January 31
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Christianfeast day:
Domitius (Domice) of Amiens, Francis Xavier Bianchi, Geminianus, John Bosco, Julius of Novara, Blessed Ludovica, Máedóc (Mogue, Aiden), Marcella of Marseille, Marcella of Rome, Samuel Shoemaker(Episcopal Church (USA)), Tysul, Ulphia, Wilgils, January 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
A collective Christian feast day honoring multiple saints and Eastern Orthodox liturgical celebrations on January 31.
Amartithi(Meherabad, India, followers ofMeher Baba)
Amartithi marks the death anniversary of spiritual teacher Meher Baba, observed by his followers in Meherabad, India.
Independence Day (Nauru), celebrates independence from Australia in 1968.
Nauru Independence Day commemorates the nation's sovereignty gained from Australia on January 31, 1968.
Street Children's Day(Austria)
Street Children's Day in Austria raises awareness and support for children living on the streets.
Domitius (Domice) of Amiens
Feast day of Saint Domitius of Amiens, a 3rd-century martyr revered for his steadfast faith.
Francis Xavier Bianchi
Feast day of Saint Francis Xavier Bianchi, an 18th-century Italian priest known for his piety and miraculous healings.
Geminianus
Feast day of Saint Geminianus, a 4th-century bishop of Modena renowned for his leadership and miracles.
John Bosco
Feast day of Saint John Bosco, the 19th-century Italian priest who founded the Salesian order to support disadvantaged youth.
Julius of Novara
Feast day of Saint Julius of Novara, an early Christian missionary credited with founding churches around Lake Orta.
Events
Pope Sylvester I is consecrated, as successor to the late Pope Miltiades.
Pope Sylvester I becomes the leader of the early Christian Church following the death of Pope Miltiades.
The Battle of Lena takes place between King Sverker II of Sweden and his rival, Prince Eric, whose victory puts him on the throne as King Eric X of Sweden.
Prince Eric defeats King Sverker II of Sweden at the Battle of Lena, securing his claim to the Swedish throne.
The Mudéjar of Murcia, who had rebelled against the Crown of Castile during the Mudéjar revolt of 1264–1266, surrender the city to James I of Aragon after a siege lasting a month.
Rebel Mudéjar forces in Murcia surrender to King James I of Aragon after a month-long siege.
The Treaty of Lyon ends the Italian War, confirming French domination of northern Italy, while Spain receives the Kingdom of Naples.
The Treaty of Lyon concludes the Italian War, granting France control of northern Italy and ceding Naples to Spain.
Eighty Years' War and Anglo-Spanish War: The Battle of Gembloux is a victory for Spanish forces led by Don John of Austria over a rebel army of Dutch, Flemish, English, Scottish, German, French and Walloons.
Spanish Habsburg forces under Don John of Austria achieve victory at the Battle of Gembloux during the Eighty Years' War.
Gunpowder Plot: Four of the conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, are executed for treason by hanging, drawing and quartering, for plotting against Parliament and King James.
Four conspirators of the Gunpowder Plot, including Guy Fawkes, are executed for treason in London.
Wisselbank of Amsterdam established
The Wisselbank, forerunner to the modern central bank, is established in Amsterdam.
Forty-seven rōnin, under the command of Ōishi Kuranosuke, avenged the death of their master, by killing Kira Yoshinaka.
The forty-seven rōnin avenge their master's death by killing Kira Yoshinaka in Edo.
The first venereal diseases clinic opens at London Lock Hospital.
London Lock Hospital opens the first dedicated clinic for treating venereal diseases.
Births
Henry
Portuguese cardinal who ascended the throne and became the last monarch of the Aviz dynasty.
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, he unified Japan and laid the foundations for over two centuries of peace.
Peter Bulkley
Puritan minister who emigrated to New England and founded the town of Concord, Massachusetts.
John Francis Regis
French Jesuit priest and missionary celebrated for his compassionate work with the poor and marginalized.
James Stanley
English nobleman and Royalist commander who fought in the English Civil War.
Arnold Geulincx
Flemish philosopher and academic known for his work on Occasionalism and Cartesian thought.
Louis de Montfort
French Catholic priest known for his deep devotion to the Virgin Mary and social outreach.
Hans Egede
Norwegian-Danish missionary and explorer known as the Apostle of Greenland.
Gouverneur Morris
American Founding Father who helped draft the U.S. Constitution's Preamble and served as Ambassador to France.
Deaths
Máedóc of Ferns
Irish bishop and saint who founded the monastery of Ferns and served as a spiritual leader in early medieval Ireland.
Hemma of Altdorf
Frankish queen consort and wife of King Louis the Younger, remembered for her devout faith and support of monastic communities.
Ryōgen
Prominent Tendai monk who served as the third chief abbot of Enryaku-ji and authored foundational monastic regulations.
William V
One of the most powerful lords in early 11th-century France, Duke William V of Aquitaine was a renowned patron of monastic reform and the arts.
Theodore II
Byzantine patriarch of Constantinople who led the exiled Orthodox Church during the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade.
Sukō
Emperor Sukō was the fourth Northern Court sovereign during Japan’s Nanboku-chō era, a time of imperial division.
Mircea I
Also known as Mircea the Elder, he was Voivode of Wallachia who strengthened his principality and resisted Ottoman expansion.
Xuande
Fifth emperor of the Ming dynasty, renowned for his effective governance, cultural patronage, and maritime support.
Bairam Khan
Key general and regent of the early Mughal Empire who guided the young Emperor Akbar to power and victory.