74 BC
A group of officials, led by the Western Han minister Huo Guang, present articles of impeachment against the new emperor, Liu He, to the imperial regent, Empress Dowager Shangguan.
In 74 BC, powerful court minister Huo Guang led an impeachment against the young Emperor Liu He before Empress Dowager Shangguan, marking a dramatic power struggle in the Western Han dynasty.
In 74 BC, during the Western Han dynasty, minister Huo Guang spearheaded a dramatic impeachment move against the newly enthroned Emperor Liu He. He charged the young ruler with misconduct and misgovernance, undermining imperial authority. The articles of impeachment were presented to Empress Dowager Shangguan, the acting regent wielding supreme power. This confrontation revealed deep tensions within the Han court's ruling elite. The outcome of this bold accusation would shape the dynasty's succession crisis and illustrate the precarious balance between the throne and powerful ministers. Huo Guang's actions cemented his reputation as one of the most influential statesmen of his era.
74 BC
Western Han
Huo Guang
Liu He
Empress Dowager Shangguan
29 BC
Octavian holds the second of three consecutive triumphs in Rome to celebrate the victory over the Dalmatian tribes.
On 29 BC, Octavian celebrated his second consecutive triumph in Rome, honoring his victory over the Dalmatian tribes and solidifying his rising power.
In 29 BC, Octavian was honored with his second of three back-to-back triumphal processions through Rome's sacred streets. The grand parade commemorated his successful campaign against the Dalmatian tribes in the eastern Adriatic. Armies marched with spoils of war, exotic prisoners of war, and ornate war trophies displayed before cheering crowds. This public spectacle reinforced Octavian's image as Rome's preeminent military commander following the chaos of the civil wars. The triumphs also served a political purpose, bolstering his standing ahead of his eventual transition to Augustus. Citizens witnessed grand floats, sacrificial ceremonies, and theatrical reenactments of battles. Ultimately, these celebrations helped pave the way for the Roman Republic's transformation into the Principate under his rule.
29 BC
Octavian
triumphs
Rome
Dalmatian tribes
1370day.year
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor, grants city privileges to Karlovy Vary.
In 1370, Emperor Charles IV granted city privileges to Karlovy Vary, elevating the Bohemian spa settlement's legal and economic status.
In 1370, Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV issued a charter granting town rights to the settlement at Karlovy Vary in western Bohemia. The privileges included self-governance, market rights, and freedom from certain feudal obligations. These new liberties attracted merchants, craftsmen, and settlers, fostering the town's rapid growth. Named Karlsbad in German, the city became renowned for its hot springs and therapeutic baths. Charles IV's patronage transformed Karlovy Vary into a prominent economic and cultural center. The charter laid the foundation for the town's later fame as a leading spa destination in Central Europe. These developments exemplify medieval urbanization under imperial authority.
1370
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
city privileges
Karlovy Vary
1790day.year
The Treaty of Wereloe ended the 1788–1790 Russo-Swedish War.
The Treaty of Wereloe is signed, ending the Russo-Swedish War of 1788–1790.
Signed on August 14, 1790, the Treaty of Wereloe brought formal peace between Sweden and Russia after two years of conflict. Negotiated in the town of Wereloe, the agreement restored borders to the status quo ante bellum without major territorial changes. Both nations agreed to cease hostilities following inconclusive battles across the Baltic region. The treaty preserved Sweden's sovereignty but marked the decline of Swedish influence in Northern Europe. Empress Catherine the Great returned focus to domestic reforms, while King Gustav III faced criticism for the costly war. The Treaty of Wereloe remains a milestone in 18th-century European diplomacy and reflects the era's balance-of-power politics.
1790
Treaty of Wereloe
1788–1790 Russo-Swedish War
1814day.year
A cease fire agreement, called the Convention of Moss, ended the Swedish–Norwegian War.
The Convention of Moss ends the brief Swedish–Norwegian War with a ceasefire agreement in 1814.
Signed on August 14, 1814, the Convention of Moss halted hostilities between Sweden and Norway following a short but intense conflict. King Christian Frederik of Norway agreed to abdicate, paving the way for Norway's union with Sweden under Charles XIII. The agreement preserved Norway's constitution and significant autonomy while acknowledging Swedish sovereignty. This diplomatic compromise avoided further bloodshed and established a framework for Scandinavian cooperation. The union lasted until 1905, shaping the region's political landscape. The Convention of Moss is celebrated as a successful example of negotiated peace in early 19th-century Europe.
1814
Convention of Moss
Swedish–Norwegian War
1816day.year
The United Kingdom formally annexes the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, administering the islands from the Cape Colony in South Africa.
Britain formally annexes the remote Tristan da Cunha archipelago, administering it from the Cape Colony in 1816.
On August 14, 1816, the United Kingdom declared the annexation of the Tristan da Cunha islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. To prevent French or American claims to the strategic mid-Atlantic location, Governor Lord Charles Somerset of the Cape Colony issued the order. The barren islands, home to only a handful of sealers and bird hunters, became a British possession. Administered from South Africa, Tristan da Cunha served as a stopover for ships navigating midway between Europe and the Far East. The move underscored Britain's global naval reach during the age of sail. Today, the archipelago remains one of the most isolated inhabited places on earth and a British Overseas Territory.
1816
Tristan da Cunha
Cape Colony
1848day.year
Oregon Territory is organized by act of Congress.
Congress organizes the Oregon Territory, establishing formal U.S. governance in the Pacific Northwest in 1848.
On August 14, 1848, the U.S. Congress passed an act organizing the Oregon Territory, which encompassed present-day Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Montana and Wyoming. This legislation provided a civil government and defined territorial boundaries following the Oregon Treaty with Britain in 1846. The new territorial government included a governor, a secretary, and a three-member legislative council. Establishing courts and land-claim laws encouraged settlement along the Oregon Trail. The organization of the territory marked a significant step in American westward expansion and manifest destiny. It laid the groundwork for future statehood and the transformation of the Pacific Northwest.
1848
Oregon Territory
act of Congress
1893day.year
France becomes the first country to introduce motor vehicle registration.
France becomes the first country to require registration for motor vehicles, laying the groundwork for vehicle identification and road safety.
With the rise of automobiles in the late 19th century, France introduced the first government-mandated motor vehicle registration system in 1893.
Owners were required to register their vehicles with unique identification numbers, enabling better regulation of road use.
This pioneering move aimed to improve accountability, reduce accidents, and manage traffic as cars became more common.
The system set a global precedent, influencing other nations to adopt similar registration schemes.
Today’s vehicle licensing and registration practices trace their origins back to this landmark decision.
1893
motor vehicle registration
1921day.year
Tannu Uriankhai, later Tuvan People's Republic is established as a completely independent country (which is supported by Soviet Russia).
The Tannu Uriankhai region proclaims itself as the independent Tuvan People’s Republic under Soviet support.
On August 14, 1921, the Tannu Uriankhai area in Central Asia declared its independence, forming the Tuvan People’s Republic.
Supported and recognized by Soviet Russia, the new state aimed to protect local interests amid regional upheaval.
Tuvan leaders navigated between Mongolian, Chinese, and Soviet influences to maintain autonomy.
The republic operated as a Soviet satellite until its voluntary annexation by the USSR in 1944.
Tannu Uriankhai’s brief existence reflects shifting borders and emerging nation-states after the Russian Empire’s collapse.
1921
Tannu Uriankhai
Tuvan People's Republic
Soviet Russia
1935day.year
Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act, creating a government pension system for the retired.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act, establishing a federal pension and welfare system.
As part of his New Deal reforms, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law on August 14, 1935.
The Act introduced a national pension system funded by payroll taxes, providing income for retirees.
It also created benefits for the unemployed, disabled, and dependent survivors.
Social Security represented a landmark shift in the federal government’s role in social welfare.
The program laid the foundation for modern safety nets and remains a cornerstone of U.S. social policy.
1935
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Social Security Act
1936day.year
Rainey Bethea is hanged in Owensboro, Kentucky in the last known public execution in the United States.
Rainey Bethea is publicly hanged in Owensboro, Kentucky, marking the last known public execution in the United States.
In 1936, Rainey Bethea was convicted of rape and sentenced to death in Kentucky’s last public hanging.
On August 14, a large crowd gathered in Owensboro to witness the execution, turning it into a controversial spectacle.
Defying expectations, the official executioner was a local woman, drawing national media attention.
Outrage over the event’s carnival-like atmosphere spurred legal reforms to ban public executions.
Kentucky subsequently moved all executions behind prison walls, ending the era of public capital punishment in the U.S.
1936
Rainey Bethea
Owensboro, Kentucky
execution in the United States
1941day.year
World War II: Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt sign the Atlantic Charter of war stating postwar aims.
Churchill and Roosevelt sign the Atlantic Charter, setting out Allied goals and principles for the postwar world during WWII.
On August 14, 1941, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt met aboard HMS Prince of Wales and USS Augusta off Newfoundland.
They signed the Atlantic Charter, a pivotal declaration that outlined the Allies' vision for a postwar world at the height of World War II.
The Charter contained eight principles, including self-determination, free trade, disarmament, and no territorial expansion.
It served as a blueprint for the establishment of the United Nations and influenced later peace treaties.
The document strengthened the Anglo-American alliance and rallied support among occupied nations.
Though non-binding, its ideals became a moral standard for global cooperation and human rights.
The Charter's call for self-determination inspired independence movements across Europe and beyond.
Today, it is remembered as a foundational statement of the liberal international order.
1941
World War II
Winston Churchill
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Atlantic Charter