498day.year
After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Palace, while Laurentius is elected Pope in Santa Maria Maggiore.
Following the death of Pope Anastasius II, rival factions elect Symmachus and Laurentius as popes, triggering a major schism in the early Church.
In 498, the passing of Pope Anastasius II led to a disputed papal election in Rome. Symmachus was chosen by clerical supporters at the Lateran Palace, while a rival faction installed Laurentius at Santa Maria Maggiore. This rare dual election reflected deep divisions over theological authority and church governance. Both claimants appealed to the Byzantine emperor for validation, intertwining religious and imperial politics. The resulting schism endured for years, causing instability within the Western Church. Imperial intervention eventually recognized Symmachus, shaping future procedures for selecting the Bishop of Rome.
498
Anastasius II
Symmachus
Lateran Palace
Laurentius
Santa Maria Maggiore
845day.year
The first duke of Brittany, Nominoe, defeats the Frankish king Charles the Bald at the Battle of Ballon near Redon.
Duke Nominoe of Brittany scores a landmark victory against King Charles the Bald at the Battle of Ballon, securing Breton autonomy.
In 845, Nominoe, later recognized as the first Duke of Brittany, challenged Frankish authority by confronting King Charles the Bald near Redon. Employing guerrilla tactics and leveraging local terrain, Breton forces achieved a decisive win at the Battle of Ballon. The defeat weakened Carolingian control and compelled Charles to grant Brittany greater autonomy. This victory cemented Nominoe’s status and laid the foundation for a distinct Breton polity. The outcome influenced subsequent regional uprisings across the fragmented Carolingian Empire. Nominoe’s triumph remains a defining moment in Brittany’s history.
845
Brittany
Nominoe
Charles the Bald
Battle of Ballon
Redon
1307day.year
Pope Clement V issues the papal bull Pastoralis Praeeminentiae which instructed all Christian monarchs in Europe to arrest all Templars and seize their assets.
Pope Clement V issues Pastoralis Praeeminentiae, ordering European monarchs to arrest Knights Templar members and confiscate their assets.
In 1307, under pressure from King Philip IV of France, Pope Clement V promulgated the papal bull Pastoralis Praeeminentiae. The decree commanded all Christian rulers to detain members of the Knights Templar and seize their extensive properties. Accusations of heresy, financial misconduct, and secret rituals were used to justify the crackdown. Templars across Europe were arrested, tried, and tortured, leading to the dissolution of the once-powerful order. Their vast banking network was dismantled, altering medieval finance and land ownership. The event underscored the complex interplay between papal authority and royal ambition in the late Middle Ages.
1307
Pope Clement V
Pastoralis Praeeminentiae
Templars
1574day.year
Spanish navigator Juan Fernández discovers islands now known as the Juan Fernández Islands off Chile.
Spanish explorer Juan Fernández spots a remote archipelago off Chile, later named the Juan Fernández Islands.
On November 22, 1574, Juan Fernández, navigating for Spain, encountered a cluster of uninhabited islands in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. These islands, situated roughly 400 miles west of mainland Chile, would bear his name. Fernández’s discovery provided vital waypoints for ships traveling between the Americas and Asia. The archipelago’s unique wildlife and vegetation later drew naturalists and inspired tales of castaways, most famously Robinson Crusoe. Strategic as a resupply station, the islands played roles in maritime exploration and trade. Their discovery highlighted Spain’s growing presence in Pacific navigation during the Age of Discovery.
1574
Juan Fernández
Juan Fernández Islands
Chile
1635day.year
Dutch colonial forces on Taiwan launch a pacification campaign against native villages, resulting in Dutch control of the middle and south of the island.
Dutch colonial forces in Taiwan initiate a campaign to subdue indigenous villages, securing control over central and southern regions.
In 1635, the Dutch East India Company intensified its push to dominate Taiwan’s indigenous populations. Colonial troops launched coordinated operations against native villages in the island’s central and southern areas. Employing firearms and fortified positions, the Dutch overcame staunch resistance from local tribes. The campaign resulted in the establishment of Dutch governance over fertile agricultural lands and strategic ports. Indigenous communities faced displacement, forced labor, and cultural upheaval. This conquest solidified Taiwan’s integration into global trade networks and demonstrated the era’s expanding European colonial reach in East Asia.
1635
Dutch colonial forces
Taiwan
pacification campaign
native villages
1718day.year
Royal Navy Lieutenant Robert Maynard attacks and boards the vessels of the British pirate Edward Teach (best known as "Blackbeard") off the coast of North Carolina. The casualties on both sides include Maynard's first officer Mister Hyde and Teach himself.
Lieutenant Robert Maynard of the Royal Navy engages and defeats the notorious pirate Blackbeard off North Carolina’s coast.
On November 22, 1718, Lieutenant Robert Maynard led two Royal Navy sloops in pursuit of the infamous pirate Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard. After cornering Blackbeard’s vessel near Ocracoke Inlet, Maynard’s men launched a surprise boarding action. The fierce close-quarters battle resulted in heavy casualties, including Maynard’s first officer, Mister Hyde. Blackbeard himself was slain in the melee, ending one of the Golden Age of Piracy’s most feared careers. Maynard’s victory was celebrated in Britain and helped restore safety to Atlantic shipping lanes. The dramatic confrontation remains legendary in naval lore.
1718
Royal Navy
Robert Maynard
Blackbeard
North Carolina
1837day.year
Canadian journalist and politician William Lyon Mackenzie calls for a rebellion against the United Kingdom in his essay "To the People of Upper Canada", published in his newspaper The Constitution.
William Lyon Mackenzie publishes a call for rebellion against British rule in Upper Canada, advocating for political reform and self-governance.
In 1837, William Lyon Mackenzie, a fiery journalist and politician, authored the essay "To the People of Upper Canada," decrying colonial injustices under British rule. Published in The Constitution, his newspaper, the essay urged citizens to rise up for responsible government and civil liberties. Mackenzie’s impassioned words galvanized reformers and set the stage for the Upper Canada Rebellion later that year. Though the uprising was swiftly quelled by colonial forces, it exposed governance flaws and public discontent. The British government responded by sending Lord Durham to investigate, eventually leading to critical reforms. Mackenzie’s activism thus played a pivotal role in Canada’s journey toward self-government.
1837
William Lyon Mackenzie
rebellion
Upper Canada
1855day.year
In Birmingham, England, Albert, Prince Consort lays the foundation stone of the Birmingham and Midland Institute.
Prince Albert lays the foundation for the Birmingham and Midland Institute, promoting education and culture in Victorian England.
On November 22, 1855, Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria, ceremonially laid the foundation stone of the Birmingham and Midland Institute. Established to advance science, literature, and the arts, the institute embodied Victorian ideals of self-improvement and public education. It offered lecture halls, libraries, and laboratories accessible to citizens of Birmingham and the surrounding Midlands. The project reflected broader efforts to address social challenges brought by rapid industrialization. Over the decades, the institute became a vibrant center for intellectual exchange, technical training, and community events. Its legacy persists in modern cultural and educational institutions across the city.
1855
Birmingham
Albert, Prince Consort
Birmingham and Midland Institute
1869day.year
In Dumbarton, Scotland, the clipper Cutty Sark is launched.
The legendary tea clipper Cutty Sark is launched in Dumbarton, Scotland, heralding a new era in fast sea travel.
On November 22, 1869, the sleek clipper ship Cutty Sark was launched at the shipyards in Dumbarton, Scotland. Commissioned to compete in the high-stakes tea trade between China and Britain, her design prioritized speed and agility. The vessel’s elegant hull and towering masts allowed her to set speed records on the China run. After her peak years carrying tea, the Cutty Sark was refitted to transport wool from Australia, showcasing her versatility. She became one of the last and fastest of the great clippers of the age of sail. Today, the Cutty Sark is preserved as a museum ship in Greenwich, celebrating Britain’s maritime heritage.
1869
Dumbarton
clipper
Cutty Sark
1873day.year
The French steamer SS Ville du Havre sinks in 12 minutes after colliding with the Scottish iron clipper Loch Earn in the Atlantic, with a loss of 226 lives.
The steamship SS Ville du Havre collides with the clipper Loch Earn and sinks rapidly, resulting in a tragic loss of 226 lives.
On November 22, 1873, the French steamship SS Ville du Havre, bound from New York to Le Havre, collided with the Scottish clipper Loch Earn in dense fog. The impact tore open the vessel’s hull, causing it to sink in just twelve minutes. Of the more than 300 passengers and crew on board, only 96 survived the disaster. The tragedy prompted international outcry and led to improvements in maritime safety regulations, including better fog signaling and watch protocols. Rescue efforts by nearby ships highlighted both the heroism and challenges of 19th-century sea travel. The sinking of the Ville du Havre remains one of the most significant transatlantic maritime accidents of its era.
1873
SS Ville du Havre
Loch Earn
1908day.year
The Congress of Manastir establishes the Albanian alphabet.
At the Congress of Manastir in 1908, Albanian delegates agree on a unified Latin-based alphabet, standardizing the language.
Held in Manastir (present-day Bitola), the 1908 Congress gathered Albanian intellectuals from across the Balkans to debate various scripts, including Arabic, Greek, and Latin. After extensive discussion, delegates adopted a 36-letter alphabet based on the Latin script, resolving regional differences and promoting literacy among Albanians under Ottoman rule. The decision provided a foundation for Albanian education, literature, and national unity. It remains the basis of the modern Albanian writing system.
1908
Congress of Manastir
Albanian alphabet
1921day.year
During The Troubles in Northern Ireland (1920–1922), 22 Irish Nationalists are killed in Belfast in one day.
On a single day in Belfast, 22 Irish Nationalists are killed amid escalating sectarian violence during the Irish struggle for independence.
On 22 November 1921, Belfast was torn by sectarian violence between loyalist and nationalist factions during the Irish War of Independence. Protestants opposed to Irish self-rule targeted Catholic neighborhoods in a wave of gun and bomb attacks. Throughout the day, 22 Irish Nationalists lost their lives, making it one of the bloodiest days in the city’s history. The bloodshed intensified calls for a ceasefire and hastened negotiations leading to the Anglo-Irish Treaty. The massacre left deep scars on the community and underscored the urgent need for a political settlement in Ireland.
1921
The Troubles in Northern Ireland (1920–1922)
Irish Nationalists