714day.year
Pepin of Herstal, mayor of the Merovingian palace, dies at Jupille (modern Belgium). He is succeeded by his infant grandson Theudoald, while his widow Plectrude holds actual power in the Frankish Kingdom.
Pepin of Herstal, the powerful mayor of the Merovingian palace, dies at Jupille, leading to his grandson Theudoald's succession and his widow Plectrude's control of the Frankish realm.
Pepin of Herstal was the mayor of the palace and the true power behind the Merovingian kings. On December 16, 714, he died at his villa in Jupille (modern Belgium). His infant grandson Theudoald was named his successor, but real authority passed to Pepin's widow Plectrude. Plectrude managed the Frankish territories from Aachen, securing alliances to maintain her husband's legacy. The event initiated a period of internal strife within the Austrasian nobility. This power struggle set the stage for the rise of the Carolingian dynasty under Charles Martel. The fall of Merovingian power was completed within a generation.
714
Pepin of Herstal
Merovingian
Jupille
Theudoald
Plectrude
Frankish Kingdom
1431day.year
Hundred Years' War: Henry VI of England is crowned King of France at Notre Dame in Paris.
Henry VI of England is crowned King of France at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, asserting English claims during the Hundred Years' War.
On December 16, 1431, during the latter stages of the Hundred Years' War, Henry VI of England was ceremonially crowned King of France at Notre Dame Cathedral. This act was intended to reinforce England's territorial claims and legitimize Henry's rule over France. The ceremony followed English military successes and the capture of Paris earlier that year. Despite the crown, English authority in France remained contested by Charles VII's supporters. The dual kingship placed immense financial and military burdens on England. The coronation underscored the dynastic rivalry that defined the century-long conflict. It also fueled continued resistance among the French population. Henry's reign failed to secure lasting control, and the war would conclude decades later with France's resurgence.
1431
Hundred Years' War
Henry VI of England
King of France
Notre Dame
1653day.year
English Interregnum: The Protectorate: Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland.
Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, inaugurating The Protectorate era.
On December 16, 1653, following the English Civil Wars, Oliver Cromwell accepted the title of Lord Protector under the new Instrument of Government. This position made him the head of state and government of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The move replaced the monarchy and House of Lords with a republican regime. Cromwell wielded executive authority, commanded the army, and influenced constitutional reforms. His rule sought to enforce Puritan moral standards and stabilize the war-torn nation. Despite military successes, political divisions persisted, and his tenure faced criticism for authoritarian measures. Cromwell’s protectorate laid the groundwork for modern British governance despite its collapse after his death in 1658. The period remains a contentious chapter in British history.
1653
English Interregnum
The Protectorate
Oliver Cromwell
Lord Protector
Commonwealth of England
1689day.year
Convention Parliament: The Declaration of Right is embodied in the Bill of Rights.
The Declaration of Right is enacted by the Convention Parliament and embodied in the Bill of Rights 1689, limiting royal power.
On December 16, 1689, the English Convention Parliament formally adopted the Declaration of Right, later enshrined as the Bill of Rights. This landmark document affirmed parliamentary supremacy, prohibited the monarch from suspending laws without consent, and guaranteed basic civil liberties. It followed the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which deposed James II and invited William III and Mary II to ascend the throne. The Bill of Rights established conditions for future monarchs, including regular parliaments and free elections. It also prohibited cruel and unusual punishment and affirmed the right to petition. The act provided a constitutional framework that influenced democratic development in Britain and abroad. Its principles resonate in modern human rights instruments and constitutional monarchies around the world.
1689
Convention Parliament
Bill of Rights
1773day.year
American Revolution: Boston Tea Party: Members of the Sons of Liberty disguised as Mohawk Indians dump hundreds of crates of tea into Boston harbor as a protest against the Tea Act.
On December 16, 1773, colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians dumped hundreds of crates of tea into Boston Harbor in protest of the Tea Act.
The Boston Tea Party took place on December 16, 1773 in Boston Harbor. Members of the Sons of Liberty, disguised as Mohawk Indians, boarded British ships and dumped 342 crates of tea into the water. This bold act challenged British taxation and rallied colonial opposition to imperial policies. In response, the British government enacted the Coercive Acts, escalating tensions in the American colonies. The incident marked a turning point on the path to revolution and helped unite the colonies against British rule.
1773
American Revolution
Boston Tea Party
Sons of Liberty
Mohawk Indians
Boston
Tea Act
1777day.year
Virginia becomes the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation. [1]
On December 16, 1777, Virginia became the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation, the United States' initial governing framework.
Virginia ratified the Articles of Confederation on December 16, 1777, becoming the first state to do so. The Articles served as the original constitution for the newly independent American states. By approving the document, Virginia helped establish a confederal system with a weak central government. The ratification process reflected the desire to maintain state sovereignty while coordinating collective defense and diplomacy. Other states followed suit, culminating in unanimous approval by 1781. Although later replaced by the U.S. Constitution, the Articles laid the groundwork for federal unity and governance.
1777
Articles of Confederation
[1]
1826day.year
Benjamin W. Edwards rides into Mexican-controlled Nacogdoches, Texas, and declares himself ruler of the Republic of Fredonia.
In 1826, Benjamin W. Edwards seized Nacogdoches, Texas and declared the short-lived Republic of Fredonia.
On December 16, 1826, American settler Benjamin W. Edwards led a group of colonists into Nacogdoches, Texas, then under Mexican control. He proclaimed the establishment of the Republic of Fredonia, rejecting Mexican authority in the region. Edwards and his supporters aimed to create an independent nation aligned with the United States. The rebellion gained little support and quickly faltered when Mexican troops advanced. The short-lived uprising collapsed within weeks, and Edwards fled the area. Although unsuccessful, the Fredonian Rebellion foreshadowed larger conflicts that led to the Texas Revolution.
1826
Benjamin W. Edwards
Nacogdoches, Texas
Republic of Fredonia
1968day.year
Second Vatican Council: Official revocation of the Edict of Expulsion of Jews from Spain.
In 1968, the Second Vatican Council officially revoked the Edict of Expulsion of Jews from Spain, overturning a decree issued in 1492.
The Second Vatican Council, held from 1962 to 1965, aimed to modernize Church doctrine and improve interfaith relations. On December 16, 1968, it formally revoked the Edict of Expulsion of Jews from Spain, which had been issued by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492. This landmark act acknowledged centuries-old injustices against the Spanish Jewish community and set a new tone for Catholic–Jewish dialogue. The decree was celebrated by Jewish organizations and religious scholars around the world. It symbolized a commitment to reconciliation and the recognition of religious pluralism within the Church.
1968
Second Vatican Council
Edict of Expulsion of Jews from Spain
1971day.year
The United Kingdom recognizes Bahrain's independence, which is commemorated annually as Bahrain's National Day.
In 1971, the United Kingdom formally recognized Bahrain's independence, establishing December 16 as the Gulf kingdom's National Day.
After nearly a century as a British protectorate, Bahrain negotiated its exit from British oversight in the early 1970s. On December 16, 1971, the UK formally recognized Bahrain's sovereignty, ending the protectorate arrangement. This milestone marked the birth of the modern Bahraini state under Emir Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa. National Day celebrations include parades, fireworks, and cultural events reflecting Bahrain's heritage. The recognition also influenced other Gulf states' paths to independence, reshaping regional geopolitics.
Bahrain
National Day
1972day.year
The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was enacted.
The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was adopted on December 16, 1972, establishing the country's foundational governance framework.
Following its independence in 1971, Bangladesh convened a Constituent Assembly to draft a national constitution. On December 16, 1972, the Assembly unanimously passed the document defining Bangladesh as a parliamentary democratic republic. The constitution enshrined fundamental rights, the separation of powers, and the principles of nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism. It also outlined the structure of government and the legal system for the newly independent nation. This foundational text continues to guide Bangladesh's political and legal institutions.
1972
The Constitution
People's Republic of Bangladesh
1989day.year
Romanian Revolution: Protests break out in Timișoara, Romania, in response to an attempt by the government to evict dissident Hungarian pastor László Tőkés.
Mass protests broke out in Timișoara, Romania, on December 16, 1989, after authorities attempted to evict dissident pastor László Tőkés, igniting the Romanian Revolution.
Pastor László Tőkés had become a vocal critic of Nicolae Ceaușescu’s regime, drawing large congregations sympathetic to his cause. When the government ordered his eviction, thousands gathered in Timișoara to protect him. On December 16, 1989, these peaceful demonstrations escalated as security forces opened fire on the crowd. News of the violence spread rapidly, inspiring nationwide uprisings against the dictatorship. Within days, the Romanian Revolution toppled Ceaușescu, ending four decades of communist rule.
1989
Romanian Revolution
Timișoara
Romania
László Tőkés