1502day.year
Isabella I issues an edict outlawing Islam in the Crown of Castile, forcing virtually all her Muslim subjects to convert to Christianity.
In 1502, Queen Isabella I of Castile decreed that all Muslims in her realm must convert to Christianity or face exile.
As part of the final stages of the Reconquista, Isabella I sought religious unity in the Crown of Castile. On February 12, 1502, she issued an edict outlawing the public practice of Islam and mandating conversion for her Muslim subjects. The decree forced thousands to adopt Christianity under threat of banishment or persecution. Many Muslims chose outward conversion while secretly preserving their faith, becoming the Moriscos. This policy reflected the era’s intertwining of religion and state power in Spain. The forced conversions sowed deep social tensions and cultural loss, influencing Spain’s demographic and religious landscape for generations. The edict presaged further expulsion policies, culminating in the 1609 decree against the Moriscos.
1502
Isabella I
Crown of Castile
to convert to Christianity
1689day.year
The Convention Parliament declares that the flight to France in 1688 by James II, the last Roman Catholic British monarch, constitutes an abdication.
In 1689, England’s Convention Parliament declared King James II’s flight to France in 1688 an abdication, enabling William and Mary to assume the throne.
Following the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the Convention Parliament faced the dilemma of James II’s removal. On February 12, 1689, legislators declared that his departure to France equated to abdication, vacating the English crown. This legal determination provided the constitutional basis for offering the throne jointly to William III and Mary II. The act underscored Parliament’s supremacy over monarchical authority and set a precedent for constitutional monarchy. It also led to the drafting of the Bill of Rights later that year, outlining citizens’ rights and limiting sovereign power. The decision reshaped English governance, influencing democratic principles in Britain and beyond. It marked a turning point in the balance between monarchy and parliament.
1689
Convention Parliament
1688
James II
Roman Catholic
British monarch
abdication
1733day.year
Georgia Day: Englishman James Oglethorpe founds Georgia, the 13th colony of the Thirteen Colonies, by settling at Savannah.
On Georgia Day 1733, James Oglethorpe landed at what became Savannah to found the colony of Georgia, the last of Britain’s Thirteen Colonies.
Granted a charter by King George II, James Oglethorpe aimed to create a colony for debtors and serve as a buffer against Spanish Florida. On February 12, 1733, he and 114 settlers arrived at Yamacraw Bluff on the Savannah River. They named the settlement Savannah and began establishing orderly streets and plots based on Enlightenment ideals. The colony banned slavery initially and encouraged small-scale farmers, reflecting Oglethorpe’s social reform vision. Strategic relations with the Creek and Yamacraw peoples ensured peace during its early years. Georgia’s founding completed Britain’s Atlantic frontier and offered a new model of colonial governance. Today, Georgia Day commemorates this blend of philanthropy, defense, and colonial ambition.
1733
Georgia Day
James Oglethorpe
Georgia
Thirteen Colonies
Savannah
1771day.year
Gustav III becomes the King of Sweden.
In 1771, Gustav III ascended the throne as King of Sweden following his father Adolf Frederick’s death.
Born in 1746, Gustav III inherited the Swedish crown on February 12, 1771, at age 24. His early reign was overseen by a regency, but he soon asserted personal rule. Influenced by Enlightenment thinkers, Gustav promoted arts, theater, and cultural patronage, earning a reputation as the ‘Theatre King.’ He orchestrated a bloodless coup in 1772 to strengthen royal power and implement constitutional reforms. His domestic policies modernized the economy and legal system but also stirred opposition among the nobility. Gustav III’s foreign policy pursued neutrality and expanded Swedish influence in the Baltic region. His dramatic life ended at a masked ball in 1792 when he was assassinated, leaving a complex legacy of enlightened absolutism.
1771
Gustav III
King of Sweden
1818day.year
Bernardo O'Higgins formally approves the Chilean Declaration of Independence near Concepción, Chile.
In 1818, Bernardo O'Higgins formally ratified the Chilean Declaration of Independence near Concepción, officially severing colonial ties with Spain.
Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile, approved the Declaration of Independence on February 12, 1818. The ceremony took place near Concepción, marking Chile's break from Spanish rule. The declaration had been drafted in Santiago earlier that year but required formal ratification. O'Higgins' endorsement unified various patriot factions under a single government. This act established Chile as a sovereign republic in the eyes of the world. It also inspired other Latin American colonies to pursue independence.
1818
Bernardo O'Higgins
Chilean Declaration of Independence
Concepción, Chile
1825day.year
The Creek cede the last of their lands in Georgia to the United States government by the Treaty of Indian Springs, and migrate west.
In 1825, the Creek Nation ceded their final lands in Georgia to the United States under the Treaty of Indian Springs, leading to their forced migration westward.
Signed on February 12, 1825, the Treaty of Indian Springs transferred all remaining Creek lands east of the Mississippi River to the U.S. government. The agreement was negotiated by a minority faction of the Creek leadership, causing deep divisions within the nation. The treaty's terms promised land and compensation in the Indian Territory, but implementation was fraught with hardship. Many Creeks were forced to abandon ancestral homes and travel west in deplorable conditions. This event foreshadowed the larger Indian Removal policies that culminated in the Trail of Tears. It remains a painful chapter in the history of Native American relations with the United States.
1825
Creek
Treaty of Indian Springs
1832day.year
Ecuador annexes the Galápagos Islands.
In 1832, the Republic of Ecuador formally annexed the Galápagos Islands, establishing sovereignty over the biologically rich archipelago.
After gaining independence from Gran Colombia in 1830, Ecuador moved to secure its territorial claims in the Pacific. On February 12, 1832, President Juan José Flores issued a decree annexing the Galápagos Islands. Previously frequented by whalers and explorers, the islands lacked a settled government. The annexation prevented foreign powers from claiming the archipelago and laid the groundwork for future scientific study. Over the centuries, the unique flora and fauna of the Galápagos would captivate naturalists such as Charles Darwin. Today, the islands are recognized for their vital role in evolutionary research and conservation.
1832
Ecuador
Galápagos Islands
1912day.year
The Xuantong Emperor, the last Emperor of China, abdicates.
On February 12, 1912, the Xuantong Emperor, Puyi, formally abdicated as the last Emperor of China, ending over two millennia of imperial rule.
Puyi, known as the Xuantong Emperor, ascended to the throne as a child in 1908 during the Qing dynasty's twilight years. Widespread revolution had broken out across China, leading to the Wuchang Uprising in 1911. Negotiations between revolutionaries and court officials culminated in the abdication agreement. On February 12, 1912, Puyi's formal renouncement ended the imperial system that had governed China for centuries. The abdication allowed for the establishment of the Republic of China under Sun Yat-sen. Although Puyi retained certain privileges and titles, real power shifted to republican leaders. This moment signified a dramatic transformation in Chinese governance and society.
1912
Xuantong Emperor
Emperor of China
abdicates
1919day.year
The Second Regional Congress of Peasants, Workers and Insurgents is held by the Makhnovshchina at Huliaipole.
In 1919, the Makhnovshchina held the Second Regional Congress of Peasants, Workers, and Insurgents in Huliaipole during the Ukrainian anarchist movement.
The Second Regional Congress met on February 12, 1919, bringing together delegates from peasant units, workers' councils, and insurgent detachments led by Nestor Makhno. Operating amid the turmoil of the Russian Civil War, the congress sought to coordinate anarchist self-governance and military defense. Delegates debated land redistribution, production cooperatives, and the struggle against both White and Red Army forces. Resolutions emphasized direct democracy, voluntary association, and opposition to centralized authority. The event demonstrated the organizational capacity and political ideals of the Makhnovist movement. Although short-lived, the congress highlighted the aspirations of peasants and workers for autonomy and justice. Its legacy endures in studies of revolutionary movements and libertarian socialism.
1919
Second Regional Congress of Peasants, Workers and Insurgents
Makhnovshchina
Huliaipole
1965day.year
Malcolm X visits Smethwick near Birmingham following the racially-charged 1964 United Kingdom general election.
Civil rights leader Malcolm X visited Smethwick in England following the racially charged 1964 general election to protest discrimination and support local campaigns.
On February 12, 1965, Malcolm X traveled to Smethwick near Birmingham in response to racial tensions stirred by the 1964 United Kingdom general election. He spoke at public gatherings to highlight discrimination against immigrant communities facing housing and employment bias. Local activists welcomed his support while authorities monitored the visit amid fears of unrest. Malcolm X's presence brought international attention to the plight of British racial minorities and their fight for equality. His speeches emphasized solidarity and the universal struggle against injustice, resonating with disaffected youth. The visit marked one of Malcolm X's few trips outside North America and underscored the global reach of the civil rights movement.
1965
Malcolm X
Smethwick
1964 United Kingdom general election
1974day.year
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1970, is exiled from the Soviet Union.
Nobel laureate Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was exiled from the Soviet Union, ending his global travels and amplifying his voice as a dissident in the West.
In February 1974, Soviet authorities expelled Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, author of The Gulag Archipelago, from the USSR following his outspoken criticism of the regime. The decision marked one of the most high-profile exiles of the Cold War era and underscored the Soviet government's intolerance of dissent. Solzhenitsyn settled in West Germany before moving to the United States, where he continued to publish works exposing the horrors of the Gulag system. His exile drew international condemnation and strengthened the dissident movement within and outside the Soviet bloc. The writer's evocative prose and moral authority challenged the ideological underpinnings of the Soviet state. His departure also inspired other intellectuals to speak out, contributing to the broader struggle for human rights and freedom of expression.
1974
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Nobel Prize in Literature
1970
1990day.year
Carmen Lawrence becomes the first female Premier in Australian history when she becomes Premier of Western Australia.
Carmen Lawrence made history as the first female Premier in Australia when she assumed leadership of Western Australia in 1990.
On February 12, 1990, Carmen Lawrence was sworn in as Premier of Western Australia, becoming the nation's first woman to hold the office of state premier. A psychologist turned politician, Lawrence rose through the ranks of the Labor Party on a platform of social reform and environmental protection. Her appointment shattered a significant gender barrier in Australian politics and inspired women across the country. During her tenure, she prioritized education initiatives, healthcare improvements, and indigenous rights. Lawrence's leadership style was noted for its inclusiveness and consultative approach. Her milestone achievement continued to influence discussions about gender equality in government and public life.
1990
Carmen Lawrence
Premier of Western Australia