457day.year
Leo I becomes the Eastern Roman emperor.
In 457, Leo I ascended to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire, marking the start of his influential rule.
In February 457, Leo I, a high-ranking commander of the imperial guard, was acclaimed as Eastern Roman Emperor in Constantinople. He succeeded Emperor Marcian and became the first emperor to be crowned by the Patriarch of Constantinople. His reign, lasting until 474, was one of the longest of the late empire. Leo reinforced the empire's defenses along the Danube and navigated complex relations with the Huns and Vandals. Under his leadership, Constantinople maintained stability amid external threats and the church's influence in imperial affairs grew.
457
Leo I
987day.year
Bardas Phokas the Younger and Bardas Skleros, Byzantine generals of the military elite, begin a wide-scale rebellion against Emperor Basil II.
In 987, Byzantine generals Bardas Phokas the Younger and Bardas Skleros launched a wide-scale rebellion against Emperor Basil II.
In 987, two powerful members of the Byzantine military aristocracy, Bardas Phokas the Younger and Bardas Skleros, rose in revolt against Emperor Basil II. They commanded troops across Anatolia, challenging the central authority in Constantinople. Their uprising marked a critical test for Basil II's early rule, as skirmishes and sieges spread through key provinces. The rebellion drew regional magnates into conflict and required diplomatic as well as military responses. Its eventual suppression solidified Basil II's control and shaped the future of Byzantine governance.
987
Bardas Phokas the Younger
Bardas Skleros
wide-scale rebellion
Basil II
1301day.year
Edward of Caernarvon (later King Edward II of England) becomes the first English Prince of Wales.
In 1301, Edward of Caernarvon was invested as the first English Prince of Wales by his father, King Edward I.
On February 7, 1301, Edward of Caernarvon was officially styled as the Prince of Wales, establishing a tradition for the English heir apparent. The investiture ceremony in Westminster Hall symbolized the extension of English authority over Wales. Edward, born in 1284, would later ascend the throne as King Edward II. This new title strengthened the ties between the principality and the English crown, becoming a key element of the royal succession. The event marked a significant moment in the history of English-Welsh relations and the monarchy's evolving pageantry.
1301
Caernarvon
Edward II of England
Prince of Wales
1313day.year
King Thihathu founds the Pinya Kingdom as the de jure successor state of the Pagan Kingdom.
In 1313, King Thihathu founded the Pinya Kingdom as the de jure successor to Burma's Pagan Kingdom.
In 1313, King Thihathu declared the establishment of the Pinya Kingdom in central Burma, succeeding the fragmented Pagan realm. He set his capital at Pinya, consolidating power among Myinsaing rulers after years of political turmoil. The kingdom served as a central authority that sought to restore administrative order and cultural patronage. Thihathu's reign laid the groundwork for regional stability, even as rival states emerged. The founding of Pinya signaled a new chapter in the history of Upper Burma and its power structures.
1313
Thihathu
Pinya Kingdom
Pagan Kingdom
1365day.year
Albert III of Mecklenburg (King Albert of Sweden) grants city rights to Ulvila (Swedish: Ulvsby).
In 1365, King Albert of Sweden granted city privileges to Ulvila, formally recognizing it under Swedish law.
On February 7, 1365, Albert III of Mecklenburg, ruling as King of Sweden, issued a charter granting city privileges to Ulvila (then known as Ulvsby). This act elevated the settlement, located in present-day Finland, to official town status, allowing self-governance and market rights. The new city charter encouraged trade, crafts, and economic growth in the region. Ulvila became one of the earliest cities in Finland, reflecting the medieval expansion of urban centers in Northern Europe. This event illustrates the role of royal charters in shaping local development and commerce.
1365
Mecklenburg
Albert of Sweden
Ulvila
Swedish
1497day.year
In Florence, Italy, supporters of Girolamo Savonarola burn cosmetics, art, and books, in a "Bonfire of the vanities".
In 1497, Girolamo Savonarola's followers held a Bonfire of the Vanities in Florence, destroying art, books, and luxury goods.
On February 7, 1497, supporters of Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola gathered in Florence's Piazza della Signoria for a dramatic Bonfire of the Vanities. They burned cosmetics, fine dresses, paintings, and books deemed immoral or frivolous in a public display of religious zeal. The event reflected Savonarola's campaign against corruption and worldly excess within the Renaissance city. It polarized Florentine society, drawing artists and citizens into debates over piety and artistic freedom. The Bonfire became a symbol of the tension between reformist ideology and cultural flourishing during the Italian Renaissance.
1497
Florence
Girolamo Savonarola
cosmetics
Bonfire of the vanities
1756day.year
Guaraní War: The leader of the Guaraní rebels, Sepé Tiaraju, is killed in a skirmish with Spanish and Portuguese troops.
In 1756, Guaraní War leader Sepé Tiaraju was killed during a skirmish with Spanish and Portuguese forces.
During the Guaraní War on February 7, 1756, Sepé Tiaraju, the charismatic leader of the Guaraní rebels, fell in battle against combined Spanish and Portuguese troops. The conflict arose over the fate of Jesuit missions in South America after the Treaty of Madrid reassigned territory. Tiaraju's resistance galvanized indigenous communities defending their lands and way of life. His death in a remote frontier skirmish marked a turning point, weakening the uprising. The Guaraní War highlighted the clash between colonial ambitions and native autonomy in the 18th-century Americas.
1756
Guaraní War
Guaraní
Sepé Tiaraju
1783day.year
American Revolutionary War: French and Spanish forces lift the Great Siege of Gibraltar.
In 1783, French and Spanish forces lifted the Great Siege of Gibraltar, ending a seven-year blockade during the American Revolutionary War.
On February 7, 1783, French and Spanish forces officially lifted the Great Siege of Gibraltar, ending one of the longest blockades in military history. The siege had begun in 1779 as part of the global conflict tied to the American Revolutionary War. Despite repeated assaults and cut-off supply lines, the British garrison held the fortress against superior numbers. The siege's end reaffirmed British control over Gibraltar and shaped post-war negotiations. The episode demonstrated the strategic importance of Gibraltar and the resilience of its defenders.
1783
American Revolutionary War
Great Siege of Gibraltar
1795day.year
The 11th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified.
In 1795, the 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, restricting federal court jurisdiction over states.
On February 7, 1795, the United States ratified the 11th Amendment to its Constitution, a response to the Supreme Court case Chisholm v. Georgia. The amendment established that federal courts could not hear certain lawsuits brought by citizens against states. Proposed by Congress in 1794 and championed by James Madison, it protected state sovereign immunity and clarified the balance between state and federal powers. Its adoption marked an early example of constitutional amendment in American governance. The 11th Amendment has since influenced interpretations of federalism and the scope of judicial review.
1795
11th Amendment
United States Constitution
ratified
1807day.year
Napoleonic Wars: Napoleon finds Bennigsen's Russian forces taking a stand at Eylau. After bitter fighting, the French take the town, but the Russians resume the battle the next day.
In 1807, during the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon's forces captured Eylau after fierce fighting, only for the Russians to renew the battle the next day.
On February 7, 1807, part of the War of the Fourth Coalition, Napoleon encountered Russian General Bennigsen's troops entrenched at Eylau. After brutal and close-quarters combat in freezing conditions, the French army seized the town. Despite this tactical gain, high casualties on both sides prevented a decisive victory. The Russian forces regrouped and resumed the fight on February 8, leading to the indecisive Battle of Eylau. The engagement exposed the toll of winter warfare and shaped Napoleon's strategic decisions in the campaign.
1807
Napoleonic Wars
Bennigsen's
Eylau
1812day.year
The strongest in a series of earthquakes strikes New Madrid, Missouri.
One of the most powerful earthquakes in U.S. history rattles New Madrid, Missouri, reshaping the Mississippi River's course.
On February 7, 1812, the New Madrid seismic zone produced its strongest quake, estimated at magnitude 7.5 to 7.9.
Felt across 23 states and as far as the East Coast, the tremors cracked the ground and leveled structures.
The Mississippi River briefly flowed backward, creating Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee.
Local Native American communities and European settlers were stunned by the unexpected violence of nature.
The quake remains a benchmark for seismic risk in the central United States.
Modern geologists continue to study its aftershocks and geological impact.
1812
a series of earthquakes
New Madrid, Missouri
1813day.year
In the action of 7 February 1813 near the Îles de Los, the frigates Aréthuse and Amelia batter each other, but neither can gain the upper hand.
Inconclusive naval skirmish between French frigate Aréthuse and British frigate Amelia off the Îles de Los during the Napoleonic Wars.
On February 7, 1813, near the Îles de Los off West Africa, the French frigate Aréthuse and the British frigate Amelia engaged in a fierce exchange of broadsides.
Despite heavy cannon fire, neither vessel achieved a decisive advantage.
The action reflected the global reach of Napoleonic naval conflict as both sides protected vital trade routes.
After hours of combat, both ships withdrew with damage but no clear victor.
The encounter highlighted the tactical challenges of single-ship engagements at sea.
Casualties were moderate, but the fight boosted morale among their respective crews.
1813
action of 7 February 1813
Îles de Los
frigates
Aréthuse
Amelia