887day.year
Emperor Charles the Fat is deposed by the Frankish magnates in an assembly at Frankfurt, leading his nephew, Arnulf of Carinthia, to declare himself king of the East Frankish Kingdom in late November.
Emperor Charles the Fat was deposed by Frankish nobles in Frankfurt, and Arnulf of Carinthia claimed the East Frankish throne.
On November 17, 887, an assembly of Frankish magnates convened in Frankfurt and forced Emperor Charles the Fat from power.
The deposition marked the end of Charles's reign over a united Carolingian Empire.
Supporting nobles elected Arnulf of Carinthia, Charles's nephew, as their new ruler.
Arnulf's accession heralded the fragmentation of the empire into eastern and western realms.
This pivotal event reshaped the political landscape of medieval Europe.
887
Charles the Fat
magnates
Frankfurt
Arnulf of Carinthia
East Frankish Kingdom
1292day.year
John Balliol becomes King of Scotland.
In 1292, John Balliol was chosen as King of Scotland after a succession dispute known as the Great Cause.
Following the death of Margaret, Maid of Norway, Scotland faced a dynastic crisis.
King Edward I of England arbitrated among rival claimants in what became known as the Great Cause.
John Balliol emerged as the selected monarch, ascending the Scottish throne on November 17.
His reign was marked by tensions with Edward I and efforts to assert Scottish sovereignty.
Balliol's kingship set the stage for future conflicts in the Wars of Scottish Independence.
1292
John Balliol
1405day.year
Sharif ul-Hāshim establishes the Sultanate of Sulu.
In 1405, Sharif ul-Hāshim founded the Sultanate of Sulu in the southern Philippines, establishing a new Islamic polity.
Sharif ul-Hāshim, a noble from Johor, arrived in Sulu and allied with local chieftains.
He married a Sulu princess, solidifying his rule and establishing Islamic governance.
The Sultanate of Sulu became an important center for trade between Southeast Asia and China.
Its foundation marked the spread of Islam and the rise of Muslim sultanates in the archipelago.
The sultanate endured for centuries, influencing the region's political and cultural landscape.
1405
Sharif ul-Hāshim
Sultanate of Sulu
1494day.year
French King Charles VIII occupies Florence, Italy.
In 1494, King Charles VIII of France occupied Florence as part of his Italian campaign, signaling the start of the Italian Wars.
Charles VIII entered Italy to press his claim on the Kingdom of Naples.
On November 17, his forces marched into Florence, ousting Medici control.
The occupation frightened Italian powers and prompted new alliances.
It triggered a series of conflicts known as the Italian Wars that would last decades.
Florence's fall demonstrated France's military reach and reshaped Renaissance politics.
1494
Charles VIII
occupies Florence
1511day.year
Henry VIII of England concludes the Treaty of Westminster, a pledge of mutual aid against the French, with Ferdinand II of Aragon.
In 1511, Henry VIII of England and Ferdinand II of Aragon signed the Treaty of Westminster, aligning against France.
The treaty formalized a military alliance between England and Spain.
Henry VIII sought to curb French influence on the European mainland.
Ferdinand II, recently widowed, reinforced his position against France in Italy.
The agreement promised mutual aid and strategic cooperation.
This diplomatic move intensified the balance of power struggles of the Renaissance era.
1511
Henry VIII of England
Treaty of Westminster
Ferdinand II of Aragon
1558day.year
Elizabethan era begins: Queen Mary I of England dies and is succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth I of England.
In 1558, Queen Mary I died and was succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth I, ushering in the Elizabethan era.
Mary I's death on November 17 ended her five-year reign and religious persecutions.
Elizabeth I ascended to the throne, promising moderation and national stability.
Her reign sparked a cultural renaissance in literature, theatre, and exploration.
The Elizabethan era would see figures like Shakespeare and voyages to the New World.
Elizabeth's accession marked a turning point in English history and identity.
1558
Elizabethan era
Mary I of England
Elizabeth I of England
1603day.year
English explorer, writer and courtier Sir Walter Raleigh goes on trial for treason.
In 1603, Sir Walter Raleigh faced trial for treason before the Star Chamber under King James I.
Raleigh faced allegations of conspiring with Spain and challenging royal authority.
The trial at the Star Chamber was highly politicized and drew public attention.
Despite doubts about the evidence, Raleigh was condemned to death.
King James I initially spared his life but imprisoned him in the Tower of London.
Raleigh's trial reflected the fraught politics of succession and international intrigue.
1603
courtier
Walter Raleigh
treason
1777day.year
Articles of Confederation (United States) are submitted to the states for ratification.
In 1777, the Articles of Confederation were submitted to the American states for ratification, forming the first U.S. government framework.
The Continental Congress drafted the Articles to unite the thirteen colonies.
On November 17, they sent the document to state legislatures for approval.
These Articles established a loose confederation with limited central authority.
They laid the groundwork for American federalism and the later Constitution.
Ratification debates revealed challenges in balancing state and national powers.
1777
Articles of Confederation
1800,day.year
The United States Congress holds its first session in Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Congress convened for the first time in the newly founded capital, marking Washington, D.C.'s emergence as the seat of the federal government.
In November 1800, following the passage of the Residence Act, the United States Congress held its first session in Washington, D.C., in the nearly completed Capitol building. This relocation symbolized the establishment of the federal government's permanent seat, shifting power from Philadelphia. Lawmakers convened to address urgent matters, including organization of new federal offices and funding for city development. The session set the groundwork for the legislative traditions that continue in the United States. Washington's grid plan and grand avenues soon surrounded the Capitol, reflecting the nation's ambitions.
1800
United States Congress
session
1811day.year
José Miguel Carrera, Chilean founding father, is sworn in as President of the executive Junta of the government of Chile.
Chilean patriot José Miguel Carrera assumed leadership of the executive junta in 1811, playing a pivotal role in the nation's struggle for independence.
On November 17, 1811, José Miguel Carrera, a leading figure in Chile's early independence movement, was sworn in as President of the executive junta governing Chile. Under his leadership, the junta pursued political and military reforms aimed at breaking Spanish colonial rule. Carrera organized local militias and sought foreign support, laying the groundwork for future battles. He also introduced measures to establish an independent judiciary and modernize the administration. Although his tenure was marked by internal disputes, Carrera's bold actions galvanized Chilean patriots and shaped the nation's path toward sovereignty.
1811
José Miguel Carrera
Chile
1831day.year
Ecuador and Venezuela are separated from Gran Colombia.
In 1831, the republics of Ecuador and Venezuela broke away from Gran Colombia, reshaping the political landscape of northern South America.
On November 17, 1831, following political tensions after Simón Bolívar's resignation, both Ecuador and Venezuela formally seceded from the short-lived nation of Gran Colombia. The fragmentation resulted from regional disputes over central authority and economic policies. Dissolution of the union led to the emergence of three independent republics: Venezuela, Ecuador, and New Granada (modern-day Colombia). This reorganization redefined borders and power balances in the region, influencing future continental politics. The secession marked a turning point in Latin America's post-independence era, as new nations pursued distinct paths of governance and development.
1831
Ecuador
Venezuela
Gran Colombia
1856day.year
American Old West: On the Sonoita River in present-day southern Arizona, the United States Army establishes Fort Buchanan in order to help control new land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase.
Following the 1853 Gadsden Purchase, the U.S. Army founded Fort Buchanan in 1856 near the Sonoita River to secure the newly acquired southern Arizona territory.
In November 1856, as part of efforts to consolidate control over lands obtained in the Gadsden Purchase, the United States Army established Fort Buchanan along the Sonoita River in what is now southern Arizona. The fort served as a strategic outpost to protect settlers, trade routes, and territorial claims against potential Apache raids and Mexican incursions. Named after President James Buchanan, the post included barracks, stables, and supply depots that supported regional operations. Though short-lived—abandoned after the Civil War—Fort Buchanan played a key role in early American expansion in the Southwest. Its establishment reflected the U.S. government's broader policy of western settlement and frontier defense.
1856
American Old West
Sonoita River
Arizona
Fort Buchanan
Gadsden Purchase