48 BC
Pompey disembarks at Pelusium upon arriving in Egypt, whereupon he is assassinated by order of King Ptolemy XIII.
Pompey the Great, defeated by Caesar, lands in Egypt and is treacherously killed on King Ptolemy XIII’s orders.
In 48 BC, Pompey the Great, fleeing defeat by Julius Caesar, landed at the Egyptian port of Pelusium.
Hoping for asylum and political leverage, he sought the favor of King Ptolemy XIII.
Fearing Caesar’s wrath and influenced by court intrigues, Ptolemy’s advisors ordered Pompey’s assassination.
As Pompey disembarked, he was murdered by agents of the king and his severed head was sent to Alexandria.
The grisly act was intended to curry favor with Caesar but instead horrified Roman sensibilities.
Caesar, on his arrival, publicly repudiated the murder and arranged a dignified funeral for Pompey.
Pompey’s death marked a dark turning point in the Roman civil wars and the end of a great general’s career.
48 BC
Pompey
Ptolemy XIII
235day.year
Pope Pontian resigns. He is exiled to the mines of Sardinia, along with Hippolytus of Rome.
Pope Pontian becomes the first Roman bishop to resign, ending his papacy under persecution and facing exile in Sardinia.
In 235, amid renewed persecutions under Emperor Maximinus Thrax, Pope Pontian tendered his resignation.
He became the first Bishop of Rome to abdicate the papacy as imprisonment and pressure mounted.
Alongside Hippolytus of Rome, a leading theologian, Pontian was dispatched to harsh mining camps in Sardinia.
The cruel conditions tested the resilience of early Christian leadership and faith.
Their exile temporarily resolved a leadership schism, allowing a new pope to be elected in Rome.
Both Pontian and Hippolytus died in captivity and were later honored as martyrs.
This event underscored the trials faced by the early church and set a precedent in papal history.
235
Pope Pontian
Hippolytus of Rome
365day.year
Roman usurper Procopius bribes two legions passing by Constantinople, and proclaims himself emperor.
Noble Procopius bribes two Roman legions near Constantinople and declares himself emperor in a bold usurpation.
In 365, Procopius, a cousin of Emperor Julian, plotted to seize power in the Eastern Roman Empire.
He bribed two legions stationed outside Constantinople to switch their loyalty to him.
With military backing, Procopius proclaimed himself emperor, challenging Valentinian I and his brother Valens.
His claim aimed to exploit discontent and his dynastic ties to Julian the Apostate.
Loyal imperial forces quickly mobilized to confront the rebellion.
The uprising was short-lived; Procopius was defeated, captured, and executed.
His brief usurpation highlighted the volatility of succession and military allegiance in the late empire.
365
Procopius
935day.year
Duke Wenceslaus I of Bohemia is murdered by a group of nobles led by his brother Boleslaus I, who succeeds him.
Duke Wenceslaus I of Bohemia is assassinated in a fratricidal plot led by his brother Boleslaus I, altering the duchy’s leadership.
On 28 September 935, Duke Wenceslaus I of Bohemia, later revered as a saint, was betrayed and murdered.
A coalition of disaffected nobles, instigated by his brother Boleslaus I, orchestrated the assassination.
They opposed Wenceslaus’s Christian reforms and close ties with foreign powers.
Boleslaus seized the ducal title immediately, reversing many of his brother’s policies.
The brutal act triggered outrage among Christian communities who venerated Wenceslaus.
He was soon venerated as a martyr, and legends of his piety spread throughout Europe.
The fratricide reshaped Bohemian politics and cemented Boleslaus’s rule.
935
Wenceslaus I
Bohemia
Boleslaus I
995day.year
Boleslaus II, Duke of Bohemia, kills most members of the rival Slavník dynasty.
Duke Boleslaus II of Bohemia orchestrates a massacre against the Slavník dynasty, eliminating a powerful rival lineage.
In 995, Duke Boleslaus II of Bohemia launched a brutal assault on the Slavník dynasty at their stronghold in Libice.
His forces killed most male members of the powerful noble family, ending their challenge to Přemyslid dominance.
Surviving women and children were thrown from castle walls or taken into captivity.
The massacre consolidated Boleslaus’s control over Bohemia and its territories.
The ruthless act sparked fear and secured loyalty among lesser nobles.
Although it removed a key rival, the violence tarnished Boleslaus’s reputation.
The event underscored the brutal methods rulers employed to establish authority.
995
Boleslaus II, Duke of Bohemia
1213day.year
Queen consort Gertrude of Merania is assassinated by a group of Hungarian lords.
Queen Gertrude of Merania is ambushed and killed by Hungarian nobles resentful of her foreign influence.
On 28 September 1213, Gertrude of Merania, wife of King Andrew II of Hungary, was attacked by a faction of Hungarian lords.
Her close ties with German courtiers fueled noble resentment and political tension.
While traveling near Pilis, she and her escort were ambushed on a narrow bridge.
The conspirators killed her and several loyal knights in a swift strike.
King Andrew II responded with harsh reprisals against the perpetrators.
Gertrude’s death highlighted the volatile balance between native nobility and royal authority.
She was later venerated by some as a martyr, but Hungary remained politically unstable.
1213
Gertrude of Merania
assassinated
1779day.year
American Revolution: Samuel Huntington is elected President of the Continental Congress, succeeding John Jay.
In 1779, Samuel Huntington succeeded John Jay as President of the Continental Congress during the American Revolution.
On September 28, 1779, Samuel Huntington of Connecticut was elected as the fourth President of the Continental Congress. He took over leadership from John Jay during a critical period of the American Revolution. Huntington had previously served as a delegate and worked closely on matters of finance and military affairs. His presidency coincided with major military campaigns and diplomatic negotiations for support against Britain. Though the role lacked executive power, Huntington's stewardship contributed to the coherence and morale of the revolutionary government. His tenure helped pave the way for the eventual establishment of the United States under the Constitution.
1779
American Revolution
Samuel Huntington
1787day.year
The Congress of the Confederation votes to send the newly written United States Constitution to the state legislatures for approval.
In 1787, the Confederation Congress approved sending the newly drafted U.S. Constitution to the states for ratification.
On September 28, 1787, the Congress of the Confederation voted to transmit the newly drafted United States Constitution to state legislatures. This action followed the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia earlier that year. The decision launched the critical ratification process that would determine the nation's governing framework. Federalists and anti-Federalists engaged in intense debates over the document's balance of powers and individual rights. The ensuing state conventions ultimately led to the Constitution's adoption and the creation of the current federal government. The vote marked a pivotal moment in American political history, shaping the United States' constitutional legacy.
1787
votes
1821day.year
The Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire is drafted. It will be made public on 13 October.
Drafted on September 28, 1821, the Mexican Empire's Declaration of Independence announced Mexico's break from Spanish rule.
On September 28, 1821, the drafting of the Mexican Empire's Declaration of Independence formalized Mexico's separation from Spain after a decade of revolutionary conflict. Promoted by Agustín de Iturbide and insurgent leader Vicente Guerrero, the document proclaimed Mexican sovereignty and unity. It outlined principles of constitutional monarchy and Roman Catholicism as the state religion. Although officially published on October 13, the drafting itself symbolized the revolutionary triumph and the end of colonial rule. The declaration paved the way for Iturbide's brief reign as Emperor Agustín I. It remains a cornerstone in Mexico's national history and identity.
1821
Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire
1844day.year
Oscar I of Sweden–Norway is crowned king of Sweden.
Oscar I was crowned King of Sweden and Norway on September 28, 1844, succeeding his father Charles XIV John.
On September 28, 1844, Oscar I ascended the thrones of Sweden and Norway in a grand coronation ceremony at the Riddarholm Church in Stockholm. Born Joseph François Charles under the French House of Bernadotte, he had been groomed for leadership by his influential father, Charles XIV John. Oscar I's reign would be marked by progressive reforms in education, press freedom, and social welfare. He also strengthened the union between Sweden and Norway through diplomatic initiatives. His rule laid foundations for modernization and set the stage for liberal changes in both kingdoms.
1844
Oscar I of Sweden
1867day.year
Toronto becomes the capital of Ontario, having also been the capital of Ontario's predecessors since 1796.
Toronto was designated the capital of Ontario on September 28, 1867, solidifying its political status in Canada's newest province.
On September 28, 1867, following Canadian Confederation, Toronto was officially named the capital of the province of Ontario. Having served as the center of Upper Canada and the United Province of Canada, Toronto's selection reflected its economic growth and strategic location. The decision boosted the city's political influence and spurred infrastructure development including government buildings and transportation networks. Toronto's new status attracted businesses, immigrants, and cultural institutions, shaping its emergence as a major North American metropolis. The city's evolution as Ontario's capital contributed to its identity as Canada's financial and political hub. This designation also marked a turning point in the province's governance and urban planning.
1867
becomes the capital
1871day.year
The Brazilian Parliament passes a law that frees all children thereafter born to slaves, and all government-owned slaves.
In 1871, the Brazilian Parliament enacts the Law of Free Birth, freeing all children born to enslaved mothers and all government-owned slaves.
On September 28, 1871, the Brazilian Parliament passed the Law of Free Birth (Lei do Ventre Livre), a landmark decree that emancipated all children born to enslaved women from that day forward and immediately freed slaves owned by the government. While adult slavery persisted, this measure represented the first major legislative step toward ending the institution in Brazil. The law challenged plantation owners to adjust labor practices and contributed to growing abolitionist movements. It also laid the groundwork for the eventual abolition of slavery by the Golden Law in 1888. Today, this legislation is celebrated as an important milestone in Brazil's journey toward human rights and social justice.
1871
a law