1066day.year
Following the death of Edward the Confessor on the previous day, the Witan meets to confirm Harold Godwinson as the new King of England; Harold is crowned the same day, sparking a succession crisis that will eventually lead to the Norman conquest of England.
Harold Godwinson is confirmed and crowned King of England, triggering a succession crisis.
Following the death of Edward the Confessor, the Witan assembled to confirm Harold Godwinson as the new king. Harold was crowned on the same day, asserting his claim to the throne amidst competing contenders. His rapid coronation angered rivals, notably William of Normandy and Harald Hardrada. This dispute escalated tensions across Europe and led to the Norman invasion of England later that year. The ensuing Battle of Hastings ended Anglo-Saxon rule and began Norman governance. Harold's brief reign would end at the Battle of Hastings, marking a turning point in medieval English history.
1066
Edward the Confessor
Witan
Harold Godwinson
Norman conquest of England
1205day.year
Philip of Swabia undergoes a second coronation as King of the Romans.
Philip of Swabia is crowned King of the Romans for a second time, reinforcing his claim to the imperial throne.
Philip of Swabia, a member of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, had first been elected King of the Romans in 1198 after the death of his brother Henry VI. Faced with opposition from the Welf candidate Otto IV, Philip sought to solidify his rule. On January 6, 1205, he underwent a second coronation ceremony in Mainz, attended by key princes of the Holy Roman Empire. The event deepened the rivalry between the Hohenstaufen and Welf factions. Philip's reign continued to be marked by political intrigue until his assassination in 1208. The dispute over the imperial throne shaped the political landscape of the Empire in the early 13th century.
1205
Philip of Swabia
King of the Romans
1322day.year
Stephen Uroš III is crowned King of Serbia, having defeated his half-brother Stefan Konstantin in battle. His son is crowned "young king" in the same ceremony.
Stephen Uroš III is crowned King of Serbia after winning a dynastic struggle.
After defeating his half-brother Stefan Konstantin in battle, Stephen Uroš III ascended to the Serbian throne on January 6, 1322. The coronation ceremony took place at Serres and cemented his authority over the kingdom. To secure the succession, he also crowned his own son as 'young king' during the same event. Uroš III continued his father's policies of expansion and consolidation in the Balkans. His reign included diplomatic engagements with neighboring states and military campaigns in Macedonia. The dual coronation underscored his commitment to dynastic continuity and political stability in medieval Serbia.
1322
Stephen Uroš III
King of Serbia
Stefan Konstantin
1355day.year
Charles IV of Bohemia is crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy as King of Italy in Milan.
Charles IV of Bohemia is crowned King of Italy with the Iron Crown of Lombardy in Milan.
On January 6, 1355, Charles IV of Bohemia traveled to Milan to claim the Iron Crown of Lombardy, symbolizing his authority as King of Italy. The ceremony at the Church of Santa Tecla reinforced his position within the Holy Roman Empire. Possession of the Italian crown was a key step in his pursuit of imperial coronation in Rome. Charles's ascension followed careful negotiations with Italian city-states and the papacy. His reign would later be defined by the Golden Bull of 1356, which established rules for imperial elections. The coronation demonstrated the interplay of ceremony, diplomacy, and power in medieval Europe.
1355
Charles IV of Bohemia
Iron Crown of Lombardy
King of Italy
Milan
1449day.year
Constantine XI is crowned Byzantine Emperor at Mystras.
Constantine XI Palaiologos is crowned Byzantine Emperor at Mystras, becoming the last ruler of the empire.
On January 6, 1449, Constantine XI Palaiologos was crowned Emperor of the Byzantine Empire in a ceremony at Mystras. The fortress city of Mystras served as the despotate's capital following the decline of Constantinople. Constantine faced immense pressure from the rising Ottoman Empire throughout his reign. He assumed the imperial title in hopes of rallying support for the defense of the empire’s remaining territories. Despite appeals to Western powers, he secured little immediate aid. Constantine's rule culminated in the fall of Constantinople in 1453, ending centuries of Byzantine sovereignty. His coronation at Mystras thus stands as the final crowning of a Byzantine emperor.
1449
Constantine XI
Byzantine Emperor
Mystras
1492day.year
The Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella enter Granada at the conclusion of the Granada War.
Ferdinand and Isabella enter Granada, marking the end of the Granada War and the completion of the Reconquista.
On January 6, 1492, King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile triumphantly entered Granada, the last Muslim stronghold on the Iberian Peninsula. This marked the conclusion of the Granada War, which had lasted over a decade. The Catholic Monarchs received the keys to the city from Emir Muhammad XII, symbolizing the surrender of Muslim rule. The fall of Granada ended centuries of Islamic governance in Spain and unified the kingdoms under Christian rule. In the aftermath, policies of religious conversion and expulsion reshaped Spain’s cultural landscape. The conquest of Granada elevated Spain’s status among European powers and helped finance Christopher Columbus’s voyages later that year. This historic entry heralded the dawn of a unified Spanish monarchy and the rise of a global empire.
1492
Ferdinand and Isabella
Granada War
1540day.year
King Henry VIII of England marries Anne of Cleves.
King Henry VIII of England marries Anne of Cleves in a politically arranged union.
On January 6, 1540, King Henry VIII of England married Anne of Cleves, sister of a prominent German duke, at the Palace of Placentia in Greenwich. The marriage was arranged to secure an alliance with Protestant German states amid rising tensions with Catholic Europe. Henry famously found Anne unattractive, dubbing her the 'Flanders Mare,' which strained the relationship from the start. Despite efforts by both courts to foster goodwill, the marriage remained unconsummated. By July of the same year, the union was annulled on grounds of non-consummation and pre-contracts. Anne received a generous financial settlement, retained the title of queen, and lived comfortably in England until her death. The brief and turbulent marriage showcased the complex interplay of personal preference and diplomatic strategy in the Tudor court.
1540
Henry VIII of England
Anne of Cleves
1579day.year
The Union of Arras unites the southern Netherlands under the Duke of Parma (Ottavio Farnese), governor in the name of King Philip II of Spain.
The Union of Arras formalizes Spanish rule over the southern Netherlands.
On January 6, 1579, representatives from several southern provinces of the Low Countries signed the Union of Arras, pledging loyalty to King Philip II of Spain. The agreement aimed to protect Catholic interests and preserve local privileges amid the wider Dutch Revolt. Led by the Duke of Parma, Ottavio Farnese, the union stood in contrast to the Protestant northern provinces, which formed the Union of Utrecht later that month. By reaffirming Spanish sovereignty, the southern provinces sought to quell rebel uprisings and maintain stability. The Union of Arras deepened the political and religious division across the Low Countries. It laid the groundwork for the eventual separation between what became modern Belgium and the Dutch Republic. The pact reshaped the map of Europe during the tumultuous age of Reformation conflicts.
1579
Union of Arras
Duke of Parma
Ottavio Farnese
King Philip II of Spain
1661day.year
English Restoration: The Fifth Monarchists unsuccessfully attempt to seize control of London, England. The revolt is suppressed after a few days.
In 1661, the Fifth Monarchists launched a daring but ill-fated uprising in London, aiming to topple the newly restored Stuart monarchy. Their revolt was crushed within days, marking one of the last Puritan challenges to royal authority.
After the restoration of Charles II to the English throne in 1660, millenarian radicals known as the Fifth Monarchists rejected the new royal regime.
On January 6, 1661, they launched an audacious attempt to seize key positions in London, aiming to establish a theocratic government.
The insurrection lasted only a few days before royal forces overwhelmed the rebels.
Dozens of participants were arrested, and the movement's leadership was dismantled.
This failed coup underscored the diminishing threat of Puritan radicalism and reinforced the stability of the restored Stuart monarchy.
1661
English Restoration
Fifth Monarchists
London
1912day.year
New Mexico is admitted to the Union as the 47th U.S. state.
In 1912, New Mexico joined the United States as the 47th state, marking the final continental addition to the Union at that time.
On January 6, 1912, President William Howard Taft signed the proclamation admitting New Mexico into the Union as the 47th state. Located in the American Southwest, New Mexico’s admission marked the end of the contiguous expansion of the United States. The territory’s rich cultural tapestry, including Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo influences, contributed to its unique identity. Statehood granted New Mexico representation in Congress and greater self-governance. The change spurred economic growth, invigorated industries like mining and agriculture, and encouraged infrastructure development. Today, New Mexico’s statehood is celebrated for its blend of cultures and historic significance along the Santa Fe Trail.
1912
New Mexico
U.S. state
1929day.year
King Alexander of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes suspends his country's constitution, starting the January 6th Dictatorship.
In 1929, King Alexander I of Yugoslavia suspended the constitution of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, establishing an authoritarian regime known as the January 6th Dictatorship.
On January 6, 1929, King Alexander I declared a royal dictatorship, dissolving political parties and suspending the constitution of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. He renamed the country Yugoslavia in an effort to promote national unity and curb ethnic tensions. The move centralized power in the monarchy and aimed to stabilize the diverse state amid regional unrest. Political freedoms were curtailed, and opposition leaders were arrested or exiled. This authoritarian regime lasted until Alexander’s assassination in 1934, leaving a legacy of tension between centralized rule and ethnic identities. The January 6th Dictatorship profoundly influenced Yugoslavia’s interwar politics and its future federal structure.
1929
Alexander of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
his country
January 6th Dictatorship
1941day.year
United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers his Four Freedoms speech in the State of the Union address.
In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt articulated the Four Freedoms—fundamental human rights—in his State of the Union address.
On January 6, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his annual State of the Union address to Congress, defining four essential human freedoms. He enumerated Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear as rights that should be enjoyed everywhere in the world. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms speech aimed to rally American support for democratic ideals at a time when global conflict threatened liberty. The address shaped public opinion and laid the moral groundwork for U.S. involvement in World War II. The Four Freedoms would later inspire the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations. Roosevelt’s vision endures as a touchstone for human rights advocacy worldwide.
1941
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Four Freedoms
State of the Union address