193day.year
The distinguished soldier Septimius Severus is proclaimed emperor by the army in Illyricum.
In 193 AD, Septimius Severus was proclaimed emperor by his troops in Illyricum, marking a decisive moment in Roman history.
Septimius Severus rose through the Roman military ranks to become one of the most influential emperors of the Late Roman Empire. On April 9, 193 AD, his legions in Illyricum proclaimed him emperor amid civil unrest following the assassination of Pertinax. This acclamation was a pivotal step in the Year of the Five Emperors, a period of fierce competition for the throne. Severus leveraged the support of his African and Illyrian soldiers to march on Rome, rapidly outmaneuvering rival claimants. His ascent heralded reforms to the military and administrative structures that would shape the empire for decades.
193
Septimius Severus
Illyricum
475day.year
Byzantine Emperor Basiliscus issues a circular letter (Enkyklikon) to the bishops of his empire, supporting the Monophysite christological position.
In 475 AD, Emperor Basiliscus issued the Enkyklikon to support Monophysite doctrine, challenging established Church teachings in the Byzantine Empire.
In 475 AD, Emperor Basiliscus circulated a letter known as the Enkyklikon to the bishops of the Byzantine Empire endorsing Monophysite Christology, which held that Christ had a single divine nature. This move aimed to solidify support among eastern provinces but undermined the Chalcedonian consensus established in 451. The decree sparked theological controversy and political turbulence, as many bishops refused to accept the imperial edict. The religious schism weakened Basiliscus’s authority and contributed to his eventual overthrow by Emperor Zeno. His attempt to enforce doctrine by imperial decree illustrates the intricate ties between theology and governance in the late Roman world.
475
Byzantine Emperor
Basiliscus
Monophysite
christological
1454day.year
The Treaty of Lodi is signed, establishing a balance of power among northern Italian city-states for almost 50 years.
In 1454, Italian rulers signed the Treaty of Lodi to create a 50-year balance of power and peace among the major city-states.
On April 9, 1454, representatives of Milan, Naples, and Florence concluded the Treaty of Lodi, ending decades of internecine warfare among northern Italian states. The agreement created a diplomatic framework and mutual defense pacts to maintain equilibrium among Milan, Venice, Florence, Naples, and the Papal States. This balance of power fostered over five decades of stability, enabling the flourishing of art, commerce, and humanist culture during the High Renaissance. The treaty’s success inspired early modern principles of collective security and diplomatic congresses. Although the peace eventually collapsed in the late 15th century, the Lodi alliance remains a landmark in the history of European statecraft.
1454
Treaty of Lodi
1609day.year
Eighty Years' War: Spain and the Dutch Republic sign the Treaty of Antwerp to initiate twelve years of truce.
In 1609, Spain and the Dutch Republic signed the Twelve Years’ Truce with the Treaty of Antwerp, pausing hostilities during the Eighty Years’ War.
By April 1609, three decades of brutal conflict between Habsburg Spain and the Dutch Republic had ravaged the Low Countries. Negotiators convened in Antwerp to broker a temporary truce, culminating in the Twelve Years’ Truce signed on April 9, 1609. The agreement recognized de facto independence for the Dutch, allowing for normalized trade and the exchange of prisoners. This pause in hostilities fostered economic recovery and allowed the Dutch Golden Age to flourish in the early 17th century. Though hostilities resumed in 1621, the truce shaped the political landscape of Northwest Europe for generations.
1609
Eighty Years' War
Spain
Dutch Republic
Treaty of Antwerp
1609day.year
Philip III of Spain issues the decree of the "Expulsion of the Moriscos".
On April 9, 1609, King Philip III of Spain decreed the expulsion of the Moriscos, redefining Spain’s religious and social fabric.
Philip III of Spain, influenced by religious and political advisors, signed the royal decree expelling Moriscos on April 9, 1609, aiming to eliminate residual Islamic influence. Over the following years, an estimated 300,000 former Muslims were forced to leave Spain, many suffering hardship during voyages and resettlement. The expulsion led to significant loss of agricultural expertise, especially in regions like Valencia, and disrupted local economies. While framed as a measure to ensure religious unity and state security, it underscored the intolerance and absolutism of the Habsburg monarchy. Historians view the Moriscos’ fate as a poignant example of early modern forced migration and its enduring cultural legacies.
Philip III of Spain
the decree of the "Expulsion of the Moriscos"
1682day.year
Robert Cavelier de La Salle discovers the mouth of the Mississippi River, claims it for France and names it Louisiana.
French explorer Robert Cavelier de La Salle becomes the first European to reach the mouth of the Mississippi River and claims the territory for France, naming it Louisiana.
In 1682, French explorer Robert Cavelier de La Salle completed a bold expedition across North America to the Gulf of Mexico. He navigated the full length of the Mississippi River and reached its mouth on April 9. Claiming the vast region for King Louis XIV, he named it Louisiana in honor of the monarch. This act laid the foundations for French colonial influence in the interior of the continent. La Salle's claim would shape future geopolitical rivalries between European powers. His expedition opened new routes for trade and exploration, setting the stage for the fur trade. Although subsequent French efforts to colonize the area faced challenges, his naming of Louisiana remains a key moment in North American colonial history.
1682
Robert Cavelier de La Salle
Mississippi River
Louisiana
1784day.year
The Treaty of Paris, ratified by the United States Congress on January 14, 1784, is ratified by King George III of the Kingdom of Great Britain, ending the American Revolutionary War. Copies of the ratified documents are exchanged on May 12, 1784.
The 1784 Treaty of Paris is formally ratified by King George III, officially ending the American Revolutionary War.
On April 9, 1784, King George III ratified the Treaty of Paris, which Congress had approved on January 14. This formal ratification ended the years-long struggle between Great Britain and its Thirteen Colonies in North America. Under the treaty, Britain recognized the independence of the United States and established boundaries for the new nation. Copies of the ratified documents were exchanged later that year on May 12. The agreement set a precedent for diplomatic resolution of conflict and reshaped the balance of power in the Atlantic world. It also paved the way for American westward expansion and international trade. The treaty stands as a landmark in both American and British history.
1784
Treaty of Paris
United States Congress
King George III
Kingdom of Great Britain
American Revolutionary War
1940day.year
Vidkun Quisling seizes power in Norway.
Norwegian fascist leader Vidkun Quisling proclaims himself head of government under Nazi occupation on April 9, 1940.
On April 9, 1940, Vidkun Quisling, leader of Norway's fascist Nasjonal Samling party, seized control of the country in a dramatic radio broadcast.
His self-declared coup d'état occurred amid the German invasion, forcing the legitimate government into exile.
Installing a puppet regime under Nazi authority, Quisling's rule was marked by collaborationist policies and the persecution of dissenters.
Despite initial recognition by German forces, his government struggled with widespread resistance and lack of legitimacy.
Quisling's name later became synonymous with treachery, leaving a lasting imprint on both Norwegian history and global vocabulary.
Vidkun Quisling
1947day.year
United Nations Security Council Resolution 22 relating to Corfu Channel incident is adopted.
The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 22 concerning the Corfu Channel incident.
On April 9, 1947, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 22 addressing the Corfu Channel dispute between the United Kingdom and Albania. The resolution called for a halt to hostile naval operations and recommended negotiations to resolve the incident diplomatically. It marked one of the earliest uses of UN Security Council authority to mediate international maritime conflicts. The Corfu Channel case would later become significant in establishing principles of innocent passage under international law. The resolution also paved the way for the case’s referral to the International Court of Justice. Its adoption demonstrated the UN’s growing role in post-World War II conflict resolution and set a precedent for future peacekeeping mandates.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 22
Corfu Channel incident
1948day.year
Jorge Eliécer Gaitán's assassination provokes a violent riot in Bogotá (the Bogotazo), and a further ten years of violence in Colombia.
The assassination of Colombian leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán sparks the Bogotazo riots and plunges the country into a decade of violence.
On April 9, 1948, Colombian politician Jorge Eliécer Gaitán was assassinated in Bogotá, triggering the Bogotazo riots. A massive crowd took to the streets in protest, resulting in widespread violence, looting, and destruction of property across the city. The unrest left hundreds dead and thousands injured, and it overwhelmed authorities in the capital. The Bogotazo marked the beginning of La Violencia, a decade-long period of brutal civil conflict that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. This upheaval reshaped Colombia's political landscape, deepening divisions between liberal and conservative factions. It also underscored the volatility of populist leadership and the deep social tensions in mid-20th-century Colombia.
1948
Jorge Eliécer Gaitán
Bogotá
Bogotazo
ten years of violence
Colombia
1952day.year
Hugo Ballivián's government is overthrown by the Bolivian National Revolution, starting a period of agrarian reform, universal suffrage and the nationalization of tin mines
Bolivian National Revolution overthrows President Hugo Ballivián and initiates sweeping reforms in Bolivia.
On April 9, 1952, the Bolivian National Revolution led by the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (MNR) successfully overthrew the government of President Hugo Ballivián. The new MNR-led regime, headed by Víctor Paz Estenssoro, launched sweeping agrarian reforms, redistributing land from large estates to rural peasants. Universal suffrage was established, extending voting rights to indigenous populations and women for the first time. The government also nationalized the country's lucrative tin mines, shifting control from foreign companies and elite landowners to the state. These measures aimed to reduce social inequalities and modernize Bolivia's economy. The revolution transformed Bolivian society and politics, laying the foundation for future social and economic development. This landmark event remains a significant milestone in Latin American history.
1952
Hugo Ballivián
Bolivian National Revolution
agrarian reform
universal suffrage
nationalization
1960day.year
Dr. Hendrik Verwoerd, Prime Minister of South Africa and architect of apartheid, narrowly survives an assassination attempt by a white farmer, David Pratt in Johannesburg.
Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd narrowly survives an assassination attempt in Johannesburg.
On April 9, 1960, South African Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during a political rally in Johannesburg. White farmer David Pratt fired two shots at Verwoerd as he arrived at the Union Observatory, critically wounding him in the shoulder. Despite his injuries, the prime minister was able to seek medical attention and eventually made a full recovery. Pratt was arrested, later declared mentally unstable, and died by suicide in custody. The attack exposed growing dissent even within segments of the white community over Verwoerd's apartheid policies. The incident led to increased security measures around South Africa's leadership. Verwoerd continued to enforce and expand the racial segregation regime until his death in 1966.
1960
Dr. Hendrik Verwoerd
Prime Minister of South Africa
apartheid
David Pratt
Johannesburg