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
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
1640day.year
The Treaty of Ripon is signed, ending the hostilities of the Second Bishops’ War.
The Treaty of Ripon concludes the Second Bishops’ War between England and Scotland, temporarily halting military actions.
Signed on October 28, 1640, the Treaty of Ripon brought an end to the Second Bishops’ War, a conflict triggered by King Charles I’s attempts to impose Anglican reforms on the Scottish Church. The agreement allowed Scottish forces to occupy parts of northern England until reparations were paid. It also forced Charles I to summon the English Parliament to raise funds, setting the stage for the Long Parliament and the subsequent English Civil War. The treaty highlighted the tensions between royal authority and religious autonomy in the British Isles.
1640
Treaty of Ripon
Second Bishops’ War
1664day.year
The Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot, later to be known as the Royal Marines, is established.
The Duke of York and Albany’s Maritime Regiment of Foot is formed, marking the foundation of the future Royal Marines.
On October 28, 1664, the Duke of York and Albany authorized the creation of a specialized maritime infantry troop intended to serve aboard Royal Navy ships. This unit, initially named the Duke of York and Albany’s Maritime Regiment of Foot, provided sailors with trained soldiers capable of shipborne operations and amphibious assaults. Over time, the regiment evolved into the Royal Marines, an essential component of Britain’s naval power. Their formation reflected the growing importance of combined naval and land forces in 17th-century warfare.
1664
Royal Marines
1835day.year
The United Tribes of New Zealand are established with the signature of the Declaration of Independence.
A group of northern Māori chiefs signed the Declaration of Independence in 1835, creating the United Tribes of New Zealand under British protection.
On October 28, 1835, 34 Māori chiefs met at Waitangi to sign the Declaration of Independence, affirming their sovereignty and uniting as the United Tribes of New Zealand.\nDrafted with the assistance of British Resident James Busby, the document sought recognition from the Crown to guard against French colonial ambitions.\nThe declaration was acknowledged by King William IV in 1836, laying early groundwork for New Zealand’s constitutional development.\nIt represents a seminal moment in the assertion of Māori political agency and identity.
1835
United Tribes of New Zealand
Declaration of Independence
1886day.year
US president Grover Cleveland dedicates the Statue of Liberty.
President Grover Cleveland officially dedicated the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, celebrating Franco-American friendship and liberty.
On October 28, 1886, President Grover Cleveland presided over the dedication ceremony of the Statue of Liberty on Bedloe's Island.\nA gift from France designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and engineered by Gustave Eiffel, the statue symbolized freedom and democracy.\nThousands attended as the colossal figure was unveiled, accompanied by military salutes and ceremonial fanfare.\nThe event cemented the monument’s status as an enduring icon of welcome for millions of immigrants arriving in America.
1886
Grover Cleveland
Statue of Liberty
1918day.year
World War I: A new Polish government in western Galicia is established, triggering the Polish–Ukrainian War.
A provisional Polish government formed in western Galicia ignited the Polish–Ukrainian War amid the post-WWI power vacuum.
On October 28, 1918, Polish leaders in Lviv proclaimed a civil administration for Western Galicia following the collapse of Austro-Hungarian authority.\nUkrainian nationalists opposed the Polish claim, leading to armed clashes the next day and the start of the Polish–Ukrainian War.\nThe brief conflict highlighted competing visions for Central Europe after WWI.\nAlthough the fighting ended with Polish control over most of Galicia, the war foreshadowed later border disputes.\nIt shaped the interwar map of Eastern Europe and national identities.
1918
World War I
Polish–Ukrainian War
1918day.year
World War I: Czech politicians peacefully take over the city of Prague, thus establishing the First Czechoslovak Republic.
Czech leaders seized control of Prague without bloodshed, paving the way for the independent Czechoslovak Republic.
On October 28, 1918, Czech National Council members and crowds of supporters entered Prague, asserting authority as Austria-Hungary collapsed.\nBuildings were taken peacefully, and resistance from imperial troops was minimal.\nLater that day, the National Council proclaimed the establishment of the First Czechoslovak Republic.\nThe new state united Czechs and Slovaks under democratic institutions led by Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.\nIt marked the beginning of Czechoslovakia’s two-decade existence until World War II.
First Czechoslovak Republic
1919day.year
The U.S. Congress passes the Volstead Act over President Woodrow Wilson's veto, paving the way for Prohibition to begin the following January.
Congress overrode President Wilson’s veto to enact the Volstead Act, enforcing national Prohibition in the United States.
On October 28, 1919, the U.S. Congress passed the Volstead Act, defining the legal framework for the 18th Amendment’s ban on alcohol.\nPresident Woodrow Wilson had vetoed the measure, but legislators overturned his objection by sufficient margins.\nThe act outlined enforcement measures, penalties, and the prohibition of beverages with over 0.5% alcohol.\nProhibition officially commenced on January 17, 1920, fueling bootlegging, speakeasies, and social debates that lasted a decade.
1919
Volstead Act
Woodrow Wilson
Prohibition