506day.year
Alaric II, eighth king of the Visigoths, promulgates the Breviary of Alaric (Breviarium Alaricianum or Lex Romana Visigothorum), a collection of "Roman law".
In 506, Alaric II, king of the Visigoths, issued the Breviary of Alaric, compiling Roman legal codes to govern his kingdom.
In 506, Alaric II, the Visigothic king, promulgated the Breviary of Alaric, a systematic compilation of Roman legal texts intended to govern his subjects. This code, also known as the Lex Romana Visigothorum, adapted ancient Roman law to the Visigothic context. It included legal principles on property, family law, and criminal penalties. The Breviary helped unify legal practices across the Visigothic kingdom and preserved valuable Roman jurisprudence. Its influence extended into medieval legal traditions and shaped the development of European law in subsequent centuries.
506
Alaric II
Visigoths
Breviary of Alaric
Roman law
962day.year
Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor in nearly 40 years.
In 962, Pope John XII crowned Otto I as Holy Roman Emperor, restoring the imperial title after nearly four decades.
In 962, during the ritual of translatio imperii, Pope John XII placed the imperial crown on Otto I, Duke of Saxony, proclaiming him Holy Roman Emperor. This coronation revived the Roman imperial tradition in Western Europe following a forty-year interregnum. Otto's elevation strengthened the alliance between the German monarchy and the papacy, shaping medieval Christendom's political landscape. The new empire sought to unify diverse duchies under imperial authority while legitimizing papal influence. The event laid the foundation for the Ottonian dynasty's dominance and influenced the Holy Roman Empire’s structure for centuries.
962
Translatio imperii
Pope John XII
Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
1032day.year
Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor becomes king of Burgundy.
In 1032, Conrad II, the first Salian emperor, assumed the kingship of Burgundy, expanding his realm.
In 1032, Emperor Conrad II integrated the Kingdom of Burgundy into the Holy Roman Empire by assuming its crown. This accession followed the death of King Rudolph III, who died without heirs, enabling Conrad to claim the territory by right of imperial succession. The union brought strategic Alpine passes and wealthy Burgundian cities under Salian control. Conrad’s consolidation of Burgundy strengthened imperial borders and enhanced his authority across Central Europe. The move also deepened ties between the imperial center and the kingdoms of Upper Italy and Lotharingia. It represented a milestone in the medieval growth of the Holy Roman Empire and its territorial coherence.
1032
Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor
Burgundy
1207day.year
Terra Mariana, eventually comprising present-day Latvia and Estonia, is established.
In 1207, the Papal-aligned Terra Mariana was established, covering modern Latvia and Estonia.
In 1207, Pope Innocent III formally recognized Terra Mariana as a crusader state encompassing present-day Latvia and Estonia. The new dominion emerged from the Livonian Crusade led by German and Scandinavian knights. Terra Mariana served as a Catholic missionary outpost and feudal territory under the Bishop of Riga. It facilitated the spread of Christianity among Baltic tribes and linked the region to the political structures of the Holy Roman Empire. The state’s formation fostered urban growth in key ports like Riga and Tallinn. Over the following centuries, Terra Mariana’s legacy influenced the cultural and religious landscape of the eastern Baltic.
1207
Terra Mariana
Latvia
Estonia
1536day.year
Spaniard Pedro de Mendoza founds Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In 1536, Spanish explorer Pedro de Mendoza founded Buenos Aires on the Río de la Plata.
In 1536, Pedro de Mendoza, a Spanish conquistador, established the settlement of Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Aire on the banks of the Río de la Plata. This outpost marked Spain’s first attempt to colonize the region that would become Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital. Despite early struggles with supply shortages, local indigenous resistance, and disease, the settlement laid the groundwork for future growth. Mendoza’s venture contributed to Spanish expansion in South America and the transatlantic trade network. Although the original colony was abandoned in 1541, it was later re-founded and evolved into a major port city. The foundation of Buenos Aires signaled the beginning of European urban development in the southern cone.
1536
Pedro de Mendoza
Buenos Aires, Argentina
1653day.year
New Amsterdam (later renamed The City of New York) is incorporated.
In 1653, New Amsterdam was formally incorporated by the Dutch, establishing municipal governance on Manhattan Island.
On February 2, 1653, the Dutch West India Company granted New Amsterdam official status as a municipal entity, introducing local governance structures.
The settlement at the southern tip of Manhattan Island adopted regulations on public works, trade, and council meetings under Dutch law.
A triumvirate of burgomasters and schepens managed civic affairs, reflecting governance models of Dutch cities in Europe.
This incorporation laid the administrative foundation for the city’s growth, even after English forces seized and renamed it New York in 1664.
The event marked the beginning of a legal framework that would support its evolution into a major center of commerce, culture, and immigration.
1653
New Amsterdam
1848day.year
Mexican–American War: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on February 2, 1848, ending the Mexican–American War and ceding large territories to the U.S.
Representatives from Mexico and the United States met at the Basilica of Guadalupe near Mexico City to finalize peace terms on February 2, 1848.
The treaty ended the Mexican–American War, with Mexico ceding territories that became California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming.
In return, the U.S. paid $15 million and assumed debts owed by Mexico to American citizens.
The agreement also defined the Rio Grande as the boundary for Texas and granted U.S. citizenship rights to Mexicans living in the ceded regions.
The treaty reshaped North America’s political map, fueled debates over slavery in new territories, and set the stage for westward expansion.
1848
Mexican–American War
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
1881day.year
The sentences of the trial of the warlocks of Chiloé are imparted.
On February 2, 1881, a Chilean court delivered sentences in the trial of alleged warlocks in the Chiloé Archipelago.
On February 2, 1881, a tribunal in the Chiloé Archipelago concluded the trial of individuals accused of witchcraft.
Dozens of local residents faced allegations of practicing dark arts and sorcery under Chilean law.
The court handed down harsh sentences, including imprisonment and banishment from their communities.
This trial reflected enduring folk beliefs in witchcraft and the struggle between traditional customs and modern legal systems.
It marked one of the last major witchcraft prosecutions in South America, illuminating social tensions in 19th century Chile.
1881
sentences
warlocks of Chiloé
1899day.year
The Australian Premiers' Conference held in Melbourne decides to locate Australia's capital city, Canberra, between Sydney and Melbourne.
On February 2, 1899, the Australian Premiers' Conference in Melbourne selected a site between Sydney and Melbourne for the nation's new capital.
Delegates at the Australian Premiers' Conference convened in Melbourne to resolve the debate over the location of the federal capital.
The group agreed to establish the seat of government on land between Sydney and Melbourne, satisfying rivalries between the two cities.
This decision led to the selection of the Canberra region, chosen for its climate, geography, and distance from existing power centers.
A design competition was later held, and Walter Burley Griffin's plan for Canberra was selected in 1913.
The founding of Canberra marked a critical step in forging Australian national identity following Federation in 1901.
Construction of the capital began in 1913, and Australia's parliament first met there in 1927.
Today, Canberra stands as a symbol of federal unity and planning ambition.
1899
Melbourne
Canberra
Melbourne
1901day.year
Funeral of Queen Victoria.
On February 2, 1901, the state funeral of Queen Victoria took place, marking the end of the Victorian era.
Queen Victoria's funeral ceremony was held at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle and attended by royals and dignitaries from across Europe.
Over a million mourners lined the streets of London to pay tribute to the monarch who reigned for 63 years.
The procession featured the Queen's coffin draped in royal standard and drawn by royal horses.
Many European heads of state traveled for the elaborate service, underscoring Victoria's influence and family ties across the continent.
Her death on January 22, 1901, had triggered national mourning, and the February 2 funeral brought closure to Britain's longest reign.
The ceremony blended traditional Anglican rites with personal touches reflecting Victoria's wishes and legacy.
The end of her reign ushered in the Edwardian era under her son, King Edward VII.
1901
Queen Victoria
1935day.year
Leonarde Keeler administers polygraph tests to two murder suspects, the first time polygraph evidence was admitted in U.S. courts.
Leonarde Keeler conducts the first polygraph tests admitted as evidence in U.S. courts, pioneering lie detector use.
In 1935, psychologist and criminologist Leonarde Keeler introduced the polygraph to American law enforcement.
On February 2, he administered tests to two murder suspects in Chicago, marking the first time polygraph evidence was accepted in U.S. courtroom proceedings.
The device measured physiological responses—blood pressure, pulse, and respiration—to infer deception.
Keeler's innovation captured public interest and laid the groundwork for forensic science advancements.
Though polygraph reliability remains debated, this event set a precedent for investigative technologies in criminal justice.
1935
Leonarde Keeler
polygraph tests
1966day.year
Pakistan suggests a six-point agenda with Kashmir after the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965.
Pakistan proposes a six-point peace plan to resolve the Kashmir dispute after the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War.
On February 2, 1966, Pakistan laid out a six-point agenda aimed at settling the contentious Kashmir issue with India.
The proposals called for demilitarization, a joint commission, and a free plebiscite to determine Kashmir's future.
Pakistan sought international mediation through the United Nations to enforce the plan.
India, however, rejected any third-party involvement and insisted on bilateral negotiations without preconditions.
The six-point proposal underscored the deep-rooted tensions and complexities surrounding Kashmir.
It set the stage for ongoing diplomatic efforts and sporadic peace talks in the decades that followed.
1966
Kashmir
Indo-Pakistani war of 1965