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
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
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
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
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
1890day.year
Chancellor of the German Empire Otto von Bismarck is dismissed by Emperor Wilhelm II.
In 1890, Emperor Wilhelm II dismisses Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, ending the era of Germany's Iron Chancellor.
On March 20, 1890, Kaiser Wilhelm II forced Otto von Bismarck to resign as Chancellor of the German Empire. Bismarck, who had unified Germany and dominated European politics for two decades, clashed with the young emperor over policy and influence. Wilhelm II sought to assert his own authority and pursue a more aggressive foreign policy. Bismarck's dismissal marked a turning point, ending the Realpolitik era and leading to new alliances and rivalries. The Iron Chancellor's departure shocked diplomats across Europe and reshaped German domestic politics. Critics feared instability, while supporters anticipated modernization under Wilhelm's direct rule. Bismarck retired to his estate, leaving behind a legacy that still influences Germany's national identity.
1890
Otto von Bismarck
Emperor Wilhelm II
1913day.year
Sung Chiao-jen, a founder of the Chinese Nationalist Party, is wounded in an assassination attempt and dies 2 days later.
Chinese Nationalist Party founder Sung Chiao-jen is fatally wounded in an assassination attempt in 1913.
On March 20, 1913, Sung Chiao-jen, a leading figure in the Chinese Nationalist (Kuomintang) Party, was shot during a political rally. The attack, believed to be ordered by rival factions, left him critically wounded. Despite receiving medical care, Sung succumbed to his injuries on March 22. His death deprived the nascent Republic of one of its most capable organizers and a key advocate for constitutional democracy. Sung's assassination underscored the intense power struggles and violence that marked the early years of the Republic of China. He was remembered for his vision of uniting China under a democratic government and promoting modernization. His martyrdom galvanized support for the Nationalist cause and influenced subsequent political developments.
1913
Sung Chiao-jen
Chinese Nationalist Party
1914day.year
In the Curragh incident over 100 British Army officers threatened to resign if ordered to march against the Ulster Volunteers.
Over 100 British Army officers threaten resignation rather than enforce orders in the 1914 Curragh incident.
On March 20, 1914, more than a hundred officers of the British Army stationed at the Curragh Camp in Ireland vowed to resign if ordered to act against Ulster Unionist volunteers. The crisis emerged from tensions over Home Rule for Ireland and fears of civil war. Officers sympathetic to Unionists refused to follow commands they viewed as politically motivated. The British government, unprepared for such mass insubordination, faced a constitutional dilemma over military obedience and political neutrality. Ultimately, orders were withdrawn, and the immediate threat of resignations was defused. The incident exposed rifts within the military and strained relations between London and Dublin. It foreshadowed the deeper conflicts that would erupt during World War I and the Irish struggle for independence.
1914
Curragh incident
Ulster Volunteers
1921day.year
The Upper Silesia plebiscite, mandated by the Versailles Treaty to determine a section of the border between Weimar Germany and Poland, is held.
In 1921, a plebiscite in Upper Silesia determines whether the region joins Germany or Poland.
On March 20, 1921, international overseers held the Upper Silesia plebiscite, mandated by the Treaty of Versailles. Residents voted to decide whether their region would remain part of Weimar Germany or transfer to the newly re-established Poland. The area's mixed ethnic composition and industrial wealth made the vote highly contested. Both German and Polish factions engaged in intense campaigning and sporadic violence. The final results led to a partition that allocated urban centers to Germany and rural areas to Poland. The outcome reshaped national borders and had lasting economic and social impacts on Upper Silesia's communities. The plebiscite exemplified the challenges of self-determination in post-war Europe.
1921
Upper Silesia plebiscite
Versailles Treaty
Weimar Germany
Poland
1926day.year
Chiang Kai-shek initiates a purge of communist elements within the National Revolutionary Army in Guangzhou.
Chiang Kai-shek launches a purge of Communist elements within the National Revolutionary Army in Guangzhou in 1926.
On March 20, 1926, Chiang Kai-shek initiated a sweeping purge of suspected Communist sympathizers within the National Revolutionary Army in Guangzhou. The campaign targeted officers and soldiers believed to be under Soviet or Communist influence. It aimed to consolidate Chiang's leadership and eliminate opposition within the Nationalist ranks. The purge was part of the larger White Terror that unfolded during the Northern Expedition. Thousands were arrested, imprisoned, or executed in the crackdown. This decisive but brutal action fractured the alliance between the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Party. It set the stage for the ensuing Chinese Civil War. Taking a hard line, Chiang sought to secure his vision of a unified, anti-Communist China under Nationalist rule.
1926
Chiang Kai-shek
purge
National Revolutionary Army
Guangzhou
1952day.year
The US Senate ratifies the Security Treaty Between the United States and Japan.
The US Senate ratifies the Security Treaty between the United States and Japan in 1952, cementing postwar alliances.
On March 20, 1952, the United States Senate gave its approval to the Security Treaty Between the United States and Japan. This treaty established mutual defense obligations and the continued presence of U.S. forces on Japanese soil. It followed Japan's official end of occupation with the San Francisco Peace Treaty. The agreement aimed to deter aggression during the early Cold War and to stabilize the region. Japanese leaders viewed the pact as essential for national security and economic recovery. While some critics protested foreign military bases, many saw the treaty as a cornerstone of bilateral ties. Over time, the alliance evolved into a strategic partnership that endures to this day. The ratification marked a pivotal moment in Asia-Pacific geopolitics.
1952
Security Treaty Between the United States and Japan