474day.year
Zeno is crowned as co-emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire
Zeno is crowned co-emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire alongside Leo II.
In 474, after the death of Emperor Leo I, Zeno was elevated to co-emperor alongside the young Leo II.
Born as Tarasis, Zeno was a prominent general of Isaurian origin whose marriage to Ariadne linked him to the imperial family.
His elevation marked a shift in court politics as competing factions vied for influence over the empire.
Zeno's rise laid the foundations for his sole rule, which would later face rebellions and religious controversies.
This event highlighted the fragility of imperial succession in the late Roman world.
474
Zeno
Eastern Roman Empire
1003day.year
Boleslaus III is restored to authority with armed support from Bolesław I the Brave of Poland.
Boleslaus III is restored to rule Bohemia with military support from Bolesław I the Brave of Poland.
In 1003, Boleslaus III recaptured control of Bohemia with the military backing of his cousin, Duke Bolesław I the Brave of Poland.
After being deposed by internal rivals, his return strengthened Polish-Bohemian ties through dynastic alliance.
The intervention illustrated the power of cross-border kinship in shaping Central European politics.
Boleslaus III's rule, however, remained unstable amid ongoing disputes among local nobility.
This episode foreshadowed future interventions by neighboring states in Bohemia's affairs.
1003
Boleslaus III
Bolesław I the Brave
Poland
1555day.year
Bishop of Gloucester John Hooper is burned at the stake.
John Hooper, Bishop of Gloucester, is burned at the stake during the Marian persecutions.
On this day in 1555, John Hooper, a leading Protestant reformer and Bishop of Gloucester, was executed under Queen Mary I's reign.
Accused of heresy for his evangelical teachings, he became one of the first English bishops to die in the Marian persecutions.
Hooper's martyrdom was recorded by contemporary observers like John Foxe, who later memorialized him in the 'Book of Martyrs.'
His death fueled Protestant resistance and contributed to the religious tensions that defined mid-16th-century England.
Hooper's legacy endures as a symbol of steadfast faith and the struggle for religious reform.
1555
Bishop of Gloucester
John Hooper
burned at the stake
1621day.year
Gregory XV becomes Pope, the last Pope elected by acclamation.
Gregory XV becomes Pope, marking the last papal election by acclamation.
In 1621, Cardinal Alessandro Ludovisi ascended to the papacy as Pope Gregory XV in a unique election by acclamation rather than the usual secret ballot.
His papacy emphasized missionary work, leading to the creation of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith.
Gregory XV also standardized the procedures for papal conclaves, shaping future elections.
His pontificate witnessed artistic patronage and ongoing tensions between Catholic and Protestant states.
The acclamation marked the end of a tradition dating back over a millennium in the Catholic Church.
1621
Gregory XV
Pope
elected
acclamation
1778day.year
Rhode Island becomes the fourth US state to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
Rhode Island becomes the fourth state to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
On February 9, 1778, Rhode Island ratified the Articles of Confederation, joining New York, Virginia, and South Carolina as signatories.
As the first formal constitution of the United States, the Articles established a loose confederation with a weak central government.
Rhode Island's ratification reflected its cautious stance toward federal authority, consistent with its independent spirit.
The milestone enabled the newly formed Congress to regulate war efforts and diplomacy during the Revolutionary War.
The Articles remained in effect until supplanted by the U.S. Constitution in 1789.
1778
Rhode Island
Articles of Confederation
1825day.year
After no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes in the US presidential election of 1824, the United States House of Representatives elects John Quincy Adams as sixth President of the United States in a contingent election.
John Quincy Adams is chosen by the House of Representatives as the sixth President after no candidate secured an electoral majority in the 1824 election.
Following the inconclusive 1824 presidential election, the decision was referred to the House under the Twelfth Amendment. On February 9, 1825, the House of Representatives voted in a contingent election and selected John Quincy Adams as President. Adams secured support from influential lawmakers including Speaker Henry Clay. This outcome sparked accusations of a corrupt bargain when Clay was appointed Secretary of State. The election highlighted deep regional divisions and set a controversial tone for Adams's administration. It remains the only instance in U.S. history where the House decided the presidency.
1825
electoral votes
the US presidential election of 1824
United States House of Representatives
John Quincy Adams
President of the United States
contingent election
1849day.year
The new Roman Republic is declared.
Revolutionaries proclaim the establishment of the Roman Republic, ousting papal authority in central Italy.
On February 9, 1849, Italian nationalists and republicans declared the Roman Republic in the wake of the 1848 revolutions. Leaders including Giuseppe Mazzini and Giuseppe Garibaldi sought to replace papal rule with a democratic government. The new republic enacted liberal reforms and extended civic rights to citizens. Volunteers from across Europe joined to defend the republic against papal and French forces. Despite spirited resistance, the republic fell later that year under external intervention. Its brief existence inspired future Italian unification efforts.
1849
Roman Republic
1861day.year
American Civil War: Jefferson Davis is elected the Provisional President of the Confederate States of America by the Provisional Confederate Congress at Montgomery, Alabama
Jefferson Davis is elected Provisional President of the Confederate States by the Provisional Congress in Montgomery, Alabama.
Amid rising tensions and secession of Southern states, the Provisional Confederate Congress convened in Montgomery, Alabama, on February 9, 1861. Delegates elected former U.S. Senator and Secretary of War Jefferson Davis as the Provisional President. Davis presided over the drafting of the Confederate Constitution and the formation of a new government. His leadership solidified the political framework of the Confederacy on the eve of the American Civil War. The election underscored the deep sectional divide over slavery and states’ rights. Davis would lead the Confederacy throughout the four-year conflict.
1861
American Civil War
Jefferson Davis
Provisional President
Confederate States of America
Provisional Confederate Congress
Montgomery, Alabama
1870day.year
US president Ulysses S. Grant signs a joint resolution of Congress establishing the U.S. Weather Bureau.
President Ulysses S. Grant establishes the U.S. Weather Bureau by signing a joint resolution of Congress.
On February 9, 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant approved a joint resolution of Congress creating the U.S. Weather Bureau within the Department of War. The new agency centralized data collection on weather patterns to improve storm warnings and agricultural planning. It marked the first federal commitment to systematic meteorological observations. Surgeon General John C. Myers served as the Bureau's first superintendent. The Weather Bureau later evolved into the National Weather Service under the Department of Commerce. Its establishment paved the way for modern weather forecasting and public safety initiatives.
1870
Ulysses S. Grant
joint resolution
Congress
U.S. Weather Bureau
1889day.year
US president Grover Cleveland signs a bill elevating the United States Department of Agriculture to a Cabinet-level agency.
President Grover Cleveland elevates the U.S. Department of Agriculture to Cabinet status, recognizing agriculture's national importance.
On February 9, 1889, President Grover Cleveland signed legislation upgrading the U.S. Department of Agriculture to a Cabinet-level department. Originally founded in 1862, the USDA gained increased influence in shaping agricultural policy and research. Secretary Jeremiah M. Rusk became the first Cabinet member to lead the department. The elevation reflected the importance of farming, land management, and food safety to the American economy. The USDA's new status enabled direct presidential access and stronger federal support for rural development. This change laid the groundwork for future agricultural innovations and conservation programs.
1889
Grover Cleveland
United States Department of Agriculture
Cabinet
1920day.year
Under the terms of the Svalbard Treaty, international diplomacy recognizes Norwegian sovereignty over Arctic archipelago Svalbard, and designates it as demilitarized.
The 1920 Svalbard Treaty established Norwegian sovereignty over the Arctic archipelago and enshrined its demilitarized status.
On February 9, 1920, the Svalbard Treaty came into force, granting Norway full sovereignty over the remote Svalbard archipelago. Under the agreement, all signatory nations received equal rights to commercial and scientific activities, including mining and fishing. The treaty mandated that Svalbard remain demilitarized, preventing any military installations or exercises. This arrangement balanced Norway’s administrative authority with multinational economic interests and research cooperation. The unique framework established in the High Arctic became a model for peaceful resource sharing and environmental stewardship. To this day, Svalbard’s legal status continues to influence Arctic policy and international collaboration in polar regions.
1920
Svalbard Treaty
Svalbard
demilitarized
1922day.year
Brazil becomes a member of the Berne Convention copyright treaty.
On February 9, 1922, Brazil acceded to the Berne Convention, aligning its copyright laws with global standards.
On February 9, 1922, Brazil officially joined the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. This accession marked a major step toward harmonizing Brazilian copyright laws with those of Europe and North America. Brazilian authors and artists gained international recognition and protection, ensuring their creations could not be copied abroad without consent. The move also stimulated cultural exchanges and encouraged foreign publishers to distribute works in Brazil. Over time, adherence to the Berne Convention helped modernize Brazil’s legal framework and support the growth of its creative industries.
1922
Brazil
Berne Convention
copyright