Category: Today In History

321 – Emperor Constantine I decrees that the dies Solis Invicti (sun-day) is the day of rest in the Empire. 1573 – A peace treaty is signed between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice, ending the Ottoman-Venetian War and leaving Cyprus in Ottoman hands. 1799 – Napoleon Bonaparte captures Jaffa in Palestine and...

12 BC – The Roman Emperor Augustus is named Pontifex Maximus, incorporating the position into that of the emperor. 1521 – Ferdinand Magellan arrives at Guam. 1820 – 1` is signed into law by President James Monroe. The compromise allows Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state, brings Maine into the Union as...

*363 – Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90,000 to attack the Sasanian Empire, in a campaign which would bring about his own death. *1496 – King Henry VII of England issues letters patent to John Cabot and his sons, authorising them to explore unknown lands. *1616 – Nicolaus Copernicus’s book...

51 – Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title princeps iuventutis (head of the youth).1675 – John Flamsteed appointed first Astronomer Royal of England 1681 – King Charles II grants William Penn royal charter for Pennsylvania 1774 – First sighting of Orion nebula by William Herschel 1793 – Washington’s second inauguration speech: “Fellow...

*509 BC – Publius Valerius Publicola celebrates the first triumph of the Roman Republic after his victory over the deposed king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus at the Battle of Silva Arsia. *1562 – Sixty-three Huguenots are massacred in Wassy, France, marking the start of the French Wars of Religion. *1628 – Writs issued by Charles I...

202 BC – Liu Bang is enthroned as the Emperor of China, beginning four centuries of rule by the Han dynasty. 1784 – John Wesley charters the Methodist Church. 1827 – The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad is incorporated, becoming the first railroad in America offering commercial transportation of both people and freight. 1849 – Regular...