1058day.year
Agnes of Poitou and Andrew I of Hungary meet to negotiate about the border territory of Burgenland.
Empress Agnes of Poitou and King Andrew I of Hungary met in 1058 to negotiate the border of Burgenland. Their talks shaped the frontier between the Holy Roman Empire and Hungary.
In 1058, Empress Agnes, acting as regent for her son Henry IV, met King Andrew I to discuss the strategic territory of Burgenland. The borderlands between the Holy Roman Empire and Hungary were fluid and often contested, making these negotiations crucial. Agnes wielded significant diplomatic authority, seeking stability for the young emperor. Andrew aimed to secure his western frontier and expand Hungarian influence. Local nobles and clergy played key roles in advising both rulers during the talks. Although the exact treaty text has not fully survived, the meeting established a precedent for future border agreements. This encounter helped define medieval Central European boundaries and fostered more peaceful relations between the two realms.
1058
Agnes of Poitou
Andrew I of Hungary
Burgenland
1066day.year
At the Battle of Fulford, Harald Hardrada defeats earls Morcar and Edwin.
In 1066, Viking leader Harald Hardrada achieved victory at the Battle of Fulford, defeating the English earls Morcar and Edwin near York.
In September 1066, Harald Hardrada of Norway launched an invasion of northern England. On September 20th, at Fulford Gate near York, he faced the English earls Morcar of Northumbria and Edwin of Mercia. Despite fierce resistance, Hardrada's battle-hardened forces overwhelmed the English levies. The victory secured control of Yorkshire and opened the way to York. However, this triumph would be short-lived. Just days later, Hardrada would be defeated at Stamford Bridge by King Harold Godwinson. The Battle of Fulford is remembered as one of the last great Viking victories in England and had a significant impact on the events of 1066.
1066
Battle of Fulford
1187day.year
Saladin begins the Siege of Jerusalem.
In 1187, Sultan Saladin initiated the Siege of Jerusalem, seeking to reclaim the city from Crusader rule after his victory at Hattin.
By September 1187, following his decisive victory at the Battle of Hattin, Sultan Saladin turned his attention to the Crusader stronghold of Jerusalem. On September 20th, he began a well-coordinated siege of the city walls. Saladin's forces employed siege engines, mining tactics, and relentless pressure to cut off supplies to the defenders. The Christian defenders, though determined, faced overwhelming numbers and dwindling resources. After several weeks, the city capitulated, marking a pivotal turning point in the Crusader-Muslim conflict. The fall of Jerusalem stunned European powers and prompted the launch of the Third Crusade under Richard the Lionheart. Saladin’s victory reshaped medieval Christian-Muslim relations and left a lasting legacy on both cultures.
1187
Saladin
Siege of Jerusalem
1260day.year
The Great Prussian Uprising among the old Prussians begins against the Teutonic Knights.
In 1260, Baltic Prussian tribes launched the Great Prussian Uprising against the expansion of the Teutonic Knights.
The Great Prussian Uprising began on September 20th, 1260, when Old Prussian tribes united to resist the Teutonic Order’s growing power in their homeland. Led by indigenous nobles, the rebels sought to reclaim ancestral lands and preserve their pagan traditions. The revolt followed years of missionary activity, military campaigns, and fortress construction by the Knights. Early successes saw the insurgents besieging several Teutonic castles and disrupting enemy supply lines. However, the Knights eventually called for reinforcements from the Holy Roman Empire and allied orders, shifting the tide. Intense battles and protracted sieges ensued, causing widespread devastation across the region. Although the uprising was ultimately suppressed by 1274, it demonstrated native resilience and delayed full Teutonic control of Prussia.
1260
Great Prussian Uprising
1378day.year
Cardinal Robert of Geneva is elected as Pope Clement VII, beginning the Papal schism.
In 1378, Cardinal Robert of Geneva was elected as Pope Clement VII, igniting the Western Schism within the Catholic Church.
Following the death of Pope Gregory XI, the College of Cardinals faced intense pressure to elect a Roman pontiff. On September 20th, 1378, they chose Cardinal Robert of Geneva, who took the name Clement VII. His election was immediately contested by supporters of Pope Urban VI, leading to rival papal claims in Avignon and Rome. This Western Schism lasted nearly four decades, dividing European monarchs and undermining papal authority. The schism fueled calls for church reform and eventually contributed to the conciliar movement. It reshaped medieval Christendom and foreshadowed the religious upheavals of the Reformation era.
1378
Robert of Geneva
Papal schism
1498day.year
The Nankai tsunami washes away the building housing the Great Buddha at Kōtoku-in; it has been located outside ever since.
In 1498, a massive Nankai tsunami destroyed the hall sheltering the Great Buddha at Kōtoku-in, leaving the bronze statue standing in the open air.
On September 20th, 1498, a massive earthquake off the coast of Japan triggered the devastating Nankai tsunami. The powerful waves swept away the wooden hall at Kōtoku-in temple that protected the 13.35-meter-tall bronze statue of Amida Buddha. Remarkably, the statue remained intact despite the destruction around it. With its shelter gone, the Great Buddha has stood exposed to the elements for over five centuries. The event highlighted the vulnerability of coastal communities to seismic disasters in medieval Japan. Today, the open-air Buddha is a symbol of resilience and a testament to early Japanese craftsmanship.
1498
Nankai tsunami
Great Buddha at Kōtoku-in
1519day.year
Ferdinand Magellan sets sail from Sanlúcar de Barrameda with about 270 men on his expedition which ultimately culminates in the first circumnavigation of the globe.
In 1519, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan departed Spain with five ships and 270 men, embarking on the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe.
On September 20th, 1519, Ferdinand Magellan led a fleet from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, sponsored by the Spanish crown, to find a western route to the Spice Islands. The expedition faced extreme hardships, including storms, mutinies, and scurvy, as they sailed into unknown oceans. Magellan navigated the strait at South America’s southern tip—later named the Strait of Magellan—entering the vast Pacific Ocean. His voyage proved the Earth’s circumference and revolutionized European geographic knowledge. Although Magellan himself perished in the Philippines, one ship returned to Spain in 1522, completing the first circumnavigation. The journey had profound effects on global trade, navigation, and cultural exchange, marking a new era in world history.
1519
Ferdinand Magellan
1586day.year
A number of conspirators in the Babington Plot are hanged, drawn and quartered.
In 1586, key conspirators of the Babington Plot against Queen Elizabeth I were executed by hanging, drawing, and quartering in a public spectacle.
The Babington Plot was a Catholic conspiracy aiming to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I and install Mary, Queen of Scots on the English throne. On September 20th, 1586, several plotters were convicted and subjected to the brutal Tudor punishment of hanging, drawing, and quartering at St. Giles's Fields in London. Their confessions, obtained under torture, provided the evidence that led to Mary's trial and execution the following year. The harsh sentences underscored the intense religious and political tensions of Elizabethan England. Public executions served as both retribution and a deterrent against future plots. This grim episode reinforced the authority of the Tudor monarchy and shaped the course of British history.
1586
Babington Plot
1602day.year
The Spanish-held Dutch town of Grave capitulates to a besieging Dutch and English army under the command of Maurice of Orange.
In 1602, the fortress town of Grave surrendered to an Anglo-Dutch force led by Maurice of Orange during the Eighty Years' War.
On September 20th, 1602, the Spanish garrison at Grave, a strategic town in the Dutch Republic, capitulated after a protracted siege by Dutch and English troops under Prince Maurice of Orange. The fall of Grave disrupted Spanish supply lines and bolstered the morale of the Dutch rebels. Maurice’s use of coordinated artillery bombardments and trench warfare showcased his military innovation. The victory marked a pivotal moment in the Eighty Years' War, shifting momentum towards the Protestant cause. Following the siege, Maurice consolidated control over key regions, strengthening the Dutch position. Grave’s capture exemplified the evolving nature of early modern siegecraft and alliance warfare.
1602
Grave
capitulates to a besieging Dutch and English army
Maurice of Orange
1697day.year
The Treaty of Ryswick is signed by France, England, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire and the Dutch Republic, ending the Nine Years' War.
In 1697, the Treaty of Ryswick was signed, ending the Nine Years' War between Louis XIV’s France and the Grand Alliance.
On September 20th, 1697, representatives of France, England, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Dutch Republic met at Ryswick in the Netherlands to negotiate peace. The treaty formally concluded the costly Nine Years' War, restoring much of the pre-war territorial status quo in Europe. Under its terms, France recognized William III as King of England and returned occupied lands to its adversaries. The agreement also settled disputes over colonial possessions, though some issues remained unresolved. The Treaty of Ryswick ushered in a brief period of stability and marked an early example of multilateral diplomacy. While not a permanent peace, it demonstrated the growing importance of balanced alliances and treaty-making in European politics.
1697
Treaty of Ryswick
1737day.year
The Walking Purchase concludes, which forces the cession of 1.2 million acres (4,900 km) of Lenape-Delaware tribal land to the Pennsylvania Colony.
In 1737, colonial authorities executed the Walking Purchase, coercing the Lenape-Delaware into surrendering over one million acres of their ancestral lands in Pennsylvania.
The Walking Purchase was justified by a disputed 1686 deed, claiming Penn family rights to land defined by distance walked in a day.
Colonial officials hired the fastest runners to maximize territory, outraging the Lenape-Delaware people.
This controversial tactic forced indigenous communities to relocate and weakened their claims to traditional lands.
The agreement set a precedent for exploiting unclear treaties to expand colonial control.
Its legacy remains a symbol of unfair negotiations and the displacement of Native American tribes.
1737
Walking Purchase
1792day.year
French troops stop an allied invasion of France at the Battle of Valmy.
In 1792, French Revolutionary soldiers halted an allied invasion at the Battle of Valmy, safeguarding the nascent French Republic.
After the revolution, Prussian and Austrian forces advanced into France, aiming to restore the monarchy.
At Valmy, artillery commander François Kellermann delivered a decisive volley that stunned the enemy.
General Dumouriez exploited this moment to organize a counterattack, forcing the allies to retreat.
The unexpected victory boosted the morale of French troops and citizens.
Valmy is widely regarded as a turning point that ensured the Revolution's survival and inspired republican movements across Europe.
1792
Battle of Valmy