418day.year
A papal election begins, resulting in the election of Pope Boniface I.
A pivotal papal election that installed Boniface I as Bishop of Rome during the early 5th century.
In December 418, the Church of Rome convened a conclave following the death of Pope Zosimus.
This election resulted in Boniface I being enthroned as the new Bishop of Rome.
His papacy would oversee theological disputes and challenges to church authority.
Boniface I strengthened Roman primacy and clarified clerical discipline.
His leadership shaped the organizational structure of the early Western Church.
418
Pope Boniface I
457day.year
Majorian is acclaimed as Western Roman emperor.
General Majorian was proclaimed Western Roman Emperor by his legions in Gaul.
In December 457, the Roman general Flavius Majorian was acclaimed emperor by his troops.
He succeeded the ineffectual Severus and sought reforms to restore imperial strength.
Majorian reorganized the military and administration to confront barbarian incursions.
He campaigned against Visigoths and Vandals to recover lost territories.
Though his reign lasted only two years, he is remembered as one of the last capable Western emperors.
457
Majorian
Western Roman emperor
484day.year
Alaric II succeeds his father Euric and becomes king of the Visigoths. He establishes his capital at Aire-sur-l'Adour (Southern Gaul).
Alaric II ascended to the Visigothic throne and established his capital at Aire-sur-l'Adour.
In 484, Alaric II became king of the Visigoths following the death of his father Euric.
He moved the kingdom’s center to Aire-sur-l'Adour, consolidating power in Aquitaine.
During his reign, he commissioned the Lex Romana Visigothorum to codify laws for his diverse subjects.
Alaric II maintained relative peace with the Franks while fostering Roman-Visigothic relations.
His rule laid the legal and cultural groundwork for the Visigothic Kingdom in Hispania.
484
Alaric II
Euric
Visigoths
Aire-sur-l'Adour
Gaul
893day.year
An earthquake destroys the city of Dvin, Armenia.
A devastating earthquake struck Dvin in Armenia, obliterating much of the city.
In December 893, a powerful earthquake struck the medieval Armenian capital of Dvin.
Contemporary accounts describe widespread collapse of buildings and heavy casualties.
The quake disrupted trade and administrative functions in the Bagratid kingdom.
Limited resources and aftershocks hampered reconstruction efforts.
Dvin never fully regained its former prominence, marking a turning point in regional history.
893
destroys
Dvin
Armenia
1065day.year
Edward the Confessor's Romanesque monastic church at Westminster Abbey is consecrated.
King Edward the Confessor consecrated his new Romanesque monastic church at Westminster Abbey.
In December 1065, King Edward the Confessor presided over the consecration of his Westminster Abbey church.
The Romanesque building featured Norman influences and intricate stone carvings.
It served as both a royal chapel and the king’s burial site, reflecting his piety.
This consecration set the stage for future expansions, making Abbey a coronation site.
Westminster Abbey became a lasting symbol of English royal and religious heritage.
1065
Edward the Confessor
Romanesque
Westminster Abbey
consecrated
1308day.year
The reign of Emperor Hanazono of Japan begins.
Emperor Hanazono ascended the Japanese throne, marking the start of his reign during the Kamakura period.
In 1308, Prince Tomihito became Emperor Hanazono following the abdication of Emperor Go-Nijō.
His reign unfolded under the shadow of the Kamakura shogunate, which held real political power.
Hanazono was a notable patron of waka poetry and Buddhist arts, sponsoring cultural endeavors.
He established the Hanazono-in palace and later retired to monastic life, leaving literary works.
His tenure illustrates the ceremonial role of the emperor amid rising warrior rule in Japan.
1308
Emperor Hanazono
1659day.year
The Marathas defeat the Adilshahi forces in the Battle of Kolhapur.
Maratha forces secured a decisive victory against the Adilshahi army at Kolhapur.
In December 1659, Shivaji’s Maratha army engaged the Adilshahi forces near Kolhapur.
Using guerrilla tactics and detailed knowledge of the terrain, they routed their opponents.
This victory secured Maratha dominance in western India and boosted Shivaji’s reputation.
It marked a turning point leading to the formation of the Maratha Empire.
The battle showcased the rising strength of regional powers challenging established sultanates.
1659
Marathas
Adilshahi
Battle of Kolhapur
1768day.year
King Taksin's coronation achieved through conquest as a king of Thailand and established Thonburi as a capital.
General Taksin was crowned King of Siam and founded Thonburi as the new capital.
In December 1768, General Taksin expelled Burmese forces and declared himself King of Siam.
He established Thonburi on the Chao Phraya River as his new capital to rebuild the kingdom.
Under his rule, commerce revived and administrative reforms fortified national unity.
Taksin’s reign paved the way for the future Chakri dynasty and modern Thai state.
He is remembered for revitalizing Siam after years of conflict and occupation.
1768
Taksin
Thailand
Thonburi
1795day.year
Construction of Yonge Street, formerly recognized as the longest street in the world, begins in York, Upper Canada (present-day Toronto).
Construction began on Yonge Street in York, Upper Canada, destined to become the world’s longest street.
In December 1795, Governor John Graves Simcoe initiated the building of Yonge Street to link Lake Ontario with Lake Simcoe.
Originally designed for military and postal routes, it opened northern settlements to trade.
Yonge Street spurred growth of towns along its route and helped shape early Toronto.
Over time, it gained fame as the longest street globally, reflecting Canadian infrastructure ambition.
Today, it remains a major urban artery in modern Toronto.
1795
Yonge Street
York, Upper Canada
Toronto
1832day.year
John C. Calhoun becomes the first Vice President of the United States to resign. He resigned after being elected Senator from South Carolina.
John C. Calhoun resigned as U.S. Vice President to take a Senate seat, the first such resignation in American history.
In December 1832, Vice President John C. Calhoun formally resigned after winning election to the U.S. Senate.
His decision reflected deep disagreements with President Andrew Jackson, especially over the Nullification Crisis.
Calhoun’s advocacy for states’ rights and protection of slavery intensified sectional divisions.
As senator, he continued to champion nullification and constitutional interpretations favoring the South.
This unprecedented resignation underscored the growing political fractures in the antebellum United States.
1832
John C. Calhoun
Vice President of the United States
1835day.year
Osceola leads his Seminole warriors in Florida into the Second Seminole War against the United States Army.
Osceola leads the Seminole people in Florida against the United States Army, igniting the Second Seminole War.
On December 28, 1835, charismatic leader Osceola rallied his Seminole warriors to resist forced relocation to the west. This bold uprising marked the start of the Second Seminole War, one of the longest and most costly Indian Wars in United States history. The Seminoles used guerrilla tactics and deep knowledge of Florida’s swamps to elude and harass American forces. Despite heavy losses, they remarkably resisted removal longer than any other tribe. The conflict highlighted the violent consequences of the Indian Removal policy. It reshaped U.S. military strategy and had a lasting impact on Seminole identity and Florida’s development.
1835
Osceola
Seminole
Florida
Second Seminole War
1836day.year
South Australia and Adelaide are founded.
South Australia is established as a British colony and its planned capital, Adelaide, is founded.
On December 28, 1836, British authorities proclaimed the colony of South Australia under a scheme favoring free settlement rather than convict transportation. Capital city Adelaide was laid out in a meticulously planned grid and surrounded by parklands, reflecting Enlightenment ideals of urban design. As one of the first Australian colonies founded exclusively by free immigrants, it attracted skilled laborers, farmers, and entrepreneurs seeking new opportunities. The establishment launched rapid development in agriculture, viticulture, and mining. Over the next decades, Adelaide grew into a prosperous regional center known for its cultural institutions and cooperative governance.
1836
South Australia
Adelaide