747day.year
Carloman, mayor of the palace of Austrasia, renounces his position as majordomo and retires to a monastery near Rome. His brother, Pepin the Short, becomes the sole ruler (de facto) of the Frankish Kingdom.
Carloman abdicated his role as mayor of the palace and retired to a monastery in 747, leaving Pepin the Short as the Frankish realm’s sole ruler.
Carloman, frustrated by internal conflicts, stepped down from his role as mayor of the palace of Austrasia and entered a monastery near Rome in 747.
His withdrawal ended the dual rule alongside his brother, Pepin the Short.
Pepin assumed full control of the Frankish Kingdom, strengthening unity and central authority.
This transition marked a crucial step toward the eventual establishment of the Carolingian dynasty.
Carloman’s retirement influenced the political landscape of early medieval Europe.
Pepin’s sole leadership laid the groundwork for his own coronation as King of the Franks in 751.
747
Carloman
Austrasia
majordomo
monastery
Pepin the Short
de facto
Frankish Kingdom
805day.year
Noble Erchana of Dahauua grants the Bavarian town of Dachau to the Diocese of Freising
In 805, Duke Erchana of Bavaria granted the town of Dachau to the Diocese of Freising, expanding ecclesiastical lands and influence.
In 805, Erchana, a Bavarian noble, donated the town of Dachau to the Bishopric of Freising as part of a political alliance.
This grant transferred significant local lands and revenues to the Church, bolstering the diocese’s economic base.
The donation reflected the close ties between Bavarian rulers and ecclesiastical institutions.
It paved the way for Freising’s growing influence over regional administration and culture.
The town of Dachau later evolved around the ecclesiastical estates granted in this act.
Such grants were instrumental in shaping the territorial power of medieval Church entities.
805
Bavarian
Dachau
Diocese of Freising
1038day.year
King Stephen I, the first king of Hungary, dies; his nephew, Peter Orseolo, succeeds him.
King Stephen I of Hungary died in 1038, and his nephew Peter Orseolo ascended the throne amid challenges to his rule.
In 1038, Stephen I, the first Christian king of Hungary, passed away after consolidating his realm and church.
His efforts established a strong Christian monarchy and centralized administration in Hungary.
On his deathbed, Stephen designated his nephew Peter Orseolo as his successor.
Peter’s accession marked the continuation of dynastic rule but faced immediate internal challenges.
Stephen was later canonized as Saint Stephen for his role in Christianizing Hungary.
His legacy endured in Hungarian national identity and church traditions.
1038
Stephen I
Peter Orseolo
1070day.year
The Pavian-born Benedictine Lanfranc is appointed as the new Archbishop of Canterbury in England.
Lanfranc, a Benedictine scholar from Pavia, becomes Archbishop of Canterbury, initiating church reforms in England.
Lanfranc was born near Pavia and educated as a Benedictine monk.\nIn 1070, William the Conqueror appointed him Archbishop of Canterbury.\nHe reorganized the English Church’s administration and canon law.\nLanfranc secured papal support for church governance and monastic discipline.\nUnder his leadership, Christ Church Cathedral was rebuilt.\nHis reforms strengthened ties between the Norman state and the papacy.
1070
Pavian
Benedictine
Lanfranc
Archbishop of Canterbury
1261day.year
Michael VIII Palaiologos is crowned as the first Byzantine emperor in fifty-seven years.
Michael VIII Palaiologos is crowned Byzantine Emperor, restoring the empire in Constantinople.
After the Fourth Crusade’s 1204 conquest, the Latin Empire ruled Constantinople.\nMichael VIII recaptured the city from the Latins and took the throne on 15 August 1261.\nHis crowning ended a 57-year exile of Byzantine emperors in Nicaea.\nHe founded the Palaiologan dynasty, the last to rule Byzantium until 1453.\nMichael negotiated alliances in the West and revived Orthodox religious life.\nHis reign initiated a cultural revival even as external pressures mounted.
1261
Michael VIII Palaiologos
Byzantine emperor
1517day.year
Seven Portuguese armed vessels led by Fernão Pires de Andrade meet Chinese officials at the Pearl River estuary.
In 1517, seven Portuguese armed ships led by Fernão Pires de Andrade met Ming dynasty officials at the Pearl River estuary, marking early Sino-European diplomatic contact.
On August 15, 1517, Fernão Pires de Andrade commanded a Portuguese fleet of seven armed vessels to anchor at the Pearl River estuary and await diplomatic audiences with Ming dynasty officials in Guangzhou. This expedition represented one of the earliest formal contacts between European explorers and Chinese imperial authorities. Despite initial curiosity, cultural misunderstandings and court protocols hindered the mission's success. The meeting set the stage for future trade negotiations and eventually led to the establishment of Macau as a Portuguese settlement. This encounter illustrated the complexities of early Sino-European relations during the Age of Discovery.
1517
vessels
Fernão Pires de Andrade
Pearl River estuary
1824day.year
The Marquis de Lafayette, the last surviving French general of the American Revolutionary War, arrives in New York and begins a tour of 24 states.
On August 15, 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette returns to the United States and embarks on a celebrated tour of twenty-four states.
Nearly forty years after his service in the American Revolutionary War, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, arrived in New York to widespread acclaim. Invited by Congress at President Monroe's behest, Lafayette was honored with parades, banquets, and calls for him to address enthusiastic crowds. Over the next year, he visited 24 states, meeting founding fathers and ordinary citizens alike, reinforcing Franco-American friendship. His journey capped a life dedicated to liberty and became a unifying national event in the young republic. Lafayette's tour also inspired renewed patriotic fervor and led to lasting tributes in American cities.
1824
Marquis de Lafayette
American Revolutionary War
tour of 24 states
1893day.year
Ibadan area becomes a British Protectorate after a treaty signed by Fijabi, the Baale of Ibadan with the British acting Governor of Lagos, George C. Denton.
In 1893, the Ibadan region in present-day Nigeria becomes a British Protectorate following a treaty between local rulers and colonial authorities.
The treaty signed on August 15, 1893, formalized British influence over Ibadan, a key Yoruba city emerging from decades of regional warfare. Fijabi, the Baale of Ibadan, negotiated terms with George C. Denton, acting Governor of Lagos, to secure protection and trade advantages. The agreement marked the expansion of British colonial administration into the Nigerian interior and ushered in new legal and taxation systems. Traditional governance structures adapted under indirect rule, as local chiefs retained some authority under British oversight. This shift laid the groundwork for modern Nigeria's political landscape and economic integration into the British Empire.
1893
Ibadan
Protectorate
Baale of Ibadan
Lagos
1941day.year
Corporal Josef Jakobs is executed by firing squad at the Tower of London at 07:12, making him the last person to be executed at the Tower for espionage.
In 1941, Corporal Josef Jakobs became the last person executed at the Tower of London, shot for espionage just after dawn.
At precisely 07:12 on August 15, 1941, Corporal Josef Jakobs was executed by firing squad on the grounds of the Tower of London.
A German spy who parachuted into England earlier that year, Jakobs was convicted of espionage and sentenced to death.
His execution marked the final use of the Tower as a site for capital punishment.
The ceremony was carried out in secrecy with only a handful of officials present.
Jakobs's death underscored the grave consequences faced by spies during World War II.
His burial in Potters Bar Cemetery serves as a solitary reminder of wartime intrigue on British soil.
1941
Josef Jakobs
Tower of London
espionage
1945day.year
Emperor Hirohito broadcasts his declaration of surrender following the effective surrender of Japan in World War II; Korea gains independence from the Empire of Japan.
On August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's surrender, marking the end of World War II and paving the way for Korea’s independence.
At noon on August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito addressed the Japanese people in a landmark radio broadcast, announcing Japan's unconditional surrender.
The decision followed the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's entry into the war against Japan.
The announcement effectively ended six years of brutal conflict in the Asia-Pacific region.
In the aftermath, Japanese forces withdrew from occupied territories, allowing Korea to reclaim sovereignty after 35 years under Japanese rule.
August 15 is celebrated in Korea as Gwangbokjeol, the National Liberation Day commemorating the end of colonial occupation.
The surrender also marked the beginning of a complex Allied-led occupation and reconstruction across East Asia.
1945
Emperor Hirohito
broadcasts his declaration of surrender
surrender of Japan
World War II
Korea
independence
Empire of Japan
1947day.year
India gains independence from British rule after near 190 years of British company and crown rule and joins the Commonwealth of Nations.
India achieved independence from British rule on August 15, 1947, ending nearly two centuries of colonial governance.
On August 15, 1947, India formally gained its independence from British colonial rule, ending nearly 190 years of company and crown governance.
The transfer of power followed decades of political struggle led by figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.
Jawaharlal Nehru delivered his iconic 'Tryst with Destiny' speech to the Constituent Assembly in New Delhi at midnight.
India simultaneously joined the Commonwealth of Nations as a sovereign dominion.
The day also witnessed the traumatic partition creating Pakistan, triggering mass migrations and communal violence.
India's independence inaugurated a new era of democracy and set the foundation for its emergence on the world stage.
1947
India
independence
British rule
British company
crown rule
Commonwealth of Nations
1947day.year
Founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah is sworn in as first Governor-General of Pakistan in Karachi.
On August 15, 1947, Muhammad Ali Jinnah was sworn in as the first Governor-General of Pakistan in Karachi.
On the same day India gained independence, Muhammad Ali Jinnah took the oath as Pakistan's first Governor-General on August 15, 1947.
The ceremony, held at Karachi's Government House, marked the birth of the new dominion of Pakistan.
Revered as 'Quaid-e-Azam' (Great Leader), Jinnah faced the monumental task of nation-building amid the upheaval of partition.
His leadership established Pakistan's governmental framework and laid the groundwork for future constitutional development.
Despite widespread turmoil and refugee crises, Jinnah's vision guided the nascent country through its earliest challenges.
He remains a central figure in Pakistan's history and national identity.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Governor-General of Pakistan
Karachi