106day.year
Start of the Bostran era, the calendar of the province of Arabia Petraea.
Arabia Petraea began using the Bostran era calendar in 106 AD, establishing a new system of regional dating.
The Bostran era was introduced under the rule of Emperor Trajan after the conquest of Nabataea. It counted years from the annexation and was named after the city of Bostra. This system was used in official documents and inscriptions across the province. It coexisted with other regional eras in the Roman Empire. The calendar played a crucial role in administration and taxation. It remained in use for several centuries. Inscriptions referencing the Bostran era help archaeologists date archaeological finds. Its introduction reflects Rome’s efforts to integrate annexed territories.
106
Bostran era
Arabia Petraea
235day.year
Roman emperor Severus Alexander is murdered, marking the start of the Crisis of the Third Century.
The assassination of Emperor Severus Alexander in 235 AD sparks the Crisis of the Third Century.
After a military defeat on the Rhine frontier, discontent among the legions led to the murder of Severus Alexander. His death removed the last ruler of the Severan dynasty. The Empire plunged into a period of civil wars, rapid imperial turnover, and external invasions. Known as the Crisis of the Third Century, this era nearly brought Rome to collapse. Over 50 emperors and usurpers claimed the throne in the next fifty years. Economic turmoil, plagues, and barbarian incursions further destabilized the state. This crisis reshaped the Empire’s military and political structures. It set the stage for Diocletian’s later reforms.
235
Severus Alexander
Crisis of the Third Century
871day.year
Æthelred of Wessex is defeated by a Danish invasion army at the Battle of Marton.
King Æthelred of Wessex suffers a defeat at the Battle of Marton in 871 AD against invading Danish forces.
The Battle of Marton took place as Danish forces pressed into Wessex territory. King Æthelred, eldest son of King Æthelwulf, led the West Saxon defense. Despite initial resistance, the Danes secured a decisive victory at Marton. This defeat weakened Wessex and allowed Viking armies to consolidate control. Chroniclers noted the scale of the Saxon losses and the retreat that followed. The battle foreshadowed further raids on southern England. It underscored the persistent Viking threat during the late 9th century. Æthelred struggled to hold the kingdom until the arrival of reinforcements under Alfred the Great.
871
Æthelred of Wessex
Danish invasion
Battle of Marton
1185day.year
Battle of Yashima: the Japanese forces of the Taira clan are defeated by the Minamoto clan.
The Minamoto clan defeats the Taira forces at the Battle of Yashima in 1185, a pivotal clash in the Genpei War.
Fought near the island fortress of Yashima in Shikoku, the battle was a turning point in the Genpei War. Minamoto no Yoshitsune led a daring naval assault on the Taira stronghold. The defeat forced the Taira to flee and Emperor Antoku to retreat further west. Japanese chronicles celebrate the surprise tactics and archery skill of the Minamoto warriors. Yashima’s loss demoralized the Taira clan and weakened their hold on the capital. The battle set the stage for the decisive encounter at Dan-no-Ura later that year. It marked the rise of the Minamoto shogunate and the decline of Taira power. The site of Yashima remains a symbol of samurai valor and strategy.
1185
Battle of Yashima
Taira clan
Minamoto clan
1312day.year
Vox in excelso: Pope Clement V dissolves the Order of the Knights Templar.
In 1312, Pope Clement V issues the papal bull Vox in excelso, formally dissolving the Knights Templar.
After years of suppression and trials orchestrated by King Philip IV, Pope Clement V issued Vox in excelso at the Council of Vienne. The bull officially disbanded the Order of the Knights Templar across Christendom. Templar assets were transferred to the Knights Hospitaller, while many former members faced persecution. The dissolution responded to accusations of heresy, financial misconduct, and political pressure. Vox in excelso extinguished the Templars’ centuries-long military and financial influence. It reshaped medieval power structures and the distribution of crusading resources. The fate of the Templars became the subject of legends and speculation for centuries. This event highlights the interplay between papal authority and royal ambition.
1312
Vox in excelso
Pope Clement V
Order of the Knights Templar
1508day.year
Ferdinand II of Aragon commissions Amerigo Vespucci chief navigator of the Spanish Empire.
Ferdinand II names Amerigo Vespucci chief navigator of the Spanish Empire in 1508, elevating his role in New World exploration.
Recognizing Vespucci’s navigational skill and reports of new lands, Ferdinand II granted him the title of piloto mayor. This appointment charged Vespucci with planning voyages, training pilots, and improving navigational charts. He helped standardize maritime practices and facilitated further transatlantic expeditions. Vespucci’s accounts of his travels contributed to the use of his name for the New World continents. As chief navigator, he oversaw map corrections and the dissemination of geographical knowledge. His role exemplified the Crown’s investment in exploration during the Age of Discovery. The position strengthened Spain’s imperial ambitions and maritime supremacy. Vespucci’s work laid foundations for modern cartography and global navigation.
1508
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Amerigo Vespucci
Spanish Empire
1621day.year
The Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony, led by governor John Carver, sign a peace treaty with Massasoit, sachem of the Wampanoags; Squanto serves as an interpreter between the two sides.
Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony sign a peace treaty with Massasoit of the Wampanoags in 1621, with Squanto as interpreter.
After months of tension, Governor John Carver negotiated a mutual defense and non-aggression pact with Massasoit Ousamequin. Squanto’s knowledge of both languages and customs was crucial in facilitating the agreement. The treaty helped ensure the survival of the fledgling colony through shared provisions and military support. This alliance lasted over half a century, allowing both groups to maintain relative peace. It became a foundation for future colonial-indigenous relations in New England. The treaty’s terms included that neither party would harm the other and would aid in defense. Plymouth sources celebrated this event as a divine blessing. The agreement influenced subsequent treaties and alliances in colonial America.
1621
Pilgrims
Plymouth Colony
John Carver
peace treaty
Massasoit
sachem
Wampanoags
Squanto
1622day.year
Jamestown massacre: Algonquians kill 347 English settlers around Jamestown, Virginia, a third of the colony's population, during the Second Anglo-Powhatan War.
During the Second Anglo-Powhatan War in 1622, Algonquian warriors massacre 347 settlers at Jamestown.
On a spring dawn, coordinated Powhatan attacks struck English plantations across Virginia, targeting isolated settlements. The violence by Algonquian warriors, led by Opechancanough, killed roughly one-third of Jamestown’s population. Many colonists died in their sleep, prompting panic and calls for retaliation. The massacre shattered earlier peace accords and plunged the colony into a brutal cycle of revenge. Survivors fortified Jamestown and mounted expeditions against Powhatan villages. The event underscored the fragility of early English-indigenous relations. It altered colonial policy toward harsher military measures. The massacre remains a pivotal moment in America’s colonial history.
1622
Jamestown massacre
Algonquians
Jamestown, Virginia
Second Anglo-Powhatan War
1631day.year
The Massachusetts Bay Colony outlaws the possession of cards, dice, and gaming tables.
In 1631, the Massachusetts Bay Colony bans playing cards, dice, and gaming tables to curb gambling.
Religious leaders in the Puritan colony viewed games of chance as morally corrupt and a threat to social order. The 1631 law prohibited the possession and use of cards, dice, and gaming tables, prescribing fines for violators. Authorities believed gambling distracted citizens from piety and productive labor. Despite the ban, underground gaming persisted in taverns and private homes. The prohibition reflects the strict moral codes governing early Massachusetts society. Similar laws appeared in other Puritan settlements, shaping colonial attitudes toward leisure. These regulations illustrate the intertwining of law, religion, and daily life. Over time, enforcement waned as social norms evolved.
1631
Massachusetts Bay Colony
cards
dice
1638day.year
Anne Hutchinson is expelled from Massachusetts Bay Colony for religious dissent.
In 1638, Anne Hutchinson is banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony after challenging Puritan orthodoxy.
A charismatic preacher and mother of 15, Hutchinson held meetings criticizing the colony’s ministers and promoting a covenant of grace. Her outspoken views on individual revelation threatened the male-dominated religious hierarchy. After a trial before Governor Winthrop and other magistrates, she was convicted of heresy and sedition. Hutchinson was forced to leave and settled first in Rhode Island and later New York. Her trial highlighted tensions over religious freedom and the limits of dissent in Puritan New England. Hutchinson’s resilience made her an early symbol of religious liberty. Though marginalized at the time, her legacy influenced later debates on free speech and gender roles. The event remains a landmark in American religious history.
1638
Anne Hutchinson
Massachusetts Bay Colony
1668day.year
Notable Privateer Henry Morgan lands in Cuba to raid and plunder the inland town of Puerto del Príncipe during the latter stages of the Anglo-Spanish War (1654–1660).
During the Anglo-Spanish War, the privateer Henry Morgan landed in Cuba and launched a daring raid on Puerto del Príncipe.
In 1668, famed privateer Henry Morgan led an expedition to Cuba under English commission. He targeted the inland town of Puerto del Príncipe, aiming to undermine Spanish holdings. Morgan’s raid was marked by swift naval landings and aggressive assaults on fortified positions. The plunder from the town enriched Morgan and his crew and dealt a blow to Spanish morale. This operation exemplified the ruthless tactics of privateering in the Caribbean. It also set the stage for Morgan’s later rise to fame as one of the most notorious buccaneers of the era.
1668
Privateer
Henry Morgan
Cuba
Puerto del Príncipe
Anglo-Spanish War (1654–1660)
1739day.year
Nader Shah occupies Delhi in India and sacks the city, stealing the jewels of the Peacock Throne.
Persian ruler Nader Shah captured and looted Delhi, taking the famed jewels of the Peacock Throne.
In 1739, Nader Shah of Persia launched a surprise invasion of the Mughal Empire. His forces overwhelmed Delhi’s defenses after a brutal assault. The city was sacked, and its priceless treasures, including the Peacock Throne, were seized. The sack caused massive destruction and loss of life, marking one of Delhi’s darkest days. Nader Shah’s victory weakened Mughal authority and shifted regional power balances. The looted jewels were carried back to Persia, becoming symbols of his military prowess.
1739
Nader Shah
Delhi
Peacock Throne