410day.year
The Southern Yan capital of Guanggu falls to the Jin dynasty general Liu Yu, ending the Southern Yan dynasty.
In 410, Jin general Liu Yu captured the Southern Yan capital of Guanggu, marking the end of the Southern Yan dynasty.
In the turbulent era of the Sixteen Kingdoms, the Southern Yan state held its capital at Guanggu (modern Qingzhou). In early 410, the Jin dynasty general Liu Yu launched a swift campaign against Southern Yan. After a fierce siege, his forces breached the city defenses and brought the dynasty to a sudden end. The fall of Guanggu consolidated Liu Yu's military reputation and paved his way to founding the Liu Song dynasty. This conquest highlighted the fragility of splinter states during a chaotic period in China's north. Surviving nobles either submitted or fled, sealing the fate of Southern Yan.
410
Southern Yan
falls to
Jin dynasty
Liu Yu
421day.year
Italian city Venice is founded with the dedication of the first church, that of San Giacomo di Rialto on the islet of Rialto.
In 421, the city of Venice was founded with the dedication of the Church of San Giacomo di Rialto on the Rialto islet.
According to tradition, on March 25, 421, refugees from mainland Italy gathered on the marshy islets of the Venetian lagoon. They built the Church of San Giacomo di Rialto, dedicating their new settlement to Saint James. This modest wooden church marked the humble origins of Venice. Over centuries, the community evolved into a maritime republic that dominated Mediterranean trade. The annual feast of Saint James commemorated the foundation, linking modern Venice to its early roots. Today, the Rialto area remains the beating heart of the city, with the famous Rialto Bridge nearby.
421
Venice
San Giacomo di Rialto
Rialto
708day.year
Pope Constantine becomes the 88th pope. He would be the last pope to visit Constantinople until 1967.
Pope Constantine was elected in 708 as the 88th pope, later noted as the last pontiff to visit Constantinople until the 20th century.
After a contested election, Constantine was elevated as Pope in 708, taking the name of the early martyr. During his short pontificate, he pursued diplomatic relations with the Byzantine Empire. He traveled to Constantinople to negotiate ecclesiastical and political matters at the imperial court. This unprecedented visit would not be repeated by a Pope until 1967 when Paul VI toured the city. Constantine also addressed internal church disputes and reinforced papal authority. His reign ended in 715, and he was later venerated for his devotion to church unity and diplomacy.
708
Pope Constantine
717day.year
Theodosius III resigns the throne to the Byzantine Empire to enter the clergy allowing Leo III to take the throne and begin the Isaurian dynasty.
Emperor Theodosius III abdicated the Byzantine throne in 717 to join the clergy, paving the way for Leo III and the rise of the Isaurian dynasty.
Facing military pressures and political unrest, Theodosius III voluntarily stepped down in March 717. He chose monastic life, a rare voluntary abdication in Byzantine history. His departure opened the path for Leo III, a seasoned general, to assume the purple. Leo III’s accession marked the start of the Isaurian dynasty, later known for iconoclasm and imperial stabilization. The transition occurred on the eve of the second Arab siege of Constantinople, testing Leo’s leadership from the outset. Theodosius spent his remaining years in peaceful religious seclusion.
717
Theodosius III
Byzantine Empire
Leo III
919day.year
Romanos Lekapenos seizes the Boukoleon Palace in Constantinople and becomes regent of the Byzantine emperor Constantine VII.
In 919, Romanos Lekapenos seized the Boukoleon Palace in Constantinople and established himself as regent for young Emperor Constantine VII.
After the death of Emperor Constantine VII's father, the empire was in regency turmoil under various court factions. In March 919, Admiral Romanos Lekapenos leveraged military support to capture the strategic Boukoleon Palace. He married his daughter Helena to Constantine VII, solidifying his position. Declaring himself co-emperor, Romanos effectively controlled imperial governance and military affairs. His rule brought stability and defensive reforms, fortifying the empire against external threats. In 944, he abdicated voluntarily and retired, remembered as a shrewd architect of power behind the throne.
919
Romanos Lekapenos
Boukoleon Palace
Constantinople
regent
Constantine VII
1000day.year
Fatimid caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah assassinates the eunuch chief minister Barjawan and assumes control of the government.
Caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah assassinated his chief minister Barjawan in 1000, seizing direct control of the Fatimid government.
Having ascended to power as a youth, al-Hakim found his authority overshadowed by powerful ministers like the eunuch Barjawan. In March 1000, he orchestrated Barjawan's assassination, eliminating a key rival. This bold move allowed the caliph to centralize decision-making and assert autocratic control. The purge unsettled the Fatimid court and alarmed regional governors. Al-Hakim's later years would be marked by controversial religious policies and architectural patronage in Cairo. His dramatic early actions set the tone for one of the most enigmatic reigns in medieval Islamic history.
1000
Fatimid
al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah
Barjawan
1065day.year
The Great German Pilgrimage is attacked on Good Friday by Beduin bandits, suffering heavy losses.
On Good Friday in 1065, the Great German Pilgrimage was ambushed by Bedouin bandits, resulting in severe casualties among the pilgrims.
In early 1065, thousands of German pilgrims set out for Jerusalem on the Great German Pilgrimage. On Good Friday, Bedouin bandits ambushed the column near the Dead Sea. The unarmed pilgrims suffered heavy casualties and had their belongings looted. Survivors fled into narrow gorges, sharing harrowing accounts of violence and desperate flight. The massacre sent shockwaves across Europe, exposing the perils of distant pilgrimage. The tragedy prompted calls for armed escorts and foreshadowed the militarized crusading movements to come.
1065
Great German Pilgrimage
Good Friday
Beduin
1306day.year
Robert the Bruce becomes King of Scots (Scotland).
Robert the Bruce was crowned King of Scots in 1306, leading Scotland's fight for independence from England.
On March 25, 1306, at Scone, Robert de Brus was crowned King of Scots amid rising tensions with England. His ascent followed the deadly dispute with John Comyn in a chapel, which ignited a national struggle for sovereignty. Bruce then waged guerrilla warfare against English garrisons, uniting Scottish clans in resistance. Despite early setbacks, his leadership culminated in the decisive victory at Bannockburn in 1314. This triumph secured Scotland’s de facto independence and elevated Bruce as a national hero. During his reign, Bruce also restructured royal administration and strengthened cultural identity across the kingdom.
1306
Robert the Bruce
1409day.year
The Council of Pisa convenes, in an attempt to heal the Western Schism.
In 1409, the Council of Pisa was convened to end the Western Schism by deposing rival popes and restoring church unity.
With three competing papal claimants dividing Christendom, church leaders gathered in Pisa in March 1409. Delegates from major European powers aimed to resolve the schism that began in 1378. The Council deposed Pope Gregory XII and Antipope Benedict XIII for defiance and elected Alexander V as a compromise candidate. Instead of restoring unity, the decision added a third papal claimant, prolonging the crisis. Debates at Pisa fueled the growing movement for conciliar authority over papal absolutism. Although inconclusive, the council set the stage for the later Council of Constance. Its legacy highlighted the complex interplay of religion and politics in medieval Europe.
1409
Council of Pisa
Western Schism
1410day.year
The Yongle Emperor of Ming China launches the first of his military campaigns against the Mongols, resulting in the fall of the Mongol khan Bunyashiri.
In 1410, the Yongle Emperor launched his first major military campaign against the Mongols, leading to the defeat of Khan Bunyashiri.
After seizing the Ming throne, Emperor Yongle prioritized securing China’s northern borders from Mongol raids. In March 1410, he personally oversaw the dispatch of large Ming armies into the steppes. The campaign targeted the forces of Khan Bunyashiri, ruler of the Eastern Mongols. Superior Ming strategy, disciplined troops, and logistical planning led to decisive victories. Bunyashiri’s horde was routed, and the khan was forced to flee, weakening Mongol influence. The expedition bolstered Yongle’s prestige and established a precedent for future northern campaigns. It also reinforced the significance of the Great Wall as an imperial defense line.
1410
Yongle Emperor
Ming China
his military campaigns against the Mongols
Bunyashiri
1519day.year
Hernán Cortés, entering province of Tabasco, defeats Tabascan Indians.
Conquistador Hernán Cortés secures a decisive victory in Tabasco by defeating the Tabascan Indians.
On March 25, 1519, Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés and his forces entered the province of Tabasco. They engaged the Tabascan Indians and achieved a decisive victory that provided vital supplies and local allies. This encounter marked a turning point in Cortés's expedition towards the Aztec Empire. The victory boosted his standing among the Spanish crown's officials and fostered strategic alliances with indigenous groups. It laid the groundwork for his future campaigns in New Spain and the eventual fall of Tenochtitlán.
1519
Hernán Cortés
Tabasco
1576day.year
Jerome Savage takes out a sub-lease to start the Newington Butts Theatre outside London.
Entrepreneur Jerome Savage establishes the Newington Butts Theatre on leased land outside London, creating one of the earliest Elizabethan playhouses.
In 1576, theatre impresario Jerome Savage secured a sub-lease to build a playhouse south of the Thames in Newington, Surrey. This venue, later known as the Newington Butts Theatre, became one of the earliest permanent theatres in the London area. Its location outside the city limits allowed performances to continue without the strict regulations imposed within London. The theatre hosted a variety of plays and attracted audiences eager for new forms of entertainment. Although it eventually fell out of use, its establishment reflects the burgeoning popularity of public theatre during the Elizabethan era.
1576
Newington Butts Theatre