260day.year
Sima Zhao's regicide of Cao Mao: The figurehead Wei emperor Cao Mao personally leads an attempt to oust his regent, Sima Zhao; the attempted coup is crushed and the emperor killed.
In 260, Emperor Cao Mao led a daring coup against his regent Sima Zhao but was swiftly overpowered and killed, solidifying Sima Zhao's control over Wei.
During China's Three Kingdoms period, Emperor Cao Mao grew resentful of Sima Zhao's grip on power and secretly organized a palace uprising on June 2, 260. The emperor gathered loyal officers to confront the regent, aiming to restore imperial authority. The insurrection was poorly coordinated, and Sima Zhao's guards quickly crushed the revolt. Cao Mao was killed during the conflict, leaving the throne a mere figurehead under Sima authority. This event cemented the Sima dynasty's rise and foreshadowed the fall of the Cao Wei regime. It remains a dramatic example of ambition, betrayal, and the ruthless realities of political power in ancient China.
260
Sima Zhao's regicide of Cao Mao
Wei
Cao Mao
Sima Zhao
455day.year
Sack of Rome: Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks.
In 455, Vandal forces captured and looted Rome for two weeks, leaving the city in ruins and shocking the Western Roman Empire.
Under King Gaiseric, the Vandals breached Rome's defenses on June 2, 455, exploiting political chaos and weak leadership. Over the next fourteen days, they sacked palaces, temples, and private homes, seizing priceless art, precious metals, and sacred relics. Citizens endured violence, famine, and the destruction of their city as the invaders displayed ruthless efficiency. This event exposed the vulnerability of the once-mighty empire and marked a significant step in its decline. The scale of the pillaging gave rise to the term "vandalism" to describe wanton destruction. The 455 sack remains one of the most dramatic episodes in Rome's storied history.
455
Sack of Rome
Vandals
1098day.year
First Crusade: The first Siege of Antioch ends as Crusader forces take the city; the second siege began five days later.
In 1098, Crusader armies captured Antioch after a grueling eight-month siege, marking a turning point in the First Crusade.
The Siege of Antioch began in October 1097 as Crusader forces attempted to secure a strategic stronghold en route to Jerusalem. By June 2, 1098, after months of starvation, disease, and fierce skirmishes, the Crusaders gained entry with help from an Armenian guard who opened the city gates. The fall of Antioch provided a vital base for supply and troop movements, boosting morale. However, the victory was followed by a desperate reverse siege by a Muslim relief force, creating a precarious situation for the Crusader army. The Crusaders ultimately held the city until reinforcements arrived, cementing their foothold in the Levant. This episode showcased the brutal realities of medieval warfare and the complex alliances of the Crusader states.
1098
First Crusade
Siege of Antioch
1608day.year
The Colony of Virginia gets a charter, extending borders from "sea to sea".
On June 2, 1608, King James I granted the Virginia Company a second charter, extending its territorial claims from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
The Second Charter of the Virginia Company, issued on June 2, 1608, significantly expanded the colony's borders to span "from sea to sea," reflecting ambitious English colonial aspirations. It granted the company authority to establish courts, appoint officials, and regulate trade with Indigenous peoples. The charter aimed to attract new investors by promising vast lands rich in resources like timber and precious metals. Although the sweeping land claims were largely theoretical, the document provided a legal framework for governance and settlement. This expansion reinforced English claims in North America and laid groundwork for future colonial development. The charter's blend of commercial motive and imperial ambition shaped early American history.
1608
Colony of Virginia
1615day.year
The first Récollet missionaries arrive at Quebec City, from Rouen, France.
In 1615, Récollet missionaries from France arrived in Quebec City, establishing the first regular Catholic mission in New France.
On June 2, 1615, a group of Récollet friars landed in Quebec City after a voyage from Rouen, becoming the first official Catholic missionaries in the colony. Tasked with evangelizing both European settlers and Indigenous peoples, they immersed themselves in local languages and customs. The Récollets founded missions among the Huron and other First Nations, sparking cultural exchange and sometimes conflict. Their efforts included schooling, religious instruction, and medical care, laying early foundations for Quebec’s religious and educational institutions. Although the Récollets were later succeeded by Jesuits, their legacy influenced the spiritual life and colonial policies of New France. Their presence marked a key moment in the interplay of culture, faith, and colonization.
1615
Récollet
missionaries
Quebec City
Rouen
1676day.year
Franco-Dutch War: France ensured the supremacy of its naval fleet for the remainder of the war with its victory in the Battle of Palermo.
In 1676, the French navy achieved a decisive victory at the Battle of Palermo, solidifying its dominance in the Mediterranean during the Franco-Dutch War.
On June 2, 1676, off the coast of Sicily, Admiral Abraham Duquesne led the French fleet against a combined Dutch-Spanish armada defending Palermo. Employing superior gunnery and maneuver tactics, the French captured or sank several enemy ships in a sharp engagement. This triumph secured French control over key Mediterranean sea lanes and disrupted alliance logistics. The victory bolstered King Louis XIV’s reputation and showcased France’s growing naval capabilities. It shifted the balance of naval power and influenced future maritime warfare tactics. The Battle of Palermo remains a landmark in 17th-century naval history.
1676
Franco-Dutch War
France
Battle of Palermo
1692day.year
Bridget Bishop is the first person to be tried for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts; she was found guilty the same day and hanged on June 10.
On June 2, 1692, Bridget Bishop became the first accused and convicted of witchcraft in Salem, igniting a wave of trials and executions.
Bridget Bishop, known for her outspoken demeanor and tavern ownership, stood trial on June 2, 1692, before Salem’s Court of Oyer and Terminer. Accused of afflicting neighbors through witchcraft, she faced testimony based largely on spectral evidence and rumors. Despite inconsistencies in the accusations, Bishop was swiftly found guilty and sentenced to death. Her execution on June 10 marked the grim beginning of the Salem witch trials, which claimed over 20 lives. The hysteria exposed tensions within the tightly knit Puritan community and flaws in its legal system. The events in Salem later became a cautionary tale about mass panic and injustice.
1692
Bridget Bishop
tried for witchcraft
Salem, Massachusetts
1763day.year
Pontiac's Rebellion: At what is now Mackinaw City, Michigan, Chippewas capture Fort Michilimackinac by diverting the garrison's attention with a game of lacrosse, then chasing a ball into the fort.
In 1763, Chippewa warriors tricked the British garrison at Fort Michilimackinac into a game of lacrosse and seized the fort, sparking Pontiac’s Rebellion.
On June 2, 1763, Ojibwe warriors under the broader leadership of Pontiac used a ruse to gain entry to Fort Michilimackinac in present-day Michigan. They presented a friendly lacrosse match invitation to the British soldiers, who eagerly joined in. When the soldiers chased the ball through the gates, the warriors surged inside, overwhelming the surprised garrison. This bold action marked one of the first victories in Pontiac’s Rebellion, a coordinated uprising against British post-war policies. The rebellion aimed to resist British encroachment on Indigenous lands and the imposition of trade restrictions. British authorities eventually suppressed the uprising, but the conflict led to the Royal Proclamation of 1763, attempting to stabilize frontier relations.
1763
Pontiac's Rebellion
Mackinaw City, Michigan
Chippewas
Fort Michilimackinac
lacrosse
1774day.year
Intolerable Acts: The Quartering Act of 1774 is enacted, allowing a governor in colonial America to house British soldiers in uninhabited houses, outhouses, barns, or other buildings if suitable quarters are not provided.
In 1774, the Quartering Act empowered colonial governors to billet British troops in private properties, fueling colonial unrest before the American Revolution.
Enacted on June 2, 1774, the Quartering Act was part of the Intolerable Acts imposed by the British Parliament in response to colonial protests like the Boston Tea Party. It authorized governors to house soldiers in unoccupied homes, barns, and other buildings when official barracks were insufficient. Many American colonists perceived the act as a violation of their rights and privacy, exacerbating anti-British sentiment. It forced civilians to bear the financial and logistical burden of maintaining a standing army. The measure galvanized colonial resistance and unity, contributing to the convening of the First Continental Congress. The Quartering Act exemplified the escalating tensions that ultimately led to armed conflict in 1775.
1774
Intolerable Acts
Quartering Act of 1774
colonial America
1780day.year
The anti-Catholic Gordon Riots in London leave an estimated 300 to 700 people dead.
In 1780, anti-Catholic protests in London erupted into the deadly Gordon Riots, leaving hundreds dead and the city in chaos.
On June 2, 1780, Lord George Gordon led a march of protesters to Parliament to demand repeal of Catholic relief measures, sparking the Gordon Riots. Initially peaceful, the demonstration quickly spiraled into violent mob attacks on prisons, government buildings, and Catholic properties. Over four days, rioters looted shops, set fires, and clashed with military forces called in to restore order. Official records estimate between 300 and 700 deaths, though some accounts suggest higher figures. The riots exposed deep religious and social tensions in Georgian England and challenged the capacity of authorities to maintain public order. In the aftermath, reforms in policing and judicial procedures were introduced to prevent similar outbreaks of civil unrest.
1780
Gordon Riots
1793day.year
French Revolution: François Hanriot, leader of the Parisian National Guard, arrests 22 Girondists selected by Jean-Paul Marat, setting the stage for the Reign of Terror.
François Hanriot orders the arrest of 22 Girondist leaders in Paris, paving the way for the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution.
On June 2, 1793, during the tumult of the French Revolution, François Hanriot, commander of the Paris National Guard, moved decisively against political moderates.
Under the influence of radical Jacobins such as Jean-Paul Marat, Hanriot's forces arrested twenty-two deputies of the Girondist faction.
These targeted detentions dismantled one of the Revolution's staunchest moderate groups.
The purge shifted power firmly into the hands of the more extreme Jacobins.
It set the political atmosphere for the Committee of Public Safety's ascendancy.
This event directly preceded the onset of the Reign of Terror, a dark chapter marked by mass executions.
1793
French Revolution
François Hanriot
Girondists
Jean-Paul Marat
Reign of Terror
1805day.year
Napoleonic Wars: A Franco-Spanish fleet recaptures from the British the island of Diamond Rock, which guards the entrance to the bay leading to Fort-de-France, Martinique.
A combined Franco-Spanish fleet retakes Diamond Rock from the British, securing control of the strategic entrance to Fort-de-France's harbor in Martinique.
On June 2, 1805, during the Napoleonic Wars, a joint French and Spanish naval squadron targeted the British-held Diamond Rock.
This island, positioned at the southern entrance of Fort-de-France Bay in Martinique, served as a vital strategic outpost.
Lt. Gov. William Robert Keppel commanded the British forces stationed on the rock since early 1804.
After a fierce bombardment and blockade, Franco-Spanish forces compelled Keppel's garrison to surrender.
The recapture restored French and Spanish naval dominance in the Caribbean theater.
It also underscored the importance of controlling small but strategically located islands.
The action had lasting implications for supply lines and colonial defenses.
1805
Napoleonic Wars
Franco
Spanish
recaptures from the British
Diamond Rock
Fort-de-France