1355day.year
Amidst the Red Turban Rebellions, Han Lin'er, a claimed descendant of Emperor Huizong of Song, is proclaimed emperor of the restored Song dynasty in Bozhou.
In 1355, rebel leader Han Lin’er was proclaimed emperor of a revived Song dynasty in Bozhou during the Red Turban Rebellions.
As the Yuan dynasty weakened under widespread unrest, Han Lin’er emerged as a figurehead claiming descent from the Song imperial family. On March 16, 1355, his supporters in Bozhou declared him emperor, seeking to restore native rule. The ceremony energized rebel factions and challenged Mongol authority. Real power, however, remained with military commanders such as Zhu Yuanzhang, who used the symbol of the restored Song to rally forces. The so-called restoration was short-lived and largely ceremonial, but it marked a key moment in the decline of Yuan rule. Historians view this proclamation as a prelude to the establishment of the Ming dynasty.
1355
Red Turban Rebellions
Han Lin'er
Emperor Huizong of Song
Song dynasty
Bozhou
1660day.year
The Long Parliament of England is dissolved so as to prepare for the new Convention Parliament.
On March 16, 1660, England’s Long Parliament was formally dissolved to pave the way for the Convention Parliament and the eventual Restoration of the monarchy.
After years of republican rule under the Commonwealth and Protectorate, General George Monck orchestrated the dissolution of the Long Parliament. This decisive move cleared the path for the Convention Parliament, which convened without royal writ. Debates in the new assembly quickly turned toward inviting Charles II back from exile, signaling support for monarchy. The dissolution marked the effective end of the Interregnum and restored the balance between military and civil authority. Monck’s intervention was a turning point in bringing stability to England. The events of 1660 laid the groundwork for the modern constitutional monarchy.
1660
Long Parliament
Convention Parliament
1792day.year
King Gustav III of Sweden is shot; he dies on March 29.
On March 16, 1792, King Gustav III of Sweden was shot at a masked ball in Stockholm, an assassination attempt that proved fatal days later.
The king, an advocate of enlightened absolutism, attended a masquerade at the Royal Opera House when conspirator Jacob Johan Anckarström fired a pistol at close range. Gustav was struck in the torso and carried away in shock, refusing to believe he had been attacked. He endured agonizing pain for thirteen days before succumbing to his wounds on March 29. His death ended a reign noted for cultural patronage and legal reform, plunging Sweden into political uncertainty. The dramatic assassination inspired artistic works, most famously Verdi’s opera Un ballo in maschera. Historians view the event as a turning point in Swedish constitutional development and a cautionary tale of court intrigue.
1792
Gustav III of Sweden
March 29
1802day.year
The Army Corps of Engineers is established to found and operate the United States Military Academy at West Point.
On March 16, 1802, the United States Army Corps of Engineers was officially established, tasked with administering the new Military Academy at West Point.
President Thomas Jefferson signed legislation creating the Corps as the nation’s first organized engineering branch, with its initial mission to manage West Point. Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Williams was appointed the first Chief Engineer, overseeing curriculum and fortification design. The Corps introduced rigorous instruction in mathematics, engineering, and military science, setting a standard for officer education. Their expertise extended to civil works projects, including roads, canals, and harbor defenses. West Point graduates became leaders in both military and public infrastructure development. The dual military and civic role of the Corps shaped America’s engineering tradition. Today, the Corps remains critical to national defense and large-scale engineering projects.
1802
Army Corps of Engineers
United States Military Academy at West Point
1815day.year
Prince Willem proclaims himself King of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, the first constitutional monarch in the Netherlands.
On March 16, 1815, Prince William of Orange proclaimed himself King of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, inaugurating a constitutional monarchy.
In the wake of Napoleon’s defeat, the Congress of Vienna unified the Low Countries under William’s rule as a buffer against French aggression. He adopted a constitutional charter that balanced royal authority with legislative oversight, reflecting Enlightenment ideals. His reign fostered national integration, economic modernization, and infrastructure improvements such as canals and roads. Tensions between Protestant north and Catholic south simmered during his accession, foreshadowing Belgian independence in 1830. William’s policies laid institutional foundations for the modern Dutch state. His declaration marked a new era of constitutional governance in Europe. The Dutch monarchy established then continues to this day under his descendants.
1815
Prince Willem
United Kingdom of the Netherlands
constitutional monarch
1898day.year
In Melbourne, the representatives of five colonies adopt a constitution, which would become the basis of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Delegates from five Australian colonies adopt a unifying constitution in Melbourne, laying the groundwork for the Commonwealth of Australia.
In March 1898, representatives from New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia met in Melbourne.
They debated and finalized a constitution that proposed a federal system of government combining the colonies.
The pact included provisions for a federal parliament, judiciary, and defense arrangements.
This agreement formed the constitutional basis for the Commonwealth of Australia, established in 1901.
The federation united the colonies under a single national government while preserving regional powers.
1898
Melbourne
constitution
Commonwealth of Australia
1924day.year
In accordance with the Treaty of Rome, Fiume becomes annexed as part of Italy.
The city of Fiume is formally annexed by Italy under the Treaty of Rome, ending a territorial dispute and solidifying Italian control over the Adriatic port.
Following World War I, the strategic port city of Fiume was contested between Italy and the newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
On March 16, 1924, the Treaty of Rome awarded Fiume to Italy, resolving years of diplomatic tension.
The annexation integrated Fiume into Italian administration and brought an end to the short-lived Free State of Fiume.
Italian nationalists celebrated the acquisition as a fulfillment of post-war promises.
The decision also sowed resentment among local Slavic populations and influenced regional politics in the Balkans.
1924
Treaty of Rome
Fiume
1935day.year
Adolf Hitler orders Germany to rearm itself in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Conscription is reintroduced to form the Wehrmacht.
Adolf Hitler orders German rearmament and reintroduces conscription, defying the Treaty of Versailles and paving the way for the Wehrmacht.
On March 16, 1935, Adolf Hitler announced the reintroduction of conscription in Germany and the expansion of armed forces.
This move flagrantly violated the disarmament clauses of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles.
The new recruits formed the nucleus of the redesigned military, soon called the Wehrmacht.
Hitler’s decision marked a key step in Nazi Germany’s aggressive remilitarization and territorial ambitions.
The rearmament alarmed neighboring countries and undermined post-World War I security arrangements.
It set the stage for Germany’s further expansion leading up to World War II.
1935
Adolf Hitler
Treaty of Versailles
Wehrmacht
1978day.year
Former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro is kidnapped; he is later murdered by his captors.
Italy’s former Prime Minister Aldo Moro was kidnapped on March 16, 1978, by the Red Brigades and later killed.
On the morning of March 16, 1978, members of the Red Brigades abducted Aldo Moro in Rome.
Moro was ambushed while traveling to a parliamentary session, resulting in the deaths of his bodyguards.
He was held captive for 55 days in a secret location, during which government negotiations failed.
Despite pleas from his family and church leaders, no concessions were made to the terrorists.
On May 9, Moro’s body was found in a car trunk in central Rome, horrifying the nation.
The incident exposed the depth of political extremism in Italy’s Years of Lead and sparked a stringent anti-terrorism crackdown.
1978
Aldo Moro
1988day.year
Iran–Contra affair: Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North and Vice Admiral John Poindexter are indicted on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States.
Oliver North and John Poindexter were indicted for conspiracy to defraud the U.S. in the 1988 Iran–Contra affair scandal.
The Iran–Contra affair was a major political scandal during the Reagan administration.
Senior officials covertly facilitated arms sales to Iran, hoping to secure the release of hostages held by Hezbollah.
Funds from those arms sales were diverted to support the Contra rebels fighting in Nicaragua.
On March 16, 1988, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North and Vice Admiral John Poindexter faced formal indictments for conspiring to defraud Congress.
The charges centered on illegally bypassing statutory bans on funding the Contras.
Televised hearings exposed the inner workings of the operation and shocked the American public.
Though both were initially convicted, their sentences were later overturned on appeal due to procedural issues.
1988
Iran–Contra affair
Oliver North
John Poindexter
conspiracy
1995day.year
Mississippi formally ratifies the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, becoming the last state to approve the abolition of slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment was officially ratified in 1865.
On March 16, 1995, Mississippi became the last U.S. state to formally ratify the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery.
The Thirteenth Amendment, ratified in 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States.
Despite its adoption during Reconstruction, Mississippi had never officially recorded its ratification.
On March 16, 1995, the state legislature unanimously approved the amendment as a symbolic act of reconciliation.
Civil rights activists hailed the decision as a necessary acknowledgment of historical injustice.
The resolution passed both the House and Senate without opposition.
Mississippi’s ratification closed a lingering chapter in American constitutional history.
The event prompted renewed dialogue about the legacy of slavery and ongoing struggles for racial equality in the U.S.
1995
Mississippi
Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
slavery
2005day.year
Israel officially hands over Jericho to Palestinian control.
Israel officially transferred control of the West Bank city of Jericho to the Palestinian Authority on March 16, 2005.
The handover of Jericho was a key step in the 1993 Oslo Accords framework for Palestinian self-rule.
On March 16, 2005, Israeli forces completed their withdrawal from the city, ceding civil and security authority to the Palestinian Authority.
International observers from the U.S. and other nations oversaw the operation to ensure a smooth transition.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the move as progress toward the establishment of a sovereign state.
Jericho became one of the first major urban centers in the West Bank under full Palestinian administration.
The transfer bolstered hopes for further territorial handovers and intensified peace negotiations.
Security coordination between Israel and the PA continued to develop in the days following the handover.
2005
Israel
Jericho