1095day.year
The Council of Clermont begins: called by Pope Urban II, it led to the First Crusade to the Holy Land.
Pope Urban II convened the Council of Clermont, where he called Western knights to liberate the Holy Land, sparking the First Crusade.
On November 18, 1095, Pope Urban II opened the Council of Clermont in France, gathering clergy and nobility to address the advance of Islamic powers. In a fervent speech, he urged Christian knights to take up arms to reclaim Jerusalem and support the Byzantine Empire. His call resonated across Europe, blending religious zeal with promises of forgiveness and land. The council’s decision set into motion the First Crusade, a decades-long military expedition. Thousands of knights, adventurers, and pilgrims responded, reshaping East-West relations. The crusade established crusader states and changed medieval warfare and diplomacy. It also deepened cultural exchanges—and conflicts—between Islam and Christianity. The Council of Clermont thus stands as a landmark in the history of religiously motivated warfare.
1095
Council of Clermont
Pope Urban II
First Crusade
Holy Land
1105day.year
Maginulfo is elected Antipope Sylvester IV in opposition to Pope Paschal II.
Maginulfo, taking the name Sylvester IV, was elected antipope in opposition to Pope Paschal II amid a fierce papal schism.
In 1105, a faction of cardinals loyal to Emperor Henry V rejected Pope Paschal II and elected Maginulfo as Antipope Sylvester IV. This election deepened a bitter dispute between secular and ecclesiastical authorities over investiture rights. Sylvester IV’s supporters controlled parts of Rome, challenging Paschal II’s legitimacy and disrupting church governance. The conflict reflected broader struggles between popes and emperors that dominated 11th- and 12th-century Christendom. Although Sylvester IV held the title for only a few months, his election underscored the potency of imperial influence over papal appointments. The schism eventually ended when negotiations restored unity, but it foreshadowed later contests over church independence. Historians view this episode as a key moment in the medieval investiture controversy.
1105
Antipope
Sylvester IV
Pope Paschal II
1210day.year
Pope Innocent III excommunicates Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV for invading the Kingdom of Sicily after promising to recognize papal control over it.
Pope Innocent III excommunicated Emperor Otto IV for breaking his promise and invading the Kingdom of Sicily, igniting a major church–state conflict.
On November 18, 1210, Pope Innocent III formally excommunicated Emperor Otto IV after he breached agreements by invading papal territories in Sicily. Innocent III had granted Otto imperial recognition in exchange for respect of papal sovereignty over southern Italy. Otto’s military campaign shattered that trust and challenged the pope’s authority. The excommunication isolated Otto within Christendom and bolstered the pope’s standing among European rulers. It also set the stage for Otto’s eventual defeat and removal by rival Frederick II. This clash exemplified the high-stakes diplomatic and military rivalry between popes and emperors. The incident reaffirmed papal rights and influenced medieval conceptions of spiritual versus temporal power. Scholars regard it as a defining episode in the struggle for supremacy in Europe.
1210
Pope Innocent III
excommunicates
Holy Roman Emperor
Otto IV
Kingdom of Sicily
1302day.year
Pope Boniface VIII issues the Papal bull Unam sanctam, claiming spiritual supremacy for the papacy.
Pope Boniface VIII promulgated Unam sanctam, a decree asserting that submission to the papal authority was necessary for salvation.
On November 18, 1302, Pope Boniface VIII issued the Papal bull Unam sanctam, one of the most forceful declarations of papal supremacy in history. The document proclaimed that temporal rulers must submit to the spiritual authority of the Church to attain salvation. It emerged from Boniface’s conflict with King Philip IV of France over taxation of the clergy. Unam sanctam drew sharp criticism from monarchs who saw it as a challenge to their sovereignty. The bull’s sweeping claims reverberated across Europe, sparking debates on the limits of ecclesiastical power. Although its immediate impact was curtailed by Philip’s seizure of Boniface shortly thereafter, the text influenced later canon law and church-state relations. Unam sanctam remains a landmark statement on medieval theories of authority.
1302
Pope Boniface VIII
Papal bull
Unam sanctam
1730day.year
The future Frederick the Great of Prussia is granted a pardon by his father and is released from confinement.
Future King Frederick the Great is pardoned by his father and released after months of confinement.
In January 1730, Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia attempted to flee his father's strict court and was detained at the fortress of Küstrin. After months of estrangement and diplomatic tension, Frederick William I granted his son a full pardon on November 18, 1730. The release marked a turning point in their relationship and set Frederick on a path to eventual kingship. Known for his military genius and enlightened rule, Frederick later became one of Prussia's most celebrated monarchs. His experience in confinement influenced his views on governance and personal freedom.
1730
Frederick the Great
1760day.year
The rebuilt debtors' prison, at the Castellania in Valletta, receives the first prisoners.
The rebuilt debtors' prison at the Castellania in Valletta officially opens its doors to its first inmates.
On November 18, 1760, Malta’s Castellania court complex inaugurated its newly rebuilt debtors’ prison. The Castellania had long served as the center of civil and criminal justice under the Knights Hospitaller. The updated facility aimed to improve the conditions for those detained over unpaid debts. This development reflected broader Enlightenment-era concerns for legal reform and humane treatment. The prison’s opening had a lasting impact on Malta’s justice system and social welfare oversight.
1760
debtors' prison
Castellania
Valletta
1863day.year
King Christian IX of Denmark signs the November constitution that declares Schleswig to be part of Denmark. This is seen by the German Confederation as a violation of the London Protocol and leads to the German–Danish war of 1864.
Denmark’s King Christian IX signs the November Constitution, declaring Schleswig part of Denmark and provoking conflict with the German Confederation.
On November 18, 1863, King Christian IX approved the November Constitution, incorporating the duchy of Schleswig into the Danish realm. The act contravened the 1852 London Protocol, which safeguarded Schleswig’s status among European powers. Prussia and Austria, leading the German Confederation, viewed the move as a direct challenge to their influence. The crisis escalated into the Second Schleswig War in 1864, reshaping the balance of power in Northern Europe. The conflict ultimately ended with Danish defeat and the transfer of Schleswig and Holstein to Prussian control.
1863
Christian IX of Denmark
November constitution
Schleswig
German Confederation
London Protocol
German–Danish war of 1864
1889day.year
Elisha P. Ferry is inaugurated as first governor of Washington.
Elisha P. Ferry is inaugurated as the first governor of the new state of Washington.
Following Washington’s admission as the 42nd U.S. state on November 11, 1889, Elisha P. Ferry took office as its inaugural governor on November 18. A former territorial governor and railroad executive, Ferry faced the challenge of establishing state institutions from scratch. He set up the executive branch, organized a public school system, and supported infrastructural development. Ferry worked to integrate the diverse populations of the Pacific Northwest under a unified state government. His administration laid the foundation for Washington’s political and economic growth in the 20th century.
1889
Elisha P. Ferry
Washington
1901day.year
Britain and the United States sign the Hay–Pauncefote Treaty, which nullifies the Clayton–Bulwer Treaty and withdraws British objections to an American-controlled canal in Panama.
Britain and the United States signed the Hay–Pauncefote Treaty, removing British objections to a U.S.-controlled Panama Canal.
It nullified the Clayton–Bulwer Treaty and paved the way for canal construction.
In 1901, the Hay–Pauncefote Treaty was signed between Britain and the United States.
It officially nullified the Clayton–Bulwer Treaty of 1850, ending British objections to a canal under American control.
The treaty granted the United States the exclusive right to construct and manage a canal across the Isthmus of Panama.
This agreement marked a turning point in U.S. foreign policy and diplomacy with European powers.
It laid the legal groundwork for the future Panama Canal project completed in 1914.
The treaty symbolized American growth as a global power in the early 20th century.
1901
Hay–Pauncefote Treaty
Clayton–Bulwer Treaty
1903day.year
The Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty is signed by the United States and Panama, giving the United States exclusive rights over the Panama Canal Zone.
The United States and Panama signed the Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty, granting the U.S. exclusive jurisdiction over the Panama Canal Zone.
In November 1903, following Panama’s separation from Colombia, the United States and Panama signed the Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty.
U.S. envoy Philippe Bunau-Varilla negotiated terms granting the U.S. control of the Canal Zone in perpetuity.
The agreement allowed the construction, management, and defense of the Panama Canal by U.S. authorities.
It sparked controversy in Panama over sovereignty and shaped U.S.-Latin America relations.
Construction began in 1904, culminating in the canal’s opening in 1914.
The treaty remained in force until it was superseded by the Torrijos–Carter Treaties of 1977.
1903
Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty
Panama
Panama Canal Zone
1905day.year
Prince Carl of Denmark becomes King Haakon VII of Norway.
Prince Carl of Denmark ascended the Norwegian throne, taking the regnal name King Haakon VII.
In 1905, Norway dissolved its 91-year union with Sweden and established an independent monarchy.
Prince Carl of Denmark was unanimously elected by the Norwegian parliament as king.
He accepted the throne and adopted the name Haakon VII, honoring Norwegian royal tradition.
His reign brought stability and modernisation to the young kingdom.
King Haakon VII guided Norway through two world wars and became a symbol of national unity.
He remained on the throne until his death in 1957, strengthening Norway’s democratic institutions.
1905
Haakon VII of Norway
1918day.year
Latvia declares its independence from Russia.
Latvia proclaimed its independence from Russia, establishing the Latvian Republic.
On November 18, 1918, amidst the turmoil of World War I's end, Latvian leaders declared the nation’s independence in Riga.
The proclamation ended centuries of foreign domination, first by German crusaders and later by the Russian Empire.
A provisional government formed under Kārlis Ulmanis to steer the new republic.
Latvia then fought a war of independence against Bolshevik and German forces from 1918 to 1920.
International recognition followed, and the Treaty of Riga solidified its sovereignty in 1920.
This day is now celebrated annually as Latvia’s National Day.
1918
Latvia