March 18
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Anniversary of the Oil Expropriation(Mexico)
Anniversary of the Oil Expropriation commemorates the 1938 decree by President Lázaro Cárdenas that nationalized Mexico's oil industry.
Christianfeast day:
Alexander of Jerusalem, Anselm of Lucca, Cyril of Jerusalem, Edward the Martyr, Fridianus, Salvator, March 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Christian feast day honoring several saints, including Alexander and Cyril of Jerusalem, Anselm of Lucca, Edward the Martyr, Fridianus, and Salvator, observed on March 18.
Flag Day (Aruba)
Flag Day in Aruba celebrates the official adoption of the Aruban national flag on March 18 with ceremonies and cultural events.
Gallipoli Memorial Day(Turkey)
Gallipoli Memorial Day in Turkey honors the fallen soldiers of the 1915 Gallipoli campaign on March 18, reflecting on their sacrifice and heroism.
Men's and Soldiers' Day(Mongolia)
Men's and Soldiers' Day in Mongolia honors the contributions of men, especially those serving in the armed forces, celebrated on March 18.
Ordnance Factories' Day(India)
Ordnance Factories' Day in India celebrates the founding and achievements of the country's defense manufacturing system each year on March 18.
Sheelah's Day(Ireland,Canada,Australia)
Sheelah's Day is an informal folk celebration on March 18, following St. Patrick's Day, featuring music, dance, and Irish cultural traditions.
Teacher's Day(Syria)
Teacher's Day in Syria, celebrated on March 18, pays tribute to educators and their vital role in shaping future generations.
Alexander of Jerusalem
Feast day of Saint Alexander of Jerusalem, 3rd-century bishop and defender of Christian orthodoxy, observed on March 18.
Events
Roman Senate annuls Tiberius' will and proclaims Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (aka Caligula = Little Boots) emperor.
On this day in 37 AD, the Roman Senate annulled Emperor Tiberius' will and elevated his successor Caligula to the throne, ushering in a new era for the empire.
An earthquake in the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula leaves up to 20,000 dead.
A powerful earthquake struck the Levant and Arabian Peninsula in 1068, leaving as many as 20,000 people dead and devastating countless communities.
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, declares himself King of Jerusalem in the Sixth Crusade.
During the Sixth Crusade in 1229, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II asserted his claim to the Kingdom of Jerusalem without bloodshed, reshaping crusader diplomacy.
First Mongol invasion of Poland: Mongols overwhelm Polish armies in Kraków in the Battle of Chmielnik and plunder the city.
In 1241, during the First Mongol invasion of Poland, Mongol forces crushed Polish armies at the Battle of Chmielnik and ransacked Kraków.
Jacques de Molay, the 23rd and final Grand Master of the Knights Templar, is burned at the stake.
On March 18, 1314, Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, was publicly burned at the stake, marking the end of the famed order.
Albert II of Habsburg becomes King of the Romans.
In 1438, Albert II of Habsburg was elected King of the Romans, consolidating Habsburg influence in central Europe.
Valletta is made the capital city of Malta.
The fortified city of Valletta was designated the capital of Malta in 1571, shaping its destiny as a Mediterranean stronghold.
Susenyos is formally crowned Emperor of Ethiopia.
In 1608, Susenyos was formally crowned Emperor of Ethiopia, initiating a reign marked by religious reform and conflict.
The Third Anglo-Powhatan War begins in the Colony of Virginia.
The Third Anglo-Powhatan War erupted in 1644 between English colonists in Virginia and the Powhatan Confederacy, escalating frontier tensions.
Births
Al-Zamakhshari
Persian scholar and theologian renowned for his influential Quranic exegesis.
Mary Tudor
Queen consort of France and sister of King Henry VIII of England.
Cornelis Ketel
Dutch Mannerist painter celebrated for his dynamic portraits and engravings.
Polykarp Leyser the Elder
German Lutheran theologian who shaped early Protestant orthodoxy.
Josias I
German nobleman who ruled Waldeck-Eisenberg in the late 16th century.
Francis
Youngest son of Henry II of France who played a key role in Dutch politics.
Adam Elsheimer
German painter famed for his small-scale, luminous night scenes.
Manuel de Faria e Sousa
Portuguese historian and poet best known for his chronicles of the Portuguese Empire.
Jérôme le Royer de la Dauversière
French religious visionary who founded the mission that became Montreal.
Deaths
Edward the Martyr
King of England from 975 to 978, Edward the Martyr was renowned for his piety and tragic death.
Ermengarde of Anjou
Medieval Duchess of Burgundy who played a key role in regional politics and alliance-building.
Anselm of Lucca
Italian bishop known for his legal scholarship and role in the Gregorian Reform movement.
Head of the Catholic Church from 1216 to 1227 who promoted the Fifth Crusade.
John FitzAlan
7th Earl of Arundel, an influential English nobleman of the 13th century.
Medieval prince who ruled Galicia–Volhynia, strengthening it against neighboring powers.
Jacques de Molay
Last Grand Master of the Knights Templar who became a symbol of martyrdom.
Geoffroy de Charney
Preceptor of Normandy for the Knights Templar, executed alongside Jacques de Molay.
Matthew III Csák
Powerful Hungarian noble who dominated northern Hungary during the early 14th century.