380day.year
Edict of Thessalonica: Emperor Theodosius I and his co-emperors Gratian and Valentinian II declare their wish that all Roman citizens convert to Nicene Christianity.
In 380, Emperor Theodosius I and his co-rulers issued the Edict of Thessalonica, mandating conversion of Roman citizens to Nicene Christianity.
On February 27, 380, the Roman Emperors Theodosius I, Gratian, and Valentinian II enacted the Edict of Thessalonica.
The decree declared Nicene Christianity the official state religion of the Roman Empire and instructed all Roman citizens to embrace it.
This marked a turning point in church-state relations, elevating Christianity above other faiths.
The edict reinforced the authority of the Trinitarian doctrine established at the Council of Nicaea in 325.
It led to increased imperial intervention in ecclesiastical affairs and set a precedent for religious uniformity across the empire.
380
Edict of Thessalonica
Theodosius I
Gratian
Valentinian II
Nicene Christianity
907day.year
Abaoji, chieftain of the Yila tribe, is named khagan of the Khitans.
In 907, Abaoji, leader of the Yila tribe, was proclaimed khagan of the Khitan people, founding the Liao Dynasty.
On this day in 907, Abaoji, the charismatic leader of the Khitan Yila tribe, was elevated to khagan by his followers.
His coronation marked the formal establishment of political unity among the Khitan tribes in northeast Asia.
Under his leadership, the Khitans expanded their territory and later founded the Liao Dynasty.
Abaoji reformed military organization, introduced hereditary succession, and adopted administrative practices inspired by neighboring empires.
His reign laid the foundation for Khitan statehood and influenced the regional balance of power.
907
Abaoji
khagan
Khitans
1560day.year
The Treaty of Berwick is signed by England and the Lords of the Congregation of Scotland, establishing the terms under which English armed forces were to be permitted in Scotland in order to expel occupying French troops.
In 1560, England and the Scottish Lords of the Congregation signed the Treaty of Berwick, allowing English forces into Scotland to expel French troops.
The Treaty of Berwick was signed on February 27, 1560, between Queen Elizabeth I of England and the Protestant Lords of the Congregation of Scotland.
It granted English military assistance to the Scottish nobles in their campaign to oust French garrisons supporting the Catholic regent, Mary of Guise.
The agreement stipulated terms for the conduct and withdrawal of English forces once French troops were expelled.
It bolstered the Scottish Reformation, leading to the establishment of Protestantism as the national faith.
The treaty also strengthened Anglo-Scottish relations and diminished French influence in Scotland.
1560
Treaty of Berwick
England
Lords of the Congregation
Scotland
French
1594day.year
Henry IV is crowned King of France.
In 1594, Henry of Navarre was crowned as King Henry IV of France, inaugurating the Bourbon dynasty.
On February 27, 1594, Henry of Navarre, a Protestant by birth, was crowned King Henry IV of France in Chartres Cathedral.
His ascension ended decades of religious wars between Catholics and Huguenots, though some Catholic territories still resisted.
He later converted to Catholicism, famously stating 'Paris is well worth a mass,' to secure his rule.
Henry IV's reign ushered in relative peace, economic recovery, and the foundation for the Bourbon dynasty.
His policies, including the Edict of Nantes, promoted religious toleration and royal authority.
1594
Henry IV
King
France
1617day.year
Sweden and the Tsardom of Russia sign the Treaty of Stolbovo, ending the Ingrian War and shutting Russia out of the Baltic Sea.
In 1617, Sweden and Russia signed the Treaty of Stolbovo, ending the Ingrian War and excluding Russia from the Baltic Sea.
Signed on February 27, 1617, the Treaty of Stolbovo concluded the Ingrian War between Sweden and the Tsardom of Russia.
Under its terms, Russia ceded Ingria and Karelia to Sweden, effectively closing Russia's access to the Baltic Sea.
The treaty stabilized the Swedish Empire's eastern frontier and secured its dominance in the Baltic region.
It forced Russia to redirect its aspirations toward southern and eastern expansion.
The agreement held until the Great Northern War in the early 18th century reshaped regional power dynamics.
1617
Sweden
Tsardom of Russia
Treaty of Stolbovo
Ingrian War
Baltic Sea
1626day.year
Yuan Chonghuan is appointed Governor of Liaodong, after leading the Chinese into a great victory against the Manchurians under Nurhaci.
In 1626, Chinese general Yuan Chonghuan was appointed Governor of Liaodong after his victory against Manchurian forces led by Nurhaci.
On February 27, 1626, the Ming dynasty appointed Yuan Chonghuan as Governor of Liaodong in recognition of his military successes.
He had just repelled Manchu incursions under Nurhaci, notably winning the Battle of Ningyuan.
As governor, Yuan fortified the eastern frontier and reorganized the Ming military defenses.
His reforms improved troop discipline and enhanced the army's capacity to resist further Manchu advances.
Yuan's tenure represented one of the last effective Ming efforts to contain the rising Qing power.
1626
Yuan Chonghuan
Liaodong
Manchurians
Nurhaci
1801day.year
Pursuant to the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801, Washington, D.C. is placed under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress.
In 1801, the District of Columbia Organic Act placed Washington, D.C. under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress, creating a federal district separate from any state.
The District of Columbia Organic Act became law on February 27, 1801, bringing the newly created federal capital under congressional control.
It divided the district into two counties, Washington and Alexandria, and established local courts and governance structures.
By placing the capital outside state jurisdiction, the act ensured federal autonomy and neutrality.
The move allowed Congress to oversee municipal affairs, taxation, and law enforcement in the district.
This legislation laid the foundation for Washington, D.C.'s unique status as the seat of the U.S. government.
1801
District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801
Washington, D.C.
U.S. Congress
1812day.year
Poet Lord Byron gives his first address as a member of the House of Lords, in defense of Luddite violence against Industrialism in his home county of Nottinghamshire.
Poet Lord Byron delivers his first speech in the House of Lords, controversially defending Luddite protests against industrialization.
On 27 February 1812, Lord George Gordon Byron, already famed for his poetry, took the floor in the British House of Lords for the first time.
He shocked attendees by defending the violent actions of the Luddites protesting against industrial machinery in Nottinghamshire.
Byron argued that rapid industrialization threatened the livelihoods of skilled artisans and weavers.
His passionate appeal intertwined Romantic ideals with political activism, showcasing his complex persona.
The address attracted widespread attention, highlighting tensions between progress and tradition in early 19th-century Britain.
Byron's oratory debut foreshadowed his continuing engagement in political and social issues beyond his literary fame.
Lord Byron
House of Lords
Luddite
Industrialism
Nottinghamshire
1844day.year
The Dominican Republic gains independence from Haiti.
The Dominican Republic declares its independence from Haiti, initiating the birth of a new nation on Hispaniola.
On 27 February 1844, Dominican patriots proclaimed the independence of the Dominican Republic from Haitian rule.
Led by Juan Pablo Duarte and the secret society La Trinitaria, revolutionaries seized key forts in Santo Domingo.
The declaration ended over two decades of Haitian governance and ignited the Dominican War of Independence.
Citizens celebrated the emergence of a sovereign state, adopting the tricolor flag that symbolized liberty and peace.
The successful revolt laid the foundations for the Dominican Republic’s political institutions and national identity.
This historic day remains a cornerstone of Dominican heritage and is commemorated annually as Independence Day.
1844
Dominican Republic
Haiti
1859day.year
United States representative Daniel Sickles, after learning of an affair between his wife and Attorney General Philip Barton Key II, murders him in Washington, D.C.
Congressman Daniel Sickles murders Attorney General Philip Barton Key II in a Washington scandal over infidelity and honor.
On 27 February 1859, U.S. Representative Daniel Sickles fatally shot Philip Barton Key II, the son of Francis Scott Key, on the streets of Washington, D.C.
Sickles accused Key, then serving as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, of having an affair with Sickles’ wife.
The sensational crime unfolded before stunned onlookers, igniting a national debate over honor, marriage, and legal accountability.
Sickles surrendered immediately to authorities, famously declaring the affair as motive for his action.
The subsequent trial captivated the public, leading to the first successful temporary insanity defense in U.S. history.
This landmark case influenced American legal standards for criminal responsibility and the concept of temporary insanity.
1859
United States representative
Daniel Sickles
Philip Barton Key II
murders
1860day.year
Abraham Lincoln makes a speech at Cooper Union in the city of New York that plays an important role in his election to the Presidency.
Abraham Lincoln delivers a landmark speech at Cooper Union in New York City, elevating his national political profile.
On 27 February 1860, Abraham Lincoln spoke at Cooper Union's Great Hall in Manhattan, addressing an audience of prominent New York citizens.
He argued against the spread of slavery into new U.S. territories, carefully analyzing the intentions of the Founding Fathers.
Lincoln's reasoned rhetoric and deep knowledge of the Constitution impressed influential political figures and opinion-makers.
The speech earned rave reviews in the press, portraying Lincoln as a thoughtful statesman of national caliber.
Historians credit this presentation with significantly boosting Lincoln's reputation and securing Republican support.
Within months, he emerged as a leading contender for the party's presidential nomination.
1860
Abraham Lincoln
speech
Cooper Union
1870day.year
The current flag of Japan is first adopted as the national flag for Japanese merchant ships.
Japan adopts the Hinomaru as the national merchant ensign, establishing the iconic red-circled flag for maritime use.
On 27 February 1870, the Japanese government officially designated the white banner with a red sun disc—the Hinomaru—as the national flag for merchant vessels.
Previously used informally, the emblem became a regulated ensign under new maritime laws during the Meiji Restoration.
Adopting the Hinomaru reflected Japan's efforts to modernize its navy and assert its presence in international trade.
The simple yet powerful design symbolized the nation's identity, drawing on centuries of sun symbolism in Japanese culture.
In the decades that followed, the Hinomaru would evolve into Japan's official national flag, flying over government and naval ships alike.
Today, it endures as a central emblem of Japanese heritage and statehood.
1870
flag of Japan