529day.year
First Corpus Juris Civilis, a fundamental work in jurisprudence, is issued by Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I.
In 529, Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I promulgated the Corpus Juris Civilis, a comprehensive codification of Roman law that became the foundation of modern civil law traditions.
Emperor Justinian I ordered a commission of legal scholars to consolidate centuries of imperial constitutions, juristic writings, and legal opinions into a coherent whole. The result was the Corpus Juris Civilis, consisting of the Code (Codex), Digest (Pandects), Institutes, and later the Novellae. This monumental work clarified and standardized Roman legal principles across the empire. It preserved classical jurisprudence and influenced legal systems throughout medieval and modern Europe. Its systematic approach to statutes and legal interpretation laid the groundwork for the civil law tradition still used today.
529
Corpus Juris Civilis
jurisprudence
Eastern Roman Emperor
Justinian I
1141day.year
Empress Matilda becomes the first female ruler of England, adopting the title "Lady of the English".
In 1141, Empress Matilda became the first female ruler of England during the civil war known as The Anarchy, adopting the title "Lady of the English."
Following a protracted succession crisis after the death of her father, King Henry I, Matilda pressed her claim to the English throne against her cousin Stephen. With the support of her half-brother Robert of Gloucester and other allies, she took control of several key castles and territories. In April 1141, Matilda was officially declared 'Lady of the English' and held court in Winchester. Her reign was marked by fierce battles, shifting allegiances, and political maneuvering during The Anarchy. Although she never secured a coronation, her struggle paved the way for her son Henry II to ascend the throne. Matilda’s challenge to the male-dominated succession set a precedent for royal authority in medieval Europe.
1141
Empress Matilda
1449day.year
Felix V abdicates his claim to the papacy, ending the reign of the final Antipope.
In 1449, Felix V abdicated his claim to the papacy, bringing an end to the schism of multiple claimants and the era of Antipopes.
Felix V, elected by the Council of Basel as a rival to Pope Eugene IV, held his claim to the papal throne during the late phase of the Western Schism. His abdication in April 1449 ended decades of division within the Catholic Church and paved the way for reconciliation. The step underscored the authority of the Roman pontiff and the futility of conciliar claims to supreme ecclesiastical power. The end of the antipapacy restored unity to Christendom and strengthened the centralized papal hierarchy. Felix, once known as Amadeus VIII of Savoy, returned to his former titles and estates. His resignation remains the last recorded case of an antipope relinquishing his claim.
1449
Felix V
papacy
Antipope
1798day.year
The Mississippi Territory is organized from disputed territory claimed by both the United States and the Spanish Empire. It is expanded in 1804 and again in 1812.
On April 7, 1798, the United States established the Mississippi Territory, organizing lands contested by the US and the Spanish Empire.
In 1798, as the young United States expanded westward, Congress passed legislation to organize the Mississippi Territory, carving it out of lands claimed by both the United States and Spain. The new territory initially encompassed present-day Mississippi and Alabama and provided governance structures for settlers in the region. American officials sought to assert federal authority, stimulate settlement, and resolve ongoing border disputes with Spain. Over subsequent years, the territory grew, with expansions in 1804 and 1812 reflecting the nation’s burgeoning ambitions. The organization of the Mississippi Territory laid the groundwork for the creation of new states and the spread of American institutions across the South. It also heightened tensions with Spanish Florida and underscored the challenges of frontier administration. The territory’s development played a significant role in the economic and political evolution of the southern United States.
1798
Mississippi Territory
United States
Spanish Empire
1831day.year
Pedro II becomes Emperor of Empire of Brazil.
On April 7, 1831, Pedro II ascended the throne of the Empire of Brazil as its second emperor.
Following the abdication of his father, Emperor Pedro I, the young Pedro de Alcântara became Emperor Pedro II of Brazil on April 7, 1831, at just five years old. His minority led to a regency period that lasted until he was declared of age in 1840. Pedro II’s long reign, spanning over 58 years, oversaw the consolidation of Brazil’s independence, political stability, and economic growth. He was a proponent of science, culture, and the arts, earning respect at home and abroad. His abolitionist leanings contributed to the eventual end of slavery in Brazil in 1888. The emperor guided the nation through internal conflicts and supported the development of railways, telegraphs, and education. Pedro II’s leadership left a lasting mark on Brazil’s national identity and modernization efforts.
1831
Pedro II
Empire of Brazil
1868day.year
Thomas D'Arcy McGee, one of the Canadian Fathers of Confederation, is assassinated by a Fenian activist.
On April 7, 1868, Canadian statesman Thomas D'Arcy McGee, a Father of Confederation, was assassinated by a Fenian activist in Ottawa.
Thomas D’Arcy McGee, an Irish-Canadian politician, journalist, and one of the Fathers of Confederation, was fatally shot on the steps of the Parliament in Ottawa on April 7, 1868. A vocal opponent of the Fenian Brotherhood, McGee had publicly denounced violent efforts to pressure Britain and Canada for Irish independence. His assassination stunned the young Dominion of Canada and highlighted political tensions among Irish immigrants. Patrick J. Whelan, a suspected Fenian sympathizer, was convicted and hanged for the crime later that year. McGee’s murder prompted calls for improved security and reinforced loyalty to the Canadian government. His contributions to confederation, bilingualism, and press freedom have been commemorated in Canadian history. McGee is remembered for his vision of a united, autonomous Canada and for bridging cultural divides in the new nation.
1868
Thomas D'Arcy McGee
Fathers of Confederation
Fenian
1906day.year
The Algeciras Conference gives France and Spain control over Morocco.
In 1906, the Algeciras Conference granted France and Spain administrative control over Morocco, reshaping colonial influence in North Africa.
Facing tensions over influence in Morocco, European powers convened at Algeciras in January 1906. The resulting agreements awarded France primary administrative rights and allowed Spain limited policing powers. Germany's challenge to French interests was diplomatically managed, avoiding direct conflict. This pact solidified French colonial presence and reduced German leverage in North Africa. The conference served as a prelude to alliances that would later shape the First World War.
Algeciras Conference
Morocco
1922day.year
Teapot Dome scandal: United States Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall leases federal petroleum reserves to private oil companies on excessively generous terms.
In 1922, Albert B. Fall secretly leased US Navy petroleum reserves to private oil companies, triggering the Teapot Dome scandal.
Under President Harding’s administration, Interior Secretary Albert B. Fall arranged no-bid leases of federal oil reserves in Teapot Dome, Wyoming, and Elk Hills, California. Fall received bribes from oil executives in exchange for favorable terms. The deals bypassed Congressional oversight and sparked public outrage when revealed. Investigations led to Fall’s conviction for bribery—the first US cabinet member imprisoned for crimes in office. The scandal eroded public trust and initiated reforms in government accountability.
1922
Teapot Dome scandal
Albert B. Fall
leases
1926day.year
Violet Gibson attempts to assassinate Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini.
In 1926, Irish aristocrat Violet Gibson attempted to assassinate Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in Rome.
Violet Gibson, a British peer’s daughter, traveled to Rome in April 1926 and approached Mussolini with a concealed pistol. She fired a shot at close range, grazing his nose before being subdued by the dictator’s guards. Mussolini downplayed his injury, using the incident to bolster his image of invulnerability. Gibson was arrested and declared insane, spending the rest of her life in a British asylum. The attempt underscored growing opposition to fascism in Europe.
1926
Violet Gibson
Benito Mussolini
1933day.year
Prohibition in the United States is repealed for beer of no more than 3.2% alcohol by weight, eight months before the ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution. (Now celebrated as National Beer Day in the United States.)
In 1933, the Cullen-Harrison Act legalized low-alcohol beer, marking the beginning of the end for Prohibition in the US.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Cullen-Harrison Act, allowing beer with up to 3.2% alcohol by weight. At 12:01 AM on April 7, Americans across the country toasted with their first legal beer in over a decade. The measure was a popular move to stimulate the economy during the Great Depression. It preceded the full repeal of Prohibition by the Twenty-first Amendment later that year. Today, April 7 is celebrated as National Beer Day in honor of this momentous change.
1933
Prohibition in the United States
beer
Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution
National Beer Day
United States
1933day.year
Nazi Germany issues the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service banning Jews and political dissidents from civil service posts.
In 1933, Nazi Germany enacted a law purging Jews and political opponents from civil service positions.
Shortly after coming to power, Adolf Hitler’s regime passed the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service. This legislation dismissed Jewish employees and those deemed politically unreliable from government jobs. It was the first in a series of racial laws targeting Jews in Germany. The purge stripped many of their livelihoods and professional status. It laid the groundwork for escalating persecution leading to the Holocaust.
Nazi Germany
Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service
1939day.year
Benito Mussolini declares an Italian protectorate over Albania and forces King Zog I into exile.
In 1939, Mussolini proclaimed an Italian protectorate over Albania, compelling King Zog I to flee.
After landing troops in Albania, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini forced King Zog I into exile. He established a protectorate, installing a puppet government loyal to Rome. The move secured Italy’s strategic position in the Adriatic Sea. International protest was muted as Europe teetered on the brink of wider conflict. This act foreshadowed Mussolini’s full-scale invasion days later.
1939
Benito Mussolini
Italian protectorate
Albania
Zog I