379day.year
Yax Nuun Ahiin I is crowned as 15th Ajaw of Tikal
Yax Nuun Ahiin I ascends as the 15th ruler (Ajaw) of the ancient Maya city of Tikal.
In the year 379, the young Yax Nuun Ahiin I was ceremonially crowned as the 15th Ajaw of Tikal.
Tikal, located in present-day Guatemala, was one of the most powerful city-states of the Classic Maya period.
His accession marked the beginning of a dynastic era that saw the city reach new heights of political and cultural influence.
Monumental stelae and carvings commemorate this event, highlighting the sacred nature of Maya rulership.
Under his reign, Tikal expanded its trade networks and fortified its defenses against rival polities.
The coronation rituals emphasized divine lineage, linking the king to the gods and legitimizing his authority.
Yax Nuun Ahiin I’s rule laid the groundwork for Tikal’s zenith in the 6th and 7th centuries.
379
Yax Nuun Ahiin I
Ajaw
Tikal
1229day.year
Ögedei Khan is proclaimed Khagan of the Mongol Empire in Kodoe Aral, Khentii: Mongolia.
Ögedei Khan is proclaimed the Great Khan (Khagan) of the Mongol Empire at Kodoe Aral, Mongolia.
In 1229, following the death of Genghis Khan, his son Ögedei Khan was duly proclaimed Khagan of the vast Mongol Empire.
The enthronement ceremony took place at Kodoe Aral in the Khentii Mountains of Mongolia.
Ögedei’s elevation ensured continuity in the empire’s rapid expansion across Asia and into Eastern Europe.
Under his leadership, the Mongols continued campaigns that secured their dominance over the Jin Dynasty and Khwarazmian Empire.
The Great Khan’s court at Karakorum became a center of administration and cultural exchange.
Ögedei implemented a system of postal roads (yam) that improved communication across the empire.
His reign solidified the Mongol administrative framework and set the stage for further westward incursions.
1229
Ögedei Khan
Khagan
Mongol Empire
Mongolia
1743day.year
Great Britain, Austria and the Kingdom of Sardinia sign the Treaty of Worms.
Great Britain, Austria, and Sardinia sign the Treaty of Worms, forging a new alliance in the War of the Austrian Succession.
On September 13, 1743, the Treaty of Worms was signed by Great Britain, Austria, and the Kingdom of Sardinia.
The agreement aimed to coordinate efforts against French and Spanish forces during the War of the Austrian Succession.
Sardinia secured British subsidies and Austrian military support to defend its Alpine territories.
The alliance shifted the balance of power in northern Italy and strengthened Austria’s western flank.
Britain, led by Prime Minister Henry Pelham, sought to contain Bourbon ambitions in Europe.
The treaty outlined troop commitments and financial arrangements for joint military operations.
Although the alliance achieved initial successes, ensuing campaigns would test its durability.
1743
Kingdom of Sardinia
Treaty of Worms
1788day.year
The Congress of the Confederation sets the date for the first presidential election in the United States, and New York City becomes the country's temporary capital.
The Congress of the Confederation sets the date for America’s first presidential election and names New York City as the temporary capital in 1788.
Under the Articles of Confederation, the Congress of the Confederation convened on September 13, 1788 to lay the groundwork for the new federal government. Delegates voted to fix February 1789 as the date for the first presidential election under the forthcoming Constitution. They also designated New York City as the temporary seat of government while a permanent capital was planned and built. This decision shaped the early political landscape of the United States and underscored the importance of a national capital. New York City served as the capital until Congress moved to Philadelphia in 1790. The framework established during this session helped launch the presidencies of George Washington and the new executive branch.
1788
Congress of the Confederation
New York City
1791day.year
King Louis XVI of France accepts the new constitution.
King Louis XVI accepts France’s new constitution in 1791, marking the beginning of constitutional monarchy.
On September 13, 1791, King Louis XVI formally accepted the Constitution of 1791, drafted by the National Constituent Assembly following the French Revolution. This acceptance transformed France from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy, establishing a separation of powers among the king, legislature, and judiciary. The new constitution abolished many feudal privileges and introduced civil equality and citizen rights. It created a Legislative Assembly with elected representatives, setting the stage for parliamentary governance. Despite this shift, tensions persisted between revolutionary factions and the monarchy. The constitutional period was brief, as radical elements soon challenged the arrangement. Nonetheless, the 1791 constitution laid important groundwork for modern democratic institutions in France.
1791
Louis XVI of France
new constitution
1923day.year
Following a military coup in Spain, Miguel Primo de Rivera takes over, setting up a dictatorship.
Miguel Primo de Rivera leads a coup in Spain, establishing a military dictatorship supported by King Alfonso XIII.
On September 13, 1923, Spanish Lieutenant Colonel Miguel Primo de Rivera led a bloodless military coup in Madrid, dissolving the parliamentary government of Prime Minister Manuel García Prieto. Backed by King Alfonso XIII, Primo de Rivera established a military directorate aimed at ending chronic political instability and social unrest. His regime suspended the constitution, banned political parties, and censored the press while undertaking ambitious public works and infrastructure projects. Initially supported for bringing order, the dictatorship increasingly faced economic difficulties and elite opposition. Primo de Rivera’s rule lasted until 1930, setting the stage for the Second Spanish Republic. Historians view his coup as a pivotal moment in Spain’s turbulent 20th-century politics.
1923
military coup
Miguel Primo de Rivera
1948day.year
Deputy Prime Minister of India Vallabhbhai Patel orders the Army to move into Hyderabad to integrate it with the Indian Union.
On September 13, 1948, Deputy Prime Minister Vallabhbhai Patel directed Indian troops to enter Hyderabad, initiating its integration into the Indian Union.
Following India’s independence, the princely state of Hyderabad resisted accession to the new nation. Concerned about communal violence and lawlessness, Patel ordered Operation Polo, a swift military action. On September 13, troops crossed into Hyderabad territory, encountering sporadic resistance by the Nizam’s forces. Within days, the operation secured major towns and restored order. The integration ended the Nizam’s rule and brought Hyderabad under central administration. This decisive move cemented India’s territorial unity and reinforced the authority of the federal government.
1948
Vallabhbhai Patel
Hyderabad
integrate it
Indian Union
1948day.year
Margaret Chase Smith is elected United States senator, and becomes the first woman to serve in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the United States Senate.
On September 13, 1948, Margaret Chase Smith won election to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first woman to serve in both congressional chambers.
Margaret Chase Smith made history by securing the Maine Senate seat after serving four terms in the House. Her victory marked the first time a woman had held seats in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Known for her independent voice, Smith later delivered her famous "Declaration of Conscience" against McCarthyism in 1950. She championed civil rights, women’s issues, and government accountability. Smith served in the Senate until 1973, earning respect across party lines. Her trailblazing career opened doors for future generations of women in American politics.
Margaret Chase Smith
United States senator
House of Representatives
1953day.year
Nikita Khrushchev is appointed General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
On September 13, 1953, Nikita Khrushchev rose to lead the Soviet Communist Party as General Secretary, shaping the post-Stalin era.
Following Joseph Stalin’s death earlier that year, the Soviet leadership underwent major shifts. Khrushchev’s appointment as General Secretary solidified his control over the Party apparatus. He embarked on a series of reforms known collectively as de-Stalinization, denouncing past terror tactics. Khrushchev promoted greater openness in cultural and scientific life and eased some political repression. His tenure saw bold initiatives like the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Space Race. Though controversial, his leadership left an enduring impact on Soviet domestic and foreign policy.
1953
Nikita Khrushchev
General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
1964day.year
South Vietnamese Generals Lâm Văn Phát and Dương Văn Đức fail in a coup attempt against General Nguyễn Khánh.
On September 13, 1964, Generals Lâm Văn Phát and Dương Văn Đức launched and quickly failed a coup against South Vietnam’s leader Nguyễn Khánh, deepening political unrest.
Following a series of power struggles in Saigon, two disaffected generals attempted to unseat General Nguyễn Khánh. The coup plotters seized key radio stations and government buildings at dawn. Loyalist forces, however, regained control within hours without heavy fighting. The failed coup exposed rifts within the military and undermined morale in the anti-communist government. U.S. officials watched anxiously as political instability threatened the war effort against the Viet Cong. Khánh’s shaky hold on power would face further challenges in the turbulent months ahead.
1964
South Vietnamese
Lâm Văn Phát
Dương Văn Đức
coup attempt
Nguyễn Khánh
1968day.year
Cold War: Albania leaves the Warsaw Pact.
In 1968, Albania withdrew from the Warsaw Pact, formally ending its membership in the Soviet-led military alliance.
On September 13, 1968, Albania officially announced its departure from the Warsaw Pact, signaling a break with Soviet influence amid Cold War tensions. The move was motivated by ideological disputes with Moscow and a desire for greater national autonomy. Albania's withdrawal marked the first instance of a member state exiting the pact, highlighting fractures within the Eastern Bloc. The decision strained relations between Tirana and other communist capitals. It also underscored Albania's unique brand of isolationist socialism under Enver Hoxha. This departure had limited military impact but carried significant symbolic weight during the Cold War.
1968
Cold War
Albania
Warsaw Pact
1971day.year
Chairman Mao Zedong's second in command and successor Marshal Lin Biao flees China after the failure of an alleged coup. His plane crashes in Mongolia, killing all aboard.
In 1971, Marshal Lin Biao attempted to flee China after an alleged coup against Mao Zedong, dying in a plane crash over Mongolia.
Lin Biao was praised as Mao Zedong’s successor during the Cultural Revolution, wielding significant military authority. Following an alleged plot to overthrow Mao, Lin and his family boarded a plane bound for the Soviet Union on September 12, 1971. The aircraft crashed in Mongolia on September 13, killing all aboard under mysterious circumstances. The Chinese government labeled Lin a traitor and expunged his legacy from official histories. The incident fueled conspiracies and deepened paranoia within the Communist Party leadership. Lin’s fall reshaped the power dynamics of the Cultural Revolution and set the stage for future political shifts in China.
Mao Zedong
Lin Biao
Mongolia