690day.year
Empress Wu Zetian establishes the Zhou Dynasty of China.
Empress Wu Zetian founds the Zhou Dynasty, becoming the sole female emperor in Chinese history and reshaping the Tang imperial structure.
In 690, Wu Zetian declared herself emperor and replaced the Tang Dynasty with her own Zhou Dynasty. She became the first and only woman to rule China in her own right, consolidating power through the secret police and meritocratic examinations. Her reign saw extensive reforms in land distribution, promotion of Buddhism, and centralization of government. She elevated officials based on ability rather than birth and expanded the imperial examination system. The establishment of the Zhou Dynasty represented a major shift in Chinese politics and culture. Historians debate her legacy as a capable ruler who defied gender norms and reshaped the empire.
690
Wu Zetian
Zhou Dynasty
1091day.year
London tornado of 1091: A tornado thought to be of strength T8/F4 strikes the heart of London.
A powerful tornado, estimated T8/F4, tears through medieval London, one of the earliest recorded in England.
On October 17, 1091, London was struck by a violent tornado that is one of the earliest documented in the British Isles. Contemporary accounts describe roofs ripped from buildings and wooden structures destroyed along its path. Scholars estimate its strength at T8 on the TORRO scale and F4 on the Fujita scale. The storm caused fatalities and widespread damage to St Mary-le-Bow church and surrounding areas. Its occurrence in a densely populated medieval city left a lasting impression in chronicles and folklore. This event highlighted the vulnerability of early urban settlements to severe weather.
1091
London tornado of 1091
1346day.year
The English capture King David II of Scotland at Neville's Cross and imprison him for eleven years.
At the Battle of Neville's Cross, English forces capture Scotland's King David II, altering the course of the Second War of Scottish Independence.
On October 17, 1346, during the Second War of Scottish Independence, English troops under Ralph Neville and Henry Percy faced a Scottish army near Durham. The Scots were returning from France with King David II leading them, but were overwhelmed by English longbowmen. David II was wounded and taken prisoner in a decisive victory for Edward III. He remained in English captivity for eleven years, significantly weakening Scotland's monarchy and war effort. During his absence, Scotland faced political instability and financial strain. His eventual ransom and return in 1357 shaped future Anglo-Scottish relations.
1346
King David II of Scotland
Neville's Cross
1448day.year
An Ottoman army defeats a Hungarian army at the Second Battle of Kosovo.
In the Second Battle of Kosovo, the Ottoman Empire secures a crucial victory over Hungarian forces, consolidating its power in the Balkans.
On October 17, 1448, the Ottoman army led by Sultan Murad II engaged a Hungarian force under John Hunyadi near Kosovo Field. Hunyadi sought to reverse Ottoman advances from the First Battle of Kosovo but faced well-prepared defenses. The Ottomans exploited superior cavalry and tactical feigned retreats to rout the Hungarians. The victory solidified Ottoman dominance in the region and opened the way for further incursions into central Europe. Hungarian losses were heavy, undermining their ability to mount future campaigns. This battle reinforced the strategic importance of Kosovo as a crossroads in Balkan geopolitics.
1448
Second Battle of Kosovo
1456day.year
The University of Greifswald is established as the second oldest university in northern Europe.
The University of Greifswald opens its doors, becoming the second oldest university in northern Europe and a center of medieval learning.
Founded on October 17, 1456 by a papal bull issued by Pope Calixtus III, the University of Greifswald was sponsored by the Swedish monarch and the city council. It aimed to educate clergy and civil servants in the Hanseatic region, fostering humanist scholarship. Faculties of theology, law, medicine, and arts attracted students from across the Holy Roman Empire and Scandinavia. The institution contributed to the spread of Renaissance ideas in Northern Europe and became influential in Protestant Reformation debates. Its library amassed significant medieval manuscripts and later printed works. Today, the university continues as a venerable academic institution with a proud heritage spanning over five centuries.
1456
University of Greifswald
1534day.year
Anti-Catholic posters appear in Paris and other cities supporting Huldrych Zwingli's position on the Mass.
Anti-Catholic posters defending Huldrych Zwingli's critiques of the Mass appear across Paris, igniting controversy within the French Church.
In October 1534, clandestine posters criticizing the Catholic Mass and supporting Swiss reformer Huldrych Zwingli's ideas were plastered on the gates of Parisian churches and other cities. These provocations challenged the authority of the French clergy and sparked heated debates about church doctrine. The anonymous authors used the public display to reach a wide audience and defend Protestant reforms. King Francis I responded by ordering arrests and interrogations, marking an early clash between Renaissance humanism and established orthodoxy in France. The incident foreshadowed the spread of Protestantism in the nation and contributed to rising tensions that would later erupt into the French Wars of Religion. It remains a landmark moment in the history of religious dissent and printed propaganda.
1534
Anti-Catholic posters
Huldrych Zwingli
1558day.year
Poczta Polska, the Polish postal service, is founded.
Poczta Polska, the national postal service of Poland, is established, laying the foundation for organized communication across the kingdom.
On October 17, 1558, King Sigismund II Augustus issued a royal charter creating Poczta Polska to oversee mail delivery and courier services. The new institution introduced regular routes linking major cities of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, improving government administration and commerce. Riders known as kurierzy carried official dispatches, while expanding networks reached rural areas in subsequent decades. Poczta Polska implemented standardized rates and timetables, setting a model for later European postal systems. Over time, it would evolve into a modern state-run corporation, adapting to technological changes such as railways and telegraphs. Its founding is celebrated as a milestone in Poland's communication history.
1558
Poczta Polska
1604day.year
Kepler's Supernova is observed in the constellation of Ophiuchus.
Astronomers witness Kepler's Supernova in Ophiuchus, the last supernova observed in our galaxy to date.
On October 17, 1604, Johannes Kepler and other European astronomers documented a bright new star in the constellation Ophiuchus. Now known as Kepler's Supernova, it reached peak magnitude comparable to Venus and remained visible to the naked eye for over a year. Kepler published detailed observations in his work, 'De Stella Nova', marking a significant advancement in early telescopic astronomy. The event challenged the Aristotelian belief in unchanging heavens and influenced the scientific revolution. Remnants of the supernova are still studied by modern astrophysicists to understand stellar explosions and cosmic evolution. It stands as the most recent supernova visible without telescopes in the Milky Way.
1604
Kepler's Supernova
1610day.year
French king Louis XIII is crowned in Reims Cathedral.
Louis XIII is crowned King of France at Reims Cathedral, ushering in a new chapter for the Bourbon dynasty.
Following the assassination of his father, Henry IV, in 1610, the seven-year-old Louis XIII was formally crowned on October 17 at Reims Cathedral. The regency was guided by his mother, Marie de' Medici, while the young monarch assumed the Bourbon legacy. The coronation ceremony reinforced royal authority and the divine right of kings amidst political factions at the French court. Cardinals and peers of the realm attended, bestowing the traditional symbols of monarchy: the crown, scepter, and sword. Despite his youth, Louis XIII's reign would later see the rise of Cardinal Richelieu and the strengthening of royal absolutism. The event solidified the continuity of Bourbon rule during a critical period of French history.
1610
Louis XIII
1660day.year
The nine regicides who signed the death warrant of Charles I of England are hanged, drawn and quartered.
Nine regicides are executed for their role in King Charles I's execution, symbolizing the Restoration's reclaiming of royal justice.
On October 17, 1660, following the Restoration of the monarchy under Charles II, nine men who had signed the death warrant of Charles I were subjected to hanging, drawing, and quartering at Charing Cross in London. These executions were intended as public retribution and a deterrent to future rebellion against the crown. Crowds gathered to witness the gruesome punishments, seeing it as a restoration of order after the chaos of the Interregnum. The event underscored the restored monarchy's determination to avenge the regicide and reassert royal authority. A tenth signatory, Richard Ingoldsby, had his sentence commuted due to his help in the Restoration. This episode exemplifies the violent pendulum swings of loyalty and punishment during England's tumultuous mid-17th century.
1660
nine regicides
Charles I of England
1662day.year
Charles II of England sells Dunkirk to Louis XIV of France for 40,000 pounds.
In 1662, Charles II of England sold the strategic port of Dunkirk to Louis XIV of France for 40,000 pounds.
In the aftermath of financial struggles, Charles II decided to sell Dunkirk to Louis XIV for much-needed revenue. The transaction transferred control of the strategic North Sea port, which England had captured from Spain. France's acquisition bolstered Louis XIV's naval and political influence in Europe. For England, the sale provided critical funds but sparked debate over relinquishing such a valuable asset. This diplomatic move reflected the complex alliances and economic pressures of 17th-century European politics.
1662
sells Dunkirk
1713day.year
Great Northern War: Russia defeats Sweden in the Battle of Kostianvirta in Pälkäne.
In 1713, during the Great Northern War, Russian forces defeated the Swedish army at the Battle of Kostianvirta in Pälkäne.
As part of the protracted Great Northern War, Russian troops achieved a decisive victory over Sweden along the Kostianvirta River. The battle showcased Russia's growing military prowess under Tsar Peter the Great. Swedish forces, stretched thin by multiple fronts, were unable to hold their positions and retreated. This triumph weakened Sweden's hold in the Baltic region and contributed to its eventual decline as a great power. The outcome further solidified Russia's dominance in Northern Europe and set the stage for peace negotiations that reshaped the regional balance.
1713
Great Northern War
Russia
Sweden
Battle of Kostianvirta
Pälkäne