919day.year
The nobles of Franconia and Saxony elect Henry the Fowler at the Imperial Diet in Fritzlar as king of the East Frankish Kingdom.
In 919, German nobles gather at Fritzlar to elect Henry the Fowler as king, laying foundations for the East Frankish Kingdom.
At the Imperial Diet of Fritzlar, leading nobles from Franconia and Saxony chose Henry the Fowler as their king. This election marked a decisive step in consolidating the East Frankish Kingdom after the decline of Carolingian rule. Henry's ascension initiated the Ottonian dynasty, which would strengthen royal authority and defend against external threats. His reign saw the reorganization of the realm and the beginning of a more unified German kingdom. The event underscored the growing power of regional dukes and set a precedent for future royal elections.
919
Franconia
Saxony
Henry the Fowler
Imperial Diet
Fritzlar
East Frankish Kingdom
1218day.year
The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt.
European crusaders depart Acre in 1218 to launch the Fifth Crusade against Egypt.
Under papal encouragement, followers of the Fifth Crusade set out from Acre aiming to weaken Muslim control in the Eastern Mediterranean. Their strategic objective was to capture the city of Damietta in Egypt, believing it would open the road to Jerusalem. Although they besieged Damietta successfully in 1219, internal disputes and environmental challenges hampered further advances. The campaign ultimately ended without achieving its larger goals. Nonetheless, the Crusade demonstrated the enduring resolve of European forces in the Holy Land and shaped subsequent military and diplomatic efforts.
1218
Fifth Crusade
Acre
Egypt
1276day.year
Magnus Ladulås is crowned King of Sweden in Uppsala Cathedral.
In 1276, Magnus Ladulås is crowned king in Uppsala Cathedral, ushering in a new era in Sweden.
Magnus Ladulås, later known as Magnus III, was crowned at Uppsala Cathedral after a struggle with his brother King Valdemar. He earned the nickname Ladulås for laws that curbed private conflicts and protected common farmers. His reign strengthened royal power and introduced legal reforms that centralized authority in Sweden. Magnus promoted trade and urban development in key towns. The coronation affirmed Uppsala's status as both the spiritual and political center of the kingdom.
1276
Magnus Ladulås
King of Sweden
Uppsala Cathedral
1487day.year
The ten-year-old Lambert Simnel is crowned in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland, with the name of Edward VI in a bid to threaten King Henry VII's reign.
Lambert Simnel is crowned in Dublin as a Yorkist pretender to challenge King Henry VII in 1487.
Lambert Simnel was crowned in Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin by Irish Yorkist supporters. The ten-year-old pretender's coronation under the name Edward VI aimed to challenge King Henry VII's Tudor dynasty. Supported by powerful nobles and hired mercenaries, Simnel marched into England but suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Stoke in June 1487. Henry VII spared Simnel's life, famously redirecting him to serve in the royal kitchens. The episode revealed the fragility of the early Tudor reign and the enduring legacy of Yorkist resistance.
1487
Lambert Simnel
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
King Henry VII
1567day.year
Erik XIV of Sweden and his guards murder five incarcerated Swedish nobles.
King Erik XIV orders the killing of five noble prisoners in 1567, an event known as the Sture Murders.
Driven by paranoia and political strife, King Erik XIV of Sweden accused five nobles of treason and imprisoned them at Uppsala Castle. Fearing a plot against his rule, Erik personally oversaw their execution without trial. The killings, later called the Sture Murders, shocked the kingdom and deepened mistrust between the crown and aristocracy. This ruthless act contributed to Erik's eventual downfall and mental decline. The incident remains a stark example of royal excess and the precarious nature of power in 16th-century Sweden.
1567
Erik XIV of Sweden
murder
1595day.year
Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library.
Leiden University publishes the Nomenclator in 1595, the first printed catalog for an institutional library.
The Nomenclator was created to organize and index the growing collection of Leiden University Library. This pioneering printed catalog introduced standardized entries, enabling scholars to locate works with unprecedented ease. Its publication marked a major advancement in library science and bibliographic methods. By setting a template for future catalogs, the Nomenclator influenced libraries across Europe. The work reflected the Renaissance emphasis on knowledge preservation and accessibility within academic institutions.
1595
Nomenclator
Leiden University Library
1607day.year
Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in North America, is founded.
English settlers establish Jamestown in 1607 as their first enduring colony in North America.
Sponsored by the Virginia Company, a group of English colonists landed on the shores of Virginia and founded Jamestown. Facing harsh conditions, disease, and tense relations with Indigenous peoples, the settlers struggled to survive their first years. The colony's eventual success with tobacco cultivation ensured its economic viability. Jamestown became a foothold for English expansion and a symbol of the New World's promise and perils. Its legacy endures as the starting point of the United States' colonial history.
1607
Jamestown
North America
1621day.year
The Protestant Union is formally dissolved.
Formed to defend Protestant interests, the Protestant Union is officially disbanded in 1621.
Established in 1608 by German princes and cities, the Protestant Union aimed to protect Protestant territories within the Holy Roman Empire. Political divisions and the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War strained the alliance. In May 1621, facing military setbacks and diplomatic isolation, its members agreed to dissolve the Union. The collapse weakened Protestant defenses and shifted the balance of power toward Catholic forces. This dissolution paved the way for renewed conflict and influenced the wider course of European religious wars.
1621
Protestant Union
1626day.year
Peter Minuit buys Manhattan.
In 1626, Dutch director Peter Minuit purchases Manhattan Island from Native Americans.
Acting on behalf of the Dutch West India Company, Peter Minuit negotiated a deal with Lenape chiefs to acquire Manhattan Island. The transaction, valued at goods worth around 60 guilders, is often cited as the basis for modern Manhattan. The purchase facilitated the growth of New Amsterdam, which later became New York City. Minuit's pragmatic approach to land deals influenced colonial practices in North America. The moment stands as a foundational event in the history of European settlement and urban development on the continent.
1626
Peter Minuit
Manhattan
1667day.year
The French Royal Army crosses the border into the Spanish Netherlands, starting the War of Devolution opposing France to the Spanish Empire and the Triple Alliance.
France invades the Spanish Netherlands in 1667, sparking the War of Devolution against Spain and its allies.
Under King Louis XIV, French forces marched into the Spanish Netherlands to press territorial claims through the Devolution Law. The action triggered opposition from the Spanish Empire and a coalition known as the Triple Alliance, consisting of England, Sweden, and the Dutch Republic. Despite diplomatic protests, France secured key cities before negotiations led to the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1668. The conflict showcased Louis XIV's expansionist ambitions and reshaped power dynamics in Western Europe. It also presaged further wars that would define his reign.
1667
French Royal Army
Spanish Netherlands
War of Devolution
France
Spanish Empire
Triple Alliance
1683day.year
The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England, opens as the world's first university museum.
The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford opens in 1683 as the world's first university museum.
The Ashmolean Museum, located in Oxford, England, is recognized as the world's first university museum when it opened its doors on May 24, 1683. It was founded under the benefaction of Elias Ashmole, who donated his collection of curiosities, artifacts, and natural specimens to the University of Oxford. The museum originally displayed cabinets of wonder that reflected the early modern fascination with art, archaeology, and natural history. Over the centuries, the institution expanded its holdings to include a vast array of paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, and ethnographic materials. Today, the Ashmolean houses one of the most important collections of its kind, attracting scholars and visitors from around the globe. Its establishment marked a major milestone in the history of museums and academic study, setting a model for similar institutions worldwide.
1683
Ashmolean Museum
Oxford
1689day.year
The English Parliament passes the Act of Toleration protecting dissenting Protestants but excluding Roman Catholics.
In 1689, the English Parliament passed the Act of Toleration granting freedom to dissenting Protestants while still excluding Roman Catholics.
The Act of Toleration, passed by the English Parliament on May 24, 1689, granted limited religious freedom to Protestant dissenters following the Glorious Revolution. The legislation allowed nonconformists, such as Baptists and Congregationalists, to worship openly, provided they pledged allegiance to the Crown. However, the act explicitly barred Roman Catholics and non-Trinitarians from its protections, reflecting ongoing religious tensions in the kingdom. The measure represented a significant step toward religious pluralism in England, easing deep-seated hostilities. This legislative change influenced subsequent debates on civil rights and laid groundwork for later expansions of religious liberty. Despite its restrictions, the Act of Toleration marked an important milestone in the evolution of religious freedom in the British Isles.
1689
English Parliament
Act of Toleration
dissenting Protestants
Roman Catholics