A Daily Dose of History: Events on this Day in History
We examine the significant events that occurred on this day in history. Get smarter about our history in less than 10 minutes per day! Presented by Amalia Dupray and Montgomery Jones.
All episodes(76)
- StandardSummaries onlyEmperor Julian's Strategic Backfire in Roman-Persian Wars (+ 9 more historical events on this day!)
Published Jun 16, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (16 Jun 2026) Today's historical events: Emperor Julian marches back up the Tigris and burns his fleet of supply ships. During the withdrawal, Roman forces suffer several attacks from the Persians. Yazdegerd III ascends the throne as king (shah) of the Persian Empire. He becomes the last ruler of the Sasanian dynasty (modern Iran). Ming-Hồ War: Retired King Hồ Quý Ly and his son King Hồ Hán Thương of Hồ dynasty are captured by the Ming armies. Battle of Stoke Field: King
- StandardSummaries onlyLouis II: Frankish King of Italy - Coronation in Rome (+ 10 more historical events on this day!)
Published Jun 15, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (15 Jun 2026) Today's historical events: Louis II is crowned as king of Italy at Rome by pope Sergius II. Battle of Soissons: King Robert I of France is killed and King Charles the Simple is arrested by the supporters of Duke Rudolph of Burgundy. The naval Battle of Fimreite is won by the Birkebeiner pretender Sverre Sigurdsson. Sigurdsson takes the Norwegian throne and King Magnus V of Norway is killed. King John of England puts his seal to Magna Carta. Northern Crusades
- StandardSummaries onlyFounding of Munich: Henry the Lion's Legacy (+ 10 more historical events on this day!)
Published Jun 14, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (14 Jun 2026) Today's historical events: The city of Munich is founded by Henry the Lion on the banks of the river Isar. First Barons' War: Prince Louis of France takes the city of Winchester, abandoned by John, King of England, and soon conquers over half of the kingdom. While taking exile in Fuzhou, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the Song dynasty court hold the coronation ceremony for Emperor Duanzong. Second Mongol invasion of Vietnam: Forces
- StandardSummaries onlyEdict of Milan: Turning Point in Roman History (+ 8 more historical events on this day!)
Published Jun 13, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (13 Jun 2026) Today's historical events: The decisions of the Edict of Milan, signed by Constantine the Great and co-emperor Valerius Licinius, granting religious freedom throughout the Roman Empire, are published in Nicomedia. Ibn Battuta begins his travels, leaving his home in Tangiers to travel to Mecca (gone 24 years). In England, the Peasants' Revolt, led by Wat Tyler, comes to a head, as rebels set fire to the Savoy Palace. Henry Grace à Dieu, at over 1,000 tons the
- StandardSummaries onlyFeigned Retreat: Hungarian Victory at Augsburg 910 (+ 14 more historical events on this day!)
Published Jun 12, 2026
Feigned RetreatA Daily Dose of History (12 Jun 2026) Today's historical events: Battle of Augsburg: The Hungarians defeat the East Frankish army under King Louis the Child, using the famous feigned retreat tactic of the nomadic warriors. At the instigation of Louis IX of France, an inter-faith debate, known as the Disputation of Paris, starts between a Christian monk and four rabbis. Peasants' Revolt: In England, rebels assemble at Blackheath, just outside London. Armagnac-Burgundian Civil War: Parisians slaug
- StandardSummaries onlyMiracle of the Rain: Roman Triumph in Marcomannic Wars (+ 12 more historical events on this day!)
Published Jun 11, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (11 Jun 2026) Today's historical events: Marcomannic Wars: The Roman army in Moravia is encircled by the Quadi, who have broken the peace treaty (171). In a violent thunderstorm emperor Marcus Aurelius defeats and subdues them in the so-called "miracle of the rain". Emperor Taizong of Tang sends envoys to the Xueyantuo bearing gold and silk in order to seek the release of Chinese prisoners captured during the transition from Sui to Tang. A Hasanid Alid uprising in Mecca i
- StandardSummaries onlyEmperor Tenji's Rokoku Water Clock: Timekeeping Revolution (+ 9 more historical events on this day!)
Published Jun 10, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (10 Jun 2026) Today's historical events: Emperor Tenji of Japan introduces a water clock (clepsydra) called Rokoku. The instrument, which measures time and indicates hours, is placed in the capital of Ōtsu. Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the river Saleph while leading an army to Jerusalem. The Battle of Pelekanon results in a Byzantine defeat by the Ottoman Empire. Copenhagen is surrounded by the army of Frederick I of Denmark, as the city will not recogn
- StandardSummaries onlyNero's Marriage to Octavia: A Political Move Gone Wrong (+ 12 more historical events on this day!)
Published Jun 9, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (09 Jun 2026) Today's historical events: The Roman emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia. Nero commits suicide, after quoting Vergil's Aeneid, thus ending the Julio-Claudian dynasty and starting the civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors. Odo of Aquitaine defeats the Moors in the Battle of Toulouse. Abbasid Revolution: Abu Muslim Khorasani begins an open revolt against Umayyad rule, which is carried out under the sign of the Black Standard. Duccio's Maestà, a sem
- StandardSummaries onlyBattle of Antioch: Elagabalus vs Macrinus (+ 13 more historical events on this day!)
Published Jun 8, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (08 Jun 2026) Today's historical events: Battle of Antioch: With the support of the Syrian legions, Elagabalus defeats the forces of emperor Macrinus. Attila leads a Hun army in the invasion of Italy, devastating the northern provinces as he heads for Rome. Vikings raid the abbey at Lindisfarne in Northumbria, commonly accepted as the beginning of Norse activity in the British Isles. Edward the Confessor becomes King of England - the country's penultimate Anglo-Saxon king
- StandardSummaries onlyTheodosius II's Marriage to Eudocia: Byzantine Unity (+ 9 more historical events on this day!)
Published Jun 7, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (07 Jun 2026) Today's historical events: Emperor Theodosius II marries Aelia Eudocia at Constantinople (Byzantine Empire). Pope John VIII recognizes the Duchy of Croatia under Duke Branimir as an independent state. Henry II, a cousin of Emperor Otto III, is elected and crowned King of Germany. First Crusade: The Siege of Jerusalem begins. Troops of the Republic of Venice capture Udine, ending the independence of the Patria del Friuli. Spain and Portugal sign the Treaty of
- StandardSummaries onlyRegency Council: Byzantine Empire's Young Ruler (+ 11 more historical events on this day!)
Published Jun 6, 2026
Regency CouncilA Daily Dose of History (06 Jun 2026) Today's historical events: Constantine VII, the 8-year-old illegitimate son of Leo VI the Wise, becomes nominal ruler of the Byzantine Empire under the regency of a seven-man council headed by Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos, appointed by Constantine's uncle Alexander III on his deathbed. Battle of Novara. In the Italian Wars, Swiss troops defeat the French under Louis II de la Trémoille, forcing them to abandon Milan; Duke Massimiliano Sforza is restored. Swedi
- StandardSummaries onlyKraków's City Rights: A Medieval Milestone (+ 14 more historical events on this day!)
Published Jun 5, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (05 Jun 2026) Today's historical events: Kraków, in Poland, receives city rights. Battle of the Gulf of Naples: Roger of Lauria, admiral to King Peter III of Aragon, destroys the Neapolitan fleet and captures Charles of Salerno. The Battle of Worringen ends the War of the Limburg Succession, with John I, Duke of Brabant, being one of the more important victors. The masque Tethys' Festival is performed at Whitehall Palace to celebrate the investiture of Henry Frederick, Pr
- StandardSummaries onlyRoyal Grant: Roquefort Cheese Monopoly (+ 8 more historical events on this day!)
Published Jun 4, 2026
Royal GrantA Daily Dose of History (04 Jun 2026) Today's historical events: King Charles VI granted a monopoly for the ripening of Roquefort cheese to the people of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon as they had been doing for centuries. The steeple of St Paul's, the medieval cathedral of London, is destroyed in a fire caused by lightning and is never rebuilt. Siege of Osaka: Forces under Tokugawa Ieyasu take Osaka Castle in Japan. Battle of Hohenfriedberg: Frederick the Great's Prussian army decisively defeated an Aus
- StandardSummaries onlyNepotianus: The Usurper of Rome (+ 10 more historical events on this day!)
Published Jun 3, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (03 Jun 2026) Today's historical events: The Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman emperor, entering Rome at the head of a group of gladiators. The Byzantine emperor Philippicus is blinded, deposed and sent into exile by conspirators of the Opsikion army in Thrace. He is succeeded by Anastasios II, who begins the reorganization of the Byzantine army. After 5-month siege during the First Crusade, the Crusaders seize Antioch (today'
- StandardSummaries onlyVandals Sack Rome: Decline of the Empire (+ 11 more historical events on this day!)
Published Jun 2, 2026
Vandals Sack RomeA Daily Dose of History (02 Jun 2026) Today's historical events: Sack of Rome: Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks. First Crusade: The first Siege of Antioch ends as Crusader forces take the city; the second siege began five days later. London: Virginia gets new charter, extending borders from "sea to sea". The first Récollet missionaries arrive at Quebec City, from Rouen, France. Franco-Dutch War: France ensured the supremacy of its naval fleet for the remainder of the war wi
- StandardSummaries onlyFall of Zhongdu: Genghis Khan's Triumph (+ 12 more historical events on this day!)
Published Jun 1, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (01 Jun 2026) Today's historical events: Zhongdu (now Beijing), then under the control of the Jurchen ruler Emperor Xuanzong of Jin, is captured by the Mongols under Genghis Khan, ending the Battle of Zhongdu. Alfonso X is proclaimed king of Castile and León. Residents of Riga and Grand Duchy of Lithuania defeated the Livonian Order in the Battle of Turaida. A monk, John Cor, records the first known batch of Scotch whisky.[citation needed] Anne Boleyn is crowned Queen of
- StandardSummaries onlyFall of Emperor Maximus: Decline of Western Rome (+ 10 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 31, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (31 May 2026) Today's historical events: Emperor Petronius Maximus is stoned to death by an angry mob while fleeing Rome. Mongol invasion of the Cumans: Battle of the Kalka River: Mongol armies of Genghis Khan led by Subutai defeat Kievan Rus' and Cumans. King Henry III lays the first stone of the Pont Neuf (New Bridge), the oldest bridge of Paris, France. Citing poor eyesight as a reason, Samuel Pepys records the last event in his diary. American Revolution: The Mecklenb
- StandardSummaries onlySiege of Jerusalem: Roman Conquest & Temple Destruction (+ 11 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 30, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (30 May 2026) Today's historical events: Siege of Jerusalem: Titus and his Roman legions breach the Second Wall of Jerusalem. Jewish defenders retreat to the First Wall. The Romans build a circumvallation, cutting down all trees within fifteen kilometres. Beginning of the Peasants' Revolt in England. The Council of Constance, called by Emperor Sigismund, a supporter of Antipope John XXIII, burns Jerome of Prague following a trial for heresy. Hundred Years' War: In Rouen,
- StandardSummaries onlyJulian the Apostate's Battle of Ctesiphon (+ 14 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 29, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (29 May 2026) Today's historical events: The Roman emperor Julian defeats the Sasanian army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the Sasanian capital, but is unable to take the city. Battle of Uclés: Almoravid troops under the command of Tamim ibn Yusuf defeat a Castile and León alliance under the command of Prince Sancho Alfónsez. Battle of Monte Porzio: A Roman army supporting Pope Alexander III is defeated by Christian of Buch and Rainald of Dassel. Battle of
- StandardSummaries onlyHulao Pass: Li Shimin's Triumph in Chinese History (+ 13 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 28, 2026
Hulao PassA Daily Dose of History (28 May 2026) Today's historical events: Battle of Hulao: Li Shimin, the son of the Chinese emperor Gaozu, defeats the numerically superior forces of Dou Jiande near the Hulao Pass (Henan). This victory decides the outcome of the civil war that followed the Sui dynasty's collapse in favour of the Tang dynasty. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, declares the marriage of King Henry VIII of England to Anne Boleyn valid. The Spanish Armada, with 130 ships and 30,00
- StandardSummaries onlyEmicho's Crusade: Massacre in Mainz (+ 12 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 27, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (27 May 2026) Today's historical events: Count Emicho enters Mainz, where his followers massacre Jewish citizens. At least 600 Jews are killed. Richard III of Capua is anointed as Prince two weeks before his untimely death. Malcolm IV becomes King of Scotland. John is crowned King of England. Richard of Cornwall, and his wife, Sanchia of Provence, are crowned King and Queen of the Germans at Aachen Cathedral. Manchu regent Dorgon defeats rebel leader Li Zicheng of the Shu
- StandardSummaries onlyAvarayr 451: Armenian Rebels vs. Sasanian Empire (+ 12 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 26, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (26 May 2026) Today's historical events: Battle of Avarayr between Armenian rebels and the Sasanian Empire takes place. The Sasanids defeat the Armenians militarily but guarantee them freedom to openly practice Christianity. King Edmund I of England is murdered by a thief whom he personally attacks while celebrating St Augustine's Mass Day. King Otto I elects his six-year-old son Otto II as heir apparent and co-ruler of the East Frankish Kingdom. He is crowned at Aachen,
- StandardSummaries onlyAlfonso VI's Triumph: Toledo's Reconquista (+ 12 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 25, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (25 May 2026) Today's historical events: Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo, Spain, back from the Moors. Henry the Navigator is appointed governor of the Order of Christ. The Diet of Worms ends when Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, issues the Edict of Worms, declaring Martin Luther an outlaw. Ming general Wu Sangui forms an alliance with the invading Manchus and opens the gates of the Great Wall of China at Shanhaiguan pass, letting the Manchus through towards the capital B
- StandardSummaries onlyFounding the Ottonian Dynasty: Henry the Fowler's Reign (+ 7 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 24, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (24 May 2026) Today's historical events: The nobles of Franconia and Saxony elect Henry the Fowler at the Imperial Diet in Fritzlar as king of the East Frankish Kingdom. Magnus Ladulås is crowned King of Sweden in Uppsala Cathedral. The ten-year-old Lambert Simnel is crowned in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland, with the name of Edward VI in a bid to threaten King Henry VII's reign. Erik XIV of Sweden and his guards murder five incarcerated Swedish nobles. Nomencla
- StandardSummaries onlyJoan of Arc: Capture at Siege of Compiègne (+ 11 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 23, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (23 May 2026) Today's historical events: Joan of Arc is captured at the Siege of Compiègne by troops from the Burgundian faction. Girolamo Savonarola is burned at the stake in Florence, Italy. The marriage of King Henry VIII to Catherine of Aragon is declared null and void. Dutch rebels led by Louis of Nassau, defeat Jean de Ligne, Duke of Arenberg, and his loyalist troops in the Battle of Heiligerlee, opening the Eighty Years' War. Official ratification of the Second Vir
- StandardSummaries onlyAssassination of Dong Zhuo: Turning Point in Ancient China (+ 12 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 22, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (22 May 2026) Today's historical events: Dong Zhuo is assassinated by his adopted son Lü Bu. Fourteenth recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. A Byzantine fleet sacks and destroys undefended Damietta in Egypt. The Hashshashin (Assassins) attempt to assassinate Saladin near Aleppo. King John of England and King Philip II of France sign the Treaty of Le Goulet. Henry Raspe is elected anti-king of the Kingdom of Germany in opposition to Conrad IV. Serbian King Stefan
- StandardSummaries onlyRise and Fall of Roman Tetrarchy (+ 11 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 21, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (21 May 2026) Today's historical events: Roman Emperors Diocletian and Maximian appoint Galerius as Caesar to Diocletian, beginning the period of four rulers known as the Tetrarchy. Syracuse, Sicily, is captured by the Muslim Aghlabids after a nine-month siege. Pope John VIII gives blessings to Branimir of Croatia and to the Croatian people, considered to be international recognition of the Croatian state. Sixteen-year-old Otto III is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. Dušan's C
- StandardSummaries onlyNicaea 325 AD: Birth of Christian Orthodoxy (+ 13 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 20, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (20 May 2026) Today's historical events: The First Council of Nicaea is formally opened, starting the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church. Empress Ariadne marries Anastasius I. The widowed Augusta is able to choose her successor for the Byzantine throne, after Zeno (late emperor) dies of dysentery. The Battle of Dun Nechtain is fought between a Pictish army under King Bridei III and the invading Northumbrians under King Ecgfrith, who are decisively defeated.
- StandardSummaries onlyAssault on Tang Dynasty: Nomadic Threat (+ 10 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 19, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (19 May 2026) Today's historical events: Ashina Jiesheshuai and his tribesmen assaulted Emperor Taizong at Jiucheng Palace. Pope Gregory II is elected. John II of Castile defeats the Infantes of Aragon at the First Battle of Olmedo. French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships, 110 men, and Chief Donnacona's two sons (whom Cartier had kidnapped during his first voyage). Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII of Engla
- StandardSummaries onlyEmperor Constantine's Free Food Announcement (+ 11 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 18, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (18 May 2026) Today's historical events: Emperor Constantine the Great announces free distributions of food to the citizens in Constantinople. Louis II of Italy is crowned for the second time as Holy Roman Emperor at Rome, at the age of 47. His first coronation was 28 years earlier, in 844, during the reign of his father Lothair I. First Crusade: Around 800 Jews are massacred in Worms, Germany. The future Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. He would become k
- StandardSummaries onlyWallachian Triumph: Battle of Rovine 1395 (+ 13 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 17, 2026
Wallachian TriumphA Daily Dose of History (17 May 2026) Today's historical events: Battle of Rovine: The Wallachians defeat an invading Ottoman army. Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for treason. Pánfilo de Narváez departs Spain to explore Florida with 600 men - by 1536 only 4 survive. George Boleyn, 2nd Viscount Rochford and four other men are executed for treason. Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn's marriage is annulled. Anne of Denmark is crowned Queen of Scotland. Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maiso
- StandardSummaries onlyEmperor Suzaku's Historic Abdication in Japan (+ 12 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 16, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (16 May 2026) Today's historical events: Emperor Suzaku abdicates the throne in favor of his brother Murakami who becomes the 62nd emperor of Japan. Having been elected on May 9, Baldwin IX, Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire. Gov. Thado of Mohnyin becomes king of Ava. The Florentines drive out the Medici for a second time and Florence re-establishes itself as a republic. Sir Thomas More resigns as Lord Chancellor of England. Mary, Queen
- StandardSummaries onlyEmperor Liu Bei: Shaping Ancient China (+ 9 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 15, 2026
Emperor Liu BeiA Daily Dose of History (15 May 2026) Today's historical events: Liu Bei, Chinese warlord, proclaims himself emperor of Shu Han, the successor of the Han dynasty. Emperor Valentinian II is assassinated while advancing into Gaul against the Frankish usurper Arbogast. He is found hanging in his residence at Vienne. King Authari marries Theodelinda, daughter of the Bavarian duke Garibald I. A Catholic, she has great influence among the Lombard nobility. Abd al-Rahman I, the founder of the Arab dyna
- StandardSummaries onlyRobert II names son Henry I as junior King of Franks (+ 10 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 14, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (14 May 2026) Today's historical events: Robert II of France names his son Henry I as junior King of the Franks. The Siege of Nicaea begins during the First Crusade. Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured and forced to sign the Mise of Lewes, making Simon de Montfort the effective ruler of England. Battle of Agnadello: In northern Italy, French forces defeat the Republic of Venice. English colonists establish "James Fort," which would become Jamestown, Virginia
- StandardSummaries onlyPope Stephen I vs. Novatianism: Early Church Authority (+ 13 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 12, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (12 May 2026) Today's historical events: Pope Stephen I succeeds Pope Lucius I, becoming the 23rd pope of the Catholic Church, and immediately takes a stand against Novatianism. Zhu Wen forces Emperor Ai into abdicating, ending the Tang dynasty after nearly three hundred years of rule. Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre in Cyprus; she is crowned Queen consort of England the same day. Jagiellonian University, the oldest university in Poland, is founded in K
- StandardSummaries onlyConstantinople: Birth of a Christian Empire (+ 8 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 11, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (11 May 2026) Today's historical events: Constantinople is consecrated. A copy of the Diamond Sutra is printed in China, making it the oldest known dated printed book. War of the Austrian Succession: French forces defeat an Anglo-Dutch-Hanoverian army. Robert Gray commands the first expedition to sail into the Columbia River. Prime Minister Spencer Perceval is assassinated by John Bellingham in the lobby of the British House of Commons. William Lawson, Gregory Blaxland an
- StandardSummaries onlyScottish Nobles Recognize Edward I: Prelude to Independence (+ 12 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 10, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (10 May 2026) Today's historical events: Scottish nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England pending the selection of a king. Christopher Columbus visits the Cayman Islands and names them Las Tortugas after the numerous turtles there. Jacques Cartier visits Newfoundland. King Narai nominates Phetracha as regent, leading to the revolution of 1688 in which Phetracha becomes king of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Rioting occurs in London after John Wilkes is imprisoned fo
- StandardSummaries onlyAthanasius: Defender of Nicene Creed (+ 10 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 9, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (09 May 2026) Today's historical events: Athanasius is elected Patriarch of Alexandria. England and Portugal formally ratify their alliance with the signing of the Treaty of Windsor, making it the oldest diplomatic alliance in the world which is still in force. 'Abd al-Latif (Timurid monarch) is assassinated. Hernando de Alarcón sets sail on an expedition to the Gulf of California. The figure who later became Mr. Punch makes his first recorded appearance in England. Thoma
- StandardSummaries onlyReccared I: The Third Council of Toledo (+ 11 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 8, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (08 May 2026) Today's historical events: Reccared I opens the Third Council of Toledo, marking the entry of Visigothic Spain into the Catholic Church. Treaty of Brétigny drafted between King Edward III of England and King John II of France (the Good). Julian of Norwich, a Christian mystic and anchoress, experiences the deathbed visions described in her Revelations of Divine Love. Joan of Arc lifts the Siege of Orléans, turning the tide of the Hundred Years' War. Kentishme
- StandardSummaries onlyJewish Revolt Against Constantius Gallus in 351 AD (+ 9 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 7, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (07 May 2026) Today's historical events: The Jewish revolt against Constantius Gallus breaks out after his arrival at Antioch. In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses, twenty years after its construction. Justinian I immediately orders that the dome be rebuilt. In France, the Second Council of Lyon opens to regulate the election of the Pope. The Siege of Málaga commences during the Spanish Reconquista. The Burning of Edinburgh by an English army is the f
- StandardSummaries onlySack of Rome: End of Renaissance Era (+ 13 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 6, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (06 May 2026) Today's historical events: Spanish and German troops sack Rome; many scholars consider this the end of the Renaissance. The Siege of Cuzco commences, in which Incan forces attempt to retake the city of Cuzco from the Spanish. Francis Xavier reaches Old Goa, the capital of Portuguese India at the time. The Dutch city of Coevorden held by the Spanish, falls to a Dutch and English force. English Restoration: A faction of the British Army removes Richard Cromwel
- StandardSummaries onlySecond Council of Constantinople: Christological Controversies (+ 9 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 5, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (05 May 2026) Today's historical events: The Second Council of Constantinople begins. Rebel barons renounce their allegiance to King John of England — part of a chain of events leading to the signing of the Magna Carta. On his second voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus sights Jamaica, landing at Discovery Bay and declares Jamaica the property of the Spanish crown. Daimyō (Lord) Shimazu Tadatsune of the Satsuma Domain in southern Kyūshū, Japan, completes his succ
- StandardSummaries onlyAugustinian Order: Origins and Influence (+ 10 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 4, 2026
Augustinian OrderA Daily Dose of History (04 May 2026) Today's historical events: The Augustinian monastic order is constituted at the Lecceto Monastery when Pope Alexander IV issues a papal bull Licet ecclesiae catholicae. Religious reformers John Wycliffe and Jan Hus are condemned as heretics at the Council of Constance. Assassination of the Swedish rebel (later national hero) Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson Wars of the Roses: The Battle of Tewkesbury: Edward IV defeats a Lancastrian Army and kills Edward of Westmin
- StandardSummaries onlyMayan King Bird Jaguar IV's Ascension: A Historic Moment (+ 13 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 3, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (03 May 2026) Today's historical events: Mayan king Bird Jaguar IV of Yaxchilan in modern-day Chiapas, Mexico, assumes the throne. The largest of three earthquakes strikes the island of Rhodes and causes an estimated 30,000 casualties. Kongo monarch Nkuwu Nzinga is baptised by Portuguese missionaries, adopting the baptismal name of João I. Angered by the brutal onslaught of Spanish troops at Fort Caroline, a French force has burned the San Mateo fort and massacred hundred
- StandardSummaries onlyPortsmouth's Royal Charter: Key Maritime History (+ 12 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 2, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (02 May 2026) Today's historical events: King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. William de Braose is hanged by Prince Llywelyn the Great. Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, is arrested and imprisoned on charges of adultery, incest, treason and witchcraft. John Knox returns from exile to Scotland to become the leader of the nascent Scottish Reformation. Mary, Queen of Scots, escapes from Loch Leven Castle. The King James Version of the Bible is pub
- StandardSummaries onlyRoman Emperors' Historic Retirement: Impact on Empire (+ 10 more historical events on this day!)
Published May 1, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (01 May 2026) Today's historical events: Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman emperor. The Nea Ekklesia is inaugurated in Constantinople, setting the model for all later cross-in-square Orthodox churches. Norman mercenaries land at Bannow Bay in Leinster, marking the beginning of the Norman invasion of Ireland. Wars of Scottish Independence end: By the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton, England recognises Scotland as an independent state. The Act of Union
- StandardSummaries onlyEnd of Diocletianic Persecution: Turning Point in Christianity (+ 11 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 30, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (30 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: The Diocletianic Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire ends. Enguerrand de Marigny is hanged at the instigation of Charles, Count of Valois. Spain gives Christopher Columbus his commission of exploration. He is named admiral of the ocean sea, viceroy and governor of any territory he discovers. Mapuche leader Lautaro is killed by Spanish forces at the Battle of Mataquito in Chile. Juan de Oñate begins the conquest of Santa F
- StandardSummaries onlyByzantine Triumph: Battle of Levounion (+ 9 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 29, 2026
Byzantine TriumphA Daily Dose of History (29 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Battle of Levounion: The Pechenegs are defeated by Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos.[citation needed] Battle of the Vikhra River: The Principality of Smolensk is defeated by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and becomes its vassal. Joan of Arc arrives to relieve the Siege of Orléans. Gran Canaria, the main island of the Canary Islands, is conquered by the Kingdom of Castile. Swedish War of Liberation: Swedish troops defeat a Danish
- StandardSummaries onlyBattle of Hormozdgan: Rise of Sassanian Empire (+ 12 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 28, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (28 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: The Battle of Hormozdgan is fought. Ardashir I defeats and kills Artabanus V effectively ending the Parthian Empire. Emperor Constantius II enters Rome for the first time to celebrate his victory over Magnus Magnentius. Assassination of Conrad of Montferrat (Conrad I), King of Jerusalem, in Tyre, two days after his title to the throne is confirmed by election. The killing is carried out by Hashshashin. Nichiren, a Japanese Buddhist
- StandardSummaries onlyPhilip the Arab: Rome's Millennium Celebration (+ 11 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 27, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (27 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Philip the Arab marks the millennium of Rome with a celebration of the ludi seaculares. Emperor Arcadius marries Aelia Eudoxia, daughter of the Frankish general Flavius Bauto. She becomes one of the more powerful Roman empresses of Late Antiquity. Islamic conquest of Hispania: Moorish troops led by Tariq ibn Ziyad land at Gibraltar to begin their invasion of the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus). First War of Scottish Independence: Jo
- StandardSummaries onlyCharles University: European Education Milestone (+ 10 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 26, 2026
Charles UniversityA Daily Dose of History (26 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Czech king Karel IV founds the Charles University in Prague, which was later named after him and was the first university in Central Europe. Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) ascends Mont Ventoux. The Pazzi family attack on Lorenzo de' Medici kills his brother Giuliano during High Mass in Florence Cathedral. Playwright William Shakespeare is baptized in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England (date of birth is unknown). The Virginia
- StandardSummaries onlyBagrevand 775: Turning Point in South Caucasus (+ 7 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 25, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (25 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: The Battle of Bagrevand puts an end to an Armenian rebellion against the Abbasid Caliphate. Muslim control over the South Caucasus is solidified and its Islamization begins, while several major Armenian nakharar families lose power and their remnants flee to the Byzantine Empire. After mistreatment and disfigurement by the citizens of Rome, pope Leo III flees to the Frankish court of king Charlemagne at Paderborn for protection. Ei
- StandardSummaries onlyMühlberg 1547: Turning Point in Reformation (+ 12 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 24, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (24 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Battle of Mühlberg. Duke of Alba, commanding Spanish-Imperial forces of Charles I of Spain, defeats the troops of Schmalkaldic League. Mary, Queen of Scots, marries the Dauphin of France, François, at Notre Dame de Paris. The first regular newspaper in British Colonial America, The Boston News-Letter, is published. French revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat is acquitted by the Revolutionary Tribunal of charges brought by the Girondin in
- StandardSummaries onlyMaya King's Ruthless Attack: Calakmul vs. Palenque (+ 9 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 23, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (23 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Maya king Uneh Chan of Calakmul attacks rival city-state Palenque in southern Mexico, defeating queen Yohl Ik'nal and sacking the city. Battle of Clontarf: High King of Ireland Brian Boru defeats Viking invaders, but is killed in battle. Edmund Ironside succeeds his father Æthelred the Unready as King of England. St. George's Night Uprising commences in the Duchy of Estonia. The founding of the Order of the Garter by King Edward II
- StandardSummaries onlySenate's Bold Move: Ousting Maximinus Thrax (+ 13 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 22, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (22 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Year of the Six Emperors: The Roman Senate outlaws emperor Maximinus Thrax for his bloodthirsty proscriptions in Rome and nominates two of its members, Pupienus and Balbinus, to the throne. Portuguese navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral lands in Brazil. Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés establishes a settlement at Veracruz, Mexico. Treaty of Zaragoza divides the eastern hemisphere between Spain and Portugal along a line 297.5 leagues (
- StandardSummaries onlyPisa's Rise: From Diocese to Archdiocese (+ 10 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 21, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (21 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: The Diocese of Pisa is elevated to the rank of metropolitan archdiocese by Pope Urban II The three-day Lisbon Massacre comes to an end with the slaughter of over 1,900 suspected Jews by Portuguese Catholics. Henry VIII ascends the throne of England on the death of his father, Henry VII. The last ruler of the Lodi dynasty, Ibrahim Lodi is defeated and killed by Babur in the First Battle of Panipat. The Wignacourt Aqueduct is inaugur
- StandardSummaries onlySapienza University: A Medieval Center of Learning (+ 9 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 20, 2026
Sapienza UniversityA Daily Dose of History (20 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: The Sapienza University of Rome is instituted by a bull of Pope Boniface VIII. Three Genoese galleys and a Byzantine blockade runner fight their way through an Ottoman blockading fleet a few weeks before the fall of Constantinople. Jacques Cartier begins his first voyage to what is today the east coast of Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador. The sun dog phenomenon is observed over Stockholm, as later depicted in the famous painting V
- StandardSummaries onlyBetrayal of Milichus: Nero's Reign Saved (+ 10 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 19, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (19 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: The freedman Milichus betrays Piso's plot to kill the Emperor Nero and all the conspirators are arrested. Battle of Callinicum: A Byzantine army under Belisarius is defeated by the Persians at Raqqa (northern Syria). Empress Irene organizes a conspiracy against her son, the Byzantine emperor Constantine VI. He is deposed and blinded. Shortly after, Constantine dies of his wounds; Irene proclaims herself basileus. The Lisbon Massacr
- StandardSummaries onlyMurder of King Æthelred I: Northumbria's Turmoil (+ 10 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 18, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (18 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: King Æthelred I of Northumbria is murdered in Corbridge by a group led by his ealdormen, Ealdred and Wada. The patrician Osbald is crowned, but abdicates within 27 days. Peace of Ferrara between Republic of Venice, Duchy of Milan, Republic of Florence and House of Gonzaga: ending of the second campaign of the Wars in Lombardy fought until the Treaty of Lodi in 1454, which will then guarantee the conditions for the development of th
- StandardSummaries onlyCanute IV: Denmark's Saintly Ruler (+ 13 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 17, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (17 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Harald III of Denmark dies and is succeeded by Canute IV, who would later be the first Dane to be canonized. The rule of the Bavand dynasty in Mazandaran is brought to an end by the murder of Hasan II. Kaunas Castle falls to the Teutonic Order after a month-long siege. Spain and Christopher Columbus sign the Capitulations of Santa Fe for his voyage to Asia to acquire spices. Trial of Martin Luther over his teachings begins during t
- StandardSummaries onlyOtho's Suicide: Fall of a Roman Emperor (+ 14 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 16, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (16 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Defeated by Vitellius' troops at Bedriacum, Otho commits suicide. Masada, a Jewish fortress, falls to the Romans after several months of siege, ending the First Jewish-Roman War. Stefan Dušan, "the Mighty", is crowned Emperor of the Serbs at Skopje, his empire occupying much of the Balkans. The Revolt of the Comuneros begins in Spain against the rule of Charles V. Spanish conquistador Hernando de Lerma founds the settlement of Salt
- StandardSummaries onlyLateran Council 769: Iconoclasm Condemned (+ 10 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 15, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (15 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: The Lateran Council condemns the Council of Hieria and anathematizes its iconoclastic rulings. Timur defeats Tokhtamysh of the Golden Horde at the Battle of the Terek River. The Golden Horde capital city, Sarai, is razed to the ground and Timur installs a puppet ruler on the throne. Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English forces, ending English domination in Nort
- StandardSummaries onlyYear of Four Emperors: Battle of Bedriacum (+ 7 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 14, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (14 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Vitellius, commander of the Rhine armies, defeats Emperor Otho in the Battle of Bedriacum to take power over Rome. After his marriage to the Christian Doubravka of Bohemia, the pagan ruler of the Polans, Mieszko I, converts to Christianity, an event considered to be the founding of the Polish state. Co-Emperor Otto II, a son of Otto I (the Great), marries the Byzantine princess Theophanu. She is crowned empress by Pope John XIII at
- StandardSummaries onlyFall of Constantinople: Fourth Crusade's Impact (+ 11 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 13, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (13 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Constantinople falls to the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade, temporarily ending the Byzantine Empire. Miyamoto Musashi defeats Sasaki Kojirō at Funajima island. Samuel Argall, having captured Pocahontas in Passapatanzy, Virginia, sets off with her to Jamestown with the intention of exchanging her for English prisoners held by her father. The Sikh religion was formalised as the Khalsa – the brotherhood of Warrior-Saints – by Guru Go
- StandardSummaries onlyShapur I: Rise to Power in Sasanian Empire (+ 8 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 12, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (12 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Shapur I becomes co-emperor of the Sasanian Empire with his father Ardashir I. Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. King Edwin of Northumbria is converted to Christianity by Paulinus, bishop of York. Duke Oldřich of Bohemia deposes and blinds his brother Jaromír, who flees to Poland. The Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade breach the walls of Constantinople and enter the city, which they completely occupy the f
- StandardSummaries onlyAnastasius I: Byzantine Emperor & Financial Reformer (+ 11 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 11, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (11 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Flavius Anastasius becomes Byzantine emperor, with the name of Anastasius I. Batu Khan defeats Béla IV of Hungary at the Battle of Mohi. War of the League of Cambrai: Franco-Ferrarese forces led by Gaston de Foix and Alfonso I d'Este win the Battle of Ravenna against the Papal-Spanish forces. Italian War of 1542-46: A French army defeats Habsburg forces at the Battle of Ceresole, but fails to exploit its victory. William III and Ma
- StandardSummaries onlyNestorius: Controversial Patriarch of Constantinople (+ 11 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 10, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (10 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Nestorius becomes the Patriarch of Constantinople. Three years later, he would be deposed due to alleged heresy. Halley's Comet makes its closest approach to Earth at a distance equal to 0.0342 AU (5.1 million kilometres/3.2 million miles). Deshin Shekpa, 5th Karmapa Lama visits the Ming dynasty capital at Nanjing. He is awarded the title "Great Treasure Prince of Dharma". Ludovico Sforza is captured by Swiss troops at Novara and i
- StandardSummaries onlyDong Zhuo's Burning of Luoyang: A Turning Point (+ 12 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 9, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (09 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Dong Zhuo has his troops evacuate the capital Luoyang and burn it to the ground. The distinguished soldier Septimus Severus is proclaimed emperor by the army in Illyricum. Byzantine Emperor Basiliscus issues a circular letter (Enkyklikon) to the bishops of his empire, supporting the Monophysite christological position. Siege of Rome: The Byzantine general Belisarius receives his promised reinforcements, 1,600 cavalry, mostly of Hun
- StandardSummaries onlyAssassination of Roman Emperor Caracalla (+ 10 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 8, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (08 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Roman emperor Caracalla is assassinated and is succeeded by his Praetorian Guard prefect, Marcus Opellius Macrinus. The Battle of Dayr al-'Aqul saves Baghdad from the Saffarids. Roger II of Sicily is excommunicated by Innocent II for supporting Anacletus II as pope for seven years, even though Roger had already publicly recognized Innocent's claim to the papacy. Pope Eugene III takes refuge in the castle of Ptolemy II of Tusculum.
- StandardSummaries onlyAttila the Hun's Siege of Metz: A Brutal Conquest (+ 13 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 7, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (07 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Attila the Hun captures Metz in France, killing most of its inhabitants and burning most of the town. First Corpus Juris Civilis, a fundamental work in jurisprudence, is issued by Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I. Empress Matilda becomes the first female ruler of England, adopting the title 'Lady of the English'. Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV charters Prague University. Felix V abdicates his claim to the papacy, ending the reign o
- StandardSummaries onlyScottish Declaration of Arbroath: Defiance and Freedom (+ 8 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 6, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (06 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: The Scots reaffirm their independence by signing the Declaration of Arbroath. Mehmed II begins his siege of Constantinople. The city falls on May 29, and is renamed Istanbul. One of the largest earthquakes recorded in the history of England, Flanders, or Northern France, takes place. At the Cape of Good Hope, Dutch sailor Jan van Riebeeck establishes a resupply camp that eventually becomes Cape Town. The New York Slave Revolt of 17
- StandardSummaries onlyLothair I Crowned King of Italy: Carolingian Power (+ 8 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 5, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (05 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Lothair I is crowned King of Italy by Pope Paschal I. The second Fatimid invasion of Egypt begins, when the Fatimid heir-apparent, al-Qa'im bi-Amr Allah, sets out from Raqqada at the head of his army. During the Battle on the Ice of Lake Peipus, Russian forces, led by Alexander Nevsky, rebuff an invasion attempt by the Teutonic Knights. Charles V makes a Royal Entry into Rome, demolishing a swath of the city to re-enact a Roman tri
- StandardSummaries onlyMaya King Uneh Chan's Conquest: Turning Point (+ 8 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 4, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (04 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Maya king Uneh Chan of Calakmul sacks rival city-state Palenque in southern Mexico. King Louis the Pious captures Barcelona from the Moors after a siege of several months. A five-year Byzantine-Venetian peace treaty is concluded between Venetian envoys and Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos. Death of the Venetian Doge Tommaso Mocenigo, under whose rule victories were achieved against the Kingdom of Hungary and against the Ottoman Emp
- StandardSummaries onlyMaya King Yuknoom Yich'aak K'ahk' of Calakmul (+ 12 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 3, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (03 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Maya king Yuknoom Yich'aak K'ahk' assumes the crown of Calakmul. Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. The Patriarchate of Friûl, the first Friulian state, is created. The second of two the treaties making up the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis is signed, ending the Italian Wars. Robert Walpole becomes, in effect, the first Prime Minister of Great Britain, though he himself denied that title. Rama IV is crowned King of Thailan
- StandardSummaries onlyBritish Victory at Suvarnadurg in 1755 (+ 11 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 2, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (02 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: Commodore William James captures the Maratha fortress of Suvarnadurg on the west coast of India. The Coinage Act is passed by Congress, establishing the United States Mint. Ludwig van Beethoven leads the premiere of his First Symphony in Vienna. French Revolutionary Wars: In the Battle of Copenhagen a British Royal Navy squadron defeats a hastily-assembled, smaller, mostly-volunteer Dano-Norwegian Navy at high cost, forcing Denmark
- StandardSummaries onlyJesus Christ's Last Supper: A Moment of Sacrifice and Love (+ 8 more historical events on this day!)
Published Apr 1, 2026
A Daily Dose of History (01 Apr 2026) Today's historical events: According to one historian's account, Jesus Christ's Last Supper is held. Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne. In the Eighty Years' War, the Watergeuzen capture Brielle from the Seventeen Provinces, gaining the first foothold on land for what would become the Dutch Republic. In New York City, the United States House of Representatives achieves its first quorum and elects F