghold on the Gulf Coast capable of menacing New Orleans. Spain’s victory secured West Florida and disrupted British supply lines. It showcased Spain’s critical support for American revolutionaries against British forces. The conquest boosted colonial morale and hindered British naval operations in the region. Fort Charlotte remained under Spanish control until the territory was transferred to the United States.
1780 American Revolutionary War Spanish capture Fort Charlotte Mobile, Alabama New Orleans
1794day.year

Eli Whitney is granted a patent for the cotton gin.

In 1794, Eli Whitney was granted a patent for his cotton gin, revolutionizing cotton processing in the United States.
On March 14, 1794, Eli Whitney received U.S. Patent No. 72 for the cotton gin. His invention mechanized the separation of cotton fibers from seeds, vastly increasing efficiency. The cotton gin transformed the agricultural economy of the American South. It led to the rapid expansion of cotton plantations and intensified demand for enslaved labor. Whitney struggled to profit from his invention due to widespread patent infringements. Nonetheless, the cotton gin became one of the most influential technologies of the early Industrial Revolution.
1794 Eli Whitney patent cotton gin
1864day.year

Rossini's Petite messe solennelle is first performed, by twelve singers, two pianists and a harmonium player in a mansion in Paris.

In 1864, Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle debuted privately in Paris, performed by a small ensemble in an intimate setting.
Gioachino Rossini premiered his Petite messe solennelle on March 14, 1864, in Paris. The work was presented in the salon of Madame Pillet-Will before a select audience. Twelve singers, two pianists, and a harmonium player delivered the solemn yet melodic mass. Critics lauded its blend of operatic flair and sacred choral tradition. Although Rossini had retired from public composition, he conducted this intimate performance himself. The piece bridged classical balance and romantic expressiveness, securing its place in choral repertoire.
1864 Petite messe solennelle harmonium
1885day.year

The Mikado, a light opera by W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, receives its first public performance at the Savoy Theatre in London.

In 1885, Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera The Mikado premiered at the Savoy Theatre in London, achieving great popular success.
The Mikado opened on March 14, 1885, at London’s Savoy Theatre. W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan crafted a witty satire set in a fictional Japanese court. The production’s clever libretto and memorable melodies delighted Victorian audiences. It ran for 672 performances, setting a new record for comic opera. Tunes like 'Three Little Maids from School Are We' became instant favorites. The show helped define the Savoy Opera era and influenced musical theatre for decades.
1885 The Mikado W. S. Gilbert Arthur Sullivan
1900day.year

The Gold Standard Act is ratified, placing the United States currency on the gold standard.

On March 14, 1900, the Gold Standard Act was ratified, officially backing the U.S. dollar with gold and reshaping American monetary policy.
On March 14, 1900, the Gold Standard Act was ratified, establishing gold as the sole basis of U.S. currency. The act defined the dollar in terms of a fixed weight of gold, aiming to stabilize the monetary system. It followed years of debate over bimetallism and the use of silver in coinage. Supporters argued that a gold-backed dollar would curb inflation and boost investor confidence. The legislation ended the minting of silver coins and anchored the dollar’s value firmly to gold reserves. This policy dominated American finance until the Great Depression when the U.S. abandoned the gold standard in 1933 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The act’s legacy influenced global monetary systems and set a precedent for modern currency policies.
1900 Gold Standard Act United States currency gold standard
1901day.year

Utah governor Heber Manning Wells vetoes a bill that would have eased restriction on polygamy.

On March 14, 1901, Utah Governor Heber M. Wells vetoed a bill that would have eased restrictions on polygamy, reinforcing state compliance with federal law.
On March 14, 1901, Utah Governor Heber M. Wells vetoed proposed legislation aimed at relaxing polygamy restrictions in the state. The bill would have reduced legal penalties and oversight of plural marriages, a practice associated with the LDS Church. Wells argued that the measure conflicted with federal anti-polygamy statutes and threatened social order. His veto underscored Utah’s commitment to uphold national laws and distance itself from past controversies. Although Utah had achieved statehood in 1896, debates over polygamy and religious freedom persisted into the 20th century. The decision drew national attention and highlighted ongoing tensions between local religious practices and federal authority.
1901 Heber Manning Wells