January 05

Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is defeated and killed in a conflict with René II, Duke of Lorraine; Burgundy subsequently becomes part of France.

The Battle of Nancy in 1477 saw Charles the Bold face René II of Lorraine. Charles was defeated and killed, ending Burgundian independence.

Battle of Colmar: The French army defeats forces from Austria and Brandenburg.

In 1675, French forces defeated Austrian and Brandenburg troops at Colmar. The victory strengthened French control along the Rhine frontier.

Louis XV of France survives an assassination attempt by Robert-François Damiens, who becomes the last person to be executed in France by drawing and quartering (the traditional form of capital punishment used for regicides).

King Louis XV survived a 1757 assassination attempt by Robert-François Damiens. Damiens was later executed by drawing and quartering, the last such sentence carried out in France.

American Revolutionary War: Richmond, Virginia, is burned by British naval forces led by former American general Benedict Arnold.

In 1781, British forces under Benedict Arnold burned Richmond, Virginia, during the American Revolutionary War. The raid aimed to disrupt Patriot resources and morale.

The government of Central America votes for total annexation to the First Mexican Empire.

In 1822, Central American provinces voted to join the First Mexican Empire under Agustín de Iturbide. The union aimed to secure stability after independence from Spain.

The Palais Garnier, one of the most famous opera houses in the world, is inaugurated in Paris.

The Palais Garnier opera house opened in Paris in 1875, showcasing Second Empire opulence. It became a symbol of French cultural grandeur.

Dreyfus affair: French army officer Alfred Dreyfus is stripped of his rank and sentenced to life imprisonment on Devil's Island.

In 1895, Captain Alfred Dreyfus was convicted of treason, stripped of his rank, and sent to Devil’s Island. His case ignited a fierce political and social controversy in France.

Irish nationalist leader John Edward Redmond calls for revolt against British rule.

In 1900, Irish nationalist John Edward Redmond publicly urged a revolt against British rule. His call energized the movement for Home Rule.

Kappa Alpha Psi, the world's third-oldest and largest black fraternity, is founded at Indiana University.

On January 5, 1911, ten African American students at Indiana University founded Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. It fostered scholarship, service, and brotherhood during segregation.