97day.year
Roman emperor Nerva is forced by the Praetorian Guard to adopt general Marcus Ulpius Trajanus as his heir and successor.
Emperor Nerva adopts Marcus Ulpius Trajanus as his heir under pressure from the Praetorian Guard.
In AD 97, Emperor Nerva faced unrest within the Praetorian Guard demanding a stronger leader.
Under this pressure, he adopted General Marcus Ulpius Trajanus as his official successor.
This unprecedented move quelled the Guard's discontent and established stability in the imperial succession.
Trajan's designation marked the start of the era of the "Five Good Emperors," noted for prosperity and expansion.
The event underscored the military's influence in Rome and reshaped the future leadership of the empire.
97
Nerva
Praetorian Guard
Marcus Ulpius Trajanus
306day.year
Maxentius is proclaimed Roman emperor.
Maxentius seizes power in Rome and proclaims himself emperor in AD 306.
In October AD 306, following his father Maximian's death, Maxentius capitalized on public unrest in Rome.
He rallied the Praetorian Guard and disaffected citizens to support his claim to the throne.
His bold proclamation challenged the existing tetrarchic system and ignited a new civil conflict.
Maxentius's rise highlighted the fragility of imperial succession and reshaped Western Roman politics.
This moment set the stage for his eventual confrontation with Constantine I.
306
Maxentius
Roman emperor
312day.year
Constantine I defeats Maxentius, becoming the sole Roman emperor in the West.
Constantine I defeats Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge and becomes sole Western Roman Emperor.
On October 28, 312 AD, Constantine the Great achieved a decisive victory over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.
Emboldened by a reputed divine vision, his legions routed the opposing forces along the Tiber River.
The triumph secured Constantine's sole rule over the Western Empire and reshaped Roman leadership.
This pivotal battle set the path for Constantine's endorsement of Christianity and imperial reforms.
Maxentius's death in combat marked the end of a rival claim and the dawn of a new era.
312
defeats Maxentius
969day.year
The Byzantine Empire recovers Antioch from Arab rule.
Byzantine forces recapture Antioch from Arab control in AD 969.
In 969, Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas led the Byzantine army to retake the strategically vital city of Antioch.
After a protracted siege, the Byzantines restored imperial authority over this key Syrian city.
The reconquest bolstered the empire's eastern frontier and served as a major symbolic victory.
Antioch's recovery improved trade routes and reinforced Byzantium's influence in the Levant.
This triumph marked a resurgence of military strength during the Macedonian Renaissance.
969
Byzantine Empire
recovers Antioch
1344day.year
The lower town of Smyrna is captured by Latin Christians in response to Aydınid piracy during the Smyrniote crusades.
Latin Christian forces capture the lower town of Smyrna during the Smyrniote Crusades in 1344.
In October 1344, Latin Christian crusaders under the Knights of Rhodes stormed and seized the lower town of Smyrna.
The assault aimed to halt Aydınid pirate raids that threatened Aegean commerce and coastal settlements.
Smyrna's capture provided a strategic base for future crusading expeditions in Anatolia.
The victory disrupted regional piracy and strengthened Latin influence in the Eastern Mediterranean.
This event reshaped power dynamics and underscored the ongoing conflict between Christian and Muslim powers.
1344
Aydınid
Smyrniote crusades
1420day.year
Beijing is officially designated the capital of the Ming dynasty when the Forbidden City is completed.
Beijing is proclaimed the Ming dynasty's capital upon the completion of the Forbidden City in 1420.
In October 1420, Emperor Yongle moved the imperial court to Beijing, marking the completion of the grand Forbidden City.
Designed as a majestic palace complex, it symbolized the emperor's absolute power and cosmic order.
The relocation from Nanjing transformed Beijing into the political and cultural heart of China.
The Forbidden City's intricate layout of gates, halls, and gardens became the epicenter of imperial governance.
This landmark event solidified Ming authority and left a lasting architectural legacy.
1420
Beijing
Ming dynasty
Forbidden City
1449day.year
Christian I is crowned king of Denmark.
Christian I is crowned King of Denmark in 1449, founding the Oldenburg dynasty.
On October 28, 1449, Christian I was inaugurated as King of Denmark in Copenhagen.
His coronation united Denmark, Norway, and later Sweden under the emerging Oldenburg line.
Christian's reign strengthened royal authority, fostered trade, and navigated the complexities of the Kalmar Union.
His leadership established a dynasty that would influence Scandinavian politics for centuries.
This ceremony marked the beginning of a new era in Northern European monarchy.
1449
Christian I
1453day.year
Ladislaus the Posthumous is crowned king of Bohemia in Prague.
Ladislaus the Posthumous is crowned King of Bohemia in Prague in 1453.
In October 1453, the infant Ladislaus the Posthumous was solemnly crowned King of Bohemia in Prague.
His ascent, backed by powerful regents, reflected the Habsburgs' growing influence in Central Europe.
Despite his youth, his coronation aimed to stabilize the kingdom after the Hussite wars.
Ladislaus's reign unfolded under regency and internal rivalries that tested the Bohemian crown.
This event highlighted dynastic ambitions and the political complexities of 15th-century Bohemia.
1453
Ladislaus the Posthumous
1492day.year
Christopher Columbus lands in Cuba on his first voyage to the New World, surmising that it is Japan.
Christopher Columbus lands on Cuba during his first voyage in 1492, mistaking it for Japan.
On October 28, 1492, Christopher Columbus reached the shores of Cuba, believing he had found the Japanese islands.
His arrival marked one of the earliest European contacts with the Caribbean region.
Columbus's misidentification highlighted the limits of medieval geography and seafaring knowledge.
His encounter with indigenous Taíno communities initiated profound cultural exchanges and conflicts.
This historic landing ushered in the Age of Exploration and reshaped global history.
1492
Christopher Columbus
Cuba
first voyage to the New World
1516day.year
Second Ottoman–Mamluk War: Mamluks fail to stop the Ottoman advance towards Egypt at the Battle of Yaunis Khan.
Ottoman forces defeat the Mamluks at the Battle of Yaunis Khan in 1516 during the Second Ottoman–Mamluk War.
In October 1516, Sultan Selim I led the Ottoman army to victory over Mamluk forces near Yaunis Khan in the Levant.
The decisive win broke Mamluk defensive lines and opened the path toward Egypt.
Ottoman superior tactics and artillery showcased a shift in regional military power.
This triumph paved the way for the conquest of Cairo and the annexation of the Mamluk Sultanate.
The battle marked a turning point in Middle Eastern geopolitics under Ottoman dominance.
1516
Second Ottoman–Mamluk War
Battle of Yaunis Khan
1520day.year
Ferdinand Magellan reaches the Pacific Ocean.
Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan navigates through the Strait of Magellan and becomes the first European to enter the Pacific Ocean, opening a new era of global exploration.
On October 28, 1520, Ferdinand Magellan and his fleet emerged from the Atlantic through the treacherous passage that now bears his name and entered what he called the 'Pacific Ocean'. This achievement marked the first recorded European crossing from the Atlantic into the Pacific, confirming new maritime routes to Asia. Magellan's crew endured extreme weather, unpredictable currents, and challenging terrain throughout the journey. The successful navigation of this route reshaped European maps and expanded horizons for global trade. Although Magellan would not complete the voyage himself, this milestone paved the way for the first circumnavigation of the world and forever changed seafaring history.
1520
Ferdinand Magellan
1531day.year
Abyssinian–Adal war: The Adal Sultanate seizes southern Ethiopia.
In 1531, forces of the Adal Sultanate captured key territories in southern Ethiopia during the ongoing Abyssinian–Adal war.
The year 1531 saw a major advance for the Adal Sultanate as its armies seized control of southern Ethiopian provinces amid the protracted Abyssinian–Adal conflict. This campaign strengthened Adal's influence in the region and disrupted the established political order. The capture altered vital trade routes and intensified religious and cultural tensions between Muslim and Christian states. Local communities faced upheaval as governance structures were replaced and resources redirected. These events foreshadowed continued clashes that would shape the Horn of Africa's future for decades.
1531
Abyssinian–Adal war
Adal Sultanate
seizes