January 05

Events

1477day.year

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.
In January 1477, the forces of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, met troops led by René II of Lorraine at Nancy. The battle was brief but decisive, resulting in a clear victory for Lorraine and its Swiss allies. Charles the Bold fell during the fighting, marking the collapse of Burgundian power and ambitions. His death allowed King Louis XI of France to claim Burgundian territories and expand French influence. The outcome reshaped the political landscape of Western Europe and solidified the French crown’s authority.
1477 Battle of Nancy Charles the Bold René II, Duke of Lorraine Burgundy
1675day.year

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.
In January 1675, the French army engaged Austrian and Brandenburg forces near Colmar in Alsace. Under the leadership of Marshal Turenne, the French executed strategic flanking maneuvers that overwhelmed the enemy. The battle secured key positions along the Rhine and bolstered France’s defensive lines. It demonstrated the effectiveness of Louis XIV’s military reforms and expansionist policies. The outcome reinforced France’s dominance in the region and discouraged further incursions by the Holy Roman Empire.
1675 Battle of Colmar Brandenburg
1757day.year

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.
On January 5, 1757, Robert-François Damiens attacked King Louis XV in Paris, stabbing him but failing to deliver a fatal blow. The attempt shocked the French court and exposed vulnerabilities in royal security. Damiens was immediately captured, tried for regicide, and condemned to the gruesome punishment of drawing and quartering. He became the last person in France executed under that method, leading to its abolition shortly thereafter. The incident sparked debates on royal authority and the use of brutal capital punishment.
1757 Louis XV assassination Robert-François Damiens executed drawing and quartering regicides
1781day.year

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.
On January 5, 1781, Benedict Arnold, having defected to the British, led a naval expedition up the James River to Richmond. Arnold’s intimate knowledge of Virginian defenses allowed British forces to strike swiftly and inflict heavy damage. Warehouses, public buildings, and private homes were set ablaze, causing economic and symbolic blows to the revolutionaries. The attack provoked outrage among American colonists and galvanized support for the Patriot cause. Arnold’s actions cemented his legacy as one of the most infamous traitors in American history.
1781 American Revolutionary War Richmond, Virginia burned British naval forces Benedict Arnold
1822day.year

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.
In January 1822, representatives from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica approved annexation to Mexico’s newly proclaimed empire. The decision was driven by fears of Spanish reconquest and hopes for political order. Emperor Agustín de Iturbide welcomed the union, envisioning a vast transcontinental empire. However, regional differences and local elites resisted Mexican control, leading to dissolution in 1823. The brief annexation highlighted the challenges of post-colonial nation building in Central America.
1822 Central America total annexation First Mexican Empire
1875day.year

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.
On January 5, 1875, the Palais Garnier, designed by architect Charles Garnier, officially opened in the heart of Paris. The building featured a grand marble staircase, an ornate auditorium, and lavish decorations of gold leaf and frescoes. Commissioned by Napoleon III and completed after the Franco-Prussian War, it embodied the ambition of Haussmann’s urban renewal. The opera house set new standards in acoustics, design, and public spectacle. Over the decades, it has premiered works by composers like Massenet and Gounod and inspired legends such as The Phantom of the Opera.
1875 Palais Garnier opera houses
1895day.year

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.
On January 5, 1895, Alfred Dreyfus was publicly degraded in Paris, forced to remove his military insignia before assembled troops. He was then deported to the penal colony on Devil’s Island in French Guiana to serve a life sentence. The Dreyfus affair exposed deep anti-Semitic currents within the French military and society. Writers and intellectuals, including Émile Zola, later rallied to his defense, accusing the government of a miscarriage of justice. The scandal prompted legal reforms and became a landmark in the fight for human rights and the rule of law.
1895 Dreyfus affair Alfred Dreyfus Devil's Island
1900day.year

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.
In early January 1900, John Edward Redmond, leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, delivered a passionate address calling for armed resistance to British governance in Ireland. His speech marked a shift from constitutional agitation to a more militant stance by some nationalists. Redmond sought to unite various factions under a common goal of self-governance and legislative autonomy. Although no immediate uprising followed, his remarks galvanized support and raised tensions in both Dublin and London. Redmond’s leadership would later prove pivotal in the passage of the Third Home Rule Bill and the events leading up to Irish independence.
1900 John Edward Redmond
1911day.year

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.
Originally called Kappa Alpha Nu, the fraternity was established to promote academic excellence and mutual support among black students. In 1912, the organization changed its name to Kappa Alpha Psi to distinguish itself from a white fraternity with a similar name. It quickly expanded, chartering chapters across the United States and offering a network of mentorship and leadership development. During an era of Jim Crow laws, Kappa Alpha Psi provided African American men with opportunities and a sense of community. Its members have included prominent figures in politics, business, education, and the arts, cementing its enduring legacy.
1911 Kappa Alpha Psi black fraternity Indiana University
1912day.year

The sixth All-Russian Conference of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (Prague Party Conference) opens. In the course of the conference, Vladimir Lenin and his supporters break from the rest of the party to form the Bolshevik movement.

The 1912 Prague Party Conference saw Lenin and his supporters split from the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party to form the Bolsheviks. This schism laid the groundwork for the Russian Revolution.
In January 1912, delegates of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party convened in Prague to debate organizational and ideological issues. Vladimir Lenin’s faction clashed with the Menshevik majority over party membership rules and centralization. Unable to reconcile their differences, Lenin’s group declared itself the Bolsheviks, meaning “majority,” despite being smaller in number. The split deepened rifts within the revolutionary movement and set distinct paths for the two factions. The Bolsheviks would eventually lead the October Revolution of 1917, transforming Russia into a Soviet state.
1912 Russian Social Democratic Labour Party Prague Party Conference Vladimir Lenin Bolshevik
1913day.year

First Balkan War: The Battle of Lemnos begins; Greek admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis forces the Turkish fleet to retreat to its base within the Dardanelles, from which it did not venture for the rest of the war.

On January 5, 1913, the Greek fleet under Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis decisively defeated the Ottoman navy at the Battle of Lemnos.
The Battle of Lemnos began with Greek ships engaging the Ottoman fleet in the northern Aegean Sea. Under Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis, Greece employed superior tactics and speed to outmaneuver the enemy. By midday, the Turkish navy had retreated to the safety of the Dardanelles, never venturing out again during the First Balkan War. This victory secured Greek control of strategic sea lanes and boosted morale on the Balkan peninsula. The battle underscored the vital role of naval supremacy in early 20th-century conflicts.
1913 First Balkan War Battle of Lemnos Pavlos Kountouriotis Dardanelles
1914day.year

The Ford Motor Company announces an eight-hour workday and minimum daily wage of $5 in salary plus bonuses.

In 1914, Henry Ford revolutionizes labor practices by announcing an eight-hour workday and a daily wage of $5 for his factory workers.
Henry Ford announced an eight-hour workday and a minimum daily wage of $5 for his factory workers on January 5, 1914. This progressive policy aimed to reduce turnover and boost productivity in his Michigan plants. The move generated widespread attention, challenging prevailing labor practices of the era. Workers experienced better living standards and increased purchasing power, fueling consumer demand. Ford’s decision influenced other industries to re-examine working conditions and wages.
1914 Ford Motor Company eight-hour workday