September 11

Events - Politics & Government

1185day.year

Isaac II Angelos kills Stephen Hagiochristophorites and then appeals to the people, resulting in the revolt that deposes Andronikos I Komnenos and places Isaac on the throne of the Byzantine Empire.

In 1185, Isaac II Angelos assassinated a court official and rallied a popular revolt to depose Emperor Andronikos I Komnenos and claim the Byzantine throne.
In 1185, Isaac II Angelos assassinated powerful minister Stephen Hagiochristophorites at the Byzantine court. He rallied the populace against Emperor Andronikos I Komnenos, accusing him of tyranny and misrule. A swift urban uprising in Constantinople forced Andronikos to flee and marked the end of his reign. The Senate and clergy endorsed Isaac's claim, and he was crowned as the new emperor. This palace coup underscored the volatile nature of Byzantine politics and the power of popular support. Isaac's ascent inaugurated a period of relative stability before the empire faced external threats.
1185 Isaac II Angelos Stephen Hagiochristophorites Andronikos I Komnenos Byzantine Empire
1776day.year

British–American peace conference on Staten Island fails to stop nascent American Revolutionary War.

The 1776 Staten Island peace conference between British and American delegates ended without agreement, prolonging the Revolutionary War.
On September 11, 1776, British Admiral Lord Howe and American representatives—including Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge—met on Staten Island to negotiate an end to the conflict. The British insisted on American submission to the Crown, while the Americans demanded full independence. Deep ideological divides made compromise impossible. After brief discussions, both sides declared the talks a failure and hostilities soon resumed. The conference exposed the widening chasm between colonial aspirations and imperial authority. Its collapse ensured that the war would continue on a path toward total separation. The Staten Island meeting remains a pivotal diplomatic episode of the American Revolution.
1776 peace conference Staten Island American Revolutionary War
1786day.year

The beginning of the Annapolis Convention.

The Annapolis Convention began in 1786, calling for a meeting to address trade and commerce under the Articles of Confederation.
The Annapolis Convention convened on September 11, 1786, at Mann’s Tavern in Annapolis, Maryland. Delegates from five states gathered to discuss obstacles to interstate commerce and propose solutions. The meeting’s participants, including Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, found consensus on the need for broader constitutional reform. They drafted a report urging Congress to call a national convention to revise the Articles of Confederation. This recommendation led directly to the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 and the drafting of the U.S. Constitution. Although small in attendance, the Annapolis Convention’s influence was profound. It set the stage for the birth of a stronger federal government in the United States.
1786 Annapolis Convention
1789day.year

Alexander Hamilton is appointed the first United States Secretary of the Treasury.

On September 11, 1789, Alexander Hamilton was appointed as the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, laying the groundwork for the nation's financial system.
Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, was named the nation's first Secretary of the Treasury on this day. Tasked with organizing the new federal government's finances, he established the First Bank of the United States, introduced policies to manage state debts, and promoted a stable monetary system. Hamilton's financial plan helped secure the fragile nation's credit and foster economic growth. His vision for a strong central government with robust financial institutions shaped the country's fiscal policy for decades. Despite opposition from figures like Thomas Jefferson, Hamilton's reforms laid the foundation for America's emergence as a global economic power.
1789 Alexander Hamilton United States Secretary of the Treasury
1800day.year

The Maltese National Congress Battalions are disbanded by British Civil Commissioner Alexander Ball.

On September 11, 1800, British Civil Commissioner Alexander Ball ordered the disbandment of the Maltese National Congress Battalions, reshaping Malta's military landscape.
Following the uprising against French occupation on the island of Malta, the provisional Maltese National Congress had formed volunteer battalions to secure local defense. As British forces assumed control, Civil Commissioner Sir Alexander Ball sought to regularize governance and integrate the island into the British Protectorate. On September 11, 1800, he disbanded these citizen militias to establish a formal military structure under British command. The decision eased tensions between local volunteers and British authorities, but it also marked the end of Malta's brief self-governed defense force. Ball's reforms laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Royal Malta Fencible Regiment in 1815. This transition shaped Malta's role as a strategic naval base in the Mediterranean for the next century.
1800 National Congress Battalions Civil Commissioner Alexander Ball
1802day.year

France annexes the Kingdom of Piedmont.

France formally annexed the Kingdom of Piedmont on September 11, 1802, expanding Napoleon's influence in Italy.
In the aftermath of its victories across Europe, the French Republic under First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte moved to consolidate its territorial gains. On September 11, 1802, the Kingdom of Sardinia's mainland territory, commonly known as Piedmont, was officially incorporated into France. This annexation followed treaties that diminished Sardinian sovereignty and extended French administrative structures into the region. The move brought sweeping legal and social reforms, including the introduction of the Napoleonic Code and tax changes. Local elites were integrated into the French imperial system, while resistance simmered among traditionalists. The absorption of Piedmont bolstered France's strategic position on the Alpine frontier and fueled Napoleon's ambitions for further expansion in Italy.
1802 Kingdom of Piedmont
1830day.year

Anti-Masonic Party convention; one of the first American political party conventions.

In 1830, the Anti-Masonic Party held one of the first national political conventions in the United States, pioneering a new era in party politics.
The Anti-Masonic Party, formed in the wake of public outrage over William Morgan's disappearance, organized a groundbreaking political gathering on September 11, 1830. Delegates from several states convened to nominate candidates and establish party platforms, setting a precedent for future American party conventions. This assembly introduced the concept of a formalized, national nominating process, influencing both the Democratic and Whig parties. The convention debated issues ranging from secret societies to government reform and the role of popular participation in politics. Although the Anti-Masons faded as a major party by the mid-1830s, their convention model became a staple of American electoral politics. Their innovations helped shape the democratic processes that define U.S. campaigns to this day.
1830 Anti-Masonic Party
1836day.year

The Riograndense Republic is proclaimed by rebels after defeating Empire of Brazil's troops in the Battle of Seival, during the Ragamuffin War.

Rebels in southern Brazil proclaim the Riograndense Republic after victory at the Battle of Seival during the Ragamuffin War.
On September 11, 1836, rebels in Rio Grande do Sul declared the Riograndense Republic after routing Imperial Brazilian forces at the Battle of Seival. This bold move was part of the Ragamuffin War, a ten-year conflict rooted in regional discontent over taxes and central authority. The nascent republic sought self-governance, aiming to control local resources and trade in contrast to the distant empire's policies. Although unrecognized internationally, the Riograndense flag became a powerful symbol of autonomy and gaucho identity. Despite initial military successes, the republic faced a prolonged siege of political and economic isolation, eventually reintegrating into Brazil in 1845. Today, the Riograndense Republic's legacy endures in celebrations of state identity and federalism within Brazil.
1836 Riograndense Republic Empire of Brazil Ragamuffin War
1852day.year

Outbreak of Revolution of September 11 resulting in the State of Buenos Aires declaring independence as a Republic.

Buenos Aires leaders launch the Revolution of September 11, declaring independence of the State of Buenos Aires as a republic.
On September 11, 1852, leaders in Buenos Aires launched the Revolution of September 11 against the Argentine Confederation, seeking greater autonomy and economic freedom. The uprising culminated in the declaration of the State of Buenos Aires as an independent republic, severing ties with the Confederation. Under President Bartolomé Mitre, the new republic enacted liberal reforms and cultivated foreign trade, fueling friction with the Confederation and neighboring provinces. Although eventually reintegrated into Argentina in 1861, the revolution reshaped the nation's federal structure and political landscape. The event remains a pivotal episode in Argentine history, symbolizing regional ambitions and the struggle for political identity.
1852 Revolution of September 11 State of Buenos Aires
1897day.year

After months of pursuit, generals of Menelik II of Ethiopia capture Gaki Sherocho, the last king of the Kaffa.

Forces of Emperor Menelik II capture Gaki Sherocho, ending the independent Kaffa kingdom in Ethiopia.
On September 11, 1897, imperial troops under Emperor Menelik II concluded a months-long campaign by capturing Gaki Sherocho, the last king of the Kaffa kingdom. This victory ended the sovereign rule of Kaffa in southwestern Ethiopia and expanded the empire's territorial reach. Menelik II's conquest was part of his broader efforts to unify diverse Ethiopian regions into a centralized state. The incorporation of Kaffa brought new agricultural lands and resources under imperial control. Today, the event is recognized as a significant milestone in Ethiopia's creation of a modern, unified nation.
1897 Menelik II of Ethiopia Gaki Sherocho Kaffa
1914day.year

The Second Period of Russification: The teaching of the Russian language and Russian history in Finnish schools is ordered to be considerably increased as part of the forced Russification program in Finland run by Tsar Nicholas II.

Tsar Nicholas II orders expanded Russian language and history instruction in Finnish schools during the Second Period of Russification.
On September 11, 1914, Tsar Nicholas II implemented the Second Period of Russification, mandating expanded teaching of Russian language and history in Finland's schools. This move aimed to integrate Finland more tightly into the Russian Empire by eroding local culture and institutions. Finnish students and educators faced pressure to abandon their native customs and adopt imperial policies, fueling national resentment. The edict intensified resistance movements in Finland and strengthened calls for autonomy. The policy ultimately backfired, contributing to Finland's drive for independence in the aftermath of World War I.
Second Period of Russification Russian language Russian history forced Russification program Finland Nicholas II
1922day.year

The Treaty of Kars is ratified in Yerevan, Armenia.

On September 11, 1922, the Treaty of Kars was ratified in Yerevan, defining borders between Turkey and three Transcaucasian republics after World War I.
The Treaty of Kars, signed earlier in October 1921, was formally ratified in Yerevan, Armenia, on September 11, 1922. It established the borders between the newly Sovietized republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey in the aftermath of World War I and the Russian Civil War. The treaty succeeded the Treaty of Moscow (March 1921) and reinforced Soviet–Turkish cooperation against Western influence. It ceded territories such as Kars and Ardahan to Turkey while confirming Batumi to Soviet Georgia. The agreement has had lasting geopolitical implications, shaping the modern boundaries in the South Caucasus. Negotiations reflected shifting alliances and the consolidation of Soviet power in the region.
1922 Treaty of Kars Yerevan Armenia