590day.year
Hormizd IV, king of the Sasanian Empire, is overthrown and blinded by his brothers-in-law Vistahm and Vinduyih.
Hormizd IV is deposed and blinded in a dramatic palace coup led by his brothers-in-law, triggering a power struggle in the Sasanian Empire.
In early 590, Hormizd IV ruled the Sasanian Empire with a strict hand, provoking discontent among powerful nobles. On February 6, his own brothers-in-law, Vistahm and Vinduyih, led a conspiracy against him. They seized the king, deposed him, and inflicted the brutal punishment of blinding. This dramatic palace coup underscored the fragility of royal authority in the empire. Hormizd’s downfall triggered further succession crises and internal strife. His removal reshaped the balance of power within the Sasanian aristocracy and set the stage for his successor’s reign.
590
Hormizd IV
Sasanian Empire
Vistahm
Vinduyih
1579day.year
The Diocese of Manila is erected by papal bull, with Domingo de Salazar appointed its first bishop.
A papal bull erects the first Catholic diocese in the Philippines, with Domingo de Salazar as its inaugural bishop.
By papal bull on February 6, 1579, Pope Gregory XIII erected the Diocese of Manila, the first diocese in the Philippines. Dominican friar Domingo de Salazar was named its inaugural bishop, tasked with organizing parishes and overseeing missionary activity across the archipelago. Salazar championed the rights of indigenous peoples, striving to adapt church practices to local contexts. Under his governance, the diocese laid foundations for the growth of Catholic institutions, including schools and missions. The establishment of the diocese solidified Spain’s colonial presence and shaped the religious landscape of the archipelago for centuries to come.
1579
Diocese of Manila
Domingo de Salazar
1685day.year
James II of England and VII of Scotland is proclaimed King upon the death of his brother Charles II.
James II ascends to the thrones of England and Scotland after the death of his brother Charles II, heightening religious and political tensions.
On February 6, 1685, following the death of Charles II, his Catholic brother James Stuart was proclaimed James II of England and James VII of Scotland. His accession reignited tensions between Protestant and Catholic factions, as many feared the influence of Rome over English affairs. James inherited a kingdom weary of war but faced contentious policies and a divided Parliament. His attempts to promote religious tolerance met resistance from a largely Anglican establishment. James’s reign would soon be overshadowed by calls for his removal, culminating in the Glorious Revolution just three years later. His brief rule left a lasting impact on the evolution of constitutional monarchy in Britain.
1685
James II of England and VII of Scotland
King
Charles II
1694day.year
The warrior queen Dandara, leader of the runaway slaves in Quilombo dos Palmares, Brazil, is captured and commits suicide rather than be returned to a life of slavery.
Dandara, leader of the Quilombo dos Palmares escaped slaves, is captured and chooses death over a return to slavery.
Dandara was a formidable warrior and strategist who played a central role in the resistance of runaway slaves at Quilombo dos Palmares in Brazil. On February 6, 1694, Portuguese forces finally captured her after years of fierce defense. Facing the prospect of return to bondage, Dandara reportedly took her own life rather than endure the horrors of slavery anew. Her sacrifice symbolized the unbreakable spirit of those who fought for freedom and autonomy in colonial Brazil. The fall of Quilombo dos Palmares dealt a blow to organized resistance but cemented Dandara’s legacy as a heroine. Today, she is revered as a powerful icon of resistance against oppression in Afro-Brazilian history.
1694
Dandara
Quilombo dos Palmares
1778day.year
American Revolutionary War: In Paris the Treaty of Alliance and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce are signed by the United States and France signaling official recognition of the new republic.
The United States and France sign the Treaty of Alliance and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, formalizing French support for the American Revolution.
On February 6, 1778, American representatives Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee concluded two landmark treaties with France in Paris. The Treaty of Amity and Commerce granted mutual trade rights, while the Treaty of Alliance promised French military support against Britain. This diplomatic breakthrough provided the struggling Continental Army with crucial naval and financial aid. France’s entry into the war altered the balance of power, forcing Britain to divert resources globally. The agreements signaled France’s recognition of American independence aspirations and marked the first major international alliance of the new republic. The Franco-American partnership played a decisive role in securing victory at Yorktown and ultimately American independence.
1778
American Revolutionary War
Treaty of Alliance
Treaty of Amity and Commerce
1778day.year
New York became the third state to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
New York becomes the third state to ratify the Articles of Confederation, strengthening the young American union.
On February 6, 1778, the New York Convention approved the Articles of Confederation, making it the third state to ratify the document. The Articles, drafted in 1777, served as the first constitution of the United States, creating a loose confederation of sovereign states. By joining, New York helped solidify the legal framework for collective defense and cooperation among the former colonies. However, the limitations of the Articles soon became apparent as the national government lacked powers to levy taxes or regulate commerce. Despite these weaknesses, the ratification marked a significant step toward unified governance. The experience under the Articles would later inform the drafting of the stronger United States Constitution in 1787.
New York
Articles of Confederation
1788day.year
Massachusetts becomes the sixth state to ratify the United States Constitution.
Massachusetts ratifies the United States Constitution as the sixth state, advancing the formation of the federal government.
On February 6, 1788, Massachusetts ratified the United States Constitution, becoming the sixth state to do so. The decision followed intense debate over the need for a stronger central government and assurances of individual liberties, later codified in the Bill of Rights. Massachusetts’s approval provided momentum for other states to follow, ultimately ensuring the Constitution’s adoption. The ratification convention saw Federalists like John Hancock and Samuel Adams championing unity, while Anti-Federalists expressed concern over centralized power. Massachusetts’s choice highlighted a compromise between federal authority and states’ rights that would define American politics. This pivotal moment helped lay the groundwork for the formation of the federal government under President George Washington.
1788
Massachusetts
United States Constitution
1806day.year
Battle of San Domingo: British naval victory against the French in the Caribbean.
The British navy secures a decisive victory over the French at the Battle of San Domingo in the Caribbean.
On February 6, 1806, during the Napoleonic Wars, a British squadron under Vice-Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth engaged and defeated a French naval force off the coast of Santo Domingo. The encounter, known as the Battle of San Domingo, resulted in the capture or destruction of several French ships. This victory reasserted British naval supremacy in the Caribbean and disrupted French plans to reinforce their colonial positions. The battle demonstrated the Royal Navy’s capacity to project power globally and protect British interests at sea. Casualties were significant on both sides, but the outcome solidified British control over the region. The triumph at San Domingo contributed to the broader strategy that would ultimately isolate Napoleon’s empire.
1806
Battle of San Domingo
1819day.year
The Treaty of Singapore was signed by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Hussein Shah of Johor, and Temenggong Abdul Rahman, and it is now recognised as the founding of modern Singapore.
Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles signs the Treaty of Singapore, laying the foundation for the modern city-state.
On February 6, 1819, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles negotiated a treaty with Hussein Shah of Johor and Temenggong Abdul Rahman to establish a British trading post in Singapore. The agreement granted the East India Company the rights to maintain a port and oversee local administration. Raffles envisioned Singapore as a free port that would challenge Dutch dominance in the region. His diplomatic acumen united Malay rulers around the promise of security and economic opportunity. The treaty’s signing is recognized as the founding moment of modern Singapore, which would rapidly grow into a key entrepôt and later a sovereign nation. Raffles’s vision and the strategic location of the island transformed it into a global hub of trade, finance, and culture.
1819
Treaty of Singapore
Thomas Stamford Raffles
Hussein Shah of Johor
Temenggong Abdul Rahman
founding of modern Singapore
1820day.year
The first 86 African American immigrants sponsored by the American Colonization Society depart New York to start a settlement in present-day Liberia.
The first group of African American settlers departs New York to establish a colony in present-day Liberia.
On February 6, 1820, eighty-six African American emigrants sponsored by the American Colonization Society set sail from New York City bound for the coast of West Africa. The society, founded in 1816, promoted migration as a solution to slavery and racial tensions in the United States. The settlers endured a treacherous Atlantic crossing before arriving at Cape Mesurado in Liberia. They founded Monrovia, named in honor of President James Monroe, and began constructing homes and farms in unfamiliar terrain. The settlement faced immediate challenges, including disease, supply shortages, and tensions with local indigenous communities. Despite hardships, this pioneering voyage marked the beginning of the Republic of Liberia and shaped debates over race, freedom, and colonialism in the 19th century.
1820
African American
American Colonization Society
settlement
Liberia
1833day.year
Otto becomes the first modern King of Greece.
Otto of Bavaria is crowned as the first modern King of Greece, marking the establishment of a new European-backed monarchy.
In 1833, the 17-year-old Prince Otto of Bavaria was selected by the Great Powers to assume the throne of Greece.
He arrived in Athens on February 6 and was officially crowned as the nation’s first modern monarch at the Acropolis.
His reign marked the birth of sovereignty for the newly independent Greek state after centuries of Ottoman rule.
Otto introduced European-style administrative, legal, and educational reforms with support from Bavarian advisors.
Despite facing political unrest and calls for constitutional government, he laid foundations for Greece’s national institutions.
His deposition in 1862 ended his three-decade reign but his accession remains a pivotal moment in Greek history.
1833
Otto
King of Greece
1840day.year
Signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, establishing New Zealand as a British colony.
On February 6, 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, establishing New Zealand as a British colony.
Representatives of the British Crown and over 40 Māori chiefs met at Waitangi on February 6, 1840 to sign a pact that laid the constitutional foundation of New Zealand.
The Treaty of Waitangi granted the Crown sovereignty while guaranteeing Māori land rights, fishing and hunting customs.
It became the principal document defining the relationship between Māori communities and the British government.
Differences between the English and Māori texts led to long-standing disputes over land and interpretations of authority.
Today the treaty remains central to New Zealand’s legal framework and ongoing efforts to address historical grievances.
1840
Treaty of Waitangi