June 03

Events

350day.year

The Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman emperor, entering Rome at the head of a group of gladiators.

In 350, Nepotianus, a member of the Constantinian dynasty, declared himself Roman emperor and entered Rome with gladiators.
In a bold power play, Nepotianus, a distant relative of Constantine's line, marched on Rome with a band of gladiators. Claiming the imperial title, he seized the city gates and proclaimed himself emperor in 350 AD. His coup shocked the Roman Senate and rival claimants from the Constantinian dynasty. Nepotianus ruled for just over a month, struggling to gain wider support beyond his armed followers. The usurpation highlighted the instability of the Roman Empire during this period of rapid succession. His fall came swiftly when Emperor Magnentius marched on Rome and quashed the rebellion, ending Nepotianus's brief reign.
350 Roman usurper Nepotianus Constantinian dynasty Roman emperor gladiators
713day.year

The Byzantine emperor Philippicus is blinded, deposed and sent into exile by conspirators of the Opsikion army in Thrace. He is succeeded by Anastasios II, who begins the reorganization of the Byzantine army.

In 713, Byzantine Emperor Philippicus was blinded and deposed by Opsikion army conspirators, paving the way for the rise of Anastasios II.
Philippicus Bardanes, who ruled the Byzantine Empire since 711, faced discontent from the Opsikion military theme. In June 713, conspirators blinded and deposed him, sending him into exile in Heraion of Perinthus. His removal marked one of the earliest instances of military interference in imperial succession. Anastasios II was proclaimed emperor soon after and vowed to restore stability and reform the army. He initiated a comprehensive reorganization of the Byzantine military and financial systems. These events underscored the fragile balance between military powers and imperial authority in Byzantium.
713 Byzantine Philippicus blinded exile Opsikion Thrace Anastasios II Byzantine army
1098day.year

After a five-month siege during the First Crusade, the Crusaders seize Antioch.

In 1098, Crusader forces captured Antioch after a gruelling five-month siege during the First Crusade.
The Siege of Antioch lasted from October 1097 to June 3, 1098, as Crusader armies encircled the city. Facing famine and harsh winter conditions, the besiegers persisted through dire shortages. Aided by a traitorous guard, Bohemond of Taranto led a surprise night assault to open the city gates. Upon entering, the Crusaders secured Antioch, a strategic city linking Asia Minor and Syria. Their victory boosted morale but also led to another siege when Turkish forces attempted to reclaim the city. Antioch then became a crucial Crusader state, symbolizing both triumph and ongoing conflict in the Holy Land.
1098 First Crusade Antioch
1140day.year

The French scholar Peter Abelard is found guilty of heresy.

In 1140, the influential French philosopher Peter Abelard was condemned for heresy by the Church.
Peter Abelard, famed for his writings on logic and theology, was accused of teaching unorthodox views. At the Council of Sens on June 3, 1140, church authorities declared his ideas heretical. His work 'Sic et Non' challenged accepted doctrines by juxtaposing contradictory opinions of Church Fathers. The verdict forced Abelard into a period of exile and deeply affected his academic career. Despite the condemnation, his intellectual legacy endured, influencing medieval scholasticism. Abelard’s case highlighted tensions between reason and faith in the 12th-century Church.
1140 Peter Abelard heresy
1326day.year

The Treaty of Novgorod delineates borders between Russia and Norway in Finnmark.

In 1326, the Treaty of Novgorod established the border between Russia and Norway in the Finnmark region.
To end years of disputed claims, envoys from the Novgorod Republic and the Kingdom of Norway met near the Varanger Fjord. On June 3, 1326, they signed the Treaty of Novgorod, defining frontier lines in the Arctic Finnmark. This agreement allowed for regulated trade and clarified tax obligations for indigenous Sami communities. It created one of the earliest documented borders in northern Europe, lasting for centuries. While tensions occasionally flared, the treaty set a framework for peaceful coexistence in the sparsely populated region. The border defined by this treaty influenced modern Norwegian-Russian relations.
1326 Treaty of Novgorod Finnmark
1539day.year

Hernando de Soto claims Florida for Spain.

In 1539, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto landed in Florida and claimed the territory for Spain.
Setting sail from Cuba, Hernando de Soto led an expedition of over 600 men in search of gold and riches. On June 3, 1539, they made landfall near present-day Tampa Bay on the Gulf Coast. De Soto formally claimed La Florida for the Spanish crown, beginning a grueling inland trek. His expedition was marked by violent encounters with indigenous tribes and harsh environmental conditions. Despite finding little gold, de Soto’s journey mapped vast swaths of the southeastern United States. His voyages had lasting consequences for Native American societies and European colonization.
1539 Hernando de Soto Florida
1602day.year

An English naval force defeats a fleet of Spanish galleys, and captures a large Portuguese carrack at the Battle of Sesimbra Bay.

In 1602, an English fleet defeated Spanish galleys and captured a Portuguese carrack at the Battle of Sesimbra Bay.
On June 3, 1602, English privateers under Sir Richard Leveson encountered a Spanish squadron escorting a large Portuguese carrack. The skirmish took place near Sesimbra Bay on the coast of Portugal. Using superior maneuverability, the English ships overpowered the galleys in a swift naval engagement. They seized the heavily laden carrack, rich with spices and silk from the East Indies. The victory dealt a blow to Iberian maritime dominance and boosted English confidence at sea. This clash exemplified the growing naval rivalry that would shape 17th-century European power struggles.
1602 galleys carrack Battle of Sesimbra Bay
1608day.year

Samuel de Champlain lands at Tadoussac, Quebec, in the course of his third voyage to New France, and begins erecting fortifications.

In 1608, Samuel de Champlain reached Tadoussac in Quebec and began constructing fortifications for New France.
During his third voyage to North America, Champlain arrived at the mouth of the Saguenay River on June 3, 1608. Recognizing the strategic value of Tadoussac for trade and defense, he ordered the building of a wooden fort. This fort served as the first outpost of what would become New France. Champlain negotiated alliances with local Indigenous peoples, including the Montagnais and Algonquin. His efforts laid the groundwork for permanent French settlement and the fur trade in Canada. Tadoussac became a vital hub in the evolving colonial network of New France.
1608 Samuel de Champlain Tadoussac, Quebec New France
1621day.year

The Dutch West India Company receives a charter for New Netherland.

In 1621, the Dutch West India Company was granted a charter to establish and govern New Netherland.
On June 3, 1621, the Dutch Republic authorized the West India Company to colonize parts of North America. The charter gave the company monopoly rights over trade, colonization, and local government. Under this arrangement, settlements like New Amsterdam (modern-day New York City) were planned. The company aimed to profit from the fur trade and establish a buffer against Spanish and English colonies. Administrators organized patroonships, offering land incentives to attract settlers. New Netherland’s foundation marked a significant chapter in Dutch overseas expansion and Atlantic commerce.
1621 Dutch West India Company New Netherland
1658day.year

Pope Alexander VII appoints François de Laval vicar apostolic in New France.

In 1658, Pope Alexander VII appointed François de Laval as the first Vicar Apostolic of New France.
François de Laval, a French Sulpician priest, was chosen to oversee Catholic missions in North America. On June 3, 1658, the papal brief Romanus Pontifex elevated him to Vicar Apostolic of New France. His appointment marked the first time a papal representative held ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Canada. Laval established seminaries, schools, and forged alliances with colonial authorities. He championed the spiritual and moral welfare of settlers and Indigenous converts. Laval’s leadership shaped the religious landscape of New France for decades to come.
1658 Pope Alexander VII François de Laval vicar apostolic
1665day.year

James Stuart, Duke of York (later to become King James II of England), defeats the Dutch fleet off the coast of Lowestoft.

In 1665, James Stuart, Duke of York, leads the English fleet to victory over the Dutch off Lowestoft, marking a pivotal naval clash in the Second Anglo-Dutch War.
In 1665, during the Second Anglo-Dutch War, James Stuart, Duke of York, commanded the English fleet in a confrontation off the coast of Lowestoft. Under his leadership, the English ships outmaneuvered and outgunned their Dutch counterparts, securing a decisive victory. This engagement showcased emerging naval tactics and England’s growing maritime strength. The battle boosted English morale and disrupted Dutch trade routes in the North Sea. James Stuart’s success on the high seas contributed to his reputation and eventual succession to the throne as King James II. The clash at Lowestoft set the tone for subsequent naval encounters in the war.
1665 James Stuart, Duke of York defeats fleet Lowestoft
1781day.year

Jack Jouett begins his midnight ride to warn Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia legislature of an impending British raid.

In 1781, Jack Jouett embarked on a daring midnight ride to alert Governor Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia legislature of an imminent British raid, altering the course of local Revolutionary events.
In the pre-dawn hours of June 3, 1781, Jack Jouett spotted advancing British troops marching towards Charlottesville, Virginia. Risking capture and death, he rode over 40 miles through rugged terrain to warn Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia Assembly. His urgent message allowed the lawmakers to flee, preserving key leadership during the American Revolutionary War. Jouett’s ride, though overshadowed by Paul Revere’s, was instrumental in safeguarding Virginia’s government. This bold act of patriotism exemplified civilian courage and contributed to the burgeoning American independence movement.
1781 Jack Jouett Thomas Jefferson