476day.year
Romulus Augustulus is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself "King of Italy", thus ending the Western Roman Empire.
On September 4, 476, the last Western Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was overthrown by the Germanic chieftain Odoacer, marking the end of the Western Roman Empire.
On September 4, 476, the young emperor Romulus Augustulus was deposed by Odoacer, a chieftain of the Germanic foederati. Odoacer immediately declared himself King of Italy, refusing to recognize any Western emperor. This bold move signaled the collapse of imperial authority in the west after nearly five centuries. The fall of the Western Roman Empire shifted power to barbarian kingdoms and marked the beginning of the medieval era in Europe. Meanwhile, the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire continued to flourish in Constantinople. This turning point altered the political landscape of Europe for centuries to come.
476
Romulus Augustulus
Odoacer
King of Italy
ending the Western Roman Empire
626day.year
Li Shimin, posthumously known as Emperor Taizong of Tang, assumes the throne over the Tang dynasty of China.
In 626, Li Shimin seized power to become Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty, setting the stage for a golden age in China.
In 626, Li Shimin seized the throne of the Tang dynasty following the dramatic Xuanwu Gate Coup, where he eliminated his rivals within the imperial court. He was posthumously honored as Emperor Taizong of Tang and became the second emperor of the dynasty. Under his leadership, China experienced a golden age of political stability, economic growth, and cultural flourishing. Taizong implemented sweeping reforms in government administration, military organization, and land distribution. He also promoted meritocratic recruitment of officials through the imperial examination system. His reign set a benchmark for effective governance in imperial China.
626
posthumously
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Tang dynasty
929day.year
Battle of Lenzen: Slavic forces (the Redarii and the Obotrites) are defeated by a Saxon army near the fortified stronghold of Lenzen in Brandenburg.
The Battle of Lenzen in 929 saw a Saxon army rout Slavic tribes near Lenzen, solidifying Saxon power east of the Elbe.
The Battle of Lenzen took place in 929 near the strategic Slavic stronghold of Lenzen in Brandenburg. A combined Saxon army launched a surprise attack on the Redarii and Obotrites tribes, routing the Slavic forces. This victory secured Saxon influence east of the Elbe River and weakened the local Slavic confederations. It marked a key moment in the eastward expansion of East Francia under King Henry I. The clash also paved the way for the Christianization of the region in subsequent decades. Its outcome reshaped the power dynamics along the frontier between Germanic and Slavic peoples.
929
Battle of Lenzen
Slavic
Redarii
Obotrites
Saxon
Lenzen
Brandenburg
1260day.year
The Sienese Ghibellines, supported by the forces of Manfred, King of Sicily, defeat the Florentine Guelphs at Montaperti.
At the Battle of Montaperti in 1260, the Sienese Ghibellines, aided by King Manfred of Sicily, dealt a crushing blow to the Florentine Guelphs.
On September 4, 1260, the Ghibelline faction of Siena, backed by Manfred, King of Sicily, faced the Florentine Guelphs at the Battle of Montaperti. In a fierce engagement, the Sienese forces outmaneuvered and crushed the Florentine army. The victory represented a major triumph for the imperial Ghibellines over the papal-aligned Guelphs in Tuscany. Manfred’s support proved decisive in tipping the balance of power. The battle intensified the long-standing rivalry between Siena and Florence and influenced the region’s political alignments for years. Montaperti remains celebrated in Sienese memory as a symbol of local resilience against foreign influence.
1260
Sienese
Ghibellines
Manfred, King of Sicily
Florentine
Guelphs
Montaperti
1282day.year
Peter III of Aragon becomes the King of Sicily.
On September 4, 1282, Peter III of Aragon assumed the crown of Sicily in the aftermath of the Sicilian Vespers uprising.
Peter III of Aragon accepted the crown of Sicily on September 4, 1282, following the Sicilian Vespers uprising against Angevin rule. His accession brought the island under the protection of the Aragonese Crown and marked the beginning of Aragon’s Mediterranean hegemony. The move shifted the balance of power in Italy and challenged the authority of Charles of Anjou. Peter’s rule introduced new administrative reforms and fostered closer ties with the Catalan and Occitan nobility. This milestone event shaped the island’s medieval history and set the stage for centuries of Aragonese influence in Sicily.
1282
Peter III of Aragon
1479day.year
The Treaty of Alcáçovas is signed by the Catholic Monarchs of Castile and Aragon on one side and Afonso V and his son, Prince John of Portugal.
The 1479 Treaty of Alcáçovas divided Atlantic exploration rights between Spain and Portugal, shaping early colonial claims.
In 1479, the Treaty of Alcáçovas was signed between the Catholic Monarchs of Castile and Aragon and the king of Portugal, Afonso V, and his heir, Prince John. This accord concluded conflicts over Atlantic exploration rights and colonial claims. Under the treaty, Spain renounced claims to most of the West African coast and the Azores, while Portugal secured exclusive navigation and trading rights in those regions. The agreement laid the groundwork for the later Treaty of Tordesillas and influenced the course of the Age of Discovery. It represented an early effort to regulate overseas expansion through diplomacy.
1479
Treaty of Alcáçovas
Catholic Monarchs
Castile
Aragon
Afonso V
Prince John
1607day.year
The Flight of the Earls takes place in Ireland.
On September 4, 1607, key Irish nobles fled to continental Europe in an event known as the Flight of the Earls, ending Gaelic rule in Ulster.
The Flight of the Earls occurred on September 4, 1607, when Irish nobles Hugh O'Neill and Rory O'Donnell fled to continental Europe. Their departure marked the end of the old Gaelic order and the traditional clan-based rule in Ulster. This exodus followed increased English repression and set the stage for the Plantation of Ulster. The power vacuum led to major demographic changes and the confiscation of Gaelic lands. The event is seen as a turning point in Irish history, symbolizing the collapse of native aristocracy and the rise of English control.
1607
Flight of the Earls
Ireland
1666day.year
In London, England, the most destructive damage from the Great Fire occurs.
On September 4, 1666, the Great Fire of London reached its most destructive phase, consuming large parts of the medieval city.
On September 4, 1666, London suffered the most destructive phase of the Great Fire, which had broken out three days earlier. Fierce winds drove the blaze through the dense medieval streets, consuming thousands of homes, churches, and civic buildings. Key landmarks, including St. Paul's Cathedral, were left in ruins. Although the fire devastated much of the City of London, it also cleared the way for modern urban planning and rebuilding under Sir Christopher Wren. The catastrophe prompted new regulations on building materials and street layouts, transforming London's architectural landscape.
1666
Great Fire
1774day.year
New Caledonia is first sighted by Europeans, during the second voyage of Captain James Cook.
During his second Pacific voyage in 1774, Captain James Cook became the first European to sight the island of New Caledonia.
During his second Pacific voyage on September 4, 1774, Captain James Cook became the first European to sight the island now known as New Caledonia. He named it Caledonia for its resemblance to the Scottish Highlands. Cook’s charts provided Europe with the first detailed mapping of the island and nearby archipelagos. This encounter opened the way for later European exploration and eventual colonial interest in the South Pacific. The indigenous Kanak people’s culture and environment would soon face profound changes.
1774
New Caledonia
James Cook
1781day.year
Los Angeles is founded as El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora La Reina de los Ángeles (The Village of Our Lady, the Queen of the Angels) by 44 Spanish settlers.
On September 4, 1781, Los Angeles was founded as El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora La Reina de los Ángeles by a group of 44 Spanish settlers.
On September 4, 1781, Los Angeles was founded as El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora La Reina de los Ángeles by a group of 44 Spanish settlers. Established along the banks of the Los Angeles River, it began as a small farming community supplying food to nearby missions and presidios. The settlement’s name honored the Virgin Mary as the Queen of the Angels. Over time, Los Angeles grew into a major center of trade, culture, and immigration in North America. Its humble origins are still celebrated in the city’s annual Fiesta de Los Angeles each September.
1781
El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora La Reina de los Ángeles
44 Spanish settlers
1797day.year
Coup of 18 Fructidor in France.
On September 4, 1797, the French Directory executed the Coup of 18 Fructidor, arresting royalist deputies and annulling elections to secure its power.
In the aftermath of the French Revolution, the Directory faced growing royalist influence in parliament. On 18 Fructidor (September 4, 1797), Generals Augereau and Hoche marched on Paris under orders from the Directory. The military intervention led to the arrest and deportation of dozens of royalist deputies and the nullification of recent elections. This bold action ensured the Directory's control over the government but at the cost of political freedoms. The coup reinforced the role of the army in French politics and delayed any potential restoration of the monarchy. It marked a critical turning point in the turbulent Directory period.
1797
Coup of 18 Fructidor
1800day.year
The French garrison in Valletta surrenders to British troops who had been called at the invitation of the Maltese. The islands of Malta and Gozo become the Malta Protectorate.
After a two-year siege, the French garrison in Valletta capitulated to British forces on September 4, 1800, leading to the establishment of the Malta Protectorate.
Following the expulsion of the Knights of St. John by French revolutionary forces, the Maltese population rebelled against the occupiers. In 1798, British ships arrived at Malta at the request of the Maltese insurgents and blockaded Valletta. On September 4, 1800, the exhausted French garrison surrendered to British troops. The islands of Malta and Gozo were placed under British protection, ending French rule. This marked the beginning of British influence in the central Mediterranean for more than a century. The strategic position of Malta would later prove crucial in global naval conflicts.
1800
Valletta
Maltese
Malta
Gozo
Malta Protectorate