4day.year
Augustus adopts Tiberius.
Emperor Augustus formally adopts Tiberius as his heir, ensuring a smooth succession of the Roman imperial line.
In AD 4, following the death of his adoptive son Lucius Caesar, Emperor Augustus officially adopts Tiberius, his stepson, as his heir.
This formal adoption solidified the process of imperial succession in ancient Rome and ensured political stability.
Tiberius, the son of Livia Drusilla, had gained Augustus’s trust through years of service.
The adoption marked a significant moment in the formation of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
It highlighted the strategic role of adoption in Roman political life.
Tiberius would later become the second emperor of Rome upon Augustus’s death.
This event illustrates the intertwining of family, law, and power in early imperial governance.
4
Augustus
Tiberius
221day.year
Roman emperor Elagabalus adopts his cousin Alexander Severus as his heir and grants him the title of Caesar.
Emperor Elagabalus adopts his cousin Alexander Severus as heir, granting him the prestigious title of Caesar.
In AD 221, Emperor Elagabalus adopts his cousin Alexander Severus, elevating him to heir and bestowing the title of Caesar.
This choice aimed to reinforce dynastic legitimacy within the Severan dynasty amid political tensions.
Alexander Severus, known for his youth and promise, was positioned to secure the imperial future.
The adoption reflected Elagabalus’s strategy to stabilize his reign through family ties.
Granting the title of Caesar conferred significant prestige and authority upon Severus.
Severus would eventually succeed Elagabalus after the latter’s assassination.
This event reveals the crucial role of adoption in Roman succession politics.
221
Roman emperor
Elagabalus
Alexander Severus
Caesar
684day.year
Pope Benedict II is the last pope to require confirmation by the Byzantine emperor before taking office.
Pope Benedict II becomes the last pontiff to need formal confirmation from the Byzantine emperor before his papal installation.
In 684, Pope Benedict II ascends as the final pope requiring imperial approval from Constantinople.
This tradition had underscored the Byzantine Empire’s influence over the western church.
Benedict II’s confirmation process highlights the deep political ties between Rome and Byzantium.
His papacy marks a shift toward greater independence for the Roman See.
This change reflects the diminishing reach of Byzantine authority in Italy.
During his tenure, Benedict II implements administrative reforms for the clergy.
His papacy lays the groundwork for the medieval church’s evolving autonomy.
684
Pope Benedict II
1295day.year
Przemysł II crowned king of Poland, following Ducal period. The white eagle is added to the Polish coat of arms.
Przemysł II is crowned King of Poland, reviving the monarchy and adopting the white eagle as the national emblem.
In 1295, Duke Przemysł II ascends the throne as King of Poland, restoring the monarchy after a prolonged feudal fragmentation.
His coronation symbolizes the re-unification of Piast duchies and a renewed sense of national identity.
He introduces the white eagle into the royal coat of arms, establishing a symbol that endures today.
Przemysł II’s reign focuses on strengthening central authority and forging foreign alliances.
The ceremony in Gniezno highlights the rebirth of Poland’s political stature.
Although his rule is short-lived, he lays the groundwork for future dynastic stability.
This crowning moment becomes a celebrated milestone in Polish history.
1295
Przemysł II
king of Poland
Polish coat of arms
1407day.year
Ulrich von Jungingen becomes Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights.
Ulrich von Jungingen is elected Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, steering the order at its zenith.
On June 26, 1407, Ulrich von Jungingen assumes leadership as Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights in the Baltic region.
His tenure ushers in a period of military expansion and heightened rivalry with Poland and Lithuania.
Known for his bold strategies, Ulrich fortifies key strongholds and organizes crusading campaigns.
Under his command, the order reaches its peak influence over trade and territory in Eastern Europe.
His policies and ambition set the stage for the major clash at the Battle of Grunwald in 1410.
Ulrich’s grand mastership embodies the militant and devout spirit of medieval military orders.
His leadership leaves a lasting imprint on the region’s geopolitical landscape.
1407
Ulrich von Jungingen
Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights
1409day.year
Western Schism: The Roman Catholic Church is led into a double schism as Petros Philargos is crowned Pope Alexander V after the Council of Pisa, joining Pope Gregory XII in Rome and Pope Benedict XIII in Avignon.
The Council of Pisa elects Pope Alexander V, creating a three-way papal dispute and deepening the Western Schism.
In 1409, the Council of Pisa convenes to resolve the ongoing Western Schism dividing the Catholic Church.
Council delegates declare Pope Gregory XII in Rome and Pope Benedict XIII in Avignon deposed and select Petros Philargos as Pope Alexander V.
Rather than ending the conflict, this action produces a third papal claimant, further confusing Christendom.
The schism highlights the political power struggles among European monarchs and ecclesiastical authorities.
Alexander V’s brief pontificate illustrates the challenges of imposing unity amid entrenched rivalries.
The impasse persists until the Council of Constance finally deposes all claimants in 1417.
This episode underscores the complex interplay of religion and politics in medieval Europe.
1409
Western Schism
Roman Catholic Church
schism
Pope Alexander V
Council of Pisa
Pope Gregory XII
Pope Benedict XIII
Avignon
1483day.year
Richard III becomes King of England.
Richard III ascended to the English throne, beginning a contested reign that would shape the end of the Wars of the Roses.
Richard III, the last Plantagenet king, ascended the throne after his brother's death, sparking controversy over the legitimacy of his rule. His reign began amid rumors surrounding the fate of his nephews, known as the Princes in the Tower. He enforced strict governance and sought to strengthen royal authority, but his grip on power was tenuous. The king's deposition at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 ended the Wars of the Roses and started the Tudor dynasty. Shakespeare's portrayal later cemented his reputation as one of English history's most enigmatic monarchs. Historians continue to debate his motives and legacy over five centuries later.
1483
Richard III
1541day.year
Francisco Pizarro is assassinated in Lima by the son of his former companion and later antagonist, Diego de Almagro the younger. Almagro is later caught and executed.
Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish conquistador of the Inca Empire, was assassinated in Lima by the son of his former partner, Diego de Almagro the Younger.
Francisco Pizarro rose to fame by conquering the Inca Empire and establishing Lima as the new colonial capital. His rivalry with Diego de Almagro over territorial claims in Peru escalated into violence after Almagro's recall and execution. On June 26, 1541, Almagro's son led a group of assassins into Pizarro's palace and murdered him. The young Almagro briefly seized control of Lima before royal forces intervened. He was captured, tried, and executed later that year, ending the blood feud. The assassination shocked the Spanish colonies and highlighted the brutal power struggles behind the conquest of the Americas. Pizarro's death left a leadership vacuum and intensified the crown's efforts to regulate colonial governance.
1541
Francisco Pizarro
Lima
Diego de Almagro
1718day.year
Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia, Peter the Great's son, mysteriously dies after being sentenced to death by his father for plotting against him.
Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, son of Peter the Great, died under mysterious circumstances after being accused of treason.
Alexei Petrovich was the eldest son of Peter the Great, born in 1690 and designated heir to the Russian throne. He opposed his father's sweeping Western reforms and feared for traditional Russian customs. Fleeing to Vienna in 1716, Alexei eventually returned to Russia under a promise of clemency. However, he was arrested, subjected to interrogation and torture at the Peter and Paul Fortress. On June 26, 1718, he died shortly after a secret trial that found him guilty of conspiring with foreign powers. Official accounts cited natural causes, but rumors of execution and foul play persisted. His death removed a major obstacle to Peter's reforms but cast a shadow over the Romanov dynasty.
1718
Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia
Peter the Great
1830day.year
William IV becomes king of Britain and Hanover following the death without surviving legitimate issue of his older brother George IV.
William IV ascended to the thrones of Britain and Hanover after his brother George IV died without surviving legitimate heirs.
Following the death of his brother George IV on June 26, 1830, William IV inherited the crowns of the United Kingdom and Hanover. Known as the 'Sailor King' for his naval career, he unexpectedly became monarch at the age of 64. His accession resolved the issue of Hanoverian succession, as the Salic law barred his niece Victoria from inheriting Hanover. William’s reign saw gradual political reforms, including the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire and the passage of the Reform Act of 1832. He also navigated tensions between the crown and Parliament during a period of social change. William IV’s relatively short seven-year reign paved the way for the Victorian era under his successor. His legacy is remembered for stability and moderate progress in a time of rapid transformation.
1830
William IV
George IV
1843day.year
Treaty of Nanking comes into effect, Hong Kong Island is ceded to the British "in perpetuity".
The Treaty of Nanking took effect, ceding Hong Kong Island to Britain and officially ending the First Opium War.
Signed on August 29, 1842, the Treaty of Nanking was ratified and enforced on June 26, 1843, concluding the First Opium War. Under its terms, China ceded Hong Kong Island to Britain in perpetuity and opened five treaty ports for foreign trade. The Qing government also agreed to pay a large indemnity and grant extraterritorial rights to British subjects. This unequal treaty marked the beginning of the so-called 'Century of Humiliation' for China and heralded a new era of Western influence in East Asia. For Britain, Hong Kong became a vital port and commercial hub. The treaty set a precedent for similar agreements with other Western powers. Its legacy continues to shape Hong Kong’s unique legal and political status today.
1843
Treaty of Nanking
Hong Kong Island
1889day.year
Bangui is founded by Albert Dolisie and Alfred Uzac in what was then the upper reaches of the French Congo.
French explorers Albert Dolisie and Alfred Uzac establish the settlement that would become the city of Bangui.
French colonial explorers Albert Dolisie and Alfred Uzac established a military post at the junction of the Ubangi and M'Poko rivers.
On June 26, 1889, this outpost was officially founded and later named Bangui, becoming the administrative center of French Congo.
Over time, Bangui grew from a small garrison town into the capital of the territory and, eventually, the Central African Republic.
Its strategic location on the river facilitated trade and colonial governance across equatorial Africa.
The founding of Bangui marked a key moment in the expansion of French imperial influence in Central Africa.
1889
Bangui
French Congo