slug: knights-templar

label: Knights Templar

description: medieval Christian military order, 1118–1312

text: Knights Templar were founded in Jerusalem

title: 1118

section: Events › By place › Western Asia

text: Baldwin II grants the Knights Templar under Hugues de Payens and Godfrey de Saint-Omer a headquarters in a wing of the royal palace on the Temple Mount in the captured Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem.

title: 1120

section: Exploration & Expansion

text: King Alfonso the Battler of Aragon creates the lay community of knights known as the Confraternity of Belchite. It is the first local attempt to imitate the Order of the Knights Templar created in Palestine.

title: 1122

section: Events › By place › Europe

text: Honorius II recognizes and confirms the Order of the Knights Templar. The French abbot Bernard of Clairvaux codifies the rule of the Order. Hugues de Payens, French Grand Master of the Order, visits both England and Scotland, where he raises men and money for the Order.

title: 1128

section: Events › By topic › Religion

text: The Knights Templars appear in the North-East of Spain and are receiving privileges from King Alfonso I (the Battler). The Templars support him to regain land from the Almoravids. Alfonso grants them exemption of tax on a fifth of the wealth taken from the Muslims. The Templars found their first stronghold in Aragon.

title: 1131

text: Called by Olegarius, the bishop of Tarragona, the Knights Templar establish their first stronghold in Catalonia.

title: 1134

section: Events › By place › Mediterranean

text: Autumn – Geoffrey de Mandeville, 1st Earl of Essex, is mortally wounded by a stray arrow received in a skirmish. Because he is an outlaw, his burial is denied at the monastery he has founded, Walden Abbey. Geoffrey's body is eventually accepted by the Knights Templar community for burial within the Temple Church in London.

title: 1144

text: Summer – King Henry II of England travels to France to meet King Louis VII and propose a marriage between his three-year-old son Henry and Louis' daughter Margaret (less than a year old). She is shipped to England, as the future wife and queen. The Vexin region is promised to Margaret as dowry and is put under the care of the Knights Templar, until her future husband is old enough to take control of it.

title: 1158

text: The island of Lundy is granted to the Knights Templar by Henry II of England.

title: 1160

text: A plot of land at Miholjanec is donated to the Knights Templar, who build a monastery in nearby Zdelia. This is the earliest historical mention of the Templars in Croatia and Hungary.

title: 1160

text: Winter – Egyptian forces, led by Saladin, invade the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and besiege Darum on the Mediterranean coast. Its defenses are weak, and though Saladin has no siege engines with him, the fall seems imminent. King Amalric I withdraws his Templar garrison from Gaza, to assist him in defending Darum. Saladin raises the siege and marches on Gaza, where he captures the lower town (despite the stiff resistance ordered by Lord Miles of Plancy), and massacres the inhabitants. However, the citadel is too strong for Saladin, and he is forced to retreat to Egypt.

title: 1170

date: June 10

text: June 10 – Battle of Marj Ayyun: A Crusader army (some 10,000 men) led by Baldwin IV is defeated by Muslim forces under Saladin near the Litani River (modern Lebanon). The Knights Templar join the battle, but they are driven back in confusion. Baldwin narrowly escapes being captured in the route. Amongst Saladin's prisoners are Odo de St. Amand, Grand Master of the Templars, and Lord Baldwin of Ibelin.

title: 1179

text: The first royal ordinance demanding that the Knights Templar and Hospitaller assist in the collection of taxes is promulgated.

title: 1184

text: Evidence is first uncovered that Henry II of England is using the safes of the Temple Church in London (consecrated February 10), under the guard of the Knights Templar, to store part of his treasure.

title: 1185

section: Events › By topic › Markets

date: April 29

text: April 29 – A delegation under Balian of Ibelin is sent to Tiberias, to reconcile with Raymond III, prince of Galilee. After Easter, a second delegation (supported by the Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller) is sent to Tripoli, but the situation remains unchanged.

title: 1187

date: August 25

text: August 25–26 – Richard I leads a fast-moving advance-guard and establishes a strong position at the fortress near Merle before Saladin arrives. He then hurries back to support the rearguard, to regain contact with the Crusader forces. Richard reorganizes his marching column. The elite Templar and Hospitaller knights hold the van and rearguard, while Richard and a central mass of knights are screened on their landward left side by dense ranks of well-armoured infantry, whose panoply makes them almost immune to Muslim missile attacks.

title: 1191

section: Crime & Justice

text: First evidence that the Temple in London is extending loans to John, King of England. The sums remain small, but are often used for critical operations, such as the ransoming of the king's soldiers captured by the French.

title: 1203

section: Events › By topic › Economy

date: February 14

text: February 14 – Leo I, King of Armenia ("the Magnificent"), with support of the Knights Hospitaller, reconquers the Principality of Antioch. Armenian troops enter Antioch while Prince Bohemond IV of Antioch ("the One-Eyed") is absent. The Knights Templar, supporting Bohemond, abandon the citadel, and Raymond-Roupen is installed as Prince of Antioch by the Latin Patriarch, Peter II.

title: 1216

date: April 9

text: April 9 – Battle of Legnica: The Mongols, under the command of Baidar, Kadan and Orda Khan, defeat the feudal Polish nobility, including the Knights Templar.

title: 1241

text: Spring – The Templar Knights raid the city of Hebron. Meanwhile, An-Nasir Dawud, Ayyubid ruler of Damascus, sends forces to cut off the road to Jerusalem, and to levy tolls on the pilgrims and merchants that pass by.

title: 1242

section: Events › By place › Middle East

text: December – Louis IX decides to spend the winter on Cyprus to make preparations against Egypt. Meanwhile, the nobles persuade him to start negotiations with Sultan As-Salih Ayyub to intervene in the internal Ayyubid affairs. But Louis rejects this offer and orders the Knights Templar to break off their negotiations with As-Salih.

title: 1248

section: Events › By place › Seventh Crusade

text: War of Saint Sabas: A dispute between Venice and Genoa arises about concerning land in Acre owned by Mar Saba but claimed by both Venice and Genoa – which leads to a Genoese attack of the monastery in the Venetian quarter. The Venetians are supported by Pisa and the Knights Templar, while the Genoese are joined by the Knights Hospitaller.

title: 1256

text: The Lord Edward, son and heir of Henry III of England, seizes £10,000 which had been deposited to the trust of the Knights Templar in London by foreign merchants and English magnates.

title: 1263

text: July 23 – Siege of Safed: Mamluk forces capture the castle of Safed, defended by a garrison of 1,700 men (including some 500 Knights Templar), after a 6-week siege. Sultan Baibars promises safe conduct but when the Christians and Templars are on their way towards Acre, they are seized and beheaded.

title: 1266

date: February

text: February – Mamluk forces led by Sultan Baibars continue their territorial expansion in western Syria and appear before Safita Castle (called the White Castle) built by the Knights Templar. After a heroic defense, the small garrison is advised by Grand Master Thomas Bérard to surrender. The survivors are allowed to withdraw to Tortosa.

title: 1271

text: October – Qalawun orders a general mobilization of the Mamluk forces. In a council, it is decided that a peace delegation be sent to Cairo under Guillaume de Beaujeu, Grand Master of the Knights Templar. However, Qalawun demands huge compensation for those killed in Acre, and sends a Syrian army to the coast of Palestine, near Caesarea.

title: 1290

date: July

text: July – Thibaud Gaudin arrives with the surviving knights, with the treasure of the Order, in Sidon. There, he is elected as Grand Master of the Knights Templar, to succeed Guillaume de Beaujeu (who was mortally wounded during the siege of Acre). Shortly after, Mamluk forces attack Sidon and Gaudin (who has not had enough knights to defend) evacuates the city and moves to the Sidon Sea Castle on July 14.

title: 1291

text: December – Mongol forces (some 10,000 men) led by Ghazan Khan cross the Euphrates River and invade Syria. They continue south, and successfully take Aleppo. There, Ghazan is joined by forces from his vassal state of Cilician Armenia. King Hethum II leads the Armenian army (which includes Templar and Hospitaller knights). He participates during the Mongol offensive and regains all the Armenian territories which have previously been lost to the Mamluks.

title: 1299

date: April 26

text: April 26 – French knight Amalric, Lord of Tyre, with the aid of the Knights Templar, stages a Coup d'état against his older brother Henry II, King of Cyprus. Although Henry remains the nominal king, he is confined at the Cypriot city of Strovolos, and Amalric assumes all of the King's powers. Amalric will be assassinated in 1310.

title: 1306

section: Events › April – June

date: July 22

text: July 22 – The Great Exile of 1306: King Philip IV of France turns his attentions to Italian bankers and orders the Jews to be exiled in France. The Jewish quarter in Paris is cleared and goods are confiscated – to regain money spent on expanding the domains of Flanders and Gascony. Meanwhile, rumors of a secret initiation ceremony of the Knights Templar create distrust, and Philip – while being deeply in debt to the Order for loans from his war against England, uses this distrust for political and religious motivations against the Templars.

title: 1306

section: Events › July – September

date: October 13

text: October 13 – King Philip IV of France orders the arrest of all members of the Knights Templar in France. The Templars, together with their Grand Master Jacques de Molay, are imprisoned, interrogated, and tortured into confessing heresy. In Paris, the king's inquisitors torture some 140 Templars, most of whom eventually make confessions. Many are subjected to "fire torture": their legs are fastened in an iron frame and the soles of their feet are greased with fat or butter. Unable to withstand these tortures, many Templars eventually confess.

title: 1307

section: Events › October – December

date: August 12

text: August 12 – Pope Clement V publishes the papal bull Faciens Misericordiam ("The granting of forgiveness"), absolving the Knights Templar from charges of heresy and declaring that the Roman Catholic Church, rather than any individual nation, will be in charge of future charges against the Knights. On the same day, he issues the bull Regnans in coelis, summoning what will become the Council of Vienne in 1311.

title: 1308

date: June 28

text: June 28 – After 138 members of the Knights Templar were convicted of heresy on October 19, 1307, a trial is held for 54 Templars who testify before Pope Clement V, with most confessing to at least one charge.

title: 1308

date: May 12

text: May 12 – In France, 54 members of the Knights Templar are burned at the stake for heresy at Paris, on orders of King Philip IV of France (Philip the Fair). Pope Clement V attempts to take control of the situation by issuing a papal bull, to assert the Church's authority over the matter and demands Philip turn over the Templars and their property to ecclesiastical officials, who will then try the Templars for charges themselves. (→ Trials of the Knights Templar)

title: 1310

date: October 16

text: October 16 – Council of Vienne: Pope Clement V convokes the 15th Ecumenical Council at Vienne, France, in the presence of 20 cardinals, about 100 archbishops and bishops, and a number of abbots and priors. The main item on the agenda of the council is the Order of the Knights Templar. Clement passes papal bulls to dissolve the Templar Order, confiscate their lands, and label them as heretics.

title: 1311

text: March 22 – Pope Clement V, under pressure from King Philip IV of France, officially disbands the Order of the Knights Templar at the Council of Vienne, issuing the bull Vox in excelso. The Order's property and monetary assets are given to a rival order, the Knights Hospitaller. Meanwhile, Jacques de Molay, last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, is held in prison in Paris, where he is forced to commit false confessions.

title: 1312

text: March 18 – Jacques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templar and Geoffroi de Charney, are, by orders of King Philip IV of France ("Philip the Fair"), burned at the stake in front of the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris on the Île de la Cité in the Seine. Jacques declares his innocence and that the Templar Order is also innocent of all the charges of heresy. It is said that Jacques correctly predicts the deaths of both Philip and Pope Clement V within the year.

title: 1314

date: March 14

text: March 14 – The Military Order of Christ (Ordem Militar de Cristo) is established in Portugal by King Denis of Portugal after Pope John XXII issues the papal bull Ad ea ex quibus. The new Order is the revival of former Knights Templar who had aided the Kingdom of Portugal in its post-war reconstruction.

title: 1319

text: February 15 – Pope John XXII grants a mandate to the Archbishop of York, William Melton, to order restitution of confiscated Knights Templar property in England to the Knights Hospitaller.

title: 1320


slug: korea

label: Korea

description: region in East Asia

year_label: 194 BCE

section: Economy & Finance

text: The Wiman Joseon kingdom of northern Korea (Choson) is founded by the Chinese Han dynasty general Wiman.

title: 194 BC

section: Events › By place › Korea

year_label: 108 BCE

section: Deaths

text: Ugeo of Gojoseon, king of Wiman Joseon (Korea)

title: 108 BC

year_label: 87 BCE

date: March 29

text: March 29 – Emperor Wu of Han dies after a 54-year reign in which he leads the Han dynasty (China) through its greatest expansion. The Empire's borders span from modern Kyrgyzstan in the west, to Mongolia in the north, to Korea in the east, and to northern Vietnam in the south.

title: 87 BC

section: Events › By place › China

year_label: 58 BCE

text: Go Museo Dangun, 6th ruler of Buyeo (Korea)

title: 58 BC

year_label: 37 BCE

section: Culture & Society

text: The kingdom of Goguryeo in Korea is founded by the king Dongmyeong. (traditional date)

title: 37 BC

section: Events › By place › Asia

year_label: 18 BCE

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: Onjo becomes the first ruler of the Korean kingdom of Baekje (traditional date).

title: 18 BC

year_label: 4 CE

section: Conflict & Security

text: AD 4 – Namhae Chachaung succeeds Bak Hyeokgeose as king of the Korean kingdom of Silla (traditional date).

title: 0s

section: Events › Korea

year_label: 24 CE

text: King Yuri ascends to the throne as ruler of Silla (Korea).

title: 20s

section: Events › 24 AD › Korea

year_label: 77 CE

text: King Giru of Baekje succeeds to the throne of Baekje in the Korean Peninsula.

title: AD 77

text: Geodeung succeeds Suro of Geumgwan Gaya, as king of the Korean kingdom of Gaya (traditional date).

title: AD 199

text: Gongsun Kang, Chinese warlord of Liaodong, establishes the Daifang Commandery in northern Korea.

title: 204

text: The Korean kingdom of Baekje attacks the Mohe tribes.

title: 214

text: The manufacture of cultured silk becomes popular from Korea to Japan.

title: 298

text: c. October? – Bunseo of Baekje, king of Baekje (Korea) (assassinated)

title: 304

text: In Korea, the Buyeo Kingdom is absorbed by Goguryeo.

title: 346

text: The first Korean envoy arrives in Japan, emissary of the government of Kudara.

title: 367

text: Gogugwon, king of Goguryeo (Korea)

title: 371

text: The national academy of Chinese learning, called Taehak, is established in the kingdom of Goguryeo (Korea).

title: 372

section: Events › By topic › Art and Science

text: King Chimnyu ascends to the throne of Baekje (Korea); he welcomes the Indian Buddhist monk Marananta into his palace, and later declares Buddhism the official religion.

title: 384

text: Geungusu, king of Baekje (Korea)

title: 384

section: Deaths › Date unknown

text: Jinsa of Baekje becomes the 16th king of the ancient Korean kingdom of Baekje.

title: 385

text: Chimnyu, king of Baekje (Korea)

title: 385

text: King Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo (Korea) ascends to the throne.

title: 391

text: King Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo (Korea) defeats the forces of Later Yan, seizing some of their border fortresses.

title: 402

text: Asin of Baekje allies with Silla against Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo (Korea).

title: 403

text: Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo (Korea) attacks Liaodong and takes the entire Liaodong Peninsula.

title: AD 404

text: King Jangsu transfers the Goguryeo capital from Gungnae City (modern Ji'an, Jilin) on the banks of the Yalu River to Pyongyang (modern Korea).

title: 427

section: Births

text: Muryeong, king of Baekje (Korea)

title: 462

text: King Seong of Paekche (Korea) moves the capital from Ungjin (present-day Gongju) further south to Sabi (present-day Buyeo County), on the Geum River. He sends a diplomatic mission that formally introduces Buddhism to the Japanese imperial court (see also 552).

title: 538

text: Muyeol, king of Silla (Korea) (d. 661)

title: 603

text: Seondeok is crowned queen of Silla (Korea).

title: 632

section: Science & Discovery

text: Queen Seondeok of Silla (Korea) builds an astronomical observatory near Gyeongju (Cheomseongdae), one of the oldest in East Asia.

title: 637

text: The Xueyantuo assaults the Chinese-conquered vassal of Eastern Tujue. Although simultaneously fighting in Korea against Goguryeo, Emperor Tai Zong commissions his famous general Li Shiji to fend off attacks in the campaign against Xueyantuo.

title: 639

text: Baekje in southwestern Korea is conquered by an alliance of the Tang dynasty and Silla, led by general Su Dingfang and King Munmu of Silla. The Japanese envoys detained in Chang'an are paroled.

title: 660

text: Gwisil Boksin, Korean general of Baekje (Korea)

title: 663

text: A Goguryeo restoration movement, led by Geom Mojam in northern Korea, places Anseung on the throne. Geom is later murdered, and Anseung flees to neighboring Silla.

title: 670

section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: In Korea, Anapji is constructed by order of King Munmu of Silla.

title: 674

text: The broad-based peninsular effort under Silla's leadership, to prevent Chinese domination of Korea, succeeds in forcing Chinese troops to withdraw into Manchuria, in northeast China.

title: 676

text: Tang China declares the deposed Bojang of Goguryeo "King of Joseon", placing him in charge of the Liaodong area under the Protectorate General to Pacify the East.

title: 677

text: King Dae Jo-yeong of Balhae (Korea) resumes tributary payments to the Tang dynasty. The Tai peoples are forced to accept Chinese sovereignty (approximate date).

title: 712

text: Chinese forces under Gao Xianzhi (a Korean in Tang employ) defeat the Arabs and Tibetans, by rapid military expeditions over the Pamir Mountains and Hindu Kush. About 72 local Indian and Sogdian kingdoms become Tang vassals. Over the next two years he establishes complete control in East Asia.

title: AD 747

text: Hyegong, king of Silla (Korea) (d. 780)

title: 758

text: Gyeongdeok, king of Silla (Korea)

title: 765

text: Heungdeok, king of Silla (Korea) (d. 836)

title: AD 777

text: Hyegong, king of Silla (Korea) (b. 758)

title: 780

text: April 30 – Emperor Kōnin of Japan abdicates the throne after an 11-year reign, in favour of his half-Korean son, Kanmu.

title: 781

text: Seondeok, king of Silla (Korea)

title: 785

text: Aejang, king of Silla (Korea) (d. 809)

title: 788

text: Wonseong, king of Silla (Korea)

title: 798

text: The Haeinsa Temple of the Jogye Order is built in Korea.

title: 802

text: Kim Yang, viceroy of Silla (Korea) (d. 857)

title: AD 808

text: Jeong, king of Balhae (Korea) (approximate date)

title: 812

text: Heondeok, king of Silla (Korea)

title: 826

text: Gyeongmun, king of Silla (Korea) (d. 875)

title: 846

text: Dae Ijin, king of Balhae (Korea)

title: 857

text: Kyŏn Hwŏn, king of Later Baekje (Korea) (d. 936)

title: 867

text: Gyeongmun, king of Silla (Korea) (b. 841)

title: 875

text: Hyogong, king of Silla (Korea) (d. 912)

title: 885

text: Heongang, king of Silla (Korea)

title: 886

text: Jeonggang, king of Silla (modern Korea)

title: 887

text: The Unified Silla kingdom (modern Korea) under King Jinseong seeks to collect taxes by force from peasants, setting off massive peasant rebellions (approximate date).

title: 889

text: Dae Hyeonseok, king of Balhae (Korea)

title: 894

text: Gyeongsun, king of Silla (Korea) (d. 978)

title: 897

text: Jinseong, queen of Silla (Korea)

title: 897

text: Dae Wihae, king of Balhae (Korea)

title: 906

text: Hyejong, king of Goryeo (Korea) (d. 945)

title: 912

text: Sindeok, king of Silla (Korea)

title: 917

text: Gung Ye, king of Hu Goguryeo (Korea)

title: 918

text: July 25 – Wang Kon, a Korean general, overthrows the government of the short-lived state Ho Goguryeo and ascends the throne at Cheorwon. He founds the Goryeo dynasty and makes Song'ak his capital.

title: 918

text: Jeongjong, king of Goryeo (Korea) (d. 949)

title: 923

text: Gyeongmyeong, king of Silla (Korea)

title: 924

text: Later Baekje, one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea, sacks the Silla capital at Gyeongju. King Gyeongae commits suicide and Gyeongsun is placed on the throne by the Later Baekje king Kyŏn Hwŏn.

title: 927

text: Gyeongae, king (55th ruler) of Silla (Korea)

title: 927

text: The independent Korean island state of Usan-guk becomes a protectorate of Goryeo.

title: 930

text: King Gyeongsun, the last ruler of Unified Silla, formally surrenders and abdicates in favour of Taejo of Goryeo. This completes Taejo's unification of Korea, bringing the Silla dynasty to an end.

title: 935

text: July 4 – Wang Kon, founder of Goryeo (Korea) (b. 877)

title: 943

text: October 23 – Hyejong, king of Goryeo (Korea) (b. 912)

title: 945

text: November 9 – Gyeongjong of Goryeo, ruler of Korea (d. 981)

title: 955

text: January 15 – Seongjong, ruler of Goryeo (Korea) (d. 997)

title: 961

text: Heonjeong, queen of Goryeo (Korea) (d. 992)

title: 966

text: Gyeongsun, king of Silla (Korea) (b. 896)

title: 978

text: July 5 – Mokjong, king of Goryeo (Korea) (d. 1009)

title: 980

text: Summer – Seongjong ascends the throne of Goryeo (Korea) after the death of his brother-in-law (and cousin), king Gyeongjong.

title: 981

text: August 13 – Gyeongjong, king of Goryeo (Korea) (b. 955)

title: 981

text: August 1 – Hyeonjong, king of Goryeo (Korea) (d. 1031)

title: 992

text: March 2 – Mokjong, king of Goryeo (Korea) (b. 980)

title: 1009

text: June 9 – Deokjong, ruler of Goryeo (Korea) (d. 1034)

title: 1016

text: August 31 – Jeongjong II, ruler of Goryeo (Korea) (d. 1046)

title: 1018

text: December 29 – Munjong, ruler of Goryeo (Korea) (d. 1083)

title: 1019

text: Choe Hang, civil minister of Goryeo (Korea)

title: 1024

text: June 17 – Hyeonjong, king of Goryeo (Korea) (b. 992)

title: 1031

text: October 31 – Deokjong, ruler of Goryeo (Korea) (b. 1016)

title: 1034

text: Munjong is crowned the 11th king of Goryeo (Korea).

title: 1046

text: A vast compilation of Liao, Korean, and Song Buddhist writings is completed (approximate date).

title: 1101

text: Aak music is introduced to the Korean court, through a large gift of 428 musical instruments as well as 572 costumes and ritual dance objects from China, by Emperor Huizong of the Song dynasty.

title: 1116

text: August – Ögedei Khan orders the invasion of Korea. A Mongol army crosses the Yalu River and quickly secures the surrender of the border town of Uiju. The Mongols are joined by Hong Pok-wŏn, a Goryeo general, who takes their side with his subordinates numbering some 1500 families.

title: 1231

text: June – Mongol invasion of Korea: Choe Woo, Korean military dictator of Goryeo, orders against the pleas of King Gojong and his senior officials, the royal court, and most of Songdo's population to be moved to Ganghwa Island. Woo starts the construction of strong defenses on Ganghwa Island, which becomes a fortress. The government orders the common people to flee the countryside and take refuge in major cities, mountain citadels, or nearby islands. The Mongols occupy much of northern Korea, but fail to capture Ganghwa Island.

title: 1232

text: The Goryeo court in Korea orders the preparation of another set of woodblocks for printing the Buddhist Tripiṭaka ("Triple Basket") – which is intended both to gain protection against the Mongol invaders and to replace the earlier 11th century set that was destroyed by the Mongols in 1232.

title: 1236

text: Emperor Lizong of Song China accepts the Neo-Confucian teachings of the late Zhu Xi, including his commentary on the Four Books. This will have an impact upon the philosophical schools of surrounding countries as well, including Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.

title: 1241

text: In Korea, the Sambyeolcho Rebellion against the Goryeo dynasty (a vassal state of the Yuan dynasty) ends as rebel forces are defeated.

title: 1273

text: January 15 – Grand Prince Chinan of the Joseon kingdom in Korea, eldest son of King Taejo and heir to the throne, dies at the age of 39 from complications of alcoholism.

title: 1394

text: October 14 – King Taejo of Joseon abdicates the throne of the Joseon dynasty in modern-day Korea, following the murder of his heir Yi Bangsuk, during a coup by Yi's older half-brother, Yi Bang-won, in The First Strife Of Princes. Taejo's eldest son Jeongjong succeeds to the throne.

title: 1398

text: In modern-day Korea, King Jeongjong of Joseon abdicates in fear of an attack by his ambitious younger brother, Taejong. Taejong succeeds to the throne.

title: 1400

text: The Joseon dynasty in present-day Korea officially enters into a tributary relationship with Ming dynasty China.

title: 1401

text: The Gangnido map of the world is completed in Joseon dynasty Korea.

title: 1402

text: August 14 – Chen Yanxiang and his crew of 121 people, sailing to Korea for trading, come under attack by 15 ships of Japanese pirates (Wokou) off of the coast of Gunsan. After a two day battle, 80 of the crew are dead and the ship is looted, but remains with Chen. The 40 survivors are able to reach the Korean shore.

title: 1406

text: June 4 – The Chinese merchant Chen Yanxiang and his crew of 121 people depart from Java to Korea on the pretext of being Java's ambassador to Korea. His djong ship carries with it with various Southeast Asian products, including parrots, peacocks, agarwood, camphor, and black pepper.

title: 1406

text: Zheng He delivers 300 virgins from Korea to the Chinese Emperor Cheng Zu.

title: 1408

text: October 9 – The hangul alphabet is proclaimed in Korea, by King Sejong the Great. The Hunmin Jeongeum, published during the year, is considered the start of this brand new scientific writing system.

title: 1446

text: August 4 – Prince Sejo, son of the late King Sejong, becomes the new monarch of Korea in Hanseong following the forced abdication of King Danjong.

title: 1455

text: December 25 – The Great Comet of 1472 is first observed from Earth passing in front of the constellation of Virgo. The comet is recorded by astronomers in Korea and by the German astronomers Regiomontanus and Bernhard Walther, and will come within 6.5 million miles of Earth, the closest in recorded history that a great comet approaches. The comet is visible for 59 days, disappearing after March 1.

title: 1471

text: August 8 – Lady Suk-ui, daughter of Yun Gi-Gyeon of the Haman Yun clan is installed as the new Queen Consort of Korea's King Seongjong of Joseon, two years after the death of Queen consort Han Song-yi, who produced no heir to the throne. Suk-ui, also known as Queen Yun, gives birth to an heir, Yeonsangun of Joseon, three months later. Queen Yun is deposed three years later and executed by poisoning.

title: 1476

text: August 13 – The Siege of Namwon begins in Korea.

title: 1597

text: August 28 – Imjin War: Battle of Chilcheollyang – The Japanese fleet defeats the Koreans, in their only naval victory of the war.

title: 1597

text: The Uniform Land-Tax Law is imposed in Korea.

title: 1608

text: March 3 – After the First Manchu invasion of Korea, the Joseon dynasty of Korea becomes a tributary state of the Manchus, but still pays respects to the Ming dynasty of China. After rejecting a Manchu alteration to the original diplomatic terms in 1636, the Manchus invade again in 1637.

title: 1627

text: The Soviet–Japanese War opens: The Soviet Union begins its army offensive against Japan, in the northern part of the Japanese-held puppet region of Manchuria, including the 25th Army (Soviet Union)'s advance into the northern peninsula of Korea.

title: 1945

text: November 9 – Soo Bahk Do and Moo Duk Kwan martial arts are founded in Korea.

title: 1945


slug: korean-peninsula

label: Korean peninsula

year_label: 28 CE

text: King Daru of Baekje succeeds to the throne of Baekje in the Korean peninsula.

title: 20s

section: Events › 28 AD › Korea

year_label: 42 CE

text: Suro becomes the first king of Geumgwan Gaya, on the Korean Peninsula.

title: 40s

section: Timeline › AD 42

year_label: 66 CE

text: Baekje invades Silla in the Korean Peninsula, and captures Castle Ugok.

title: AD 66

year_label: 85 CE

text: Baekje invades the outskirts of Silla in the Korean peninsula. The war continues until the peace treaty of 105.

title: AD 85

text: A peace treaty is signed between Baekje and Silla in the Korean peninsula (the war started in AD 85).

title: AD 105

text: King Gaeru of Baekje succeeds to the throne of Baekje in the Korean peninsula (until 166).

title: AD 128

text: King Chogo of Baekje succeeds to the throne of Baekje, in the Korean peninsula.

title: AD 166

text: King Chogo of Baekje wages war against Silla in the Korean peninsula.

title: AD 167

text: The Kibi Clan Rebellion against the Yamato state (Japan) in the Korean Peninsula begins.

title: 463

text: Silla conquers the city-state of Geumgwan Gaya (Korea) during the Three Kingdoms period.

title: 532

text: The city-state Ara Gaya, a member of the Gaya confederacy, surrenders to Silla in the Korean peninsula.

title: 559

section: Exploration & Expansion

text: Chinese troops sent by the Tang dynasty emperor Gao Zong complete their expedition in the Korean Peninsula. Leaders of the expedition have been selected by the emperor's powerful concubine Wu Zetian. The kingdom of Goguryeo is overthrown; the Unified Silla period starts.

title: 668

text: Kim Hŏn-ch'ang launches a short-lived rebellion in Silla, which gains control over much of the southern and western Korean Peninsula.

title: 822

text: The Kingdom of Hu Goguryeo is established by the rebel leader Gung Ye. He subjugates the local lords in the Korean Peninsula and proclaims himself king.

title: 901

date: August 5

text: August 5 – At Gaegyeong, General Yi Sŏng-gye crowns himself King Taejo of Korea, ending the Goryeo dynasty in the Korean Peninsula, and establishing the Joseon dynasty, which will last for more than 500 years.

title: 1392

section: Events › July–September

date: November 23

text: November 23 – North Korea shells Yeonpyeong Island, prompting a military response by South Korea. The incident causes an escalation of tension on the Korean Peninsula and prompts widespread international condemnation. The United Nations declares it to be one of the most serious incidents since the end of the Korean War.

title: 2010

section: Events › November


slug: kos

label: Kos

description: Greek island

year_label: 460 BCE

text: Hippocrates of Cos, Greek physician (approximate year) (d. 375 BC)

title: 460 BC

year_label: 366 BCE

text: Athens founds the town of Kos on the island of Kos in the Aegean Sea.

title: 366 BC

section: Events › By place › Greece

year_label: 356 BCE

text: The Achaemenid King Artaxerxes III orders all the satraps (governors) of his empire to dismiss their mercenaries. The Athenians, who have originally approved their mercenaries' collaboration with Artabazus of Phrygia, order them to leave due to their fear of Achaemenid support for the rebellion of Chios, Rhodes, and Cos. Thebes follows suit and withdraws its mercenaries.

title: 356 BC

section: Events › By place › Persian Empire

text: The Social War begins between the Second Athenian League, led by Athens, and its revolting allies of Chios, Rhodes, and Kos as well as the independent state Byzantium. Mausolus, the tyrant of Caria, instigates the rebellion against the Athenian control of these states. The revolting allies ravage the islands of Lemnos and Imbros which are loyal to Athens.

title: 356 BC

year_label: 354 BCE

text: Athens recognises the independence of Chios, Kos and Rhodes and makes peace with Mausolus of Caria.

title: 354 BC

year_label: 309 BCE

text: Ptolemy arrives at Kos and sends for Ptolemaeus (the nephew of Antigonus – who has revolted against Antigonus) to join him to discuss strategy. After finding out Ptolemaeus plans to take over his army and fleet, Ptolemy forces him to commit suicide.

title: 309 BC

section: Climate & Environment

text: The 141 Lycia earthquake affects most of the Roman provinces of Lycia and Caria and the islands of Rhodes, Kos, Simi and Serifos. It triggers a severe tsunami, which causes major inundation.

title: AD 141

date: August 15

text: August 15 – The 554 Anatolia earthquake takes place in the southwest coasts of Anatolia (Asia Minor). It affects the Güllük Gulf (Mandalya Gulf), and the island of Kos.

title: 554

section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire

text: Muawiyah, governor of Syria, stations a large garrison on Cyprus. He conquers the Greek island of Kos in the Dodecanese.

title: 654

section: Events › By place › Arabian Caliphate

text: Arab-Byzantine War: The Arab fleet dominates the Aegean Sea and conquers the strategic islands, Rhodes, Cos and Chios. The shore on the southern part of Sea of Marmara is taken, providing an excellent base at Cyzicus to begin the blockade of Constantinople by sea.

title: 670


slug: krakow

label: Kraków

description: capital city of Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland

section: Conflict & Security

text: Boleslaus I (the Cruel), duke of Bohemia, expands his territory into the Polish territories of Upper Silesia and Lesser Poland. By occupying the city of Kraków, he controls important trade routes from Prague to Kiev and Lviv. Prince Mieszko I of Poland makes an alliance with Boleslaus and marries his daughter Dobrawa.

title: 965

section: Events › By place › Europe

section: Religion & Belief

text: The archdiocese in Gniezno was founded; the first archbishop was Radim Gaudentius, from Slavník dynasty, and dioceses in Kołobrzeg, Kraków and Wrocław.

title: AD 1000

section: Events › Christendom

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: Duke Casimir I the Restorer returns to Poland, and makes great efforts to rebuild the war-ruined country. He establishes his residence at Kraków (which becomes Poland's capital until 1596).

title: 1039

section: Deaths

date: October 20

text: October 20 – Bolesław III Wrymouth dies after a 31-year reign. He divides Poland among his sons: Władysław II the Exile receives Silesia and the Senioral territories – which include the Kraków and Łęczyca regions, as well as parts of Kujawy and Greater Poland (Wielkopolska). Bolesław IV the Curly receives Masovia and Mieszko III the Old receives the newly established Duchy of Greater Poland. The 7-year-old Henry becomes duke of Sandomierz. Bolesław's last son, Casimir II the Just], receives nothing, as he is born 8 days after his father's death.

title: 1138

text: Spring – Casimir II the Just, High Duke of Poland, organizes an expedition against the Baltic Yotvingians. The expedition ends with full success, and Casimir has a triumphant return in Kraków. On May 5, after a banquet, which is held to celebrate his return, Casimir dies unexpectedly (possibly poisoned). He is succeeded by his eldest surviving son Leszek the White, who has to face strong opposition from his uncle Mieszko III the Old.

title: 1194

date: March 18

text: March 18 – Battle of Chmielnik (Mongol invasion of Poland): The Mongols overwhelm the feudal Polish armies of Sandomierz and Kraków provinces, and plunder the abandoned city of Kraków.

title: 1241

section: Events

date: June 5

text: June 5 – The city of Kraków is granted Magdeburg rights by High Duke Bolesław V the Chaste, having been rebuilt after being nearly destroyed during the First Mongol invasion of Poland (but Second invasion comes in 1259).

title: 1257

section: Events › By topic › City and Towns

text: Winter – Mongol invasion of Poland: Mongol forces (some 30,000 men) under Talabuga Khan and Nogai Khan, attack Poland for the third time. The cities of Lublin, Sandomierz and Sieradz are devastated by the invaders. Nogai Khan besieges Kraków and launches an unsuccessful assault on the fortified city, suffering heavy casualties in the process.

title: 1287

date: January 20

text: January 20 – Duke Władysław I Łokietek ("Ladislaus the Short") becomes king of a reunited Poland, after receiving the approval from Pope John XXII. He is crowned, along with his wife Jadwiga of Kalisz, at the royal cathedral on Wawel Hill at Kraków. Wladysław's kingdom is surrounded by three hostile neighbors: Brandenburg, the Teutonic Order and Bohemia. Looking for allies, he makes an alliance with Charles I, ruler of Hungary.

title: 1320

section: Events › January – March

section: Culture & Society

text: May 12 – The Jagiellonian University is founded in Kraków.

title: 1364

section: Events › January–December

text: October 16 – At the age of 10, Jadwiga is crowned "King" of Poland in Kraków following the 1382 death of her father, King Louis of Hungary.

title: 1384

section: Events › October–December

date: August 23

text: August 23 – In celebration of the marriage of Wilhelm the Courteous, Duke of Austria, to Jadwiga, Queen of Poland, the leaders of the city of Kraków grant amnesty to the prisoners in the city jail.

title: 1385

date: February 15

text: February 15 – Grand Duke Jogaila of Lithuania is baptized by the Roman Catholic Bishop Bodzanta of Gniezno at Wawel Cathedral, Kraków after converting to Christianity, and takes the name Wladyslaw II.

title: 1386

section: Events › January–March

date: July 26

text: July 26 – Jagiellonian University is re-established in Kraków by order of King Władysław II, with the creation of the Faculty of Theology at what is then called the Kraków Academy. The restoration is partially financed by the sale of jewelry owned by the King's late wife, Queen Jadwiga, who had died in 1399.

title: 1400

date: January 9

text: January 9 – At Kraków, King Wladyslaw II of Poland issues the rule of 'Neminem captivabimus nisi iure victum' barring the arrest of any member of Poland's nobility unless that person has first been found guilty of an offense.

title: 1433

date: July 25

text: July 25 – The coronation of Wladyslaw III as King of Poland takes place at the Wawel Cathedral in Kraków.

title: 1434

text: June 5 – The strongest earthquake on record in Poland kills at least 30 people and damages buildings in Kraków and Wrocław, and in Timișoara and Oradea in Romania.

title: 1443

section: Events › April–June

text: Almanach cracoviense ad annum 1474, an astronomical wall calendar, is published in Kraków, the oldest known printing in Poland.

title: 1473

section: Events › Date unknown

date: January 24

text: January 24 – Sigismund I the Old is formally crowned King of Poland, at a ceremony in Kraków.

title: 1507

date: December 6

text: December 6 – Bona Sforza of Italy, daughter of the late Duke of Milan, Gian Galeazzo Sforza, marries King Sigismund of Poland by proxy at Naples, then begins a three month journey to Kraków to assume the throne.

title: 1517

date: May 5

text: May 5 – An assassination attempt is made against King Sigismund of Poland, who is shot at while walking outside his residence at Wawel Castle overlooking Kraków.

title: 1523

text: The first book in Yiddish is printed (in Kraków), Mirkevet ha-Mishneh, a Tanakh concordance by Rabbi Asher Anchel, translating difficult phrases in biblical Hebrew.

title: 1534

date: December 7

text: December 7 – Lithuanian noble Barbara Radziwiłł, wife of Sigismund II Augustus, King of Poland and Duke of Lithuania since 1547, has an elaborate coronation in Kraków as Queen consort and Grand Duchess, five months before her death at the age of 30.

title: 1550

date: October 17

text: October 17 – Postal history of Poland: King Sigismund II Augustus appoints an Italian merchant living in Kraków to organise a consolidated postal service in Poland, the origin of Poczta Polska.

title: 1558

date: December 3

text: December 3 – The French Duke of Anjou, recently elected as King Henry of Poland, departs from Metz with an entourage of 1,200 people, arriving at Kraków on February 18.

title: 1573

text: May 12 – King Henry III of France, who had been selected in 1573 by the nobles of Poland and Lithuania to be King of Poland as Henryk Walezy, is stripped of his Polish and Lithuanian titles after failing to return to Kraków by the deadline imposed by the Polish nobility.

title: 1575

date: December 27

text: December 27 – Sigismund III Vasa is formally crowned as King Zygmunt Waza of Poland and Duke of Lithuania in a coronation ceremony at Kraków.

title: 1587

text: King Sigismund III Vasa moves the capital of Poland from Kraków to Warsaw.

title: 1596

date: February 6

text: February 6 – the formal coronation of Władysław IV Vasa as King of Poland takes place at the cathedral in Kraków. He had been elected as king on November 8.

title: 1633

text: Sigismund's Column is erected in Warsaw to commemorate King Sigismund III Vasa, who moved the capital of Poland from Kraków to Warsaw in 1596.

title: 1644

date: October 19

text: October 19 – Swedish King Karl X Gustav occupies Kraków (Poland).

title: 1655

section: Events › October –December

date: September 29

text: September 29 – The formal coronation of Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki as King of Poland (and Grand Duke of Lithuania) takes place in Kraków.

title: 1669

date: March 12

text: March 12 – General Antoni Madaliński, a commander of the National Cavalry in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, disobeys an order from the ruling Russian Empire and Kingdom of Prussia imposing demobilization, advancing his troops from Ostrołęka to Kraków.

title: 1794

date: November 6

text: November 6 – WWII: Sonderaktion Krakau – Germans take action against scientists from the University of Kraków, and other Kraków universities.

title: 1939


slug: kremlin

label: Kremlin

description: fortified complex in Moscow, Russia

section: Crime & Justice

date: February 12

text: February 12 – Vasily II, the Grand Prince of Moscow and ruler of much of Russia, is kidnapped from Trinity Monastery the Kremlin by allies of his cousin, Dmitry Shemyaka. Four days later (February 16), the conspirators tear out the eyes of Grand Prince Vasily and send him into exile at Uglich with his wife.

title: 1446

date: February 23

text: February 23– At the Kremlin in Moscow, Tsar Ivan IV and the Metropolitan Macarius, present the proposed code of laws, drafted by the Stoglavy Synod, to the clergy, nobility and principal Russian citizens for their approval.

title: 1551

date: May 17

text: May 17 – Time of Troubles in Russia: The imposter Tsar Dmitry I is assassinated in the Kremlin by supporters of Vasili Shuisky.

title: 1606

date: October 9

text: October 9 – Poland, under the command of Hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski, takes control of the Kremlin during the Polish–Russian War.

title: 1610

date: September 21

text: September 21 (September 11 O.S.) – Forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth capture Moscow and begin occupation of the Kremlin for the next two years.

title: 1610

section: Events › July–September

date: October 27

text: October 27 – Forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which had been occupying Moscow for more than two years, surrender unconditionally to Russian militia forces and are allowed to leave after the Kremlin is liberated by Prince Dmitry Pozharsky and Prince Kuzma Minin.

title: 1612

date: September 1

text: September 1 – Battle of Moscow (1612): Led by General Jan Karol Chodkiewicz, a relief force from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, whose troops had been occupying Moscow for two years, make an unsuccessful attempt to break the Russian siege of the Kremlin, where General Mikolaj Strus and his troops are trapped. Both the Russians (led by Dmitry Pozharsky) and the Commonwealth troops suffer at least 1,000 deaths, but the Russians prevail. General Chodkiewicz tries a second attack the next day and fails.

title: 1612

date: May 11

text: May 11 – The Moscow uprising of 1682 occurs when a mob, outraged by the rejection of Prince Ivan and upset over rumors that Ivan has been strangled, invades the Kremlin and lynches the leading boyars and military commanders. Ivan V and Peter I are named co-rulers of Russia as a result of a compromise between Peter's mother Natalya Naryshkina and Ivan's mother Maria Miloslavskaya and both are crowned a month later.

title: 1682

date: November 25

text: November 25 – The largest bell in the world, the 22 foot diameter Tsar Kolokol, is successfully cast in Moscow within the Kremlin.

title: 1735

date: October

text: Third Moscow Conference: A meeting takes place at the Kremlin between the British, American, and Soviet foreign ministers Anthony Eden, Cordell Hull and Vyacheslav Molotov. The USSR agrees to the full creation of a world peace organization with its Allies.

title: 1943

section: Events › October

date: March 4

text: March 4 – Former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, are poisoned by the Novichok nerve agent in Salisbury, England. UK counter-terrorism police investigate amid speculation the Kremlin was behind the incident.

title: 2018

section: Events › March


slug: krum

label: Krum

description: Bulgarian ruler

text: Krum becomes ruler (khan) of the Bulgarian Empire (until 814). During his reign Bulgarian territory doubles in size, from the Danube to the Dniester.

title: 802

section: Events › By place › Europe

section: Conflict & Security

date: May

text: May – Krum, ruler (khan) of the Bulgarian Empire, begins his territorial expansion and raids the Byzantine northern frontier. He leads his warriors — mostly Bulgars, Slavs, Thracians and Macedonians — across the Carpathian Mountains, over the Danube River, and throughout Transylvania, Thrace, and Macedonia.

title: 803

text: Krum, ruler (khan) of the Bulgarian Empire, conquers and destroys the Eastern part of the Avar Khaganate (approximate date).

title: 805

text: Spring – Siege of Serdica: Krum, ruler (khan) of the Bulgarian Empire, captures the fortress of Serdica (modern Sofia), after a long siege. According to Byzantine sources, he massacres the garrison (supposedly 6,000 men), sacks the city, and razes the city walls, before returning with much loot to Bulgaria. In the following years (and centuries), Serdica will serve as a base for the expansion of the Bulgars to the south of the Balkans.

title: 809

section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire

text: Byzantine–Bulgarian War: Emperor Nikephoros I organises a new campaign against the Bulgarian Empire, gathering an expeditionary force (most of the Roman army) from all parts of the empire. He is accompanied by high-ranking officials and aristocrats, including his son Stauracius and brother-in-law Michael I Rangabe (both later emperors temporarily). Krum, ruler (khan) of Bulgaria, sends envoys to sue for peace. Nikephoros refuses to accept the terms and marches through the Balkan passes towards Pliska, the Bulgarian capital.

title: 811

text: Byzantine–Bulgarian War: The Bulgars, led by Krum, ruler (khan) of the Bulgarian Empire, launch an invasion against the Byzantines. They capture the fortress cities of Develt and Mesembria, near the Black Sea.

title: 812

date: June 22

text: June 22 – Battle of Versinikia: The Bulgars, led by Krum, ruler (khan) of the Bulgarian Empire, defeat Emperor Michael I near Edirne (modern Turkey). The Byzantine army (26,000 men) is destroyed by a counter-attack of Bulgarian heavy cavalry, while trapped in the valley. Krum captures the Byzantine camp and a rich prize, including gold and weaponry.

title: 813

date: April 13

text: April 13 – Krum, ruler (khan) of the Bulgarian Empire

title: 814

text: April 13 – Byzantine–Bulgarian Wars: Over the winter Krum, ruler (khan) of the Bulgarian Empire, had assembled a huge army (including Slavs and Avars), for a campaign against the Byzantine Empire. But before he sets out for a major attack on Constantinople, he dies of a stroke. Krum is succeeded by his son Omurtag.

title: 814


slug: ku-klux-klan

label: Ku Klux Klan

description: American white supremacist hate group

section: Births

date: July 13

text: July 13 – Nathan Bedford Forrest, American Confederate Civil War General, first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan (d. 1877)

title: 1821

section: Births › July–September

date: December 24

text: December 24 – Jonathan Shank and Barry Ownby form the Ku Klux Klan in the American South, to resist Reconstruction and intimidate carpetbaggers and scalawags, as well as to repress the freedpeople.

title: 1865

section: Events › December

text: April 13 – Colfax massacre: More than 60 to 150 black men are murdered in Colfax, Louisiana, while surrendering to a mob of former Confederate soldiers and members of the Ku Klux Klan.

title: 1873

section: Events › April

section: Deaths

date: October 29

text: October 29 – Nathan Bedford Forrest, American Confederate Civil War General, first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan (b. 1821)

title: 1877

section: Deaths › July–December

date: November 24

text: November 24 – William J. Simmons revives the American Civil War era Ku Klux Klan at Stone Mountain, Georgia.

title: 1915

section: Events › November

date: May 27

text: May 27 – The Ku Klux Klan in the United States defies a law requiring publication of its membership.

title: 1923

section: Events › May–June

date: August 8

text: August 8 – The Ku Klux Klan, the largest fraternal racist organization in the United States, demonstrates its popularity by holding a parade with an estimated 30,000-35,000 marchers in Washington, D.C.

title: 1925

section: Events › August

date: May 14

text: May 14 – Civil rights movement: A Freedom Riders bus is fire-bombed near Anniston, Alabama, and the civil rights protestors are beaten by an angry mob of Ku Klux Klan members.

title: 1961

section: Events › May

date: May 2

text: May 2 – Henry Hezekiah Dee and Charles Eddie Moore, hitchhiking in Meadville, Mississippi, are kidnapped, beaten and murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan. Their badly decomposed bodies are found by chance in July during the search for missing activists Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner.

title: 1964

date: November 3

text: November 3 – Greensboro massacre: In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis, during a "Death to the Klan" rally.

title: 1979


slug: kublai-khan

label: Kublai Khan

description: founding emperor of the Yuan dynasty, grandson of Genghis Khan (1215–1294)

text: Sorghaghtani Beki, mother of Kublai Khan (d. 1252)

title: 1190

text: Chabi, Mongol empress and wife of Kublai Khan (d. 1281)

title: 1225

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: Mongol forces under Kublai Khan conquer the Dali Kingdom (modern-day Yunnan). The population migrates to Siam (modern Thailand).

title: 1253

section: Events › By place › Asia

text: The Toluid Civil War begins between Kublai Khan and Ariq Böke, for the title of Great Khan.

title: 1260

date: May 5

text: May 5 – Kublai Khan becomes a claimant to the Mongol Empire, after the death of Möngke Khan.

title: 1260

text: Kublai Khan releases 75 Chinese merchants who were captured along the border of the Mongol Empire. By doing this, Kublai hopes to bolster his popularity and depend on the cooperation of his Chinese subjects to ensure that his army receives more resources.

title: 1261

section: Events › By place › Mongol Empire

text: The Toluid Civil War ends: Kublai Khan defeats his brother and pretender to the title of "Great Khan", Ariq Böke, who surrenders to Kublai on August 24. He is imprisoned and with the Chinese support behind him, Kublai is acknowledged by the rulers of the western khanates and as sole ruler of the Mongol Empire. He moves his capital from Shangdu in Inner Mongolia, to the Chinese city of Dadu (modern-day Beijing).

title: 1264

text: In the first major battle in five years (since the Song dynasty Chinese pushed the forces of Kublai Khan back across the Yangzi River, after Möngke Khan's failed invasion in 1259), Kublai Khan engages the Chinese in Sichuan province. Kublai gains a preliminary victory, and war booty of 146 captured Song dynasty naval ships.

title: 1265

section: Events › By place › North Africa and Asia

section: Exploration & Expansion

text: Kublai Khan sends a delegation to Japan, which loots islands along the way.

title: 1265

text: Niccolo and Maffeo Polo, father and uncle of Marco Polo, reach the Mongol capital Khanbaliq (modern-day Beijing), setting the stage for Marco's famous expedition 5 years later. Kublai Khan sends the Polos back with a message, requesting that Pope Clement IV dispatch western scholars to teach in the Mongol Empire; however, this request is largely ignored.

title: 1266

section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: The "Grand Capital" is constructed in Khanbaliq (modern-day Beijing) by Kublai Khan, having moved the capital of the Mongol Empire there three years prior.

title: 1267

section: Events › By place › Asia and North Africa

text: Kublai Khan sends an emissary to the Kamakura shogunate of Japan, demanding an acknowledgment of suzerainty and payment of tribute; the Japanese refuse, starting a diplomatic back-and-forth, lasting until the Mongols attempt to invade in 1274.

title: 1268

text: The Battle of Xiangyang, a 6-year battle between the Chinese Song dynasty and the Mongol forces of Kublai Khan, begins in what is today Hubei.

title: 1268

section: Religion & Belief

text: The Tibetan monk Drogön Chögyal Phagpa of the Sakya School completes the 'Phags-pa script, which was sponsored by Kublai Khan as a new writing system in his empire.

title: 1268

text: The 17-year-old Marco Polo departs from Venice with his father and uncle Niccolò and Maffeo Polo, to set off for Asia to meet the Mongolian emperor Kublai Khan (the grandson of Genghis Khan) at his court in Beijing, China. They sail across the Mediterranean Sea and travel overland, crossing Armenia, Persia and the Pamir Mountains.

title: 1271

date: March 14

text: March 14 – Battle of Xiangyang: Chinese forces surrender to Kublai Khan's general Aju (or Achu) after a 6-year siege. The battle is the first in which firearms are used in combat.

title: 1273

text: The 21-year-old Marco Polo together with his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo Polo, arrives at Kublai Khan's opulent summer palace at Shangdu (or 'Xanadu'), after a 4-year journey. They present the "Great Khan" sacred oil from Jerusalem and letters from Pope Gregory X. Kublai takes Marco into his royal court and appoints him as a 'special envoy' (possibly as a tax collector).

title: 1275

text: Spring – The court of the Southern Song dynasty of China and hundreds of thousands of its citizens flee from Hangzhou to Fujian, and then Guangdong, in an effort to escape a Mongol invasion under Kublai Khan.

title: 1276

text: Battle of Ngasaunggyan: A Burmese army (some 80,000 men) led by King Narathihapate (or Sithu IV) invades Mongol territory in Yunnan. The invasion is repelled by the Mongol forces, who counterattack, reaching as far south as the fortress city of Kaungsin ("Gold Teeth"), which guards the Bhamo Pass in northern Myanmar. Later, the Burmese Pagan Empire begins to disintegrate after several Mongol invasions under Kublai Khan.

title: 1277

date: May 8

text: May 8 – The 7-year-old Emperor Emperor Duanzong (or Zhao Shi) dies of illness. He is succeeded by his brother Zhao Bing who becomes the last ruler of the Song dynasty. Meanwhile, Mongol forces under the control of Mongol leader Kublai Khan ("Great Khan") draw closer to the remnants of the Song imperial court.

title: 1278

date: August 15

text: August 15 – Battle of Kōan (or Second Battle of Hakata Bay): A second Mongol invasion of Japan is foiled, as a large typhoon, famously called a kamikaze, or 'divine wind', destroys much of the combined Mongol and Chinese fleet and forces, numbering over 140,000 men and 4,000 ships. Later, Kublai Khan begins to gather forces to prepare for a third invasion attempt, but is distracted by events in Southeast and Central Asia.

title: 1281

date: March 20

text: March 20 – Chabi, Mongol empress consort of Kublai Khan (b. 1225)

title: 1281

text: Kublai Khan makes plans for a final Mongol invasion of Japan, but aborts the preparations due to a lack of necessary resources.

title: 1286

text: May 14 – Nayan, Mongol prince of the Borjigin clan, revolts against the rule of Kublai Khan. Kublai leads a punitive expedition against Nayan in Manchuria and defeats his forces on July 16.

title: 1287

date: April 9

text: April 9 – Battle of Bạch Đằng: Đại Việt (Vietnamese) general Trần Hưng Đạo sinks the fleet of an invading Mongol-led Yuan expeditionary army (some 94,000 men). He orders the placing of steel-tipped bamboo stakes (to create an ambush) in the Bach Dang River near Ha Long Bay. This ends the intentions of Kublai Khan to conquer Vietnam and Champa.

title: 1288

section: Science & Discovery

text: Guo Shoujing, Chinese engineer and astronomer, constructs the artificial Kunming Lake, which is developed into a reservoir with summer gardens for Khanbaliq (or Dadu of Yuan), Mongol capital of Emperor Kublai Khan.

title: 1291

text: Kublai Khan sends a Mongol expeditionary force (some 20,000 men) to Java. He collects an invasion fleet with some 500–1,000 ships and enough provisions for a year from Fujian, Jiangxi and Huguang in southern China. The fleet travels past Champa (modern Vietnam) and the Karimata Islands. The Mongols land on Java, taking the capital of Kediri, but it proves impossible to hold.

title: 1292

text: Kublai Khan sends a fleet to the islands of Southeast Asia, including Java.

title: 1293

section: Events › By area › Asia

date: February 18

text: February 18 – Kublai Khan of the Mongol Empire (b. 1215)

title: 1294

text: February 18 – Kublai Khan dies; by this time the separation of the four khanates of the Mongol Empire (the Chagatai Khanate in Central Asia, the Golden Horde in Russia, the Ilkhanate in Persia, and the Yuan Dynasty in China) has deepened.

title: 1294

section: Events › Asia


slug: kufa

label: Kufa

description: city in Iraq

section: Conflict & Security

text: Battle of Dhi Qar: Arab tribesmen of Bakr ibn Wa'il defeat a Persian force (5,000 men), at a watering place near Kufa (Southern Iraq).

title: 609

section: Events › By place › Persia

text: Battle of the Bridge: Persian forces (10,000 men) under Bahman Jadhuyih defeat the Muslim Arabs at the Euphrates (near Kufa). The sight of elephants panics the Muslims, and many are killed. Bahman does not pursue the fleeing Arab army.

title: 634

date: June 17

text: June 17 – Uthman ibn Affan is murdered at Medina after an 11-year reign. He is succeeded by Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi-Talib, who becomes the fourth caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate. He makes Kufah (Iraq) his capital, but the succession is disputed.

title: 656

section: Events › By place › Arabian Empire

date: January 26

text: January 26 – Assassination of Ali: Ali ibn Abi Talib, first Shia imam and fourth caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate, is struck on the head with a poisoned sword by the Khawarij Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam, while at prayer at a shrine at Kufa (modern-day), dying two days later. His son, Hasan ibn Ali, is chosen by Muslims to succeed him as the next leader. According to the Umayyads, he is succeeded by Muawiyah I as Caliph, age 59, who moves his seat of government to Damascus, and founds the Umayyad Caliphate, ending the Rashidun Caliphate.

title: 661

section: Events › By place › Arabian Empire (Islamic Caliphate)

text: Yazid I, son of Muawiyah I, becomes the sixth caliph (second Umayyad caliph) but Kufans in Mesopotamia rebel and invite Hussein ibn Ali (grandson of Muhammad) to take the throne.

title: 680

text: Battle of 'Ayn al-Warda: An Umayyad army (20,000 men) under Husayn ibn Numayr defeats the pro-Alid Kufans at Ras al-'Ayn (Syria).

title: 685

text: Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad, former governor of Mesopotamia, tries to regain control of his province, as the various Muslim tribes in the region Kufa (Iraq) are engaged in an Islamic civil war.

title: 686

text: Battle of Dayr al-Jamajim: Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan sends Syrian troops to reinforce the Muslim army of Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf. He faces a 200,000-man army under Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad ibn al-Ash'ath near Kufa (modern Iraq). Al-Ash'ath is defeated, and his rebellion against the Umayyad Caliphate fails.

title: 701

text: Abbasid Revolution: Muslim forces under Qahtaba ibn Shabib al-Ta'i defeat a large Umayyad army (50,000 men) at Isfahan, and invade Iraq, taking the city of Kufa.

title: 749

date: August 6

text: August 6 – Marwan II is caught and killed at Faiyum by supporters of the Abbasid caliph As-Saffah. Almost the entire Umayyad Dynasty is assassinated; Prince Abd al-Rahman I escapes to Al-Andalus. The Abbasids assume control of the Islamic world and establish their first capital at Kufa.

title: 750

section: Events › Arab Caliphate

date: July 30

text: July 30 – Caliph al-Mansur moves the seat of the Abbasid Caliphate from Kufa to the new capital of Baghdad.

title: 762

section: Events › By place › Abbasid Caliphate

date: December 7

text: 7 December – The Sajid emir of Adharbayjan, Yusuf ibn Abi'l-Saj is defeated and captured by the Qarmatians near Kufa.

title: 927


slug: kuomintang

label: Kuomintang

description: Republic of China political party

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

date: January 20

text: January 20–30 – Kuomintang in China holds its first National Congress, initiating a policy of alliance with the Soviet Union and the Chinese Communist Party.

title: 1924

section: Events › January

date: July 1

text: July 1 – The Kuomintang begins the Northern Expedition, a military unification campaign in northern China.

title: 1926

section: Events › July

date: April 12

text: April 12 – April 12 Incident (Shanghai Massacre): Kuomintang troops kill a number of communist-supporting workers in Shanghai. The 1st United Front between the Nationalists and Communist ends, and the Civil War lasting until 1949 begins.

title: 1927

section: Events › April

date: March 24

text: March 24 – Nanking Incident: After six foreigners have been killed in Nanking, and it appears that Kuomintang and Chinese Communist Party forces will overrun the foreign consulates, warships of the U.S. Navy and the British Royal Navy fire shells and shoot to disperse the crowds.

title: 1927

section: Events › March

date: May 3

text: May 3 – Jinan incident: An armed conflict between the Imperial Japanese Army (allied with Northern Chinese warlords) and the Kuomintang's southern army occurs in Jinan, China.

title: 1928

section: Events › May

section: Health & Medicine

date: April 1

text: April 1 – The Second Encirclement Campaign against Jiangxi Soviet in China is launched by the Kuomintang government, to destroy the Communist forces in Jiangxi Province.

title: 1931

date: January 9

text: January 9 – Sakuradamon Incident: Korean nationalist Lee Bong-chang fails in his effort to assassinate Emperor Hirohito of Japan. The Kuomintang's official newspaper runs an editorial expressing regret that the attempt failed, which is used by the Japanese as a pretext to attack Shanghai later in the month.

title: 1932

date: June 9

text: June 9 – He–Umezu Agreement: China's Kuomintang government concedes Japanese military control of north-eastern China.

title: 1935

section: Events › June

date: March 30

text: March 30 – WWII: Former Kuomintang member and Chinese foreign minister, Wang Jingwei, announces the creation of the Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China in Nanjing.

title: 1940

date: August 19

text: August 19 – Chinese Civil War: Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek meet in Chongqing to discuss an end to hostilities between the Communists and the Nationalists.12

title: 1945

section: Events › August

text: The Chinese Civil War intensifies between the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Party.

title: 1946

section: Events › Date unknown

date: May 20

text: May 20 – The Kuomintang regime declares martial law in Taiwan, which lasts until 1987.

title: 1949

date: April 11

text: April 11 – The Taiwanese Kuomintang put a bomb on the airplane Kashmir Princess, killing 16 but failing to assassinate the People's Republic of China leader, Zhou Enlai.

title: 1955

date: August 23

text: August 23 – The Second Taiwan Strait Crisis begins with the People's Republic of China's People's Liberation Army shelling the island of Kinmen (Quemoy) which is controlled by the Republic of China (Taiwan)'s Kuomintang forces.

title: 1958

date: September 28

text: September 28 – The Democratic Progressive Party is founded. It was part of the Tangwai movement in the new generation to challenge Kuomintang in Taiwan's one-party politics, and is currently one of only two parties to win presidential elections in Taiwan.

title: 1986

section: Events › September

section: Deaths

date: January 13

text: January 13 – Vice-president Lee Teng-hui takes over as President of the Republic of China and Chairman of the Kuomintang following the death of Chiang Ching-kuo.

title: 1988


slug: kurds

label: Kurds

description: ethnic group in western Asia

section: Conflict & Security

text: Autumn – Imad al-Din Zengi, Seljuk governor (atabeg) of Mosul, continues his campaign against the Kurds in southeastern Anatolia (since 1141). Byzantine forces under John II fail to take Antioch.

title: 1142

section: Events › By place › Levant

text: Winter – The Nubians are engaged in a series of skirmishes along the frontier in Upper Egypt. A force of Kurdish troops under Turan-Shah, a brother of Saladin, attack the Nubians. He installs a garrison in Qasr Ibrim.

title: 1172

section: Events › By place › Egypt

section: Exploration & Expansion

text: Kurdish leader Bedir Khan Beg launched an expedition against the Assyrians in the Hakkari region.Thousands of Assyrians were massacred during the campaign.

title: 1843

date: August 12

text: August 12 – Turkish troops move into Persia to fight Kurdish insurgents.

title: 1930

date: January 22

text: January 22 – Iran crisis of 1946: Qazi Muhammad declares the independent people's Republic of Mahabad, at the Chahar Cheragh Square in the Kurdish city of Mahabad. He is the new president; Haji Baba Sheikh is the prime minister.

title: 1946

section: Crime & Justice

date: March 31

text: March 31 – The leaders of the Kurdish People's Republic of Mahabad, the second Kurdish state in the history of Iran, are hanged at Chuwarchira Square in Mahabad, after the state has been overrun by the Iranian army.

title: 1947

date: February 23

text: February 23 – Start of Anfal campaign, a genocidal counterinsurgency operation within the Iran–Iraq War carried out by Ba'athist Iraqi forces led by Ali Hassan al-Majid on the orders of President Saddam Hussein that will kill between 50,000 and 182,000 Kurds in Iraqi Kurdistan.

title: 1988

section: Events › February

date: February 16

text: February 16 – Across Europe, Kurdish protestors take over embassies and hold hostages after Turkey arrests one of their rebel leaders, Abdullah Öcalan.

title: 1999

text: February 23 – Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Öcalan is charged with treason in Ankara, Turkey.

title: 1999


slug: kushan-empire

label: Kushan Empire

description: empire in Central and South Asia (30–375 AD)

year_label: 12 BCE

text: King Azes II dies. The rule of the Indo-Scythians crumbles as the Kushans, one of the five tribes of the Yuezhi who live in Bactria expand into India to create a Kushan Empire.

title: 12 BC

section: Events › By place › India

year_label: 30 CE

section: Culture & Society

text: The Kushan Empire is founded (approximate date).

title: 30s

section: Events › 30 AD › South Asia

year_label: 50 CE

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: The Yuezhi tribes are united under the Kushan leader Kujula Kadphises, thus creating the Kushan Empire in Afghanistan and northern India (approximate date).

title: 50s

section: Events › 50 AD › South Asia

year_label: 53 CE

section: Births

text: Kanishka I, Indian ruler of the Kushan Empire (d. 150)

title: 50s

section: Births › 53 AD

year_label: 64 CE

text: The Kushan sack the ancient town of Taxila (in modern-day Pakistan).

title: AD 64

section: Events › By place › Asia

year_label: 78 CE

text: Emperor Kadphises of the Kushan Empire sends a delegation to Rome, to seek support against the Parthians.

title: AD 78

year_label: 99 CE

section: Science & Discovery

text: Emissaries of the Kushan Empire reach the Roman Empire.

title: AD 99

section: Events › By place › Roman Empire

text: Kanishka I, ruler of the Kushan Empire (approximate date)

title: AD 103

text: Pacorus II of Parthia dies after a 27-year reign, in which he has reclaimed all of his empire. His successor Vologases III reigns until 147 AD, suppressing brief rebellions, as he battles against the Kushan and Alani.

title: AD 105

text: Kanishka I starts to rule in the Kushan Empire (approximate date).

title: AD 127

text: Huviska becomes king of the Kushan Empire in India.

title: AD 130

text: Reign of Huvishka, emperor of the Kushan Empire.

title: AD 144

text: Kanishka, Indian ruler of the Kushan Empire

title: AD 151

text: In India, the decline of the Kushan Empire begins. The Sassanides take over Central Asia.

title: AD 178

date: April 28

text: April 28 – Battle of Hormozdgan: King Ardashir I defeats Artabanus V, destroying the Parthian Empire, and establishing the Sassanid Dynasty. Artabanus V's brother Vologases VI will continue to rule, with Armenian and Kushan support, over outlying parts of Parthia.

title: 224

section: Events › Roman Empire › Parthia

text: King Ardashir I annexes his new empire from the east to the northwest. He conquers, with his army, the provinces of Chorasmia, Sistan and the island Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. The kings of the Kushan Empire and Turan recognize Ardashir as their overlord.

title: 227

section: Events › By place › Persian Empire

text: Shapur I annexes parts of the Kushan Empire. The ancient city of Bagram (modern Afghanistan) is abandoned.

title: 241

section: Events › By place › Persia

text: Kipunada, Indian ruler of the Kushan Empire

title: 375

text: The Hepthalites (White Huns) conquer the remnants of the Kushan Empire and enter India.

title: 460


slug: kuwait

label: Kuwait

description: sovereign state in Western Asia

section: Conflict & Security

date: April

text: April – Battle of Chains (Kuwait) and Battle of River (Iraq): A Muslim army (18,000 men) under Khalid ibn al-Walid invades Mesopotamia, and wins decisive victories.

title: 633

section: Events › By place › Arabia

date: January 23

text: January 23 – Mubarak Al-Sabah, the emir of Kuwait, signs the Anglo-Kuwaiti Agreement of 1899, a secret treaty with the British Empire to accept protectorate status for the Middle Eastern sheikdom in return for British protection of Kuwaiti territory.

title: 1899

section: Events › January

section: Technology & Infrastructure

date: September 14

text: September 14 – The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is founded by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

title: 1960

section: Events › September

date: June 25

text: June 25 – Iraqi president Abd al-Karim Qasim announces his intention to annex newly independent Kuwait (such an annexation will occur in 1990).

title: 1961

section: Events › June

date: May 25

text: May 25 – In Riyadh, the Gulf Cooperation Council is created among Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

title: 1981

section: Events › May

section: Disasters & Accidents

date: April 5

text: April 5 – Kuwait Airways Flight 422 is hijacked while en route from Bangkok, Thailand, to Kuwait. The hijackers demand the release of 17 Shiite Muslim prisoners held by Kuwait. Kuwait refuses to release the prisoners, leading to a 16-day siege across 3 continents. Two passengers are killed before the siege ends.

title: 1988

section: Events › April

date: August 6

text: August 6 – Gulf War: With United Nations Security Council Resolution 661 the United Nations Security Council orders a global trade embargo against Iraq in response to its invasion of Kuwait.

title: 1990

section: Events › August

date: November 29

text: November 29 – Gulf War: The United Nations Security Council passes UN Security Council Resolution 678, authorizing military intervention in Iraq if that state does not withdraw its forces from Kuwait and free all foreign hostages by Tuesday, January 15, 1991.

title: 1990

section: Events › November

date: January 12

text: January 12 – Gulf War: The 102nd U.S. Congress passes a resolution authorizing the use of military force to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait.

title: 1991

date: January 19

text: January 19 – Iraq disarmament crisis: Iraq refuses to allow UNSCOM inspectors to use its own aircraft to fly into Iraq and begins military operations in the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait, and the northern Iraqi no-fly zones. U.S. forces fire approximately 40 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Baghdad factories linked to Iraq's illegal nuclear weapons program (→ January 1993 airstrikes on Iraq). Iraq then informs UNSCOM that it will be able to resume its flights.

title: 1993

date: November 11

text: November 11 – Iraq formally rescinds its claims over Kuwait, which it has claimed as a province since 1990 and had administered under military occupation until 1991 when it was ejected by an international coalition during the Persian Gulf War.

title: 1994

date: November 23

text: November 23 – The National Assembly of Kuwait revokes a 1985 law that granted women's suffrage.

title: 1999


slug: kyiv

label: Kyiv

description: capital and largest city of Ukraine

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: Legendary founding of Kyiv, on the banks of the Dnieper River.

title: 482

section: Events › By place › Eastern Europe

text: Andrey Bogolyubsky, Grand Prince of Vladimir-Suzdal, sacks Kiev (with help from allies) and makes Vladimir the capital of Kievan Rus'. He installs relatives on the throne at Kiev.

title: 1169

section: Events › By place › Europe

section: Religion & Belief

date: February

text: February – A council of Russian princes summons at Kiev; several princes are convinced by Köten Khan to assemble an allied army to drive the Mongols back. During the first half of March, Russian princes return to their principalities and begin to raise forces for the forthcoming campaign. The alliance has a combined force of some 60,000 men, mainly cavalry. Subutai unites his army with Jebe, and sends ambassadors to the Kievan Rus' princes, to tell them to stay out of the conflict as it didn't involve them.

title: 1223

section: Events › Other events, by place › Mongol Empire

text: The Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church; the Metropolitan of Halych begins to relocate back to Kyiv, after having moved to Halych in 1299. Thereafter, the Metropolitan will hold the title of Metropolitan of Kiev-Halych and All Rus.

title: 1352

section: Events › Date unknown

text: Autumn 1362 or 1363 – Battle of Blue Waters: Grand Duke of Lithuania Algirdas defeats the Tatars, and takes over Kyiv.

title: 1362

date: June 12

text: June 12 – Polish–Soviet War: The Red Army retakes Kyiv.

title: 1920

date: May 7

text: May 7 – Polish–Soviet War: Polish troops occupy Kyiv. The government of the Ukrainian People's Republic returns to the city.

title: 1920

section: Culture & Society

date: May 19

text: May 19–21 – The Eurovision Song Contest 2005 takes place in Kyiv, Ukraine, and is won by Greek entrant Helena Paparizou with the song "My Number One".

title: 2005

date: February 22

text: February 22 – Revolution of Dignity: The Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) votes to remove President Viktor Yanukovych from office, replacing him with Oleksandr Turchynov, after days of civil unrest leaving around 100 people dead in Kyiv.

title: 2014

section: Events › February

date: May 9

text: May 9–13 – The Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Kyiv, Ukraine, and is won by Portuguese entrant Salvador Sobral with the song "Amar Pelos Dois".

title: 2017

date: May 26

text: May 26 – Real Madrid wins the 2017-18 Champions League held in Kyiv, Ukraine by beating Liverpool in the final 3–1.

title: 2018

date: February 21

text: February 21 – February 24 – Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a decree declaring the Luhansk People's Republic and Donetsk People's Republic as independent from Ukraine, and, despite international condemnation and sanctions, launched the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine; at dawn on 24 February missiles strike Kyiv. Ukraine severs diplomatic relations with Russia, followed by the Federated States of Micronesia on 25 February.

title: 2022

date: January 18

text: January 18 – A helicopter crash in Brovary near Kyiv, Ukraine kills 14 people including Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Denys Monastyrsky.

title: 2023


slug: kyoto

label: Kyoto

description: city in the Kyōto Prefecture, Japan

text: The Yasaka Shrine is constructed in the Gion district of Kyoto (Japan).

title: 656

section: Events › By topic › Religion

text: In Japan, the Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist temple is founded in Kyoto. Its main hall (Hondo) is built in 1633 without a single nail.

title: 778

text: Kyoto becomes the Japanese capital, ending the Nara period, and beginning the Heian period; a Golden Age of Japanese culture begins that will endure under the domination of the Fujiwara, Minamoto, Tachibana and Taira families, until 1185.

title: 794

section: Events › By place › Asia

text: Tō-ji, a Buddhist temple of the Shingon sect, is established in Kyoto, Japan.

title: 796

section: Deaths

text: Fujiwara no Yoshifusa, Japanese regent (sesshō), dies at his native Kyoto, having ruled since 858. He is succeeded as head of the Fujiwara clan by his son Fujiwara no Mototsune.

title: 872

section: Events › By place › Japan

section: Exploration & Expansion

text: Ki no Tsurayuki returns to Kyoto from Tosa Province, a journey that becomes the basis of the earliest surviving Japanese poetic diary, called the Tosa Nikki (Tosa Diary).

title: 935

section: Conflict & Security

text: Taira no Masakado, a Japanese nobleman, leads one of the largest insurgent forces in the Heian period against the imperial court at Kyoto. Masakado has acquired enough power to govern the Kantō region (northwest of Edo) and calls himself the 'new emperor' (shinnō).

title: 939

date: September 14

text: September 14 – Fujiwara no Tadahira, a politician and chancellor (kampaku), dies at his native Kyoto. Having governed Japan as regent under Emperor Suzaku since 930. The Fujiwara clan will continue to hold the regency until 1180, controlling the imperial government.

title: 949

date: February 9

text: February 9 – Ono no Michikaze (Ono no Tōfū), Japanese calligrapher, dies after having established the foundations of the 'Waystyle' of calligraphy while serving the imperial court at Heian-kyō (modern-day Kyoto).

title: 966

section: Events › Asia

date: August 30

text: 30 August - Retainers of Takaie clash with retainers of Michinaga, on the main street of Kyoto.

title: 995

section: Events › Asia › Japan

section: Health & Medicine

date: April

text: April/May (Jian 3, 4th month) – An epidemic in Kyoto (Japan) is so severe that there are corpses in the streets; disease spreads throughout the country.

title: 1023

text: Japanese waka poet Sagami divorces, returns to Kyoto and becomes a lady-in-waiting to Imperial Princess Shushi.

title: 1024

text: The Taira and Minamoto clans join forces to rule Japan, after defeating the warrior monks of the Enryaku-ji temple near Kyoto. The Taira replace many Fujiwara nobles in important offices – while the Minamoto gain more military experience by bringing parts of Northern Honshu under Japanese control (approximate date).

title: 1108

text: The 19-year-old Minamoto no Tameyoshi, Japanese nobleman and samurai, gains recognition by suppressing a riot against Emperor Toba at a monastery near Kyoto (approximate date).

title: 1115

date: July 24

text: July 24 – Former Emperor Shirakawa dies at his native Kyoto. His son Toba begins his cloistered rule, sharing power with Sutoku, a grandson of Shirakawa.

title: 1129

text: Taira no Kiyomori leaves Kyōto on a personal pilgrimage, giving Fujiwara no Nobuyori and his Minamoto allies the perfect chance to stage an uprising.

title: 1159

section: Events

text: September 14 – Emperor Sutoku of Japan dies in Sanuki Province (on the island of Shikoku), having lived in exile from the capital at Kyoto since 1156.

title: 1164

text: During the third year of the Angen era in Japan, a fire devastates Kyoto.

title: 1177

date: March 20

text: March 20 – Taira no Kiyomori, Japanese military leader and dictator, dies at Kyoto. He established the first samurai-dominated administrative government in Japan.

title: 1181

section: Events › Europe › Asia

text: Before 1207 – Kosho writes Kuya Preaching, during the Kamakura period (it is later kept at Rokuharamitsu-ji Temple in Kyoto).

title: 1207

text: In Japan the temple of Nanzen-ji at Kyoto is established by Emperor Kameyama. This temple becomes one of the most important religious schools within the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism and includes multiple sub-temples.

title: 1291

section: Climate & Environment

date: February 16

text: February 16 – (10th day of 1st month of 6 Shōwa) An earthquake of estimated 7.0 magnitude strikes Kyoto. On February 22, an aftershock of 6.0 magnitude follows the first quake.

title: 1317

section: Events › January – March

date: June 19

text: June 19 – Ashikaga Takauji leads his army into Kyoto as part of the Kenmu Restoration.

title: 1333

section: Events › January–December

date: January 30

text: January 30 – (28th day of 12th month of Bunchu 3) Emperor Go-En'yū is enthroned in Kyoto as Emperor of Northern Japan, after having succeeded his father, Emperor Go-Kōgon, in 1374.

title: 1375

section: Events › January–March

date: April 9

text: April 9 – (22nd day of third month of Eiwa 5) The Kōryaku era begins in the Northern Court of Japan at Kyoto on decree of the northern Emperor Go-En'yū because of a disastrous time of plague and war.

title: 1379

section: Events › April–June

date: January 13

text: January 13 – At Heian-kyō (now Kyoto), Go-Komatsu is enthroned as the Emperor of the Northern Court of Japan, after having succeeded to the throne on the abdication of Emperor Go-En'yū on November 19.

title: 1383

date: October 15

text: October 15 – (28th year of 9th month of Meitoku 3) The division of Japan between the Southern Court (with a capital at Yoshino) and the Northern Court) (with a capital at Heian-kyō, now Kyoto) ends as the southern Emperor Go-Kameyama agrees to recognize northern Emperor Go-Komatsu as the ruler of the entire nation.

title: 1392

section: Events › October–December

date: February 23

text: February 23 – (19th day of 1st month of Bunshō 2) The Ōnin War begins with the Battle of Goryo, also called the "Battle of the Spirits", ends after two days near Kyoto initially as a battle between to factions in the Hatakeyama clan. Hatakeyama Yoshinari defeats Hatakeyama Masanaga for control of the Kami-Goryo Shrine. The Onin War will continue for more than 10 years until ending on 25 December 1477.

title: 1467

date: June 27

text: June 27 – (26th day of 5th month of Ōnin 1) In Japan, the Battle of Kamigyo begins in Kyoto as the "Eastern Army" of Takeda Nobutaka and Jōshin'in Mitsunobu (the aide to Hatakeyama Masanaga, who lost the Battle of Goryo) invade temples on both sides of the Ogawa River with 160,000 troops, and seize control of Kyoto in an attempt to capture its military governor, Isshiki Yoshinao.

title: 1467

date: July 22

text: July 22 – (5th day of 7th month of Entoku 2) At Heian-kyō, in Japan, now Kyoto, Ashikaga Yoshitane becomes the 10th Muromachi shōgun of Japan, more than a year after the death of his cousin, Ashikaga Yoshihisa.

title: 1490

section: Events › July–September

date: June 17

text: June 17 – (19th day of 5th month, Eiroku 8); In Japan, Ashikaga Yoshiteru, the Ashikaga shogun, commits ritual suicide after Matsunaga Hisahide invades Kyoto.

title: 1565

date: August 27

text: August 27 – Oda Nobunaga drives the 15th Ashikaga shōgun Ashikaga Yoshiaki out of Kyoto, effectively destroying the Ashikaga shogunate, and historically ending the Muromachi and Sengoku periods. The Azuchi–Momoyama period of Japan begins.

title: 1573

date: June 21

text: June 21 – (2nd day of the sixth month, Tenshō 10) The Honnō-ji Incident occurs in Kyoto in Japan, as Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga, on the verge of unifying Japan under his rule, is assassinated following a betrayal by a rebel subject, Akechi Mitsuhide.

title: 1582

date: December 8

text: December 8 – In Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Chancellor of the Realm, orders the arrest of the 26 Roman Catholic Christians who had the misfortune of being shipwrecked in Kyoto on October 19; each of the ones arrested has a part of the left ear cut off, then sent on a forced march to Nagasaki on January 4, then has them killed on February 5.

title: 1596

date: January 4

text: January 4 – Japan's Chancellor of the Realm, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, sends 26 European Christians, arrested on December 8, 1596, on a forced march from Kyoto to Nagasaki.

title: 1597

text: Japanese female entertainer Izumo no Okuni originates kabuki dance drama in Kyoto.

title: 1603

date: April 28

text: April 28 – The Great Hoei fire breaks out in Kyoto, Japan, destroying the Imperial Palace and a large portion of the old capital.

title: 1708

section: Events › January–June

section: Economy & Finance

date: January 10

text: January 10 – Japanese department store, Takashimaya in Kyoto established.

title: 1831

text: February 3 – The late Emperor Kōmei's 14-year-old son, Prince Mutsuhito, becomes Emperor Meiji of Japan in a brief ceremony in Kyoto, ending the Late Tokugawa shogunate.

title: 1867

text: January 10 – Shōgun Tokugawa Yoshinobu declares the emperor's declaration "illegal", and prepares to attack Kyoto.

title: 1868

text: November 29 – Dōshisha English School, predecessor of Dōshisha University, is founded in Kyōto, Japan.

title: 1875

text: March 15 – Heian Shrine is completed in Kyoto, Japan.

title: 1895

text: October 2 – A typhoon in Osaka and Kyoto, Japan, kills 1,660, injures 5,400, and destroys the rice harvest.

title: 1934


slug: kyrgyzstan

label: Kyrgyzstan

description: sovereign state in Central Asia

year_label: 104 BCE

text: War of the Heavenly Horses: Emperor Wu of Han sends an army of 6000 cavalrymen and 10,000 convicts under Li Guangli to attack Dayuan in modern Kyrgyzstan after Wugua, the king of Dayuan, refuses to send the Han any of the prized horses of Dayuan and, following a contentious meeting with the Han diplomats, has a vassal king kill the diplomats and seize their goods. The Han expeditionary force proceeds with difficulty, marching through arid regions and facing hostile cities.

title: 104 BC

section: Events › By place › Asia

year_label: 87 BCE

section: Deaths

date: March 29

text: March 29 – Emperor Wu of Han dies after a 54-year reign in which he leads the Han dynasty (China) through its greatest expansion. The Empire's borders span from modern Kyrgyzstan in the west, to Mongolia in the north, to Korea in the east, and to northern Vietnam in the south.

title: 87 BC

section: Events › By place › China

text: A Black Death plague strain originates near Lake Issyk-Kul in modern Kyrgyzstan, according to Syriac tombstone inscriptions and genetic material from exhumed bodies.

title: 1338

section: Events › Date unknown

section: Science & Discovery

date: November 27

text: November 27 – Annular solar eclipse is visible through Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, eastern China, Myanmar and northern Philippines.

title: 1704

date: August 22

text: August 22 – A 7.7 earthquake shakes the border between China and Kyrgyzstan killing 10,000 people.

title: 1902

section: Events › August

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

date: May 5

text: May 5 – The Bishkek Protocol between Armenia and Azerbaijan is signed in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, effectively freezing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

title: 1994

section: Events › May

date: April 7

text: April 7 – Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev flees the country amid fierce anti-government riots in the capital, Bishkek.

title: 2010

section: Events › April

date: June 10

text: June 10–14 – Ethnic riots in Kyrgyzstan between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks result in the deaths of hundreds.

title: 2010

section: Events › June

text: April 28 – At least 55 people are killed and nearly 50,000 more are displaced in one of the most serious clashes in Central Asia following border disputes between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

title: 2021


slug: kyushu

label: Kyūshū

section: Conflict & Security

text: Approximate date – The imperial fleet of Japan invades Kyūshū by the order of Empress Saimei. On its way, princess Nukata composes a famous poem at Nikitatsu in Iyo Province.

title: 661

section: Events › By place › Japan

text: Fujiwara no Hirotsugu Rebellion: The Fujiwara clan led by Fujiwara no Hirotsugu, dissatisfied with the political powers in Japan, raise an army in Dazaifa (Kyushu) but are defeated by government forces.

title: 740

section: Health & Medicine

text: Genbō, Japanese scholar-monk, is exiled to Dazaifu on the island of Kyushu.

title: 745

section: Events › By topic › Religion

text: Toi invasion: Jurchen pirates, from the Khitan Liao Dynasty in modern-day Manchuria, sail with about 50 ships to invade Kyūshū in Japan. They assault the islands Tsushima and Iki. In April the pirates raid Matsuura but are defeated by the Japanese army.

title: 1019

text: In Japan, a 20 kilometer stone wall defending the coast of Hakata Bay at Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu is completed; it is built in response to the attempted Yuan dynasty Mongol invasion of Japan in 1274.

title: 1277

date: August 25

text: August 25 – (24th day of 7th month of Tenbun 12) The first Europeans arrive in Japan and introduce firearms to the Asian monarchy, as the Chinese pirate Wang Zhi escorts Portuguese traders to in Tanegashima island in southern Kyushu. The first European visitors include António Mota, António Peixoto, Francisco Zeimoto, and Fernão Mendes Pinto.

title: 1543

date: August 23

text: August 23 – On the island of Kyūshū in Japan, near what is now Takaharu, Miyazaki prefecture, Takahara Castle of the Itō clan is captured by 30,000 men led by the warlord Shimazu Yoshihisa, after a siege of four days.

title: 1576

date: June 11

text: June 11 (Tensho 15, 6th day of 5th month) – Most of Kyushu is surrendered to Toyotomi Hideyoshi by Yoshihisa Shimazu, 32 days after Hideyoshi's siege of Kagoshima began (on the 3rd day of the 4th month). Hideyoshi follows on July 24 (19th day of the 6th month of Tensho 15) with an order banishing all European Christian missionaries from the province.

title: 1587

date: December 17

text: December 17 – The Shimabara Rebellion erupts in Japan, when 30,000 peasants in the heavily Catholic area of northern Kyūshū revolt.

title: 1637

section: Climate & Environment

date: May 21

text: May 21 – 1792 Unzen earthquake and tsunami: An old lava dome collapses in Kyūshū, Japan, due to activity of Mount Unzen volcano; the resulting avalanche and tsunami kill about 14,300 people.

title: 1792

date: September 17

text: September 17 – 1828 Siebold typhoon: A typhoon kills approximately 10,000 people in Kyūshū, Japan.

title: 1828

section: Technology & Infrastructure

date: July 7

text: July 7 – Nagasaki Shipyard, predecessor of the Japanese aircraft and shipbuilding business Mitsubishi, is founded on the island of Kyushu.

title: 1884

section: Events › July

section: Disasters & Accidents

date: December 15

text: December 15 – Hōjō Coal Mine Disaster: A gas explosion at the Mitsubishi Hōjō mine in Kyūshū, Japan, kills 687 people (the worst coal mine disaster in Japanese history).

title: 1914

section: Events › December

date: July 28

text: July 28 – Heavy rains and mudslides at Isahaya, western Kyūshū, Japan, kill 992.

title: 1957

date: February 10

text: February 10 – Five Japanese cities located on the northernmost part of Kyūshū are merged and become the city of Kitakyūshū, with a population of more than 1 million.

title: 1963

section: Events › February

date: November 29

text: November 29 – 104 people are killed in a Taiyo department store fire in Kumamoto, Kyūshū, Japan.

title: 1973

section: Events › November

date: March 10

text: March 10 – An extended portion of Sanyō Shinkansen between Okayama Station and Hakata Station opens, giving the Japanese Shinkansen high speed rail network access to the country's second island, Kyushu.

title: 1975

section: Events › March


slug: la-rochelle

label: La Rochelle

description: French commune and prefecture of Charente-Maritime, New Aquitaine

section: Crime & Justice

text: Summer – Viking raiders attack Nantes, located on the River Loire; they kill the town's bishop along with many of the clergy, and murder men, women and children. They plunder the western parts of Aquitaine and reach an island north of the mouth of the River Garonne, near what later will be La Rochelle. There the Vikings bring materials from the mainland and build houses to spend the winter.

title: 843

section: Events › By place › Europe

date: June

text: June – John, King of England ("Lackland") lands an expeditionary army at La Rochelle to defend his interests in Aquitaine, which is his from the inheritance from his mother, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Meanwhile, French forces led by King Philip II ("Augustus") move south to meet John. The year's campaign ends in a stalemate and a two-year truce is made between the two rulers.

title: 1206

section: Events › By place › Britain

section: Exploration & Expansion

date: March 23

text: March 23 – Prince Richard of Cornwall, brother of King Henry III of England, and his uncle William Longsword, Earl of Salisbury, depart England on with 77 warriors on an expedition to fight in Aquitaine in France, and soon land at Bordeaux, then on to capture La Rochelle. As the expedition progresses, Richard's expedition captures La Réole and Bergerac by November.

title: 1225

section: Events › January – March

date: August 8

text: August 8 – Huguenot rebellions: The French Protestant city of La Rochelle joins in the revolt by Benjamin, Duke of Soubise.

title: 1621

section: Events › July–September

date: October 27

text: October 27 – Huguenot rebellions: The inconclusive Naval battle of Saint-Martin-de-Ré is fought between the Huguenot fleet of La Rochelle, commanded by Jean Guiton, and a royal fleet under the command of Charles of Guise.

title: 1622

section: Events › October–December

date: July 22

text: July 22 – The English, under the Duke of Buckingham, invade the Île de Ré off the coast of France in support of the Huguenots in La Rochelle; the invasion fails.

title: 1627

date: June 20

text: June 20 – Two ships, Saint Jean (250 tons) and L'Esperance-en-Dieu, set sail from La Rochelle in France, bound for Acadia in North America.

title: 1632

section: Events › April–June

date: February 26

text: February 26 – Alexandre de Prouville de Tracy, appointed by King Louis XIV of France as Lieutenant Général of the Americas, departs from the port of La Rochelle with 1,200 men and seven ships to expand France's property in the Caribbean Sea and in South America.

title: 1664

section: Events › January–March