March 15

Events - Politics & Government

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
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
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
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
1848day.year

A revolution breaks out in Hungary, and the Habsburg rulers are compelled to meet the demands of the reform party.

Hungarian revolutionaries compel Habsburg rulers to adopt liberal reforms in 1848.
On March 15, 1848, a wave of liberal revolutions reached Hungary, inspired by unrest across Europe. Demonstrators in Pest and Buda demanded constitutional government and national autonomy. Faced with popular pressure, the Habsburg monarchy conceded to key reformist demands. This marked the beginning of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 against imperial rule. The movement sought civil liberties, press freedom, and self-determination. Though eventually suppressed, the uprising became a symbol of Hungarian national identity.
1848 revolution breaks out in Hungary Habsburg
1874day.year

France and Vietnam sign the Second Treaty of Saigon, further recognizing the full sovereignty of France over Cochinchina.

France asserts full sovereignty over Cochinchina with Vietnam through the Second Treaty of Saigon of 1874.
On March 15, 1874, France and the Nguyễn Dynasty of Vietnam signed the Second Treaty of Saigon. The treaty formally recognized French sovereignty over the southern region of Cochinchina. It expanded French colonial influence in Indochina and secured key trading privileges. Vietnam received a modest annual pension but ceded significant political control. The agreement laid the foundation for further French expansion in Southeast Asia. It marked a pivotal moment in the establishment of French colonial rule in Vietnam.
1874 France Vietnam Second Treaty of Saigon Cochinchina
1907day.year

The first parliamentary elections of Finland (at the time the Grand Duchy of Finland) are held.

Finland held its first parliamentary elections under Russian rule, pioneering universal suffrage in Europe.
On March 15, 1907, Finland held its first parliamentary elections under the Grand Duchy status within the Russian Empire. These elections followed reforms introducing universal suffrage, making Finland one of the first European countries to grant women the right to vote and stand for office. A total of 200 seats were contested in the newly established Eduskunta (parliament). The Social Democratic Party emerged as the largest party, signaling a shift towards labor and social reform. The elections marked a pivotal step in Finland's democratic development, laying the groundwork for independence in 1917. Voter turnout reached over 70%, demonstrating widespread public engagement in the political process.
1907 first parliamentary elections Finland Grand Duchy of Finland
1917day.year

Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicates the Russian throne, ending the 304-year Romanov dynasty.

Tsar Nicholas II abdicated the Russian throne, ending over three centuries of Romanov rule and paving the way for revolutionary change.
On March 15, 1917, facing mounting military defeats and domestic unrest, Tsar Nicholas II signed his abdication in the Winter Palace. This act brought an end to the 304-year Romanov dynasty, which had ruled Russia since 1613. His abdication created a power vacuum that led to the establishment of a provisional government. The overthrow of the monarchy accelerated Russia’s transition toward revolution and civil war. This pivotal moment reshaped the nation's political landscape and set the stage for the Bolshevik takeover later that year.
1917 Tsar Nicholas II of Russia
1921day.year

Talaat Pasha, former Grand Vizir of the Ottoman Empire and chief architect of the Armenian genocide is assassinated in Berlin by a 23-year-old Armenian, Soghomon Tehlirian.

Talaat Pasha, former Ottoman Grand Vizier and key architect of the Armenian genocide, was assassinated in Berlin by Armenian avenger Soghomon Tehlirian.
On March 15, 1921, Soghomon Tehlirian confronted Talaat Pasha on a Berlin street and shot him in broad daylight. Talaat had served as the Ottoman Empire’s Grand Vizier and was widely held responsible for orchestrating the Armenian genocide during World War I. Tehlirian, himself a genocide survivor, was later acquitted in a sensational trial that drew global attention. The assassination reverberated through Europe, influencing international discourse on war crimes and accountability. It remains a stark example of individual retribution in the aftermath of mass atrocity.
1921 Talaat Pasha Ottoman Empire Armenian genocide assassinated in Berlin Soghomon Tehlirian