523day.year
John I becomes the new Pope after the death of Pope Hormisdas.
John I is elected Pope following the death of Pope Hormisdas in 523.
In 523, upon the passing of Pope Hormisdas, John I ascended to the papal throne amidst political tensions. His election came at a time when the relationship between the Church and the Byzantine Empire was delicate. Emperor Justinian I had recently enacted the Henotikon in an attempt to reconcile Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian Christians. John I undertook a diplomatic mission to Constantinople to negotiate religious unity and seek relief from Arian pressures. During his brief pontificate, he faced opposition from Gothic King Theodoric and internal church factions. His efforts highlighted the growing role of the papacy in international politics. Though his reign lasted less than two years, John I’s activities laid groundwork for future papal involvement in ecclesiastical and imperial affairs.
523
John I
Pope
Pope Hormisdas
554day.year
Emperor Justinian I rewards Liberius for his service in the Pragmatic Sanction, granting him extensive estates in Italy.
Emperor Justinian I grants Liberius extensive estates in Italy for his service in the Pragmatic Sanction in 554.
In 554, Emperor Justinian I rewarded his loyal official Liberius for his crucial role in securing the Pragmatic Sanction of 554. This edict reorganized the administrative and legal framework of the Italian territories reclaimed from the Ostrogoths. Liberius oversaw the compilation of imperial laws and facilitated the efficient governance of the peninsula. As a token of gratitude, Justinian granted him vast estates across Italy, enhancing his wealth and influence. The land grants not only recognized Liberius’s achievements but also served as a political strategy to stabilize the region. These rewards underscored the emperor’s reliance on capable administrators to implement his ambitious reconquest plans. Liberius’s elevated status exemplified the close ties between military success, legal reform, and personal patronage within the Byzantine court.
554
Justinian I
Liberius
Pragmatic Sanction
estates
582day.year
Maurice becomes Emperor of the Byzantine Empire.
Maurice is proclaimed Emperor of the Byzantine Empire in 582.
On August 13, 582, Maurice, a seasoned commander, was declared Emperor of the Byzantine Empire following the death of Tiberius II Constantine. Known for his strategic vision, Maurice had served as magister militum in key campaigns against Persians and Slavs. His accession marked the beginning of a reign focused on military efficiency and fiscal reform. He reorganized the Byzantine army into regional units and attempted to stabilize the empire’s finances through austere policies. Maurice also fostered alliances with various barbarian groups to secure the empire’s borders. Despite his administrative talents, his strict economic measures sparked unrest among troops and civilians alike. The emperor’s policies would later influence both the Eastern Roman state and neighboring kingdoms long after his death.
582
Maurice
Emperor
Byzantine Empire
1099day.year
Raniero is elected as Pope Paschal II, who would become deeply entangled in the Investiture Controversy.
Raniero is elected Pope Paschal II in 1099, soon embroiling himself in the Investiture Controversy.
In 1099, the College of Cardinals elected the monk Raniero as Pope Paschal II, facing the ongoing clash between papal and imperial authority. His ascension came amid the Investiture Controversy, a struggle over the right to appoint bishops and abbots. Paschal II initially sought compromise with Emperor Henry V to secure peace within Christendom. However, negotiations faltered, leading to renewed disputes and papal bannings of lay investiture. During his pontificate, Paschal championed church reform and reinforced the spiritual independence of the clergy. His stand against secular interference reshaped the balance of power in medieval Europe. Though his reign witnessed both triumphs and setbacks, Paschal II left a lasting legacy in defining the contours of church-state relations.
1099
Pope Paschal II
Investiture Controversy
1516day.year
The Treaty of Noyon between France and Spain is signed. Francis I of France recognizes Charles's claim to Naples, and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, recognizes Francis's claim to Milan.
The Treaty of Noyon is signed between France and Spain, defining their claims to Italy in 1516.
On August 13, 1516, the Treaty of Noyon formalized peace between King Francis I of France and King Charles I of Spain (later Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor). France recognized Charles’s claim to the Kingdom of Naples, while Spain acknowledged Francis’s rights to the Duchy of Milan. The agreement temporarily stabilized Italian politics after decades of conflict in the region. It also marked a diplomatic success for both monarchs, allowing them to refocus on domestic matters and other European ambitions. The treaty reflected shifting alliances in Renaissance Europe and foreshadowed the complex balance of power that defined the era. Though the peace was short-lived, Noyon set a precedent for future treaties and negotiations between European powers.
1516
Treaty of Noyon
Francis I of France
Naples
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Milan
1532day.year
Union of Brittany and France: The Duchy of Brittany is absorbed into the Kingdom of France.
The Duchy of Brittany is formally united with the Kingdom of France in 1532.
On August 13, 1532, the Parlement of Brittany approved the Edict of Union, officially integrating the independent Duchy of Brittany into the Kingdom of France. The move fulfilled long-standing French ambitions to consolidate power and bring semi-autonomous regions under royal control. Brittany retained certain privileges, such as exemption from some taxes and the right to maintain its local institutions. However, the union marked the end of Brittany’s political autonomy and its centuries-old ducal lineage. King Francis I of France secured a valuable coastline and strategic port, enhancing royal authority. The integration also facilitated cultural and administrative standardization across the realm. Brittany’s unique legal traditions would endure for centuries, even as it became fully enmeshed in the French state.
1532
Union of Brittany and France
Duchy of Brittany
Kingdom of France
1553day.year
Michael Servetus is arrested by John Calvin in Geneva, Switzerland as a heretic.
On August 13, 1553, Protestant reformer John Calvin had Michael Servetus arrested in Geneva on charges of heresy.
Spanish physician and theologian Michael Servetus traveled to Geneva under a false identity to escape condemnation for his unorthodox views on the Trinity. He was recognized and promptly detained by the city’s religious authorities at John Calvin’s urging. Charged with denying core Protestant doctrines, Servetus faced the Consistory of Geneva in a trial that highlighted the tension between Reformation leaders and emerging humanist critiques. Despite appeals from sympathizers across Europe, he was convicted of heresy and later executed by burning, marking a turning point in the enforcement of doctrinal uniformity within the Reformed church. The case of Servetus galvanized debate over religious freedom and the limits of ecclesiastical authority during the tumultuous era of the Protestant Reformation.
1553
Michael Servetus
John Calvin
Geneva
heretic
1624day.year
The French king Louis XIII appoints Cardinal Richelieu as prime minister.
In 1624, King Louis XIII of France appointed Cardinal Richelieu as his chief minister, beginning a new era of centralized royal power.
On August 13, 1624, King Louis XIII elevated Armand Jean du Plessis, better known as Cardinal Richelieu, to the position of principal minister at the royal court. Richelieu embarked on an ambitious program to strengthen the French monarchy by curbing the power of the nobility and subduing Huguenot strongholds. He reformed the state administration, built a network of royal officials, and pursued diplomatic alliances to counter Habsburg dominance in Europe. Under his leadership, France emerged as a leading continental power, setting the stage for the reign of Louis XIV. Richelieu’s tenure transformed the French government into a centralized absolutist state and left a lasting legacy on European politics.
1624
Louis XIII
Cardinal Richelieu
1645day.year
Sweden and Denmark sign Peace of Brömsebro.
On August 13, 1645, Sweden and Denmark-Norway signed the Peace of Brömsebro, ending the Torstenson War.
The Peace of Brömsebro was concluded on August 13, 1645, bringing an end to the Torstenson War between Sweden and Denmark-Norway. Negotiated on the islet of Brömsebro, the treaty awarded Sweden pivotal territories including Jämtland and Härjedalen while restraining Danish influence in the Baltic. This diplomatic settlement marked a shift in the balance of power in Northern Europe, establishing Sweden as a preeminent regional actor. The terms also granted Sweden commercial privileges that bolstered its economy and naval strength. The treaty’s legacy endured throughout the 17th century, shaping the geopolitics of the Scandinavian kingdoms and laying the groundwork for Sweden’s Age of Greatness.
1645
Peace of Brömsebro
1792day.year
King Louis XVI of France is formally arrested by the National Tribunal, and declared an enemy of the people.
On August 13, 1792, King Louis XVI was formally arrested by the French revolutionaries and declared an enemy of the people.
Amid the Paris insurrection of August 1792, revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace and deposed King Louis XVI. The National Convention’s Legislative Assembly arrested the monarch and convened the National Tribunal to try him for treason. He was officially declared an 'enemy of the people,' stripping the king of his authority and privileges. This decisive act accelerated the abolition of the French monarchy and paved the way for the First French Republic. Louis XVI’s subsequent trial and execution in January 1793 sent shockwaves across Europe and symbolized the radical phase of the French Revolution.
1792
Louis XVI
enemy of the people
1814day.year
The Convention of London, a treaty between the United Kingdom and the United Netherlands, is signed in London, England.
The Convention of London was an 1814 treaty restoring Dutch sovereignty and colonial possessions after Napoleonic rule.
In the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, the United Kingdom and the newly reestablished United Netherlands signed the Anglo–Dutch Convention of London on August 13, 1814.
The treaty restored Dutch control over its overseas colonies that had been occupied or annexed by France.
It stipulated the return of key trading posts and colonial territories to the House of Orange.
The Netherlands ceded claims to the British-held Cape Colony and certain forts in India.
It also addressed trade rights and compensation for losses incurred during French rule.
By formalizing colonial boundaries and revising commercial agreements, the treaty laid the groundwork for the Netherlands’ modern imperial presence.
The Convention marked a major step in post–Napoleonic European diplomacy and colonial realignment.
1814
Convention of London
United Netherlands
1905day.year
Norwegians vote to end the union with Sweden.
In 1905, Norwegians voted overwhelmingly to dissolve their union with Sweden, leading to Norway’s peaceful independence.
On August 13, 1905, Norwegians cast ballots to end the 91-year-old union with Sweden.
A referendum showed near-unanimous support for dissolution, reflecting growing national identity.
King Oscar II of Sweden formally renounced his claim to the Norwegian throne days later.
The Norwegian Storting then offered the crown to Prince Carl of Denmark, who became King Haakon VII.
The process unfolded peacefully, avoiding the violent conflicts seen in other independence movements.
Norway’s transition to full sovereignty marked the emergence of a modern constitutional monarchy.
1905
vote