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
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
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
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
1916day.year
The National Defense Act is signed into law, increasing the size of the United States National Guard by 450,000 men.
In 1916, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Defense Act, expanding the National Guard by nearly half a million men.
In response to the looming crisis of World War I, President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Defense Act into law on June 3, 1916. The landmark legislation authorized federal funding for state militias, established the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, and created an Officers' Reserve Corps. By standardizing training and equipment, it fully integrated the National Guard with the regular Army. The act expanded the Guard's authorized strength by 450,000 men, significantly enhancing America's military readiness. It also reformed organizational structures and provided a blueprint for future U.S. defense policy.
1916
National Defense Act
United States National Guard
1940day.year
Franz Rademacher proposes plans to make Madagascar the "Jewish homeland", an idea that had first been considered by 19th century journalist Theodor Herzl.
In 1940, Franz Rademacher proposed relocating Europe's Jewish population to Madagascar, reviving an idea first considered by Theodor Herzl.
German diplomat Franz Rademacher presented the so-called Madagascar Plan on June 3, 1940, as a base for forcing the deportation of Jews from Europe. He resurrected a late-19th century proposal by Zionist journalist Theodor Herzl, suggesting Madagascar as a compulsory Jewish homeland. Although detailed logistics were outlined for transportation and administration, the plan was never implemented due to military and naval constraints. The proposal reflected the escalating radicalization of Nazi antisemitic policy prior to the Holocaust’s Final Solution. Its abandonment eventually led to even more sinister methods of persecution.
Franz Rademacher
plans
Madagascar
Theodor Herzl
1963day.year
Soldiers of the South Vietnamese Army attack protesting Buddhists in Huế with liquid chemicals from tear-gas grenades, causing 67 people to be hospitalized for blistering of the skin and respiratory ailments.
In 1963, South Vietnamese soldiers violently attacked Buddhist protesters in Huế using liquified tear gas, injuring dozens.
On June 3, 1963, South Vietnamese Army troops retaliated against Buddhist demonstrators in the ancient city of Huế. They deployed modified tear-gas grenades that released a harmful liquid chemical onto protesters. The assault resulted in 67 people hospitalized with severe skin blisters and respiratory difficulties. This harsh response intensified public outrage against President Ngô Đình Diệm's regime. International media coverage condemned the violence and eroded the government's credibility. The event is considered a pivotal moment that contributed to the fall of Diệm's leadership.
1963
attack
1982day.year
The Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom, Shlomo Argov, is shot on a London street; he survives but is left paralysed.
In 1982, Israeli Ambassador Shlomo Argov was shot and critically wounded in London, later left paralyzed.
On June 3, 1982, Shlomo Argov, Israel's ambassador to the United Kingdom, was shot by armed assailants on a London street. He survived the attack but suffered a spinal injury that left him paralysed. The assassination attempt was orchestrated by extremist elements opposed to Israel's diplomacy efforts. Argov endured multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation over several years. The incident heightened security measures for diplomats worldwide and intensified tensions in the Middle East. Argov's perseverance became a symbol of resilience in the face of political violence.
1982
Shlomo Argov
1989day.year
The government of China sends troops to force protesters out of Tiananmen Square after seven weeks of occupation.
Chinese troops cleared Tiananmen Square on June 3, 1989, ending a seven-week student-led protest with force.
After seven weeks of continuous occupation by student-led demonstrators, the Chinese government ordered a military crackdown on June 3, 1989. Armored vehicles and infantry units advanced into Tiananmen Square in Beijing under orders to restore order. Thousands of unarmed civilians, journalists, and students were dispersed, with estimates of fatalities varying from hundreds to thousands. The violent suppression shocked the world and drew widespread international condemnation. Authorities imposed strict media censorship and arrested participants in the movement. The crackdown had enduring effects on China's political discourse and human rights policies.
1989
Tiananmen Square
1992day.year
Australian Aboriginal land rights are recognised in Mabo v Queensland (No 2), a case brought by Torres Strait Islander Eddie Mabo which led to the Native Title Act 1993 overturning the long-held colonial assumption of terra nullius.
The Australian High Court rules in Mabo v Queensland (No 2), recognizing Aboriginal land rights and overturning terra nullius, paving the way for the Native Title Act 1993.
In Mabo v Queensland (No 2), the High Court of Australia delivered a landmark ruling recognizing that Indigenous Australians hold native land rights inherited from traditional laws and customs.
The case was initiated by Torres Strait Islander activist Eddie Mabo and challenged the colonial doctrine of terra nullius.
The Court’s decision dismantled the long-standing legal fiction that Australia belonged to no one at the time of British settlement.
It affirmed that Indigenous people could claim land title under Australian law for the first time.
The judgment prompted the Australian Parliament to pass the Native Title Act 1993, creating a legal framework for native title claims.
This landmark ruling remains a cornerstone of Australia’s recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights.
1992
Mabo v Queensland (No 2)
Eddie Mabo
Native Title Act 1993
terra nullius