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
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
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
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
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
1836day.year
Spain recognizes the independence of Mexico with the signing of the Santa María–Calatrava Treaty.
Spain formally recognizes Mexico’s independence by signing the Santa María–Calatrava Treaty.
On December 28, 1836, Spain and Mexico signed the Santa María–Calatrava Treaty, ending decades of diplomatic isolation since Mexico’s 1821 independence. The treaty required Spain to renounce all territorial claims and acknowledge Mexico as a sovereign nation. This act paved the way for renewed trade, diplomatic relations, and stability in the region. It also encouraged other European powers to establish formal ties with the young republic. The agreement marked a significant step in Mexico’s assertion of independence on the world stage and influenced its political and economic development in the 19th century.
Santa María–Calatrava Treaty
1846day.year
Iowa is admitted as the 29th U.S. state.
Iowa is admitted to the Union as the 29th state of the United States.
On December 28, 1846, President James K. Polk signed the proclamation admitting Iowa as the 29th state of the United States. Carved from the lands of the Louisiana Purchase, Iowa’s fertile prairies attracted settlers seeking farming opportunities. Its admission reflected the rapid westward expansion and the growing importance of agrarian states. The new state government quickly established its capital at Iowa City and organized infrastructure, education, and legal systems. Iowa’s entry into the Union would shape its future role in national politics, agriculture, and transportation networks across the Midwest.
1846
Iowa
U.S. state
1885day.year
Indian National Congress, a political party of India, is founded in Bombay Presidency, British India.
The Indian National Congress, central to India’s freedom struggle, is founded in Bombay Presidency.
On December 28, 1885, in Bombay, a group of Indian and British political activists gathered to form the Indian National Congress. Led by Allan Octavian Hume and moderated by leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji, the party aimed to promote political participation and administrative reforms within the British Raj. It initially adopted constitutional methods of petition and debate to voice Indian aspirations. Over the following decades, the INC became the principal organ of India’s independence movement, uniting diverse communities and championing self-rule. The organization laid the groundwork for mass mobilization and leadership that would ultimately secure India’s freedom in 1947.
1885
Indian National Congress
Bombay Presidency
1918day.year
Constance Markievicz, while detained in Holloway prison, becomes the first woman to be elected Member of Parliament (MP) to the British House of Commons.
While imprisoned in Holloway, Constance Markievicz was elected as the first female MP to the British House of Commons in 1918.
Constance Markievicz, an Irish nationalist and suffragette, achieved a historic milestone on December 28, 1918, when she won a seat in the British House of Commons. She campaigned from her cell in Holloway Prison while advocating for Irish independence and women's rights. Markievicz represented the Dublin St Patrick's constituency, becoming the first woman ever elected to the Parliament of the United Kingdom. In line with Sinn Féin's abstentionist policy, she did not take her seat at Westminster. Her election symbolized both the Irish struggle for self-governance and the advancing cause of women's political participation. Markievicz’s victory inspired future generations of female leaders across Ireland and Britain.
1918
Constance Markievicz
Member of Parliament
British House of Commons
1956day.year
Chin Peng, David Marshall and Tunku Abdul Rahman meet in Baling, Malaya to try and resolve the Malayan Emergency situation.
Malayan Emergency talks began on December 28, 1956, as leaders met in Baling to seek a political solution.
On December 28, 1956, Chin Peng of the Malayan Communist Party, Chief Minister David Marshall, and Tunku Abdul Rahman convened in Baling to address the ongoing Malayan Emergency. The conflict, marked by guerrilla warfare and civilian hardship, had raged since 1948. These talks aimed to negotiate a peaceful end to the insurgency through political concessions and reconciliation. Despite initial optimism, discussions faltered over British demands and communist conditions. No formal agreement was reached, and hostilities continued until martial law was lifted in 1960. The Baling conference remains a key episode in Malaya’s journey to independence.
1956
Chin Peng
David Marshall
Tunku Abdul Rahman
Baling
Malaya
try and resolve
Malayan Emergency