96day.year
Emperor Domitian is assassinated as a result of a plot by his wife Domitia and two Praetorian prefects. Nerva is then proclaimed as his successor.
Domitian is murdered in a palace coup led by his wife and Praetorian prefects.
His assassination paves the way for Nerva to become the new emperor.
Domitian ruled the Roman Empire from 81 to 96 AD, establishing authoritarian control and grand building projects.
Feeling threatened by palace intrigues, he created a network of spies and empowered the Praetorian Guard.
On September 18, 96 AD, Domitia Longina and two Praetorian prefects orchestrated his assassination within the imperial palace.
The conspirators stabbed Domitian to death, shocking the Senate and the populace.
To prevent further unrest, the Senate quickly acclaimed Marcus Cocceius Nerva, a respected senator, as emperor.
Nerva's accession marked the end of the Flavian dynasty and the start of the era of the Five Good Emperors.
96
Domitian
Nerva
324day.year
Constantine the Great decisively defeats Licinius in the Battle of Chrysopolis, establishing Constantine's sole control over the Roman Empire.
Constantine the Great wins a decisive victory at the Battle of Chrysopolis.
This triumph secures his position as sole ruler of the Roman Empire.
After years of civil wars, Constantine faced Licinius at Chrysopolis on the Asian side of the Bosphorus.
On September 18, 324 AD, Constantine's forces exploited infantry and cavalry coordination to rout Licinius's army.
The victory ended the rivalry and left Constantine as the uncontested emperor of both East and West.
Licinius was initially spared but later executed under suspicion of plotting rebellion.
Constantine's sole rule ushered in reforms, including the promotion of Christianity and administrative reorganization.
This battle effectively concluded the Tetrarchic power-sharing system, reshaping the Roman Empire's leadership.
324
Constantine the Great
Battle of Chrysopolis
1048day.year
Battle of Kapetron between a combined Byzantine-Georgian army and a Seljuq army.
A coalition of Byzantine and Georgian forces confronts the Seljuq army at Kapetron.
This clash highlights the growing Seljuq threat on the empire's eastern frontier.
In 1048, a joint Byzantine-Georgian force met the Seljuq Turks near Kapetron in northwestern Anatolia.
The Seljuqs, under Sultan Tughril Beg's lieutenants, aimed to raid Byzantine territories.
Commanders included the future Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos on the Byzantine side.
The battle saw fierce cavalry engagements on the plains around modern-day Tosya.
While both sides claimed tactical successes, the encounter underscored the Seljuqs' rising power.
This clash foreshadowed larger conflicts culminating in the Battle of Manzikert in 1071.
1048
Battle of Kapetron
Seljuq
1066day.year
Norwegian king Harald Hardrada lands with Tostig Godwinson at the mouth of the Humber River and begins his invasion of England.
Norwegian King Harald Hardrada and Tostig Godwinson land at the Humber River to launch their English invasion.
Their arrival marks the start of one of 1066’s pivotal campaigns.
On September 18, 1066, Harald Hardrada, King of Norway, arrived at the mouth of the Humber River.
He was joined by Tostig Godwinson, exiled brother of English King Harold Godwinson.
The combined forces aimed to claim the English throne through military conquest.
They quickly marched inland, capturing York and devastating the surrounding region.
This invasion set the stage for the decisive Battle of Stamford Bridge one week later.
Hardrada’s campaign marked the largest Viking assault on England in centuries.
1066
Harald Hardrada
Tostig Godwinson
1180day.year
Philip Augustus becomes king of France at the age of fifteen.
Philip Augustus ascends to the French throne at just fifteen, beginning a reign dedicated to strengthening royal authority.
Born in 1165, Philip of Alsace assumed the crown on September 18, 1180, after his father Louis VII’s death.
At fifteen, he inherited a fragmented realm with powerful feudal lords challenging royal authority.
Philip quickly demonstrated political acumen, reforming administration and centralizing power.
He negotiated alliances with England and the Holy Roman Empire to secure his borders.
His reign saw the expansion of royal domains and the strengthening of the Capetian dynasty.
Philip’s later victory at the Battle of Bouvines in 1214 solidified France’s dominance in medieval Europe.
1180
Philip Augustus
1454day.year
Thirteen Years' War: In the Battle of Chojnice, the Polish army is defeated by the Teutonic knights.
The Teutonic Knights ambush and rout the Polish forces at Chojnice during the Thirteen Years’ War.
This defeat stalls Poland’s initial campaign against the Order.
The Thirteen Years' War erupted in 1454 as the Prussian Confederation sought help against Teutonic rule.
On September 18, 1454, at Chojnice (Konitz), the Teutonic Knights ambushed the Polish army.
Under the command of Grand Master Ludwig von Erlichshausen, the knights utilized heavy cavalry charges.
The Polish forces suffered devastating losses and were forced into a hasty retreat.
This defeat dashed Poland’s initial momentum and prolonged the conflict by several years.
The war ultimately ended in 1466 with the Second Peace of Thorn, altering the balance of power in the region.
1454
Thirteen Years' War
Battle of Chojnice
Teutonic knights
1544day.year
The expedition of Juan Bautista Pastene makes landfall in San Pedro Bay, southern Chile, claiming the territory for Spain.
Spanish navigator Juan Bautista Pastene lands in San Pedro Bay, southern Chile, and claims the region for Spain.
His expedition expands Spain’s reach in the New World.
On September 18, 1544, Juan Bautista Pastene reached San Pedro Bay on the Pacific coast of present-day Chile.
Commissioned by Emperor Charles V, Pastene’s expedition sought to expand Spanish influence in South America.
He mapped the coastline and secured alliances with indigenous leaders along the journey.
The formal claim of this land strengthened Spain’s strategic position against rival colonial powers.
Pastene’s voyage marked one of the earliest European contacts with Chile’s southern regions.
His reports paved the way for subsequent Spanish settlement and resource exploration.
1544
Juan Bautista Pastene
San Pedro Bay
southern Chile
1618day.year
The twelfth baktun in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar begins.
A new baktun cycle in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar begins, marking a significant chronological milestone.
The Long Count calendar, used by the Maya and other Mesoamerican cultures, measures time in baktuns of 144,000 days.
On September 18, 1618 (proleptic Gregorian), scholars mark the transition to the twelfth baktun.
This shift symbolized a fresh era in Mesoamerican chronology and cosmology.
Baktuns were central to rituals, prophecies, and the historical records of ancient societies.
The completion of twelve baktuns corresponds to roughly 4,723 years of elapsed time.
This milestone highlights the sophistication of Pre-Columbian timekeeping systems.
1618
baktun
1714day.year
George I arrives in Great Britain after becoming king on August 1.
George I lands in Great Britain as the first Hanoverian monarch, arriving to assume his royal duties.
His arrival initiates a new chapter in British constitutional governance.
Having inherited the British crown on August 1, 1714, George Louis of Hanover crossed to England on September 18.
His accession was ensured by the Act of Settlement 1701, despite his limited English and foreign upbringing.
George’s arrival in Greenwich was met with curiosity and uncertainty among his new subjects.
He faced opposition from Jacobite supporters of the Stuart line who challenged his legitimacy.
Under his reign, the power of ministers and Parliament grew, solidifying the role of constitutional monarchy.
George I’s rule laid foundations for the Hanoverian succession and shaped British politics for the next century.
1714
George I
1739day.year
The Treaty of Belgrade is signed, whereby Austria cedes lands south of the Sava and Danube rivers to the Ottoman Empire.
The Treaty of Belgrade forces Austria to cede territories south of the Sava and Danube to the Ottoman Empire.
This diplomatic settlement reshapes Balkan borders.
On September 18, 1739, Austria and the Ottoman Empire concluded the Treaty of Belgrade.
Emperor Charles VI recognized Ottoman control over Belgrade and territories south of the Sava and Danube rivers.
Austria’s concessions followed its defeat in the Austro-Turkish War of 1737–1739.
The treaty reinstated Ottoman suzerainty over Serbia and secured a temporary peace in the Balkans.
It represented a diplomatic setback for the Habsburg Monarchy’s expansionist ambitions.
Belgrade remained under Ottoman rule until the Russo-Turkish and Austro-Turkish wars of the early 19th century.
1739
Treaty of Belgrade
1759day.year
French and Indian War: The Articles of Capitulation of Quebec are signed.
The Articles of Capitulation of Quebec were signed, marking the surrender of French forces to the British in the French and Indian War.
On September 18, 1759, British and French representatives signed the Articles of Capitulation of Quebec, formally ending French military resistance in the city. Under its terms, French troops were granted the honors of war and allowed to withdraw to France with personal arms. The document secured British control over Quebec following the pivotal Battle of the Plains of Abraham. It effectively concluded the French and Indian War in the region, paving the way for British dominance in North America. The capitulation also guaranteed the protection of civilian inhabitants and property under British rule. This transfer set the stage for the development of modern Canada under British administration.
1759
French and Indian War
Articles of Capitulation of Quebec
1793day.year
The first cornerstone of the United States Capitol is laid by George Washington.
George Washington laid the first cornerstone of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., inaugurating the future seat of American democracy.
On September 18, 1793, President George Washington placed the first cornerstone of the United States Capitol at the site in Washington, D.C. The ceremony marked the beginning of construction on what would become the legislative heart of the U.S. government. Designed by architect William Thornton, the Capitol was intended as a symbol of the new nation's ideals and aspirations. Workers used local sandstone and bricks to build the foundation, reflecting early American craftsmanship. The laying of the cornerstone was witnessed by government officials, citizens, and Masonic brethren. This foundational moment laid the groundwork for the Capitol's evolution into a grand neoclassical edifice. Today, the U.S. Capitol remains a powerful symbol of American democracy and governance.
1793
United States Capitol