687day.year
Pope Sergius I is elected as a compromise between antipopes Paschal and Theodore.
Pope Sergius I is elected in a settlement between rival papal claimants.
In 687, Roman clergy and nobles brokered a compromise to end the schism caused by antipopes Paschal and Theodore. Sergius, a respected priest of Syrian descent, was chosen as a unifying figure acceptable to both factions. His election ended a period of ecclesiastical division and conflict in Rome. As pope, Sergius I focused on restoring church discipline and defending papal independence from Byzantine interference. His tenure laid groundwork for future popes to assert authority over church governance.
687
Pope Sergius I
antipopes
1025day.year
Constantine VIII becomes sole emperor of the Byzantine Empire, 63 years after being crowned co-emperor.
After six decades as co-emperor, Constantine VIII ascends as sole ruler of Byzantium.
On December 15, 1025, Constantine VIII assumed exclusive authority over the Byzantine Empire following the death of his brother, Basil II. Although crowned co-emperor at a young age, Constantine had remained largely in the shadow of Basil’s military successes. His ascension marked the end of a golden era of imperial expansion and military triumphs. As sole ruler, Constantine struggled to maintain the empire’s stability and vitality. His reign saw political intrigues and fiscal challenges that contrasted sharply with his brother’s disciplined governance.
1025
Constantine VIII
emperor
Byzantine Empire
1167day.year
Sicilian Chancellor Stephen du Perche moves the royal court to Messina to prevent a rebellion.
Chancellor Stephen du Perche relocates the Sicilian court to Messina to quell unrest.
On December 15, 1167, Stephen du Perche, the powerful chancellor of Sicily, ordered the royal court to relocate from Palermo to Messina. Facing growing noble unrest and rumors of rebellion, he sought a strategic position nearer the Italian mainland and away from hostile factions. The move temporarily stabilized royal authority but also deepened resentment among local aristocrats. Messina’s fortifications and loyal garrison offered du Perche a stronger defensive posture. However, this decision further alienated the Sicilian nobility and set the stage for future revolts against his administration.
1167
Sicilian
Chancellor
Stephen du Perche
Messina
1546day.year
The town of Ekenäs (Finnish: Tammisaari) is founded by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden.
King Gustav Vasa establishes the town of Ekenäs (Tammisaari) on the Finnish coast.
On December 15, 1546, King Gustav I of Sweden granted charter to the newly founded town of Ekenäs, known in Finnish as Tammisaari. Situated on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, the settlement aimed to boost regional trade and shipbuilding. Its location provided a sheltered harbor and access to timber resources. Over time, Ekenäs grew into a vital fishing and commercial hub, attracting merchants and craftsmen. The town’s foundation reflected Gustav Vasa’s broader efforts to strengthen royal control and develop the Swedish realm’s eastern territories.
1546
Ekenäs
Finnish
King Gustav Vasa of Sweden
1791day.year
The United States Bill of Rights becomes law when ratified by the Virginia General Assembly.
On December 15, 1791, the Virginia General Assembly ratified the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, enshrining fundamental liberties for American citizens.
Conceived by James Madison, the Bill of Rights comprised the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, meant to secure individual liberties against government overreach. These amendments guaranteed freedoms such as speech, religion, assembly, and protection from unreasonable searches. After debates in state conventions, Virginia became the tenth and final state needed for ratification on December 15, 1791. Its approval officially made the Bill of Rights law, addressing concerns of Anti-Federalists across the new nation. The adoption of these amendments set a precedent for constitutional protection of civil rights. Over two centuries later, the Bill of Rights remains a cornerstone of American democracy and has inspired rights charters worldwide.
1791
United States Bill of Rights
Virginia General Assembly
1869day.year
The short-lived Republic of Ezo is proclaimed in the Ezo area of Japan. It is the first attempt to establish a democracy in Japan.
On December 15, 1869, former shogunate loyalists proclaimed the Republic of Ezo on Hokkaido, Japan's first democratic experiment.
In the aftermath of the Meiji Restoration, naval officer Enomoto Takeaki led Tokugawa loyalists to Hokkaido and declared an independent Republic of Ezo. The republic adopted a constitution, elected leaders to a Senate, and sought to establish a government based on Western democratic principles. Its capital at Hakodate became a hub for political and military organization against the new Imperial government. Despite its innovative structure, Ezo's defenses were overwhelmed by Imperial forces in the Battle of Hakodate in May 1869. Within months, the republic collapsed and its leaders surrendered, ending the last resistance of the shogunate. Though short-lived, the Republic of Ezo left a legacy as Japan's first attempt at representative governance and influenced later political reforms.
1869
Republic of Ezo
Ezo
Japan
democracy
1945day.year
Occupation of Japan/Shinto Directive: General Douglas MacArthur orders that Shinto be abolished as the state religion of Japan.
General Douglas MacArthur issued the Shinto Directive, abolishing State Shinto and redefining religion’s role in postwar Japan.
As part of the Allied Occupation reforms on December 15, 1945, General Douglas MacArthur ordered the abolition of Shinto as Japan’s state religion. The directive sought to dismantle the ideological framework that had supported militarism and emperor worship. It mandated the separation of religion and state, prohibited government support for Shinto shrines, and guaranteed freedom of religious belief. This reform reshaped Japan’s constitutional and social landscape, laying the foundations for democratic governance. The Shinto Directive remains a landmark in Japan’s postwar transformation and the protection of religious freedom.
1945
Occupation of Japan
Shinto Directive
Douglas MacArthur
Shinto
1960day.year
Richard Pavlick is arrested for plotting to assassinate U.S. President-Elect John F. Kennedy.
Richard Pavlick was arrested after plotting to assassinate President-elect John F. Kennedy with dynamite.
On December 15, 1960, Richard Pavlick was apprehended in Palm Beach, Florida, after planning to kill President-elect John F. Kennedy. Pavlick had acquired dynamite and conducted surveillance on Kennedy's scheduled motorcade, intending to detonate explosives as the president passed. He was a lone actor motivated by personal grievances against the Kennedy family and government policies. Arrested without violence, Pavlick was later deemed mentally unfit for trial and confined to a federal psychiatric hospital. The foiled plot highlighted vulnerabilities in presidential security and led to enhanced protective measures for incoming leaders.
1960
Richard Pavlick
U.S. President-Elect
John F. Kennedy
1960day.year
King Mahendra of Nepal suspends the country's constitution, dissolves parliament, dismisses the cabinet, and imposes direct rule.
King Mahendra seized power by suspending Nepal’s constitution, dissolving parliament, and imposing direct royal rule.
On December 15, 1960, King Mahendra of Nepal executed a royal coup, dissolving the newly elected parliament and dismissing the cabinet. He detained political leaders and accused the government of inefficiency and corruption. The king then suspended the 1959 constitution and assumed executive authority under the Panchayat system. Political parties were banned, ushering in an era of absolute monarchy. This dramatic shift halted Nepal’s early democratic development and shaped its political trajectory until the restoration of multiparty governance decades later.
Mahendra of Nepal
1961day.year
Eichmann trial: Adolf Eichmann is sentenced to death after being found guilty by an Israeli court of 15 criminal charges, including charges of crimes against humanity, crimes against the Jewish people, and membership of an outlawed organization.
Adolf Eichmann was sentenced to death in Israel for orchestrating the Holocaust.
After his capture in Argentina in 1960, Adolf Eichmann stood trial in Jerusalem beginning in April 1961. On December 15, an Israeli court found him guilty on fifteen counts, including crimes against humanity and crimes against the Jewish people. Eichmann, one of the architects of the Nazi final solution, was condemned for his pivotal role in the deportation and extermination of millions of Jews. The sentence was the first and only death penalty carried out by the modern State of Israel. Eichmann’s trial captured global attention and set precedents for international law and Holocaust remembrance.
1961
Eichmann trial
Adolf Eichmann
Israeli court
1978day.year
U.S. President Jimmy Carter announces that the United States will recognize the People's Republic of China and sever diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan).
President Jimmy Carter announced the recognition of the People's Republic of China, ending diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
On December 15, 1978, President Jimmy Carter revealed a historic shift in U.S. foreign policy by recognizing the People's Republic of China. This announcement terminated official diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan) that had existed since 1949. The move was part of a broader strategy to normalize relations with Beijing amid Cold War tensions. It required complex negotiations and the establishment of the Liaison Offices in place of embassies. The decision sparked debates in Congress and among the American public over its impact on Taiwan's security. Ultimately, this diplomatic realignment reshaped East Asian geopolitics and paved the way for increased economic engagement with mainland China.
1978
Jimmy Carter
recognize the People's Republic of China
sever diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan)
1989day.year
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights relating the abolition of capital punishment is adopted.
The Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR was adopted to abolish capital punishment.
On December 15, 1989, the United Nations adopted the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming to abolish the death penalty. The protocol commits signatory states to refrain from executing any prisoner and to undertake measures to abolish capital punishment within their jurisdictions. It builds upon the human rights framework established by the ICCPR of 1966 and strengthens international norms against the death penalty. States that ratify this protocol signal their dedication to human rights and the right to life. Over time, the protocol has influenced domestic legislation and encouraged global movements toward abolition. As of today, many countries have joined the protocol, reflecting a widespread shift against capital punishment.
1989
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
abolition of capital punishment