1206day.year
Michael IV Autoreianos is appointed Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
On March 20, 1206, Michael IV Autoreianos was appointed Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, taking charge of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
On March 20, 1206, Michael IV Autoreianos was appointed as the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople by Emperor Alexios III Angelos.
He was a respected scholar and cleric who had previously served in the imperial chancery.
As patriarch, Michael IV guided the Eastern Orthodox Church through a period of political complexity and theological debate.
He sought to strengthen ecclesiastical discipline and improve relations with the Latin Church.
His tenure saw significant liturgical reforms and efforts to assert Orthodox autonomy.
Michael IV led the church until his death in 1212, leaving a legacy of administrative and spiritual leadership.
1206
Michael IV Autoreianos
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
1600day.year
The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden: five Swedish noblemen are publicly beheaded in the aftermath of the War against Sigismund (1598–1599).
On March 20, 1600, five Swedish noblemen were publicly beheaded at Linköping in a punitive action following the War against Sigismund.
On Maundy Thursday, March 20, 1600, five noble supporters of King Sigismund were publicly beheaded in Linköping, Sweden.
The executions were ordered by Duke Charles, who had seized power after Sigismund’s defeat in the War against Sigismund (1598–1599).
Charged with treason for backing the deposed monarch, the condemned nobles included prominent members of the Swedish aristocracy.
The brutal spectacle was intended to deter further resistance and legitimize Charles’s rule as Carl IX.
The Linköping Bloodbath deepened divisions within Swedish politics and contributed to the establishment of a new royal dynasty.
Today, the event is remembered as a stark example of religious and dynastic conflict in early modern Europe.
1600
Linköping Bloodbath
Maundy Thursday
Linköping
publicly beheaded
War against Sigismund
1602day.year
The Dutch East India Company is established.
On March 20, 1602, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) was founded, marking the world’s first publicly traded joint-stock company.
On March 20, 1602, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) was established by the States General of the Netherlands.
It received a 21-year monopoly on Dutch trade in Asia and was empowered to build forts, maintain armies, and negotiate treaties.
As the world’s first multinational corporation, the VOC issued shares to investors, pioneering the joint-stock company model.
At its height, the company dominated the spice trade, amassed vast wealth, and laid the foundations of global capitalism.
With strategic outposts in Batavia, Colombo, and Ceylon, the VOC shaped colonial dynamics in South and Southeast Asia.
Its legacy includes innovations in corporate governance, maritime logistics, and international finance that endure today.
1602
Dutch East India Company
1616day.year
Sir Walter Raleigh is freed from the Tower of London after 13 years of imprisonment.
On March 20, 1616, the English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh was released from the Tower of London after 13 years of imprisonment.
Sir Walter Raleigh, renowned explorer and courtier under Queen Elizabeth I, was freed from the Tower of London on March 20, 1616.
He had been imprisoned since 1603 for alleged involvement in the Main Plot against King James I.
During his incarceration, Raleigh continued scholarly work and authored 'History of the World' in manuscript form.
Following his release, the king granted him permission to lead an expedition to Guiana in search of the fabled city of gold, El Dorado.
Despite facing numerous hardships and conflict with Spanish forces, Raleigh’s journey failed to secure significant wealth.
His liberation marked a brief restoration of royal favor before his eventual re-arrest and execution in 1618.
1616
Walter Raleigh
Tower of London
1760day.year
The Great Boston Fire of 1760 destroys 349 buildings.
On March 20, 1760, the Great Boston Fire swept through the town, destroying 349 buildings and reshaping the colonial cityscape.
A devastating fire erupted in Boston on March 20, 1760, consuming hundreds of wooden buildings.
Over the course of a day, the blaze destroyed 349 structures, including homes, shops, and warehouses.
Strong winds and tightly packed streets helped the flames spread rapidly through the colonial town.
Although there were few casualties, the economic loss was estimated at tens of thousands of pounds sterling.
In the aftermath, Boston officials instituted stricter building codes and organized a more effective fire brigade.
The Great Boston Fire of 1760 prompted urban improvements that laid the groundwork for the city’s future growth.
1760
Great Boston Fire of 1760
1815day.year
After escaping from Elba, Napoleon enters Paris with a regular army of 140,000 and a volunteer force of around 200,000, beginning his "Hundred Days" rule.
On March 20, 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte returned from exile and entered Paris, marking the start of his 'Hundred Days' rule before the Battle of Waterloo.
After escaping exile on Elba, Napoleon Bonaparte marched through France and triumphantly entered Paris on March 20, 1815.
King Louis XVIII fled the capital, allowing Napoleon to reclaim power and inaugurate his 'Hundred Days' of rule.
He quickly assembled a regular army of 140,000 soldiers and mobilized an additional 200,000 volunteers.
Napoleon issued reforms, restored civil freedoms, and prepared to face the allied monarchies determined to remove him.
His return galvanized troops and inspired supporters but also alarmed European powers, leading to the formation of the Seventh Coalition.
This dramatic comeback culminated in the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon’s final abdication just months later.
1815
Elba
Napoleon
Hundred Days
1848day.year
German revolutions of 1848–49: King Ludwig I of Bavaria abdicates.
On March 20, 1848, King Ludwig I of Bavaria abdicated amid the revolutionary upheavals sweeping across German states during the 1848–49 revolutions.
As the 1848 revolutions spread across Europe, King Ludwig I of Bavaria abdicated on March 20, 1848.
Widespread demands for constitutional reform and national unification pressured the aging monarch.
Controversy over his relationship with dancer Lola Montez further undermined his popularity among liberals and students.
Facing mass protests in Munich, Ludwig relinquished the throne to his son, Maximilian II, to restore stability.
His abdication marked a turning point in Bavarian politics, leading to a more constitutional monarchy.
Reforms enacted during this period laid the groundwork for modern Bavarian governance.
1848
German revolutions of 1848–49
Ludwig I of Bavaria
1852day.year
Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin is published.
On March 20, 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin was published, fueling anti-slavery sentiment in the United States and abroad.
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s seminal novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin was first published on March 20, 1852.
The book vividly dramatized the brutal realities of slavery, portraying its moral and social consequences.
It became an immediate sensation, selling tens of thousands of copies within months.
Stowe’s portrayal of enslaved individuals and the cruelty they endured galvanized abolitionist sentiment in the North.
International readers also embraced the novel, increasing pressure on Britain and France regarding the American slavery debate.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin is credited with reshaping public opinion and laying cultural groundwork for the Civil War.
1852
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Uncle Tom's Cabin
1854day.year
The Republican Party of the United States is organized in Ripon, Wisconsin, US.
On March 20, 1854, the Republican Party was organized in Ripon, Wisconsin, laying the foundation for one of the United States’ major political parties.
On March 20, 1854, anti-slavery activists convened in Ripon, Wisconsin, to form the Republican Party of the United States.
The party emerged in direct response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which threatened to expand slavery into new territories.
Members included disaffected Whigs, Free Soilers, and anti-slavery Democrats united by a common cause.
The new political party pledged to halt the spread of slavery and promote free labor ideals.
Within a few years, the Republicans gained significant influence, electing their first presidential candidate, John C. Frémont, in 1856.
The party reached its apex with the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, reshaping the nation’s political landscape.
1854
Republican Party of the United States
Ripon, Wisconsin
1861day.year
An earthquake destroys Mendoza, Argentina.
On March 20, 1861, a powerful earthquake struck Mendoza, Argentina, devastating the city and causing widespread destruction.
A strong earthquake rattled Mendoza, Argentina, on March 20, 1861, leveling much of the provincial capital.
Wooden and adobe structures crumbled under the seismic shock, leaving hundreds injured and many homeless.
The quake highlighted the vulnerability of local construction methods to seismic activity.
In the aftermath, survivors banded together to clear debris and provide aid to the displaced population.
Reconstruction efforts introduced more resilient building techniques and urban planning initiatives.
The 1861 Mendoza earthquake became a defining moment in Argentine disaster response and architectural reform.
1861
earthquake
Mendoza, Argentina
1883day.year
The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property is signed.
The 1883 Paris Convention establishes the first international agreement for protecting industrial property, setting the groundwork for modern intellectual property law.
On March 20, 1883, representatives from multiple nations convened in Paris to sign the Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. It marked the first multilateral treaty to address patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and unfair competition. The Convention introduced key principles such as national treatment, priority right, and common rules for registering inventions. Originally signed by eleven countries, it created a framework still used by the World Intellectual Property Organization. By harmonizing industrial property laws across borders, it encouraged innovation and international trade. The treaty has been updated several times, reflecting evolving technological and legal challenges. Today, it remains a cornerstone of global intellectual property rights.
1883
Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property
1888day.year
The premiere of the very first Romani language operetta is staged in Moscow, Russia.
In 1888, Moscow audiences witness the world's first operetta performed in the Romani language, celebrating Romani culture on stage.
On March 20, 1888, a groundbreaking operetta in the Romani language debuted in Moscow. The production brought Romani musical traditions and stories to the imperial stage, offering a rare representation of a marginalized culture. Composers and performers collaborated to blend classical operetta elements with traditional Romani melodies and rhythms. The premiere challenged prevailing stereotypes and helped foster appreciation for Romani artistic heritage. Despite facing social prejudice, the show attracted attention from critics and the public alike. Its success opened doors for future Romani-language works and raised questions about cultural inclusion in the arts. The event remains a milestone in both Romani cultural history and Russian theatrical innovation.
1888
Romani language operetta
Moscow