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
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
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
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
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
1865day.year
The municipal administration of Finland is established.
Finland establishes its municipal administration in 1865, introducing local self-government and modernizing civic services.
On February 6, 1865, the Grand Duchy of Finland formalized a municipal administration with a decree from the Tsar of Russia.
For the first time, local parishes and towns received authority to manage schools, poor relief, infrastructure, and health.
This reform laid the groundwork for democratic governance at the grassroots level in Finland.
It empowered citizens to elect municipal councils and budgets, fostering civic participation.
The new system became a cornerstone for Finland’s later development into a modern welfare state.
1865
municipal administration of Finland
1899day.year
Spanish–American War: The Treaty of Paris, a peace treaty between the United States and Spain, is ratified by the United States Senate.
The United States Senate ratifies the Treaty of Paris, formally ending the Spanish-American War and reshaping colonial holdings.
On February 6, 1899, the U.S. Senate ratified the Treaty of Paris, signed on December 10, 1898, to end the Spanish-American War.
Under its terms, Spain relinquished sovereignty over Cuba, ceded Puerto Rico and Guam, and sold the Philippines to the United States.
The treaty marked America’s emergence as a colonial power with territories beyond its continental borders.
Debate over imperialism and annexation intensified in the U.S., shaping foreign policy for decades.
The ratification concluded hostilities but began a complex era of colonial administration and Filipino resistance.
1899
Spanish–American War
Treaty of Paris
peace treaty
United States Senate
1900day.year
The Permanent Court of Arbitration, an international arbitration court at The Hague, is created when the Senate of the Netherlands ratifies an 1899 peace conference decree.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration is established in The Hague, creating the world’s first multilateral mechanism for peaceful dispute resolution.
On February 6, 1900, the Senate of the Netherlands ratified the Hague Convention of 1899, officially creating the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Located in The Hague, it became the first global institution dedicated to resolving international disputes through arbitration.
Member states appointed arbitrators to rosters, providing a structured legal forum outside of military conflict.
The PCA has since administered hundreds of cases involving territorial, commercial, and human rights issues.
Its founding represented a milestone in the movement toward codified international law and diplomacy.
1900
Permanent Court of Arbitration
The Hague
Senate of the Netherlands
1899 peace conference
1922day.year
The Washington Naval Treaty is signed in Washington, D.C., limiting the naval armaments of United States, Britain, Japan, France, and Italy.
The Washington Naval Treaty, signed in Washington, D.C., limited the naval armaments of the major world powers.
On February 6, 1922, representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, France, and Italy signed the Washington Naval Treaty in the U.S. capital.
The treaty established strict limits on battleships and aircraft carriers to prevent a post-World War I arms race.
It set tonnage ratios of 5:5:3 for the US, UK, and Japan, with smaller allowances for France and Italy.
By curbing naval expansion, the agreement aimed to promote stability and reduce military expenditures.
Although it ushered in a decade of naval cooperation, tensions resurfaced when signatories withdrew in the mid-1930s.
1922
Washington Naval Treaty
Britain