44 BC
Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion.
Cleopatra VII declares her son Ptolemy XV Caesarion as co-ruler, reinforcing her dynastic legitimacy in ancient Egypt.
In 44 BC, after the death of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra VII elevated her young son Caesarion to the status of co-ruler to secure her line's claim to the throne. The move was both a political statement and a bid to strengthen ties with Rome through her son's paternity. Cleopatra aimed to stabilize Egypt amid the power struggles of the late Republic, leveraging her influence and Caesarion’s heritage. Their shared rule was one of the few examples of a female monarch endorsing a child as joint sovereign. This co-regency deepened Cleopatra’s authority but also intensified Roman rivalries. Ultimately, Caesarion’s fate became intertwined with the fall of his parents during Octavian’s rise to power.
44 BC
Pharaoh
Cleopatra VII
Egypt
Caesarion
44 BC
Cicero launches the first of his Philippicae (oratorical attacks) on Mark Antony. He will make 14 of them over the following months.
Cicero delivers the first of his fierce Philippicae orations, targeting Mark Antony as a threat to the Republic.
Inspired by the Greek orator Demosthenes, Cicero began his Philippicae in a bid to rally the Senate against Mark Antony’s growing power. The inaugural speech, delivered in the summer of 44 BC, painted Antony as a danger to Roman liberty after Julius Caesar’s assassination. Over the next months, Cicero would deliver fourteen such speeches, each combining sharp rhetoric with political maneuvering. His orations mixed praise for republican virtues with scathing invective, aiming to isolate Antony and defend the Senate’s authority. Though admired for their eloquence, the Philippicae ultimately failed to curb Antony’s influence. Instead, they set the stage for Cicero’s downfall when Antony later seized control of Rome.
Cicero
Philippicae
Mark Antony
1192day.year
The Treaty of Jaffa is signed between Richard I of England and Saladin, leading to the end of the Third Crusade.
Richard I and Saladin agree to the Treaty of Jaffa, concluding the Third Crusade with a lasting truce.
After months of warfare and siege, King Richard I of England and Sultan Saladin brokered the Treaty of Jaffa on September 2, 1192. The accord granted Christian pilgrims safe passage to holy sites in Jerusalem, while the city itself remained under Muslim control. Both leaders displayed mutual respect and chivalry, reflecting the complex relations between Crusaders and Muslim forces. The treaty brought an uneasy peace to the Levant, effectively ending the Third Crusade without a decisive capture of Jerusalem. Its diplomatic success shaped future interactions between East and West and demonstrated early medieval norms of warfare and negotiation. Pilgrimages resumed under agreed terms, influencing religious and cultural exchanges in the region.
1192
Treaty of Jaffa
Richard I of England
Saladin
Third Crusade
1752day.year
Great Britain, along with its overseas possessions, adopts the Gregorian calendar.
Great Britain and its colonies switch to the Gregorian calendar, skipping 11 days to realign with Europe.
On September 2, 1752, Great Britain and its overseas territories replaced the Julian calendar with the more accurate Gregorian system. To correct the drift of dates, the government decreed that the next day would be September 14, eliminating eleven days from the month. The reform, passed by Parliament, faced public confusion and occasional unrest as people believed their lives were being shortened. Adoption of the Gregorian calendar harmonized British dates with continental Europe, improving trade, communication, and scientific coordination. Over time, the change facilitated more consistent record-keeping and international relations. The calendar shift stands as a landmark in the history of timekeeping.
1752
Great Britain
overseas possessions
adopts the Gregorian calendar
1789day.year
The United States Department of the Treasury is founded.
The United States establishes its Department of the Treasury, setting up federal financial administration.
Following the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, Congress passed the Department of the Treasury Act on September 2, 1789. The new department was tasked with collecting revenue, managing national debt, and overseeing coinage and currency. President George Washington appointed Alexander Hamilton as the first Secretary of the Treasury, who laid the foundations of American fiscal policy. Under Hamilton’s leadership, the Treasury introduced systems for customs duties, government bonds, and the Bank of the United States. The department played a central role in stabilizing the young nation’s economy and credit. Its creation marked a critical step in establishing the federal government’s authority and capacity to fund national initiatives.
1789
United States Department of the Treasury
1867day.year
Mutsuhito, Emperor Meiji of Japan, marries Masako Ichijō, thereafter known as Empress Shōken.
Emperor Meiji marries Masako Ichijō, who becomes Empress Shōken and a symbol of Japan’s modernization.
On September 2, 1867, Crown Prince Mutsuhito wed Masako Ichijō at Kyoto’s magistrate’s office.
Masako was the daughter of a respected court noble family and later crowned Empress Shōken.
Their union coincided with the final years of the Edo period and Japan’s transformation under the Meiji Restoration.
Empress Shōken played a key role in public charity, education, and representing imperial dignity.
The marriage underscored the imperial household’s adaptation to new Western-inspired customs.
It set the tone for the Meiji era’s blend of tradition and rapid modernization.
1867
Emperor Meiji
Empress Shōken
1901day.year
Vice President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt utters the famous phrase, "Speak softly and carry a big stick" at the Minnesota State Fair.
At the 1901 Minnesota State Fair, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt coined the enduring phrase "Speak softly and carry a big stick," encapsulating his diplomatic approach.
On 2 September 1901, Theodore Roosevelt addressed the Minnesota State Fair and famously declared "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." Drawn from an old West African proverb, the phrase underscored Roosevelt’s belief in negotiating peacefully while maintaining a strong, ready military. At the time, Roosevelt served as Vice President under William McKinley and used his speech to outline his vision for American power and influence. This remark later became the hallmark of Roosevelt’s foreign policy during his presidency, known as the "Big Stick" ideology. The philosophy emphasized deterrence through strength and shaped U.S. actions in Latin America and beyond. Roosevelt’s dynamic persona and robust rhetoric made this speech a defining moment in early 20th-century American politics.
1901
Theodore Roosevelt
big stick
Minnesota State Fair
1944day.year
The last execution of a Finn in Finland takes place when soldier Olavi Laiho is executed by shooting in Oulu.
Finland carries out its final execution as soldier Olavi Laiho is shot in Oulu, effectively ending capital punishment in the country.
On 2 September 1944, Finnish soldier Olavi Laiho was executed by firing squad in Oulu, marking the last judicial execution in Finland’s history. Charged with desertion and other wartime offenses, Laiho’s case came during the Continuation War with the Soviet Union. Public sentiment and political debates over the death penalty were shifting, and Laiho’s execution would prove to be the last under Finnish law. In the years that followed, Finland abolished capital punishment for civilian crimes in 1949 and completely in 1972. The end of executions reflected broader European trends toward human rights and judicial reform. Today, Laiho’s execution is remembered as a turning point in Finland’s legal and moral stance on state-sanctioned death. His story highlights the profound societal changes occurring in the aftermath of World War II.
1944
Finland
Olavi Laiho
Oulu
1945day.year
Communist leader Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the Democratic Republic of Vietnam after the end of the Nguyễn dynasty.
Ho Chi Minh proclaims the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, ending centuries of monarchical rule and laying the foundation for the nation’s future.
On 2 September 1945, in the wake of Japan’s surrender, Ho Chi Minh declared the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh Square. This proclamation ended the Nguyễn dynasty’s centuries-long imperial rule and asserted Vietnam’s sovereignty after colonial and wartime occupations. Drawing inspiration from the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the U.S. Declaration of Independence, Ho outlined a vision for a new republic with democratic principles. The announcement followed the success of the August Revolution, when the Viet Minh seized control of key cities across Vietnam. While initially unrecognized by many foreign powers, the republic’s creation marked a seminal moment in decolonization and the rise of communism in Southeast Asia. Tensions with returning French forces soon escalated into the First Indochina War. Vietnam’s path to independence would prove complex and contested over the decades to come.
Ho Chi Minh
proclaimed
Democratic Republic of Vietnam
Nguyễn dynasty
1946day.year
The Interim Government of India is formed, headed by Jawaharlal Nehru as vice president with the powers of a Prime Minister.
Jawaharlal Nehru leads India’s newly formed Interim Government, a crucial step toward the nation’s independence from British rule.
On 2 September 1946, the Interim Government of India was officially inaugurated under the Cabinet Mission Plan, with Jawaharlal Nehru serving as vice president effectively functioning as Prime Minister. This body included representatives from the Indian National Congress, the Muslim League, and other key political groups. Formed under British authority, the interim administration was charged with preparing India for self-government and drafting a new constitution. Nehru’s leadership demonstrated the Congress party’s commitment to a unified, secular nation amid rising communal tensions. The government navigated complex negotiations with British officials and addressed challenges such as communal violence and administrative transition. This interim phase set the stage for India’s independence on 15 August 1947. The initiatives and policies of Nehru’s government laid the foundations for democratic governance in independent India.
1946
Interim Government of India
Jawaharlal Nehru
1957day.year
President Ngô Đình Diệm of South Vietnam becomes the first foreign head of state to make a state visit to Australia.
In 1957, President Ngô Đình Diệm of South Vietnam became the first foreign head of state to make an official state visit to Australia.
On September 2, 1957, President Ngô Đình Diệm of South Vietnam arrived in Canberra as the first foreign head of state to undertake an official state visit to Australia. The trip marked a milestone in diplomatic relations, showcasing mutual interest in strengthening political and economic ties during the Cold War era. Diệm met with Prime Minister Robert Menzies, discussing military cooperation, aid programs, and regional security in Southeast Asia. Ceremonial welcomes included guard-of-honour inspections, banquets, and public appearances in Sydney and Melbourne. The visit paved the way for increased bilateral engagement and set a precedent for subsequent heads of state from Asia to visit Australia.
1957
Ngô Đình Diệm
South Vietnam
the first foreign head of state to make a state visit to Australia
1960day.year
The first election of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. The Tibetan community observes this date as Democracy Day.
In 1960, the Tibetan exile community held its inaugural democratic elections for the Parliament-in-Exile, marking the beginning of modern self-governance in exile.
On September 2, 1960, Tibetans living in exile cast their votes in the first election for the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, established under the guidance of the 14th Dalai Lama. This historic vote took place in Dharamshala, India, where the Tibetan government-in-exile was headquartered. The election empowered representatives from various regions and social groups to participate in legislative decision-making, strengthening the democratic foundation of the community. Over the years, September 2 has been celebrated annually as Democracy Day, honoring the principles of freedom and self-determination. The parliamentary system evolved to include direct elections for its members and a charter outlining governance structures. This milestone underscored the resilience of the Tibetan diaspora and their commitment to preserving cultural identity and political autonomy.
1960
Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile