220day.year
Emperor Xian of Han is forced to abdicate the throne by Cao Cao's son Cao Pi, ending the Han dynasty.
In 220, Emperor Xian of Han was compelled to abdicate the throne to Cao Pi, marking the end of the Eastern Han dynasty.
By the early 3rd century, the Han dynasty’s authority had been eroded by powerful warlords, with Cao Cao holding real power as chancellor. After Cao Cao’s death, his son Cao Pi forced Emperor Xian to step down on December 11, 220. This formal abdication ended over four centuries of Han rule in China. Cao Pi then established the state of Cao Wei, initiating the tripartite division known as the Three Kingdoms period. The moment reshaped Chinese imperial history and remains a defining milestone in the nation’s complex dynastic cycle.
220
Emperor Xian of Han
Cao Cao
Cao Pi
ending the Han dynasty
361day.year
Julian enters Constantinople as sole Roman Emperor.
In 361, Julian returned to Constantinople and assumed sole rule as Roman Emperor after the death of Constantius II.
Julian, later known as "the Apostate," had been appointed Caesar under his cousin Constantius II but was proclaimed emperor by his troops in April 360. After Constantius’s unexpected death in November 361, Julian made his formal entrance into Constantinople on December 11. His ascension marked a dramatic shift as he pursued religious and administrative reforms, promoting pagan traditions over Christianity. Julian’s brief reign left a notable imprint on the late Roman Empire’s political and religious landscape.
361
Julian
Constantinople
Roman Emperor
861day.year
Assassination of the Abbasid caliph al-Mutawakkil by the Turkish guard, who raise al-Muntasir to the throne, start of the "Anarchy at Samarra".
In 861, Caliph al-Mutawakkil was assassinated by his Turkish guard, ushering in the chaotic Anarchy at Samarra.
Al-Mutawakkil, who had moved the Abbasid capital to Samarra and pursued grand architectural projects, had a tense relationship with his Turkish guards. On December 11, 861, those guards assassinated him in a palace conspiracy and installed his son al-Muntasir as caliph. The ensuing period, known as the Anarchy at Samarra, saw a rapid turnover of caliphs, military dominance over the caliphate, and deep political instability that weakened Abbasid authority across the Islamic world.
861
Abbasid
al-Mutawakkil
al-Muntasir
Anarchy at Samarra
969day.year
Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas is assassinated by his wife Theophano and her lover, the later Emperor John I Tzimiskes.
In 969, Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas was murdered in his bath by conspirators, including his wife Theophano and John I Tzimiskes.
Nikephoros II Phokas, celebrated for his military campaigns against Arab forces, had alienated court factions with his austere rule and favoritism. On December 11, 969, a palace plot led by his wife Theophano and her lover, General John Tzimiskes, resulted in his assassination during a ceremonial bath. Tzimiskes then ascended the throne as John I, shifting imperial policy and securing his own legitimacy through diplomatic marriages and church support. The event underscored the lethal intrigue of Byzantine court politics.
969
Byzantine Emperor
Nikephoros II Phokas
Theophano
John I Tzimiskes
1041day.year
Michael V, adoptive son of Empress Zoë of Byzantium, is proclaimed emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire.
In 1041, Michael V was proclaimed Byzantine emperor, the adopted son of Empress Zoë.
Empress Zoë, daughter of Constantine VIII, adopted her nephew Michael V to secure succession during a turbulent dynastic period. On December 11, 1041, Michael V was crowned co-emperor and soon took sole rule after Zoe and her sister Theodora were sidelined. His brief reign featured controversial reforms and purges that angered key factions, leading to public unrest and his eventual overthrow. The power struggles highlighted the fragility of imperial succession in mid-11th-century Byzantium.
1041
Michael V
Zoë of Byzantium
Eastern Roman Empire
1239day.year
Treaty of Benavente: the heiresses of the Kingdom of León renounce their throne to King Ferdinand III of Castile
In 1239, the Treaty of Benavente saw the Leonese heiresses renounce their claim, uniting León with Castile under Ferdinand III.
Following the death of King Alfonso IX of León, his daughters Sancha and Dulce were poised to inherit. On December 11, 1239, they signed the Treaty of Benavente, relinquishing their rights in favor of their half-brother Ferdinand III of Castile. This dynastic union created one of medieval Spain’s largest kingdoms and strengthened Christian kingdoms during the Reconquista. The treaty laid groundwork for the eventual emergence of a unified Spanish monarchy.
1239
Treaty of Benavente
Kingdom of León
Ferdinand III of Castile
1282day.year
Battle of Orewin Bridge: Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales, is killed at Cilmeri near Builth Wells in mid-Wales.
In 1282, the native Prince of Wales, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, was slain at the Battle of Orewin Bridge, marking the end of Welsh independence.
Edward I of England’s push to subdue Wales culminated on December 11, 1282, when Llywelyn ap Gruffudd’s forces were ambushed at Orewin Bridge near Cilmeri. Llywelyn, the last autonomous ruler of Gwynedd, was killed in the ambush. His death extinguished the leadership of native Welsh princes and paved the way for Edward’s conquest. The battle’s outcome led to the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284, which incorporated Wales into the English legal and administrative system.
1282
Battle of Orewin Bridge
Llywelyn ap Gruffudd
Prince of Wales
Cilmeri
Builth Wells
mid-Wales
1602day.year
A surprise attack by forces under the command of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, and his brother-in-law, Philip III of Spain, is repelled by the citizens of Geneva. (Commemorated annually by the Fête de l'Escalade.)
In 1602, citizens of Geneva repelled a surprise attack by Savoyard and Spanish forces, an event now celebrated as the Fête de l'Escalade.
On the night of December 11–12, 1602, troops sent by Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy and Philip III of Spain attempted to scale Geneva’s walls in a bid to regain control of the rebellious city. Alarmed residents and watchmen thwarted the assault by pouring boiling soup on the invaders. The failure preserved Geneva’s independence and Calvinist identity. Today, the annual Fête de l’Escalade commemorates the victory with parades, chocolate cauldrons, and historical reenactments, celebrating civic unity and resilience.
1602
Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy
Philip III of Spain
Geneva
Fête de l'Escalade
1640day.year
The Root and Branch petition, signed by 15,000 Londoners calling for the abolition of the episcopacy, is presented to the Long Parliament.
In 1640, 15,000 Londoners presented the Root and Branch petition to Parliament, demanding abolition of the episcopacy in the Church of England.
Amid rising Puritan influence and tensions over church governance, a petition signed by thousands of London citizens was brought before the Long Parliament on December 11, 1640. Calling for the 'root and branch' removal of bishops, it challenged the Church of England’s hierarchical structure. The petition ignited fierce debate over religious authority and contributed to the political divisions that led to the English Civil War. It remains a landmark moment in the struggle for parliamentary power and religious reform.
1640
Root and Branch petition
episcopacy
Long Parliament
1675day.year
Antonio de Vea expedition enters San Rafael Lake in western Patagonia.
In 1675, the Antonio de Vea expedition reached and explored San Rafael Lake in western Patagonia.
Commissioned by the Spanish Crown to investigate foreign incursions along the south Pacific coast, Antonio de Vea led a naval expedition that entered San Rafael Lake on December 11, 1675. The team navigated glacial waters, documented the surrounding ice fields, and recorded indigenous Chono and Kawésqar communities. Their charts and reports provided some of the first European observations of Patagonia’s fjords and glaciers, contributing to the mapping of the region and Spain’s colonial understanding of its southern territories.
1675
Antonio de Vea expedition
San Rafael Lake
1688day.year
Glorious Revolution: James II of England, while trying to flee to France, throws the Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames.
During the Glorious Revolution, King James II attempted to flee England and dramatically threw the Great Seal into the River Thames as he sought refuge in France.
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 saw William of Orange invited to depose the Catholic King James II and restore Protestant rule.
As William's forces advanced, James attempted to escape to France in disguise under cover of darkness.
In a symbolic gesture of his downfall, he cast the Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames rather than surrender it to his opponents.
The Great Seal represented the monarch's authority to enact laws and govern the kingdom.
Its disposal in the Thames marked the end of James II's reign and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy under William and Mary.
The incident became emblematic of the transfer of power and the limits of royal prerogative.
Historians regard the act as both a desperate flight and a potent symbol of monarchical transition.
1688
Glorious Revolution
James II of England
Great Seal of the Realm
River Thames
1792day.year
French Revolution: King Louis XVI of France is put on trial for treason by the National Convention.
King Louis XVI is brought to trial for treason by the National Convention during the French Revolution.
In December 1792, following the abolition of the monarchy, France's National Convention charged Louis XVI with treason.
The trial marked a radical assertion of popular sovereignty over royal privilege.
Accused of conspiring with foreign powers, Louis faced charges of betraying the revolutionary cause.
Proceedings were widely publicized and deeply divided public opinion at home and abroad.
The convention's vote would determine the fate of the once-absolute monarch.
This landmark event set a precedent for holding sovereigns accountable under law.
It culminated in Louis XVI's execution in January 1793, intensifying the revolution and its international repercussions.
1792
French Revolution
Louis XVI of France
is put on trial for treason
National Convention