March 15

Events

474 BC

Roman consul Aulus Manlius Vulso celebrates an ovation for concluding the war against Veii and securing a forty years truce.

Roman consul Aulus Manlius Vulso is honored with an ovation after he concludes the war against Veii and secures a forty-year truce.
In 474 BC, after leading Roman forces against the Etruscan city of Veii, Consul Aulus Manlius Vulso was granted an ovation, a form of triumphal celebration held within Rome. Unlike a full triumph, an ovation allowed the commander to enter the city on foot or horseback, offering thanks to the gods for victory. Vulso's victory at Veii ended decades of intermittent conflict, resulting in a peace treaty that guaranteed forty years of truce between Rome and the Etruscans. The ceremony underscored Rome's growing power in central Italy and set the stage for further expansion against neighboring city-states. It marked a key moment in Rome's ascent, reflecting both military prowess and diplomatic acumen in securing long-term peace.
474 BC Roman consul Aulus Manlius Vulso ovation war Veii
44 BC

The assassination of Julius Caesar, the dictator of the Roman Republic, by a group of senators takes place on the Ides of March.

On the Ides of March in 44 BC, Julius Caesar, the Roman Republic's dictator, is assassinated by a group of senators.
On March 15, 44 BC, Julius Caesar was stabbed to death during a Senate meeting in the Theatre of Pompey. Led by Cassius, Brutus, and other conspirators, the senators saw Caesar's growing power as a threat to the Republic's traditions. Brutus famously justified the act as tyrannicide, hoping to restore republican governance. The assassination triggered a chain of civil wars as Mark Antony and Octavian sought revenge against the conspirators. This pivotal moment dissolved the Roman Republic and paved the way for the rise of the Roman Empire under Augustus.
44 BC assassination Julius Caesar dictator Roman Republic Ides of March
493day.year

Odoacer, the first barbarian King of Italy after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, is slain by Theoderic the Great, king of the Ostrogoths, while the two kings were feasting together.

In 493, Theoderic the Great treacherously murders Odoacer, the first barbarian King of Italy, during a banquet.
In 493, during a banquet meant to celebrate peace, King Theoderic the Great of the Ostrogoths invited Odoacer, King of Italy, to dine together. Despite assurances of safety, Theoderic attacked and killed Odoacer, seizing control of Italy for the Ostrogothic Kingdom. This betrayal marked the violent end of Odoacer's reign, who had deposed the last Western Roman Emperor in 476. The event symbolizes the turbulent transition from Roman to Ostrogothic rule in Italy during the early Middle Ages. Theoderic's victory established a new era in Italian history under Gothic kingship, blending Roman administration with barbarian leadership.
493 Odoacer King of Italy Western Roman Empire Theoderic the Great Ostrogoths
856day.year

Michael III, emperor of the Byzantine Empire, overthrows the regency of his mother, empress Theodora (wife of Theophilos) with support of the Byzantine nobility.

In 856, Byzantine Emperor Michael III overthrows his mother Empress Theodora's regency with the support of the nobility.
In 856, young Emperor Michael III, frustrated by his mother Theodora's continued regency, plotted to seize full power. With backing from influential Byzantine nobles, Michael orchestrated the removal of Theodora's advisors and supporters. He effectively confined Theodora, ending her regency and ruling as sole emperor at the age of twenty. The power shift restored traditional male leadership roles and strengthened the emperor's direct authority. Michael's reign following the coup became known for cultural revival and military campaigns against Arab forces.
856 Michael III Byzantine Empire Theodora nobility
897day.year

Al-Hadi ila'l-Haqq Yahya enters Sa'dah and founds the Zaydi Imamate of Yemen.

In 897, Al-Hadi ila'l-Haqq Yahya enters Sa'dah and founds the Zaydi Imamate, establishing a new dynasty in Yemen.
In 897, the Muslim scholar and leader Al-Hadi ila'l-Haqq Yahya entered the northern town of Sa'dah in Yemen. With both religious authority and tribal support, he declared himself Imam, founding the Zaydi branch of Shia Islam in the region. The new imamate combined theological leadership with political governance over northern Yemeni tribes. Al-Hadi's establishment of the imamate laid the foundations for a dynasty that would endure in various forms for centuries. His rule introduced Shia scholarship and legal institutions, shaping Yemen's religious and political identity.
897 Al-Hadi ila'l-Haqq Yahya Sa'dah Zaydi Imamate of Yemen
933day.year

After a ten-year truce, German King Henry the Fowler defeats a Hungarian army at the Battle of Riade near the Unstrut river.

In 933, King Henry the Fowler defeats a Hungarian army at the Battle of Riade near the Unstrut River.
In 933, following a ten-year truce, King Henry the Fowler of East Francia confronted Hungarian raiders near the Unstrut River. At the Battle of Riade, Henry's well-disciplined infantry repelled the swift Hungarian cavalry assaults. The decisive victory secured Germany's eastern frontier and halted Magyar incursions into the region. It bolstered Henry's prestige as a military leader and strengthened the emerging Holy Roman realm. The battle's outcome led to renewed negotiations and a period of relative peace with the Hungarians.
933 Henry the Fowler Battle of Riade Unstrut
1311day.year

Battle of Halmyros: The Catalan Company defeats Walter V, Count of Brienne to take control of the Duchy of Athens, a Crusader state in Greece.

In 1311, the Catalan Company defeats Walter V of Brienne at the Battle of Halmyros and takes control of the Duchy of Athens.
On March 15, 1311, the mercenary Catalan Company engaged Walter V, Count of Brienne, near Halmyros in Boeotia. Using tactical feigned retreats, the Catalans lured Brienne's Frankish knights into a deadly ambush. Walter V was killed in the rout, and the remnants of his force were captured or scattered. The victory allowed the Catalans to occupy the Duchy of Athens, a key Crusader state in Greece. This battle reshaped Greek politics and established Catalan rule that lasted for several decades.
1311 Battle of Halmyros Catalan Company Walter V, Count of Brienne Duchy of Athens Crusader state
1564day.year

Mughal Emperor Akbar abolishes the jizya tax on non-Muslim subjects.

In 1564, Mughal Emperor Akbar abolishes the jizya tax on non-Muslim subjects, promoting religious tolerance.
In 1564, Akbar the Great issued a decree ending the jizya, a levy on non-Muslim subjects in the Mughal Empire. The removal of the tax was a landmark in Akbar's policy of Sulh-i Kul, or universal tolerance. It fostered greater religious harmony among Hindus, Muslims, Jains, and Christians under his rule. By eliminating a financial burden on non-Muslims, Akbar strengthened loyalty and integrated diverse communities. This reform became a hallmark of his reign, reflecting visionary governance in a multi-faith empire.
1564 Akbar jizya non-Muslim
1626day.year

a dam failure causes the sudden flooding of the mining city of Potosí in present-day Bolivia leading to the death of thousands and the massive release of toxic mercury into the environment.

In 1626, a dam failure unleashes floodwaters that devastate Potosí and release toxic mercury into the environment.
In 1626, a mining dam upstream of Potosí in present-day Bolivia catastrophically failed. Surging waters swept through the high-altitude city, inundating streets and silver mines. Thousands of miners and residents were drowned in the sudden flood. Toxic mercury stored in the mining facilities was carried into rivers, causing long-term environmental damage. The disaster highlighted the extreme risks of colonial mining operations in the Andes.
1626 dam failure flooding of the mining city of Potosí mercury
1672day.year

King Charles II of England issues the Royal Declaration of Indulgence, granting limited religious freedom to all Christians.

In 1672, King Charles II issues the Royal Declaration of Indulgence, granting limited religious freedom to Christian denominations.
On March 15, 1672, Charles II of England proclaimed the Royal Declaration of Indulgence. The edict suspended penal laws against Catholics and Protestant dissenters, allowing public worship. It represented a move toward religious toleration in a nation fraught with sectarian tension. Parliament viewed the declaration as overreach of royal prerogative and forced its withdrawal in 1673. Nevertheless, the declaration foreshadowed later acts of toleration and religious liberty in Britain.
1672 Royal Declaration of Indulgence
1783day.year

In an emotional speech in Newburgh, New York, George Washington asks his officers not to support the Newburgh Conspiracy. The plea is successful, and the threatened coup d'état never takes place.

George Washington's heartfelt Newburgh address quells a military conspiracy and protects U.S. democracy.
In 1783, after the American Revolution, Continental Army officers in Newburgh, NY, frustrated by unpaid wages, began conspiring. General Washington, sensing crisis, rode to their meeting the evening of March 15. He delivered an impassioned speech, famously pausing as tears welled in his eyes. He appealed to their commitment to civilian rule and the principles of the republic. His plea dissolved the Newburgh Conspiracy and averted a potential military coup. This moment cemented his leadership and the subordination of the army to civilian government.
1783 Newburgh, New York George Washington Newburgh Conspiracy coup d'état
1820day.year

Maine is admitted as the twenty-third U.S. state.

Maine is admitted as the 23rd U.S. state, entering the Union under the Missouri Compromise.
On March 15, 1820, Maine officially entered the Union as its twenty-third state. This admission was a key element of the Missouri Compromise, aimed at maintaining the balance of free and slave states. Maine separated from Massachusetts after years of local agitation for greater autonomy. The new state secured its own legislature and constitution, focusing on maritime industries and lumber. Admission set a precedent for sectional negotiation over the expansion of slavery. Maine’s statehood reshaped the political landscape of early 19th-century America.
1820 Maine U.S. state