681day.year
Twelfth Council of Toledo: King Erwig of the Visigoths initiates a council in which he implements diverse measures against the Jews in Spain.
In 681, King Erwig convened the Twelfth Council of Toledo, enacting measures that targeted the Jewish community in Visigothic Spain.
In 681, King Erwig of the Visigoths summoned the Twelfth Council of Toledo to consolidate his rule.
The council introduced stringent laws restricting Jewish citizenship, property rights, and religious practices.
Decrees included bans on interfaith marriage, restrictions on synagogue worship, and property confiscation.
These measures reflected mounting anti-Jewish sentiment and the influence of ecclesiastical authorities.
The council's canons would shape Visigothic law and set precedents for future religious legislation.
681
Twelfth Council of Toledo
Erwig
Visigoths
1431day.year
The trial of Joan of Arc begins in Rouen.
The trial of Joan of Arc began in Rouen in 1431, leading to her eventual execution.
Charged with heresy and wearing male attire, Joan of Arc was brought to trial before an ecclesiastical court in Rouen.
The proceedings were overseen by Bishop Pierre Cauchon, a supporter of the English cause in France.
Over several months, Joan faced rigorous questioning about her visions and military leadership.
Despite maintaining her innocence and divine inspiration, she was condemned for her alleged transgressions.
Her trial and conviction laid the groundwork for her eventual execution by burning.
1431
trial of Joan of Arc
Rouen
1788day.year
Connecticut becomes the fifth state to ratify the United States Constitution.
Connecticut became the fifth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on January 9, 1788, strengthening the new federal government.
By ratifying the Constitution on January 9, 1788, Connecticut supported the establishment of a stronger central government.
The state's decision followed heated debates over the balance of power between states and the federal authority.
Connecticut's approval provided critical momentum toward the Constitution's adoption by the required nine states.
Often called the 'Constitution State,' Connecticut played a key role in shaping the new union.
Its early ratification underscored the importance of compromise and unity in the republic's founding.
1788
Connecticut
United States Constitution
1792day.year
Treaty of Jassy between Russian and Ottoman Empire is signed, ending the Russo-Turkish War of 1787–92.
The Treaty of Jassy was signed on January 9, 1792, ending the Russo-Turkish War of 1787–92.
Representatives of the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Porte signed the Treaty of Jassy in modern-day Iasi, Romania.
The treaty recognized Russia's annexation of Crimea and granted additional territories along the Black Sea.
By formalizing peace, it concluded the protracted Russo-Turkish War that had begun in 1787.
The agreement secured Russian dominance in the Black Sea region and weakened Ottoman influence in Eastern Europe.
This diplomatic resolution shifted the balance of power and shaped 19th-century geopolitics.
1792
Treaty of Jassy
Russian
Ottoman Empire
Russo-Turkish War of 1787–92
1799day.year
British Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger introduces an income tax of two shillings to the pound to raise funds for Great Britain's war effort in the Napoleonic Wars.
In 1799, William Pitt the Younger introduced Britain's first income tax to finance the nation's war efforts against Napoleonic France.
Facing mounting expenses in the Napoleonic Wars, British Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger established an income tax of two shillings to the pound on January 9, 1799. This measure marked the first time Britain levied a general tax on individual earnings to fund military operations. The progressive tax applied different rates to various income brackets and stirred public debate over government authority. Despite opposition, the levy successfully generated critical revenue for Britain's war chest. Pitt's policy set a precedent for modern income taxation and reshaped the relationship between the state and its citizens.
1799
British Prime Minister
William Pitt the Younger
income tax
shillings
pound
Napoleonic Wars
1806day.year
Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson receives a state funeral and is interred in St Paul's Cathedral.
Admiral Horatio Nelson was honored with a grand state funeral at St Paul's Cathedral in 1806, celebrating his naval victories.
On January 9, 1806, Britain held a state funeral for Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson, hero of the Battle of Trafalgar. His coffin was transported in a solemn procession through London, accompanied by government and naval dignitaries. Thousands of mourners lined the streets to pay tribute to Nelson's leadership and sacrifice. The ceremony culminated in his interment at St Paul's Cathedral, where a magnificent monument now stands in his honor. Nelson's funeral became one of the most celebrated public ceremonies in British history, symbolizing national pride and military glory.
1806
Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson
state funeral
St Paul's Cathedral
1822day.year
The Portuguese prince Pedro I of Brazil decides to stay in Brazil against the orders of the Portuguese King João VI, beginning the Brazilian independence process.
In 1822, Prince Pedro of Brazil defied orders from the Portuguese king by remaining in Brazil, igniting the nation's independence movement.
On January 9, 1822, Prince Pedro I of Brazil made a historic decision to defy the authority of his father, King João VI of Portugal, by refusing to return to Lisbon. This bold move, known as the 'Dia do Fico' (I Stay Day), galvanized Brazilian elites and commoners alike in the push for autonomy. Pedro's choice set in motion a series of political events leading to Brazil's declaration of independence later that year. The prince's popular stance against colonial rule won him widespread support and solidified his role as Brazil's founding emperor. The Dia do Fico remains celebrated as a pivotal moment in Brazilian history, symbolizing the birth of a sovereign nation.
1822
Pedro I of Brazil
Brazil
João VI
1861day.year
Mississippi becomes the second state to secede from the Union before the outbreak of the American Civil War.
Mississippi became the second state to secede from the Union on the eve of the American Civil War in 1861.
On January 9, 1861, Mississippi's secession convention voted to leave the United States, becoming the second state after South Carolina to do so. The decision reflected deep anxieties over states' rights and the future of slavery. Mississippi leaders asserted that the federal government no longer protected their social and economic interests. The departure solidified the formation of the Confederate States of America and encouraged other states to follow suit. Mississippi's secession was a critical step toward full-scale conflict that erupted a few months later at Fort Sumter.
Mississippi
second state to secede
Union
1878day.year
Umberto I becomes King of Italy.
In 1878, Umberto I ascended the Italian throne, succeeding his father Victor Emmanuel II.
Following the assassination of Victor Emmanuel II in 1878, Prince Umberto assumed the crown as King Umberto I of Italy. His reign was characterized by efforts to modernize the military and pursue colonial ambitions in Africa. Domestically, he sought to balance conservative forces with growing demands for social reforms amid labor unrest. Diplomatically, he strengthened Italy's alliances, notably the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary. Despite modernization initiatives, his reign was marked by political tensions and public discontent, culminating in his assassination in 1900 by an anarchist.
1878
Umberto I
Italy
1903day.year
Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson, son of the poet Alfred Tennyson, becomes the second Governor-General of Australia.
In 1903, Hallam Tennyson, son of poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, was appointed as the second Governor-General of Australia.
Born into British aristocracy in 1852 as the son of Poet Laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson, Hallam Tennyson brought a literary and diplomatic heritage to his role. He succeeded the Earl of Hopetoun in 1903, serving as the Crown's representative during the early years of the Australian federation. During his tenure, he oversaw the development of federal institutions and navigated the evolving relationship between Australia and the British Empire. Tennyson's experience in colonial administration helped stabilize the young nation's governance. He returned to Britain in 1904, leaving a legacy as one of Australia's formative vice-regal figures.
1903
Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson
Alfred Tennyson
Governor-General of Australia
1923day.year
Lithuanian residents of the Memel Territory rebel against the League of Nations' decision to leave the area as a mandated region under French control.
In 1923, Lithuanian inhabitants of the Memel Territory rose up against the League of Nations' decision to place their region under French mandate.
The Memel Territory was carved out from East Prussia and placed under League of Nations administration after World War I.
On 9 January 1923, local Lithuanian residents staged an uprising to challenge the League's plan to maintain French control.
Rebels swiftly took over administrative buildings and raised the Lithuanian flag across the region.
The revolt was largely bloodless, organized by nationalist groups seeking union with Lithuania.
Despite international condemnation, the insurrection prompted negotiations that led to the territory's reintegration into Lithuania later that year.
This event highlighted the tensions between emerging national self-determination and the mandates system of the postwar order.
Lithuanian
Memel Territory
rebel
League of Nations
mandated region
1957day.year
British Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden resigns from office following his failure to retake the Suez Canal from Egyptian sovereignty.
Sir Anthony Eden resigned as British Prime Minister on 9 January 1957, following the international fallout from the Suez Crisis.
Earlier in 1956, Eden ordered a military intervention in Egypt alongside France and Israel to regain control of the Suez Canal.
The move provoked global criticism and pressure from both the United States and the Soviet Union.
Facing growing political isolation and health problems, Eden announced his resignation after just over a year in office.
He cited personal reasons and the toll the crisis had taken on his leadership.
Eden's departure marked a rare mid-term resignation and reshaped British foreign policy.
His successor, Harold Macmillan, steered Britain toward a more conciliatory stance in international affairs.
1957
British Prime Minister
Anthony Eden
retake
Suez Canal