37day.year
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.
After the death of Emperor Tiberius in AD 37, the Roman Senate took the bold step of annulling his will and rejecting his designated heirs. In a unanimous decision, they proclaimed Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, popularly known by his nickname Caligula, as the new emperor. The young ruler, only in his early twenties, inherited a vast and powerful empire that stretched from the British Isles to the Near East. His ascent was celebrated by many Romans who hoped for a return to the stability of Augustus' reign. However, Caligula's later actions would soon overshadow this moment of optimism. This pivotal event set the stage for one of history's most controversial emperors.
37
Tiberius
Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus
Caligula
1068day.year
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.
On March 18, 1068, a catastrophic earthquake rattled the regions of the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula with intense force. Reports estimate that up to 20,000 lives were lost as entire villages and cities were reduced to rubble. The seismic shock triggered landslides and aftershocks that hampered rescue efforts. Survivors faced widespread homelessness and famine in the quake's wake. Historical chronicles describe the scale of destruction as unparalleled for the era. This disaster remains one of the deadliest earthquakes recorded in medieval Middle Eastern history.
1068
earthquake
Levant
Arabian Peninsula
1229day.year
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.
In a rare display of diplomacy during the Crusades, Emperor Frederick II negotiated a peaceful handover of Jerusalem from Muslim control in 1229. Arriving in the Holy Land, he secured terms that allowed Christian pilgrims access to the city's holy sites. On March 18, 1229, Frederick formally crowned himself King of Jerusalem in a ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. His unilateral claim bypassed traditional crusader hierarchies and angered other European nobles. Despite the peaceful transfer, his actions sowed discord among the crusading orders. Frederick's diplomatic success earned him the nickname 'The Wonder of the World' but also cast a long shadow over future crusader unity.
1229
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
King of Jerusalem
Sixth Crusade
1241day.year
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.
As part of their westward expansion, Mongol armies entered Polish territories in early 1241, aiming to neutralize resistance. On March 18, 1241, they confronted Polish forces near Chmielnik and achieved a decisive victory, overrunning the battlefield with superior tactics. The city of Kraków was soon plundered and burned, causing widespread panic among the local population. Chronicles report the city's fortifications were ill-prepared against the Mongol cavalry. Survivors scattered, and many nobles were captured or killed. This brutal campaign demonstrated Mongol military prowess and left a lasting impact on Central European defenses.
1241
First Mongol invasion of Poland
Mongols
Polish
Kraków
Battle of Chmielnik
1314day.year
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.
Charged with heresy and subjected to torture, Jacques de Molay stood trial in Paris before King Philip IV's court. Despite renouncing confessions made under duress, he was condemned to death. In a dramatic ceremony on the Île aux Juifs, he and a fellow Templar were tied to stakes and burned before a stunned crowd. De Molay's execution on this day extinguished the centuries-old military-religious order he led. Rumors later circulated that he cursed the king and pope from the flames. His martyrdom inspired legends and fueled demonization of the persecutors. This grim episode signaled the collapse of the Templars and reshaped medieval Christendom.
1314
Jacques de Molay
Knights Templar
1438day.year
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.
Following the death of Emperor Sigismund, the electors of the Holy Roman Empire convened and chose Albert II of Habsburg as their new King of the Romans on March 18, 1438. His election strengthened the Habsburg dynasty's position within the empire. Albert had already served as king of Hungary and Bohemia, bringing extensive experience to his new title. His reign promised continuity amid political fragmentation and external threats. Albert's coronation laid groundwork for his future imperial ambitions, though his early death in 1439 limited his impact. Nonetheless, his brief tenure marked the rise of a dynasty that would dominate European politics for centuries.
1438
Albert II of Habsburg
King of the Romans
1571day.year
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.
After the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, the Knights Hospitaller sought a more defensible capital. Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette commissioned the construction of a new fortified city on the Sciberras Peninsula. On March 18, 1571, Valletta was officially declared the island's capital and began to grow with carefully planned streets and bastions. Its strategic location and robust fortifications made it a key outpost against Ottoman expansion. Architects and artisans from across Europe contributed to its rapid development. Valletta's establishment laid the foundation for its rich architectural heritage and its enduring role in Malta's national identity.
1571
Valletta
Malta
1608day.year
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.
Susenyos I ascended as Emperor of Ethiopia on March 18, 1608, succeeding his predecessor Za Dengel. His coronation solidified his claim after years of dynastic struggle within the Solomonic dynasty. Influenced by Jesuit missionaries, Susenyos later attempted to introduce Catholicism as the state religion, provoking widespread unrest. While his reign brought renewed ties with Europe and modern military reforms, many Ethiopians resisted his religious policies. Ultimately, his successors reversed his controversial reforms, but the period of his rule left lasting impacts on Ethiopian governance and church relations. Susenyos's complex legacy remains a pivotal chapter in Ethiopia's imperial history.
1608
Susenyos
Ethiopia
1644day.year
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.
After decades of uneasy peace, hostilities reignited between the English settlers of Jamestown and the Powhatan tribes. On March 18, 1644, a coalition of Powhatan warriors launched coordinated attacks on multiple colonial outposts. These surprise assaults resulted in significant casualties among the settlers and triggered a harsh military response. Governor William Berkeley organized reprisal expeditions that fortified English positions and retaliated against indigenous villages. The conflict would span two years, altering the balance of power in the Chesapeake region. Both sides suffered heavy losses before a tenuous peace was brokered, shaping future colonial-Native American relations in North America.
1644
Third Anglo-Powhatan War
Colony of Virginia
1673day.year
English lord John Berkeley sold his half of New Jersey to the Quakers
In 1673, Lord John Berkeley sold his half of the Province of New Jersey to a group of Quaker investors, paving the way for Quaker settlement.
Originally granted to Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret in 1664, New Jersey was divided into East and West Jersey. Financial difficulties led John Berkeley to sell his share of West Jersey to Quaker proprietors on March 18, 1673. The sale transferred governance to Quaker leaders who established policies of religious tolerance and equitable land distribution. This change attracted settlers seeking freedom of worship and rights under William Penn's guidance. The Quaker proprietorship would influence the colony's progressive political and social structures. Berkeley's decision thus reshaped New Jersey's early development and left a legacy of pluralism in the region.
1673
John Berkeley
New Jersey
Quakers
1741day.year
New York governor George Clarke's complex at Fort George is burned in an arson attack, starting the New York Conspiracy of 1741.
Arson at Governor Clarke's Fort George sparks the New York Conspiracy of 1741, an alleged slave rebellion.
In March 1741, an arson attack destroyed the residence complex of Governor George Clarke at Fort George in New York City.
This incident ignited fears of a widespread slave uprising and led to the notorious New York Conspiracy trials.
Accused slaves and poor whites faced harsh interrogations, and many were executed or exiled without solid evidence.
The conspiracy trial remains controversial among historians for its reliance on coerced testimonies and panic-driven prosecutions.
The event highlights early colonial tensions around slavery, security, and justice in British America.
1741
George Clarke
Fort George
New York Conspiracy of 1741
1766day.year
American Revolution: The British Parliament repeals the Stamp Act.
The British Parliament formally repeals the Stamp Act, easing colonial unrest in America.
On March 18, 1766, the British Parliament voted to repeal the Stamp Act, which had imposed direct taxes on American colonists.
The repeal followed widespread protests, boycotts of British goods, and unified colonial resistance across North America.
Benjamin Franklin’s lobbying in London and colonial leadership’s coordinated non-importation agreements played key roles.
While the repeal was celebrated in the colonies, Parliament simultaneously passed the Declaratory Act to assert imperial authority.
This legislative turn marked a critical moment in the buildup to the American Revolution and shaped colonial attitudes toward British rule.
1766
American Revolution
British Parliament
Stamp Act