313day.year
The decisions of the Edict of Milan, signed by Constantine the Great and co-emperor Valerius Licinius, granting religious freedom throughout the Roman Empire, are published in Nicomedia.
The Edict of Milan was published in Nicomedia, granting religious freedom throughout the Roman Empire.
In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine the Great and co-emperor Licinius issued the Edict of Milan, ending persecution of Christians and guaranteeing religious tolerance. The proclamation was formally recorded at the eastern city of Nicomedia, marking a pivotal shift in Roman policy. This decree allowed followers of Christianity and other faiths to worship openly without fear of state reprisals. It represented one of the first legal recognitions of religious liberty in ancient history. The Edict paved the way for Christianity to flourish and shaped the religious landscape of Europe for centuries to come.
313
Edict of Milan
Constantine the Great
Valerius Licinius
religious freedom
Roman Empire
Nicomedia
1325day.year
Ibn Battuta begins his travels, leaving his home in Tangiers to travel to Mecca (gone 24 years).
Ibn Battuta set out from Tangiers in 1325 on a journey to Mecca that would last 24 years.
In June 1325, at the age of 21, Moroccan scholar Ibn Battuta embarked on an epic pilgrimage to Mecca that would expand into a 24-year odyssey. His travels carried him across North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and as far as India and China. Along the way he documented cultures, customs, and landscapes in meticulous detail. His later work, the Rihla, stands as one of the most celebrated travel narratives of the medieval world. Ibn Battuta’s journeys provided Europe and the Islamic world with valuable insights into far-flung societies and trade networks of the 14th century.
1325
Ibn Battuta
Tangiers
Mecca
1381day.year
In England, the Peasants' Revolt, led by Wat Tyler, comes to a head, as rebels set fire to the Savoy Palace.
Peasants' Revolt peaks as rebels led by Wat Tyler burn the Savoy Palace.
On June 13, 1381, English peasants frustrated by heavy taxation and serfdom converged on London, led by Wat Tyler. The movement culminated in the burning of the Savoy Palace, a symbol of aristocratic power. The rebels presented their demands directly to King Richard II, challenging the feudal order. Although the uprising was ultimately suppressed, it forced concessions and sparked debates on social justice. The revolt remains a landmark event in medieval English history, illustrating the tensions between the ruling classes and the peasantry.
1381
Peasants' Revolt
Wat Tyler
Savoy Palace
1514day.year
Henry Grace à Dieu, at over 1,000 tons the largest warship in the world at this time, built at the new Woolwich Dockyard in England, is dedicated.
The Henry Grace à Dieu, the largest warship of its time, was dedicated at Woolwich Dockyard in 1514.
In 1514, the Tudor navy unveiled the Henry Grace à Dieu at Woolwich Dockyard, marking it as the world’s largest warship at over 1,000 tons. Commissioned by King Henry VIII, the ship featured ornate carvings and powerful broadside guns. It symbolized England’s growing ambition on the seas and strengthened naval defenses. The dedication ceremony celebrated a new era of maritime technology and national pride. Henry Grace à Dieu served as a flagship for decades, reflecting the evolution of naval warfare in the early 16th century.
1514
Henry Grace à Dieu
warship
Woolwich Dockyard
1525day.year
Martin Luther marries Katharina von Bora, against the celibacy rule decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for priests and nuns.
Martin Luther married Katharina von Bora in 1525, defying church celibacy rules.
On June 13, 1525, Protestant reformer Martin Luther wed former nun Katharina von Bora, challenging the Catholic Church’s strict celibacy mandates. Their union symbolized the practical application of Reformation ideas regarding clergy marriage. Katharina managed the couple’s household and finances, becoming a model pastoral wife. The marriage offered a new vision of family life within Protestant communities. Their partnership endured for more than two decades and influenced attitudes toward marriage and gender roles in 16th-century Europe.
1525
Martin Luther
Katharina von Bora
celibacy
1625day.year
King Charles I of England marries Catholic princess Henrietta Maria of France and Navarre, at Canterbury.
King Charles I married Catholic princess Henrietta Maria of France in 1625 at Canterbury.
In a politically charged ceremony on June 13, 1625, King Charles I of England wed Henrietta Maria of France at Canterbury Cathedral. The marriage forged an alliance between Protestant England and Catholic France, stirring controversy at home. Henrietta Maria’s Catholic faith heightened religious tensions in Charles’s kingdom. She brought a French entourage and patronized the arts, influencing English court culture. Their union played a significant role in the complex political and religious landscape leading up to the English Civil War.
1625
Charles I of England
Henrietta Maria of France
Navarre
1740day.year
Georgia provincial governor James Oglethorpe begins an unsuccessful attempt to take Spanish Florida during the Siege of St. Augustine.
James Oglethorpe launched an unsuccessful siege of St. Augustine in Spanish Florida in 1740.
On June 13, 1740, Georgian governor James Oglethorpe led colonial troops in an attempt to capture St. Augustine, the strategic Spanish stronghold in East Florida. The Siege of St. Augustine tested British colonial ambitions in North America. Despite assembling militia and Native American allies, Oglethorpe’s forces were repelled by well-fortified Spanish defenses. The failed siege underscored the challenges of military expeditions in unfamiliar terrain and climate. It also entrenched the Anglo-Spanish rivalry that shaped colonial geopolitics in the southeastern United States.
1740
Georgia
James Oglethorpe
Spanish Florida
Siege of St. Augustine
1774day.year
Rhode Island becomes the first of Britain's North American colonies to ban the importation of slaves.
Rhode Island became the first North American colony to ban the importation of slaves in 1774.
In 1774, Rhode Island passed legislation prohibiting the importation of enslaved Africans, becoming the first British American colony to do so. The law reflected growing moral opposition to the slave trade among some colonial leaders. While existing slaveholders maintained their labor force, the ban cut off new human cargo from Africa. This move foreshadowed broader abolitionist sentiments that would grow in the northern states. Rhode Island’s decision marked a significant early step toward the eventual end of the transatlantic slave trade.
1774
Rhode Island
1777day.year
American Revolutionary War: Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette lands near Charleston, South Carolina, in order to help the Continental Congress to train its army.
Marquis de Lafayette landed near Charleston in 1777 to support the Continental Congress.
On June 13, 1777, a young Marquis de Lafayette arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, offering his services to the Continental Army. Inspired by the American cause, he volunteered his wealth and military expertise. Lafayette quickly earned the trust of General George Washington and demonstrated leadership in key engagements. His involvement boosted French-American cooperation and morale. Lafayette’s arrival signaled the beginning of a lifelong commitment to American independence and transatlantic alliance.
1777
American Revolutionary War
Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
Charleston, South Carolina
Continental Congress
1805day.year
Lewis and Clark Expedition: Scouting ahead of the expedition, Meriwether Lewis and four companions sight the Great Falls of the Missouri River.
Meriwether Lewis and companions sighted the Great Falls of the Missouri River while scouting in 1805.
As part of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Meriwether Lewis and four members of the Corps of Discovery reached the Great Falls of the Missouri River on June 13, 1805. The impressive cascade spanned nearly a mile and posed a formidable obstacle to the expedition. Lewis’s observations documented the falls’ height, geology, and surrounding flora and fauna. The team’s portage around the rapids delayed their westward journey but showcased their perseverance. This landmark moment provided invaluable scientific and geographic knowledge of the American interior.
1805
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Meriwether Lewis
Great Falls of the Missouri River
1850day.year
The American League of Colored Laborers, the first African American labor union in the United States, is established in New York City.
The first African American labor union in the United States is established in New York City.
Founded on June 13, 1850, the American League of Colored Laborers marked a historic step in African American activism. Organized by workers seeking fair wages and better conditions, it aimed to address racial discrimination in the labor market. Members advocated for collective bargaining rights and mutual support against prejudice. Although limited by social and legal barriers, it inspired future black labor movements. The union’s establishment reflected the growing demand for civil rights in the antebellum North.
1850
American League of Colored Laborers
labor union
1855day.year
Twentieth opera of Giuseppe Verdi, Les vêpres siciliennes ("The Sicilian Vespers"), is premiered in Paris.
Giuseppe Verdi's grand opera Les vêpres siciliennes premieres in Paris, blending thrilling drama and sweeping melodies.
Premiered on June 13, 1855, at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris, Les vêpres siciliennes marked Verdi's first major work for the French stage. Based on the 1282 Sicilian uprising against Angevin rule, the opera features a libretto by Eugène Scribe and Charles Duveyrier. Audiences were captivated by its elaborate choral scenes, ballet sequences, and the emotional intensity of its arias. Although initial reviews were mixed, the work demonstrated Verdi's mastery of grand opera conventions. Les vêpres siciliennes later gained recognition as a pivotal milestone in the composer's evolving style.
1855
Giuseppe Verdi
Les vêpres siciliennes