438day.year
Roman emperor Theodosius II publishes the law codex Codex Theodosianus
Emperor Theodosius II publishes the Codex Theodosianus, a pivotal compendium of Roman law.
On February 15, 438, Roman Emperor Theodosius II ordered the publication of the Codex Theodosianus. This six-book codex systematically compiled imperial constitutiones issued since Constantine the Great. It served as a foundational legal source for the Eastern Roman Empire and influenced later legal traditions in medieval Europe. The codification aimed to simplify and standardize laws across the empire. Its enduring legacy can be traced in modern civil law systems.
438
Roman
Theodosius II
Codex Theodosianus
590day.year
Khosrau II is crowned king of Persia.
Khosrau II is crowned king of Persia, marking a new era for the Sasanian Empire.
On February 15, 590, Khosrau II ascended the throne as the new shah of the Sasanian Empire. Following a period of internal strife and dynastic conflict, his coronation at Ctesiphon restored stability to Persia. Khosrau II’s reign would later be noted for cultural flourishing and military campaigns against Byzantium. His leadership strengthened the empire’s borders and revitalized urban centers. The event set the stage for a renaissance in Sasanian art, architecture, and scholarship.
590
Khosrau II
Persia
706day.year
Byzantine emperor Justinian II has his predecessors Leontios and Tiberios III publicly executed in the Hippodrome of Constantinople.
Byzantine Emperor Justinian II orders the public execution of his predecessors Leontios and Tiberios III in Constantinople’s Hippodrome.
On February 15, 706, Emperor Justinian II staged a dramatic execution of former emperors Leontios and Tiberios III before the crowds at the Hippodrome of Constantinople. Seeking to eliminate rivals and assert his authority, Justinian II had overthrown Leontios and Tiberios III during his return to power. The public spectacle served as a warning to potential rebels and solidified his grip on the Byzantine throne. However, his brutal methods sowed seeds of dissent that would ultimately contribute to his downfall. This event highlights the ruthless nature of Byzantine court politics in the early 8th century.
706
Byzantine
Justinian II
Leontios
Tiberios III
Hippodrome of Constantinople
1002day.year
At an assembly at Pavia of Lombard nobles, Arduin of Ivrea is restored to his domains and crowned King of Italy.
Arduin of Ivrea is restored to his domains and crowned King of Italy at Pavia, challenging imperial authority.
On February 15, 1002, Lombard nobles assembled in Pavia to reinstate Marquis Arduin of Ivrea as King of Italy. After the death of Emperor Otto III, Italian magnates seized the chance to assert local autonomy. Arduin’s coronation represented a bold assertion of regional power against the Holy Roman Empire. His reign faced immediate opposition from German forces, setting the stage for years of conflict. Although ultimately short-lived, Arduin’s kingship inspired Italian resistance to imperial control and foreshadowed later struggles for self-rule.
1002
Pavia
Lombard
Arduin of Ivrea
King of Italy
1113day.year
Pope Paschal II issues Pie Postulatio Voluntatis, recognizing the Order of Hospitallers.
Pope Paschal II issues Pie Postulatio Voluntatis, formally recognizing the Order of Hospitallers.
On February 15, 1113, Pope Paschal II promulgated the papal bull Pie Postulatio Voluntatis. This decree granted formal recognition to the Order of Hospitallers, a group dedicated to caring for pilgrims and the sick in the Holy Land. The bull confirmed the order’s possessions and liberties, securing its status within Christendom. With papal support, the Hospitallers expanded their charitable work and military role during the Crusades. This landmark authorization marked the beginning of one of the most influential religious and military orders of the medieval era.
1113
Pope Paschal II
Pie Postulatio Voluntatis
the Order of Hospitallers
1637day.year
Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor.
Ferdinand III is crowned Holy Roman Emperor, succeeding Ferdinand II.
On February 15, 1637, Ferdinand III assumed the title of Holy Roman Emperor following the death of his father, Ferdinand II. His accession took place amid the turmoil of the Thirty Years' War. Known for his diplomatic approach, Ferdinand III sought peace and stability after decades of conflict. He later signed the Peace of Prague, laying groundwork for the negotiations that led to Westphalia. His reign marked a transition from religious warfare toward diplomatic resolution in the Holy Roman Empire.
1637
Ferdinand III
Holy Roman Emperor
1690day.year
Constantin Cantemir, Prince of Moldavia, and the Holy Roman Empire sign a secret treaty in Sibiu, stipulating that Moldavia would support the actions led by the House of Habsburg against the Ottoman Empire.
Moldavian Prince Constantin Cantemir and the Holy Roman Empire sign a secret treaty supporting Habsburg actions against the Ottoman Empire.
On February 15, 1690, Prince Constantin Cantemir of Moldavia and envoys of the Holy Roman Empire concluded a clandestine agreement in Sibiu. The treaty stipulated Moldavian military support for Habsburg campaigns against Ottoman forces. Moldavia’s alliance aimed to curb Ottoman influence and secure greater autonomy for the principality. This covert pact highlighted the complex diplomacy in Eastern Europe during the Great Turkish War. It underscored the fragile allegiances that shaped the region’s balance of power in the late 17th century.
1690
Constantin Cantemir
Moldavia
Holy Roman Empire
Sibiu
House of Habsburg
Ottoman Empire
1798day.year
The Roman Republic is proclaimed after Louis-Alexandre Berthier, a general of Napoleon, had invaded the city of Rome five days earlier.
General Berthier proclaimed the Roman Republic in Rome under the influence of revolutionary France.
In February 1798, forces led by General Louis-Alexandre Berthier, acting on behalf of the French First Republic, invaded the Papal States and captured Rome. Five days after the fall of the city, on February 15th, Berthier officially proclaimed the Roman Republic, abolishing the temporal power of the Pope. The new government was modeled on revolutionary France and sought to implement republican ideals in central Italy. Papal authorities were expelled, and secular institutions replaced the previous ecclesiastical administration. The proclamation of the republic provoked resistance among loyalists but marked a significant shift in the political landscape of Italy. Although short-lived, the Roman Republic of 1798-99 inspired later nationalist and unification movements across the Italian peninsula.
1798
Roman Republic
Louis-Alexandre Berthier
Napoleon
Rome
1835day.year
Serbia's Sretenje Constitution briefly comes into effect.
The Sretenje Constitution was briefly enacted in Serbia, introducing one of the first modern constitutions in the Balkans.
On February 15, 1835, Prince Miloš Obrenović and his advisory council adopted the Sretenje Constitution for the Principality of Serbia. It established a constitutional framework with a hereditary prince, a council of state, and basic civil liberties for citizens. The constitution curtailed arbitrary rule and introduced legal equality, freedom of speech, and press rights. However, under pressure from neighboring powers fearing revolutionary ideas, the charter was suspended just weeks later. Despite its short lifespan, the Sretenje Constitution represented a key step towards modern governance in Serbia and inspired later constitutional movements in the region.
1835
Sretenje Constitution
1899day.year
Tsar Nicholas II of Russia issues a declaration known as the February Manifesto, which reduces the autonomy of the Grand Duchy of Finland, thus beginning the first period of oppression.
Tsar Nicholas II issued the February Manifesto, curtailing the autonomy of the Grand Duchy of Finland and initiating the first period of Russian oppression.
On February 15, 1899, Tsar Nicholas II signed the February Manifesto, a decree that placed Finnish legislation under direct Russian imperial control. The manifesto revoked the requirement for Finnish laws to receive approval from the Diet of Finland, effectively undermining the Grand Duchy's self-governance. Finnish citizens and political leaders viewed the decree as a violation of the 1809 constitutional guarantees granted when Finland became part of the Russian Empire. Widespread protests and petitions followed, but little was done to restore autonomy until the Russian Revolution of 1905. The period from 1899 to 1905 is remembered in Finland as the first era of oppression (Ensimmäinen sortokausi). This manifesto had long-term effects on Finnish national identity and resistance movements.
1899
Tsar Nicholas II of Russia
February Manifesto
Grand Duchy of Finland
first period of oppression
1923day.year
Greece becomes the last European country to adopt the Gregorian calendar.
Greece officially adopted the Gregorian calendar, becoming the last European nation to align its civil calendar with international standards.
On February 15, 1923, the government of Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos enacted legislation transitioning Greece from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. The change involved skipping 13 days to correct accumulated discrepancies, bringing the calendar in line with most Western countries. This reform resolved issues in international diplomacy, trade, and travel caused by differing dates. While the Greek Orthodox Church continued to use the Julian calendar for religious observances, civil affairs moved forward with the new system on March 1st, 1923. The adoption marked an important step in Greece's modernization efforts during the interwar period. It also demonstrated the nation's intention to integrate more closely with European economic and political structures.
1923
Greece
Gregorian calendar
1933day.year
In Miami, Giuseppe Zangara attempts to assassinate US President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt, but instead shoots Chicago mayor Anton J. Cermak, who dies of his wounds on March 6.
An assassination attempt on President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt in Miami inadvertently mortally wounded Chicago Mayor Anton J. Cermak.
On February 15, 1933, Giuseppe Zangara fired shots at President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt from a hotel window in Miami.
Roosevelt escaped unharmed, but Chicago Mayor Anton J. Cermak was struck and gravely injured.
Cermak succumbed to his wounds on March 6, shocking the nation and deepening fears of political violence.
Zangara later confessed a general hatred of government leaders, reflecting the era's political tensions during the Great Depression.
The incident prompted reforms in security measures for public officials and heightened awareness of assassination threats.
1933
Miami
Giuseppe Zangara
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Chicago mayor
Anton J. Cermak