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
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
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
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
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
1810day.year
First Government Junta in Chile. Though supposed to rule only during the Peninsular War in Spain, it is in fact the first step towards independence from Spain, and is commemorated as such.
The First Government Junta in Chile was established, marking the beginning of Chile's path to independence from Spain.
On September 18, 1810, Chilean patriots convened in Santiago to form the First Government Junta, initially intended to govern during Spain’s Peninsular War. Though its promoters claimed loyalty to the Spanish crown, the junta became the first autonomous government in Chile. Led by figures such as Mateo de Toro y Zambrano and Bernardo O'Higgins, it sparked a wave of political change across the colony. This assembly laid the foundations for Chile's independence movement, culminating in full sovereignty in 1818. September 18 is since celebrated as Chile's Independence Day, commemorating this pivotal moment. The junta introduced reforms in administration and justice, inspiring liberal ideas among the populace. Its legacy endures as a symbol of national identity and the struggle for self-determination.
1810
First Government Junta
Peninsular War
1838day.year
The Anti-Corn Law League is established by Richard Cobden.
The Anti-Corn Law League was founded to campaign against British grain tariffs, igniting a major free trade movement.
On September 18, 1838, Richard Cobden and John Bright launched the Anti-Corn Law League in Manchester, England. The organization aimed to repeal the Corn Laws, which imposed heavy duties on imported grain and kept food prices high. Employing mass meetings, pamphleteering, and petition drives, the League pioneered modern political advocacy. Its relentless campaign influenced public opinion and pressured Members of Parliament to consider free trade principles. By highlighting the social and economic harm caused by protectionist policies, the League united industrialists and workers alike. Its success in the 1846 repeal of the Corn Laws marked a triumph for liberal economic thought. The Anti-Corn Law League is remembered as a seminal force in the history of British political reform and free trade.
1838
Anti-Corn Law League
Richard Cobden
1850day.year
The U.S. Congress passes the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
The U.S. Congress enacted the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, intensifying national tensions over slavery.
On September 18, 1850, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act as part of the Compromise of 1850. The law required citizens and federal officials to assist in the capture of escaped enslaved people and denied alleged fugitives the right to a jury trial. It imposed heavy penalties on those aiding runaways and compelled law enforcement to pursue escaped slaves even in free states. The Act deepened the rift between North and South, fueling abolitionist protest and undermining efforts at compromise. Many Northern communities organized resistance and passed personal liberty laws in defiance. The stringent provisions of the law heightened moral outrage and helped precipitate the Civil War a decade later. The Fugitive Slave Act remains a stark example of legislative coercion in defense of slavery.
1850
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
1862day.year
The Confederate States celebrate for the first and only time a Thanksgiving Day.
On September 18, 1862, the Confederate government organized its first and only official Thanksgiving Day celebration.
On September 18, 1862, the Confederate government organized its first and only official Thanksgiving Day celebration.
The holiday was proclaimed to boost morale and unity among citizens during the ongoing Civil War.
Southern families observed the day with church gatherings, communal meals, and prayers for victory.
Unlike in the North, this Confederate observance would never be repeated after military setbacks.
Historians view this singular holiday as a symbol of the Confederacy’s attempts to foster national identity.
The event underscores how wartime governments can adapt cultural traditions for political purposes.
1862
Confederate States
Thanksgiving Day
1898day.year
The Fashoda Incident triggers the last war scare between Britain and France.
The Fashoda Incident of 1898 sparks a diplomatic crisis between Britain and France at the Sudanese outpost.
On September 18, 1898, French and British expeditionary forces converged at Fashoda on the Nile, igniting the Fashoda Incident.
Each power sought influence over the Sudan following the Mahdist War, leading to a tense standoff with warships and troops on both sides.
Although neither nation desired full-scale conflict, national pride fueled public anxiety and diplomatic brinkmanship.
At the crisis’s height, war seemed imminent, marking the last major colonial confrontation between the two empires.
Eventually, cooler heads prevailed, and France backed down, settling the dispute through negotiation.
The resolution paved the way for the Entente Cordiale of 1904, reshaping European alliances before World War I.
1898
Fashoda Incident
1914day.year
The Irish Home Rule Act becomes law, but is delayed until after World War I.
The Irish Home Rule Act becomes law on September 18, 1914, granting self-government to Ireland after World War I.
Parliament passed the Irish Home Rule Act on September 18, 1914, offering Ireland its own devolved legislature within the United Kingdom.
Although the law was enacted, its implementation was suspended due to the outbreak of World War I.
Unionist opposition in Ulster and the rise of nationalist sentiment fueled tensions that would later erupt into conflict.
The act represented a milestone in Irish self-governance but failed to prevent the 1916 Easter Rising and subsequent War of Independence.
Debates over Home Rule shaped 20th-century Irish politics, leading eventually to the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922.
Historians view the 1914 Act as a crucial, yet unrealized, turning point in Britain's relationship with Ireland.
1914
Irish Home Rule Act