AD 25day.year
Luoyang is declared capital of the Eastern Han dynasty by Emperor Guangwu of Han.
In AD 25, Emperor Guangwu of Han designated Luoyang as the new capital of the Eastern Han dynasty, marking the restoration of Han authority in a strategic location.
After reunifying China and overthrowing the Xin dynasty, Emperor Guangwu selected Luoyang for its central position and fertile surroundings. This move shifted the political center eastward from Chang'an and laid the foundations for nearly two centuries of Eastern Han rule. The choice of Luoyang reflected strategic, economic, and symbolic considerations, affirming imperial strength and control. The city's expansion accelerated urban growth, attracting scholars, artisans, and officials. Luoyang's elevation to capital status also fostered cultural exchange along emerging trade routes. This declaration heralded a period of relative stability and prosperity in the Eastern Han era.
AD 25
Luoyang
declared
Eastern Han dynasty
Emperor Guangwu of Han
176day.year
Emperor Marcus Aurelius grants his son Commodus the rank of "Imperator" and makes him Supreme Commander of the Roman legions.
In 176, Emperor Marcus Aurelius elevated his son Commodus to the rank of Imperator, entrusting him with supreme command over the Roman legions as a sign of dynastic succession.
Amidst the challenges of northern frontier wars, Marcus Aurelius sought to secure the succession by promoting Commodus at a young age. The title Imperator conferred exceptional military authority, reflecting the emperor’s trust and the importance of familial continuity. Commodus’s appointment gave him direct command over legions garrisoned along the Danube and Rhine. This move bolstered his reputation among troops and paved the way for his future reign. It also underscored the fusion of imperial and military roles in Rome’s evolving power structure. Historians view this event as a pivotal moment in Commodus’s ascent, foreshadowing both internal stability and later controversies.
176
Marcus Aurelius
Commodus
Imperator
Roman legions
395day.year
Rufinus, praetorian prefect of the East, is murdered by Gothic mercenaries under Gainas.
In 395, Rufinus, the Eastern Roman Empire’s powerful praetorian prefect, was assassinated by Gothic mercenaries under the command of Gainas amid a volatile court conflict.
Rufinus had long wielded immense influence in the eastern court of Emperor Theodosius I, acting as de facto ruler through strategic alliances and administrative reforms. Distrust between Roman officials and barbarian troops grew as Gothic mercenaries under Gainas demanded greater recognition. During a gathering near Constantinople, Gainas’s men ambushed Rufinus, delivering a stark message about the shifting balance of power. His brutal murder exposed the fragility of imperial authority and the complexities of integrating barbarian soldiers into Roman ranks. The incident deepened divisions between Roman elites and foreshadowed future insurrections. Rufinus’s death marked a turning point in the late empire’s struggles with internal rivalries and external pressures.
395
Rufinus
praetorian prefect of the East
Gothic
Gainas
511day.year
King Clovis I dies at Lutetia and is buried in the Abbey of St Genevieve.
King Clovis I, who unified the Frankish tribes and established the Merovingian dynasty, died in 511 at Lutetia and was interred in the Abbey of St Genevieve.
Clovis I is celebrated as the first monarch to unite the disparate Frankish tribes under a single rule, laying the foundations of modern France. His conversion to Christianity at Reims in 496 strengthened ties with the Roman Church and legitimized his authority. At his death in Lutetia (modern Paris), he commanded a territory spanning from the Somme to the Pyrenees. He was laid to rest in the newly built Abbey of St Genevieve, a site he patronized during his reign. Clovis’s legacy endured through his descendants, who continued Merovingian rule for nearly two centuries. His passing marked both the consolidation of Frankish power and the beginning of dynastic fragmentation among his heirs.
511
Clovis I
Lutetia
Abbey of St Genevieve
602day.year
Byzantine Emperor Maurice is forced to watch as the usurper Phocas executes his five sons before Maurice is beheaded himself.
In 602, the usurper Phocas executed five sons of Emperor Maurice before personally beheading the deposed Byzantine ruler, plunging the empire into turmoil.
Emperor Maurice had reigned since 582, achieving military successes but facing budgetary strains and discontent among troops. A revolt led by Phocas erupted on the Danube frontier, fueled by grievances over pay and conditions. After seizing Constantinople, Phocas forced Maurice to witness the execution of his sons in a display of ruthless power consolidation. Maurice was then taken to Chalcedon, where he met a grisly end by beheading. This act of vengeance signaled a violent transfer of power and inaugurated a harsh reign under Phocas. The brutal coup weakened imperial stability and exposed the empire to external threats from Persians and Slavs. Maurice’s martyrdom was later commemorated by the Church, reflecting his complex legacy.
602
Byzantine
Maurice
Phocas
beheaded
1382day.year
Al-Salih Hajji, the last Qalawunid sultan, was deposed by Barquq in 1382, ending the long period of the Turkic Bahri Mamluk period in general and particularly the Qalawunid dynasty and starting the reign of the Circassian Burji Mamluk.
In 1382, Barquq overthrew Sultan Al-Salih Hajji, ending the Qalawunid line and inaugurating the Circassian Burji Mamluk dynasty in Egypt.
Al-Salih Hajji, the last ruler of the Turkic Bahri Mamluk dynasty, faced court intrigue and military dissent as mamluk factions vied for dominance. Barquq, a Circassian mameluke commander, capitalized on this unrest by deposing the young sultan and claiming power. His ascension marked a sharp break from decades of Qalawunid rule, ushering in the Burji Mamluk era. The new dynasty reinforced the role of Circassian mamluk elites in governance and restructured military hierarchies. Barquq’s rule stabilized the sultanate after years of regency and unrest. His reign also spurred architectural and economic initiatives that reinforced Cairo’s status as a Mediterranean power. The coup in 1382 thus reshaped Egypt’s political landscape for generations.
1382
Al-Salih Hajji
Barquq
Turkic
Bahri Mamluk
Qalawunid dynasty
Circassian
Burji Mamluk
1542day.year
Palace plot of Renyin year: A group of Ming dynasty palace women fail to murder the Jiajing Emperor, and are executed by slow-slicing.
In 1542, a group of palace women attempted to assassinate the Jiajing Emperor in the Palace Plot of the Renyin Year and were condemned to the gruesome punishment of slow-slicing when they failed.
The plot arose from palace discontent and rumors of imperial cruelty under Jiajing’s reign, leading several concubines to conspire against him. Their scheme unfolded within the Forbidden City’s hidden corridors but was uncovered before it could reach the emperor’s quarters. Captured conspirators faced the 'lingchi' method, a slow and public execution intended to deter dissent. The incident highlighted the perilous nature of court life and the extremes of Ming justice. It also intensified imperial paranoia and prompted harsher palace security measures. Historians regard the Renyin Year plot as a stark example of palace politics spiraling into lethal violence.
1542
Palace plot of Renyin year
Ming dynasty
palace women
Jiajing Emperor
slow-slicing
1815day.year
Adoption of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Poland.
The Kingdom of Poland formally adopts a constitution under the Congress of Vienna settlement, shaping its governance.
On November 27, 1815, the Kingdom of Poland, also known as Congress Poland, formally adopted its first constitution following the decisions made at the Congress of Vienna earlier that year. The charter established a constitutional monarchy in union with the Russian Empire under Tsar Alexander I. It guaranteed basic civil liberties, established a bicameral Sejm (parliament), and defined the separation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. While it offered greater autonomy than many contemporary European states, the Tsar retained significant authority over foreign policy and military matters. The constitution symbolized a compromise between Polish aspirations for self-governance and Russian strategic interests. Its progressive provisions inspired Polish national identity, though many were later curtailed by imperial decree. Scholars regard the 1815 constitution as a milestone in Polish constitutional history.
1815
Constitution of the Kingdom of Poland
1835day.year
James Pratt and John Smith are hanged in London; they are the last two to be executed for sodomy in England.
James Pratt and John Smith become the final men executed for sodomy in England, marking the end of a harsh legal penalty.
On November 27, 1835, James Pratt and John Smith were hanged at Newgate Prison in London after being convicted under the Buggery Act of 1533. Their execution marked the final application of capital punishment for sodomy in England. The case arose during a period of moral conservatism and strict enforcement of sexual morality laws. Despite public controversy and petitions for clemency, the authorities proceeded with the execution. Pratt and Smith’s deaths sparked debate over the severity of sodomy laws and eventual calls for legal reform. The capital penalty was abolished in 1861, replaced by imprisonment under the Offences Against the Person Act. This landmark case remains a grim reminder of past sexual persecution.
1835
James Pratt and John Smith
1856day.year
The Coup of 1856 leads to Luxembourg's unilateral adoption of a new, reactionary constitution.
A coup in Luxembourg forces the adoption of a conservative constitution, reversing earlier liberal reforms.
In 1856, a political coup in Luxembourg orchestrated by King William III led to the unilateral imposition of a new, reactionary constitution. The move overturned the liberal 1848 charter and strengthened the monarch’s authority over the parliament and judiciary. Civil liberties, including freedom of the press and assembly, were curtailed, and the legislative powers of the Chamber of Deputies were significantly reduced. The new constitution centralized power in the hands of the monarch and his appointed ministers, provoking public outcry and resistance. Despite opposition, the reactionary charter remained in force until it was replaced in 1868 following diplomatic pressure and internal demands for reform. This episode highlighted the tensions between conservative monarchical rule and emerging democratic movements in mid-19th century Europe. Luxembourg’s eventual return to a more balanced constitutional system marked a pivotal moment in its political development.
1856
Coup of 1856
Luxembourg
constitution
1901day.year
The U.S. Army War College is established.
The U.S. Army War College is founded to train senior military leaders.
Established on November 27, 1901, the U.S. Army War College in Washington, D.C., set out to provide advanced strategic education to Army officers. Its mission was to prepare leaders for high command by offering courses in military science, national security policy, and joint operations. The institution played a crucial role in shaping U.S. military doctrine and strategic thought throughout the 20th century. Graduates have gone on to serve as generals, policymakers, and defense experts. The War College continues to adapt its curriculum to address emerging global threats and complex security environments.
1901
U.S. Army War College
1912day.year
Spain declares a protectorate over the north shore of Morocco.
Spain declares a protectorate over northern Morocco’s coast.
On November 27, 1912, Spain formally established a protectorate over the northern shores of Morocco, following the 1912 Treaty of Fez. This move granted Spain control over key coastal towns, including Ceuta and Melilla, and initiated a period of colonial administration. The protectorate coexisted with the larger French zone to the south, creating a divided colonial Morocco. Spanish authorities implemented economic and infrastructural developments, though resistance and uprisings by local tribes were frequent. The arrangement lasted until Morocco’s independence movements gained momentum after World War II, leading to the end of the protectorate in 1956.
1912
Spain
protectorate
Morocco