1047day.year
Drogo of Hauteville is elected as count of the Apulian Normans during the Norman conquest of Southern Italy.
In 1047, Drogo of Hauteville was chosen as count of the Apulian Normans, marking a key moment in the Norman conquest of Southern Italy.
On February 3, 1047, Drogo of Hauteville, one of the sons of Tancred of Hauteville, was elected as count by Norman knights in Apulia. His election followed the death of his elder brother William Iron Arm, making him the leader of the Norman settlers. Under Drogo’s command, the Normans consolidated their hold on Southern Italy, pushing back Lombard and Byzantine forces. He established strategic strongholds around Bari and Taranto, laying the foundations for the County of Apulia. Drogo’s rule brought stability to the region and increased Norman influence in the Mediterranean. Though his tenure ended in assassination in 1051, his efforts set the stage for the later Kingdom of Sicily.
1047
Drogo of Hauteville
elected as count of the Apulian Normans
Norman conquest of Southern Italy
1112day.year
Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona, and Douce I, Countess of Provence, marry, uniting the fortunes of those two states.
In 1112, Ramon Berenguer III of Barcelona wed Douce I of Provence, uniting two powerful Mediterranean realms through marriage.
On February 3, 1112, the marriage of Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona, and Douce I, Countess of Provence, forged a dynastic alliance that reshaped the politics of southern France and northeastern Iberia. This union brought the rich territories of Provence under the influence of the Catalan counts, enhancing trade routes to the Mediterranean. It also strengthened Ramon Berenguer’s position against rival nobles and the Crown of Aragon. Douce’s dowry included key ports such as Marseille, boosting Barcelona’s maritime power. Their descendants would play pivotal roles in the regional politics of Occitania and the western Mediterranean. The marriage exemplified the period’s strategy of using marital ties for territorial expansion and political stability.
1112
Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona
Douce I, Countess of Provence
1451day.year
Sultan Mehmed II inherits the throne of the Ottoman Empire.
On this day in 1451, Mehmed II succeeded his father Murad II to become Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
On February 3, 1451, Mehmed II ascended to the Ottoman throne at the age of 19 following the death of his father, Sultan Murad II. Known later as Mehmed the Conqueror, his early reign focused on consolidating power and quelling revolts within the empire. He reorganized the military, expanded the use of gunpowder artillery, and strengthened the central administration. These reforms set the stage for his historic conquest of Constantinople in 1453. Mehmed’s vision was to transform the Ottomans into a dominant Mediterranean power. His reign marked the beginning of a new era in European and Middle Eastern history, as the empire continued to expand into the Balkans and Anatolia.
1451
Sultan
Mehmed II
Ottoman Empire
1639day.year
The House of Assembly of Barbados meets for the first time.
In 1639, Barbados held its first session of the House of Assembly, the first legislative body in English America.
On February 3, 1639, the island colony of Barbados convened the inaugural meeting of the House of Assembly, establishing the first representative legislature in English-held America. This assembly allowed planters and landowners to enact local laws, address colonial grievances, and oversee taxation. Modeled on the English Parliament, it provided a framework for self-governance and colonial autonomy. Over the next decades, the Barbados assembly influenced democratic developments throughout the Caribbean and North America. This institution balanced power between the colonial governor and elected representatives, setting precedents for colonial legislatures in Virginia and Massachusetts. The Assembly remained a central body in Barbados politics until the island’s independence movements centuries later.
1639
House of Assembly of Barbados
1783day.year
Spain–United States relations are first established.
Diplomatic ties between Spain and the newly independent United States were formally established in 1783, paving the way for transatlantic cooperation.
Following the Treaty of Paris that ended the American Revolutionary War, Spain and the United States opened formal diplomatic relations on February 3, 1783. Spain recognized the strategic importance of engaging with the emerging American republic to safeguard its interests in North America and the Caribbean. The first treaty addressed issues of navigation rights along the Mississippi River and set the groundwork for future trade agreements. Spanish officials in Havana and American envoys negotiated protocols to manage frontier disputes and commerce. This initial diplomatic engagement marked a significant step in the young nation’s emergence on the world stage. It laid the foundation for seven decades of evolving political and economic interactions between Madrid and Washington.
1783
Spain–United States relations
1809day.year
The Territory of Illinois is created by the 10th United States Congress.
On February 3, 1809, the U.S. Congress created the Territory of Illinois, setting the stage for its eventual statehood.
The 10th United States Congress passed legislation establishing the Territory of Illinois on February 3, 1809. Carved out of the existing Indiana Territory, the new territory encompassed a vast region west of the Wabash River. The act provided for a territorial governor, secretary, and three judges appointed by the President. Kaskaskia was designated the first territorial capital, reflecting its status as a growing river town. The creation of the Territory of Illinois responded to rapid population growth and the need for localized governance. This organizational milestone laid the groundwork for Illinois’s admission as the 21st state in 1818. It also facilitated land distribution and legal infrastructure for settlers in the American frontier.
1809
The Territory of Illinois
10th United States Congress
1830day.year
The London Protocol of 1830 establishes the full independence and sovereignty of Greece from the Ottoman Empire as the final result of the Greek War of Independence.
The London Protocol of 1830 officially recognized Greece's independence and sovereignty following the Greek War of Independence.
On February 3, 1830, representatives of Britain, France, and Russia signed the London Protocol, granting Greece full independence from the Ottoman Empire. This diplomatic agreement followed nearly a decade of armed struggle by Greek insurgents. The protocol defined the boundaries of the new Hellenic state, including the Peloponnese and Attica regions. It also provided for the selection of a Bavarian prince as monarch, laying the foundation for a modern Greek monarchy. The act marked the culmination of international support for the Greek cause, often called the birthplace of Western democracy. Greek independence inspired nationalist movements across Europe and reshaped the balance of power in the Eastern Mediterranean.
1830
London Protocol of 1830
Greece
Ottoman Empire
Greek War of Independence
1862day.year
Moldavia and Wallachia formally unite to create the Romanian United Principalities.
Moldavia and Wallachia united in 1862 to form the United Principalities, a crucial step toward modern Romania.
On February 3, 1862, the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia officially merged their administrations under Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, forming the United Principalities of Romania. This union built upon a shared revolution in 1848 and the nearly simultaneous election of Cuza in both regions. The new political entity centralized government institutions in Bucharest, setting the stage for sweeping reforms in land ownership and education. The amalgamation strengthened Romanian national identity and autonomy within the Ottoman suzerainty. Over the next decades, the United Principalities would pursue full independence, achieved in 1877–78. The 1862 union is celebrated as the birth of the modern Romanian state and remains a national milestone.
1862
Romanian United Principalities
1870day.year
The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, guaranteeing voting rights to male citizens regardless of race.
The ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment in 1870 guaranteed voting rights irrespective of race for male citizens in the United States.
On February 3, 1870, the U.S. achieved the necessary state ratifications to adopt the Fifteenth Amendment, prohibiting voter discrimination based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This landmark change was a cornerstone of Reconstruction efforts following the Civil War. It enfranchised millions of African American men, particularly in the former Confederate states. Despite its promise, enforcement proved uneven, and discriminatory practices persisted for decades. The amendment set a constitutional foundation for later civil rights battles and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It remains a pivotal statement on equality and democratic participation in American history.
1870
Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
1913day.year
The Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, authorizing the Federal government to impose and collect an income tax.
The U.S. ratifies the Sixteenth Amendment, empowering the federal government to levy an income tax.
In 1913, the Sixteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified by three-fourths of the states, granting Congress explicit authority to levy an income tax.
This transformative change overruled previous Supreme Court rulings that limited federal taxation.
The new system introduced progressive tax rates focused on high earners and provided a stable revenue stream for national programs.
Its passage marked a key achievement of the Progressive Era, reflecting social demands for fiscal equity.
The amendment laid the foundation for the modern U.S. federal tax structure that continues to finance government operations today.
1913
Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
Federal government
income tax
1916day.year
The Centre Block of the Parliament buildings in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada burns down with the loss of seven lives.
A fire destroys Ottawa's Centre Block in 1916, killing seven people and halting Canadian Parliament proceedings.
In 1916, a devastating fire engulfed the Centre Block of the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa, claiming seven lives.
The blaze broke out in the evening hours and quickly spread through the wooden interiors of the historic Gothic Revival building.
Parliamentary sessions were suspended as firefighters battled the inferno, eventually reducing much of the structure to charred ruins.
The disaster prompted a nationwide outpouring of support and led to the reconstruction of a new Centre Block featuring advanced fireproofing.
The rebuilt chambers, including the iconic Peace Tower, stand today as symbols of Canadian resilience and democratic continuity.
1916
Centre Block
Parliament
Ottawa, Ontario
1917day.year
World War I: The American entry into World War I begins when diplomatic relations with Germany are severed due to its unrestricted submarine warfare.
Diplomatic ties with Germany are severed, marking the U.S. entry into World War I after German submarine warfare.
In 1917, the United States severed diplomatic relations with Germany, effectively entering World War I.
Germany's policy of unrestricted submarine warfare threatened American vessels and civilian lives in the Atlantic.
President Woodrow Wilson affirmed that the U.S. would defend its neutral shipping rights and national honor.
Congress declared war weeks later, shifting the balance of power in favor of the Allies.
American mobilization brought fresh troops and industrial resources that proved decisive in the conflict's final year.
1917
World War I
American entry into World War I