46 BC
Julius Caesar dedicates a temple to Venus Genetrix, fulfilling a vow he made at the Battle of Pharsalus.
Julius Caesar dedicates a temple to Venus Genetrix in Rome, fulfilling a vow from the Battle of Pharsalus.
In 46 BC, Julius Caesar marked his victory at Pharsalus by dedicating a splendid temple to Venus Genetrix in the Roman Forum.
He had vowed to honor the goddess of lineage and motherhood if he prevailed against Pompeian forces.
The temple’s dedication reinforced Caesar’s political image and his claim to divine favor through Venus, ancestor of the Julian family.
Its design featured Corinthian columns, ornate friezes, and imported marble, reflecting Roman architectural innovation.
This act blended religion, politics, and propaganda, showcasing Caesar’s ambition and reshaping Rome’s urban and spiritual landscape.
46 BC
Julius Caesar
temple to Venus Genetrix
Battle of Pharsalus
1087day.year
William II is crowned King of England, and reigns until 1100.
William II, known as William Rufus, is crowned King of England, beginning his reign until 1100.
On September 26, 1087, William II, the third son of William the Conqueror, was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey.
Nicknamed William Rufus for his red hair and temper, he succeeded his father amidst disputes over Normandy.
His reign was marked by tensions with the Church, financial exactions, and conflict with his brothers over inheritance.
William II’s rule saw the consolidation of Norman authority and development of royal administration.
His sudden death in the New Forest in 1100 remains shrouded in mystery and sparked succession struggles.
1087
William II
1212day.year
The Golden Bull of Sicily is issued to confirm the hereditary royal title in Bohemia for the Přemyslid dynasty.
The Golden Bull of Sicily grants the Přemyslid dynasty hereditary royal rights in Bohemia.
In 1212, Emperor Frederick II issued the Golden Bull of Sicily to Duke Ottokar I of Bohemia.
The decree recognized Prague as a hereditary kingdom and confirmed the Přemyslid dynasty’s royal title.
It granted Bohemian rulers autonomy within the Holy Roman Empire and strengthened their legal and political status.
By securing hereditary succession, the Golden Bull stabilized Bohemia’s internal governance and dynastic continuity.
This foundational charter laid the groundwork for Prague’s emergence as a major Central European power.
1212
Golden Bull of Sicily
1493day.year
Pope Alexander VI issues the papal bull Dudum siquidem to the Spanish, extending the grant of new lands he made them in Inter caetera.
Pope Alexander VI issues the papal bull Dudum siquidem, expanding Spanish colonial claims in the New World.
On September 26, 1493, Pope Alexander VI promulgated Dudum siquidem to further grant Spain rights over newly discovered lands.
This bull extended previous decrees by forbidding other Christian powers from colonizing territories west of a defined meridian.
Dudum siquidem empowered Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella with exclusive rights for evangelization and settlement.
The decree intensified competition between Spain and Portugal, leading to renegotiations in subsequent treaties.
It laid a papal foundation for the age of global colonization that reshaped indigenous societies and world trade.
1493
Dudum siquidem
Inter caetera
1688day.year
The city council of Amsterdam votes to support William of Orange's invasion of England, which became the Glorious Revolution.
Amsterdam's city council backed William of Orange's invasion, tipping the scales toward the Glorious Revolution.
In September 1688, the city council of Amsterdam delivered a crucial vote to support William of Orange's planned invasion of England. The council, wary of King James II's Catholic policies and potential alliances with France, provided vital financial and military backing for the expedition. Their decision bolstered William's forces and signaled strong Dutch interest in a Protestant succession on the English throne. This support proved decisive in ensuring William and Mary's swift and largely bloodless ascent to power. The Glorious Revolution that followed established parliamentary supremacy and laid the foundation for modern constitutional monarchy in Britain. European powers took note of the momentous shift in English governance and religious policy. The events of September 26, 1688, are celebrated as a turning point in Western political history.
1688
Glorious Revolution
1789day.year
George Washington appoints Thomas Jefferson the first United States Secretary of State.
George Washington named Thomas Jefferson as the first U.S. Secretary of State, shaping American foreign policy.
In September 1789, President George Washington appointed his close ally and author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, as the nation's first Secretary of State. This inaugural appointment established the Department of State and set the framework for American diplomacy. Jefferson was tasked with negotiating treaties, managing relations with European powers, and advising the president on international affairs. His vision emphasized republican ideals, careful use of power, and a cautious stance toward foreign entanglements. Jefferson served until 1793, during which he laid the groundwork for future diplomatic protocols and ministerial conduct. His tenure influenced the evolving balance between federal authority and states' rights in foreign policy decisions. This appointment marked a significant milestone in the early development of the United States government.
1789
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
United States Secretary of State
1810day.year
A new Act of Succession is adopted by the Riksdag of the Estates, and Jean Baptiste Bernadotte becomes heir to the Swedish throne.
Sweden selects French Marshal Jean Baptiste Bernadotte as heir under a new Act of Succession.
On September 26, 1810, the Riksdag of the Estates in Sweden adopted a revised Act of Succession and chose French Marshal Jean Baptiste Bernadotte as Crown Prince and heir to King Charles XIII. Facing dynastic uncertainty after the Napoleonic Wars, Swedish leaders sought a capable and internationally connected successor. Bernadotte converted to Lutheranism, accepted the name Charles John, and pledged to defend Swedish interests. His selection mended strained relations with other European powers and brought military prestige to the throne. In 1818, he ascended as King Charles XIV John, founding the Bernadotte dynasty that rules Sweden to this day. The decision reshaped Swedish politics, balancing national sovereignty with continental alliances. This moment is remembered for its bold choice and lasting impact on the nation's modern identity.
1810
Act of Succession
Jean Baptiste Bernadotte
1907day.year
Four months after the 1907 Imperial Conference, New Zealand and Newfoundland are promoted from colonies to dominions within the British Empire.
New Zealand and Newfoundland achieve dominion status, marking a key step in the British Empire's evolution.
Four months after the 1907 Imperial Conference, both New Zealand and Newfoundland saw their constitutional status elevated from colonies to self-governing dominions within the British Empire. This change acknowledged their political maturity and granted them authority over domestic affairs while retaining allegiance to the Crown. Dominion status fostered emerging national identities and empowered local parliaments to legislate without direct oversight from London. For New Zealand, it spurred discussions on defense and foreign relations, laying the groundwork for an independent foreign policy. In Newfoundland, the shift offered hope for economic development and greater local control. The advancement of dominion status contributed to the transformation of the Empire into a more flexible Commonwealth model. These events on September 26, 1907, marked a significant milestone in colonial governance and imperial reform.
1907
1907 Imperial Conference
1923day.year
The German government calls off the passive resistance to the French and Belgian occupation of the Ruhr.
On September 26, 1923, the Weimar Republic officially ended its passive resistance to the French and Belgian occupation of the Ruhr region.
Following World War I reparations disputes, French and Belgian troops occupied the industrial Ruhr in January 1923. Germany’s policy of passive resistance, involving work stoppages and state-funded support for striking workers, deepened economic chaos and hyperinflation. On September 26, Chancellor Gustav Stresemann’s government acknowledged that continued resistance was unsustainable. The decision paved the way for foreign negotiations and the Dawes Plan, which temporarily stabilized Germany’s economy. It also underscored the fragility of the Weimar Republic amid international pressure and domestic hardship.
1923
occupation of the Ruhr
1933day.year
As gangster Machine Gun Kelly surrenders to the FBI, he shouts out, "Don't shoot, G-Men!", which becomes a nickname for FBI agents.
When notorious gangster Machine Gun Kelly surrendered to the FBI on September 26, 1933, he famously yelled "Don't shoot, G-Men!", coining a nickname for federal agents.
George "Machine Gun Kelly" Barnes ended his crime spree by surrendering to law enforcement in Memphis, Tennessee. Upon his arrest, he allegedly shouted "Don't shoot, G-Men!", giving rise to the enduring nickname for FBI agents. The phrase captured public imagination during the Prohibition-era crackdown on organized crime. It bolstered the Bureau’s reputation as a national law enforcement authority. "G-Men" soon appeared in films, radio shows, and comic books, embedding itself in American popular culture. Kelly’s dramatic finale remains one of the era’s most memorable moments.
1933
Machine Gun Kelly
G-Men
1936day.year
Spanish Civil War: Lluis Companys reshuffles the Generalitat de Catalunya, with the marxist POUM and anarcho-syndicalist CNT joining the government.
During the Spanish Civil War on September 26, 1936, Catalan President Lluís Companys expanded his regional government by bringing Marxist and anarcho-syndicalist factions into the Generalitat.
As the Spanish Civil War intensified, President Lluís Companys sought to unify anti-fascist forces within Catalonia. On September 26, 1936, he reshuffled his cabinet to include the Marxist Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM) and the anarcho-syndicalist Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT). The alliance aimed to strengthen military coordination and civilian solidarity against Franco’s nationalist uprising. While it temporarily improved cooperation among leftist groups, ideological tensions soon resurfaced. Companys’ decision highlighted the complex politics inside the Republican camp. The brief coalition foreshadowed deeper divisions that would later weaken the Republic’s war effort.
1936
Spanish Civil War
Lluis Companys
reshuffles
Generalitat de Catalunya
marxist
POUM
anarcho-syndicalist
CNT
1942day.year
Holocaust: Senior SS official August Frank issues a memorandum detailing how Jews should be "evacuated".
On September 26, 1942, SS official August Frank circulated a memorandum outlining the process for ‘‘evacuating’’ Jews, a bureaucratic precursor to deportation and extermination.
Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler’s administration meticulously documented its genocidal policies. On September 26, Senior SS official August Frank issued a detailed memo instructing officials on the removal of Jewish property and the organization of deportations under the euphemism of ‘‘resettlement.’’ The memorandum specified how to confiscate personal belongings and ensure no valuables remained. It exemplified the cold, administrative machinery behind the Holocaust. This document later served as key evidence at the Nuremberg Trials. Frank’s memo remains a chilling reminder of the methodical approach to mass murder.
1942
Holocaust
a memorandum