slug: zeno-emperor

label: Zeno (emperor)

description: Byzantine Emperor (425–491)

text: Zeno, Byzantine Emperor (approximate date)

title: 425

section: Crime & Justice

text: Tarasicodissa, an Isaurian officer, comes with evidence that Ardabur (magister militum) is forming a conspiracy against Leo I. Ardabur is arrested for treason.

title: 466

section: Events › By place › Roman Empire

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

date: February 9

text: February 9 – Zeno, father of Leo II, is crowned as co-emperor (Augustus). He rules the empire together with his son, and stabilises the Eastern frontier.

title: 474

section: Conflict & Security

text: January 9 – Emperor Zeno abdicates under pressure, as his wife's uncle Basiliscus stages a coup d'état at Constantinople, with support from Zeno's trusted adviser and fellow Isaurian Illus. Basiliscus usurps the throne and is proclaimed new emperor (Augustus) of the Eastern Roman Empire. He begins a 20-month reign; Zeno and his supporters flee to Isauria.

title: 475

text: The Roman Senate petitions Zeno to recognize Nepos as deposed and take the sole emperorship himself, abolishing the 81-year-long east/west division of the empire and recognizing Odoacer's authority in Italy. Zeno declines the first request, but names Odoacer Patricius, investing his rule with Imperial legitimacy.

title: 476

date: August

text: August – Basiliscus, Roman usurper, is deposed and Zeno is restored as emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire. With the support of his adviser Illus, he besieges Constantinople, but the Senate opens the gates, allowing him to resume the throne. Basiliscus flees to sanctuary in a church, but surrenders himself and his family after extracting a solemn promise from Zeno not to shed their blood. Basiliscus is sent to a fortress in Cappadocia, where he later dies from starvation.

title: 476

text: Armatus, Byzantine military commander (magister militum), is killed by order of emperor Zeno, being murdered by his own friend Onoulphus after supporting the rebellion of his uncle Basiliscus in 475.

title: 477

section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire

text: Verina, mother-in-law of Eastern Roman Emperor Zeno, attempts to kill Isaurian general Illus for turning against her brother Basiliscus. A major revolt is led by her son-in-law Marcian and the Ostrogoth warlord Theodoric Strabo, but Illus again proves his loyalty to Zeno by quashing the revolt in 479.

title: 478

section: Events › By place › Europe

text: Emperor Zeno officially dissolves the east/west co-emperorship, ruling as the first sole emperor of Rome in 85 years. The position of emperor is never again divided.

title: 480

section: Religion & Belief

text: Emperor Zeno promulgates an Edict of Union (Henotikon), in an unsuccessful effort to soften the decision made at the Council of Chalcedon (451), and resolve differences between the Eastern and Western Churches. Zeno wishes to placate the Monophysite churches of Egypt, Palestine and Syria for political reasons.

title: 482

text: Byzantine general Illus (magister officiorum), and Verina (widow of the late emperor Leo I), attempt to overthrow Emperor Zeno and place another general named Leontius on the throne.

title: 483

text: Leontius raises a rebellion against emperor Zeno, who also faces a revolt from the Ostrogoth king Theodoric the Great. He sends an army to Syria, but is defeated by the Byzantine general Illus.

title: 484

text: Emperor Zeno regains power from the usurper Leontius and the Isaurian patrician Illus, who are captured and executed, ending a 4-year rebellion (see 484).

title: 488

text: Emperor Zeno closes the School of Edessa (modern Turkey) for their teaching of Nestorian doctrine, whereupon the scholars seek refuge at the Syriac Church of the East.

title: 489

date: April 9

text: April 9 – Zeno, Byzantine Emperor

title: 491

text: April 9 – Emperor Zeno, age 66, dies of dysentery (or of epilepsy) after a 17-year reign. He has no sons to succeed him and Anastasius, palace official (silentiarius) and favoured friend of empress Ariadne, is elevated to the throne.

title: 491


slug: zenobia

label: Zenobia

description: 3rd-century Queen of the Palmyrene Empire

section: Births

text: Zenobia, queen of the Palmyrene Empire (d. 274)

title: 240

text: King Septimius Odaenathus of Palmyra makes plans for a campaign in Cappadocia against the Goths. He is assassinated, along with his eldest son, most probably by his nephew due to a previous altercation between him and Odaenathus. His wife Zenobia succeeds him, and rules Vaballathus (the Palmyrene Empire) with her young son.

title: 267

section: Events › By place › Near East

text: Queen Zenobia conquers Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, parts of Mesopotamia and Anatolia and Egypt, giving her control of Rome's grain supply. The library at Alexandria is partly burned during a raid by Zabdas, general of Zenobia.

title: 269

text: Zenobia seizes control of Roman Arabia and Egypt.

title: 270

text: Aurelian withdraws Rome's administrative and military presence from Dacia (modern Romania), thereby rationalizing the Danube frontier and freeing resources for the forthcoming campaign against Zenobia.

title: 271

text: Zenobia invades Asia Minor and seizes control of Cilicia and Galatia before being stalled in Bithynia.

title: 271

text: Battle of Immae: Aurelian defeats the Palmyrene heavy cavalry (clibanarii) near Antioch. Queen Zenobia flees under cover of darkness to Emesa (Syria).

title: 272

section: Culture & Society

text: Rome greets Aurelian as Restitutor Orbis ("Restorer of the World") and accords him a magnificent triumph (victory procession), which is graced by his captives Zenobia, Tetricus I, and his son Tetricus II.

title: 274

section: Deaths

text: Approximate date – Septimia Zenobia, queen of the Palmyrene Empire (b. c. 240)

title: 275


slug: zhao-state

label: Zhao (state)

description: one of the states in ancient China's Warring States period

year_label: 453 BCE

date: May 8

text: May 8 – The Chinese city of Jinyang is severely flooded in the Battle of Jinyang, where the elite families of Jin, Zhao, Zhi, Wei and Han fight. The Wei and the Han swap allegiances to side with Zhao and eliminate the Zhi house, ending the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history.

title: 453 BC

section: Events › Italy › China

year_label: 386 BCE

text: The Chinese city of Handan is founded by the State of Zhao.

title: 386 BC

section: Events › By place › China

year_label: 362 BCE

text: The states of Qin, Han and Zhao defeat the state of Wei and Qin captures the prince of Wei. The Battle of Shaoliang is then fought between Qin and Wei, which Wei loses, whereupon Qin captures the prime minister of Wei.

title: 362 BC

year_label: 325 BCE

text: King Wuling ascends to the throne of Zhao.

title: 325 BC

year_label: 310 BCE

text: Huiwen of Zhao, Chinese king of Zhao (Warring States Period) (d. 266 BC)

title: 310 BC

year_label: 308 BCE

text: Zhao Sheng, Chinese chancellor of the Zhao State (approximate date)

title: 308 BC

year_label: 307 BCE

text: The Chinese King Wuling of Zhao reforms the military of the State of Zhao by putting more emphasis on cavalry over charioteers.

title: 307 BC

year_label: 299 BCE

text: King Wuling of Zhao abdicates the throne of Zhao to his son.

title: 299 BC

year_label: 295 BCE

text: Wuling of Zhao, Chinese king of Zhao (b. 340 BC)

title: 295 BC

year_label: 266 BCE

text: Huiwen of Zhao, Chinese king of Zhao (b. 310 BC)

title: 266 BC

year_label: 260 BCE

text: Zhao Kuo, Chinese general of the State of Zhao

title: 260 BC

year_label: 251 BCE

title: 251 BC

year_label: 241 BCE

text: Five of the seven major warring states: Chu, Zhao, Wei, Yan, and Han, form an alliance to fight the rising power of Qin. King Kaolie of Chu is named the leader of the alliance, and Lord Chunshen the military commander, with Pang Nuan of Zhao also serving as a general. The coalition penetrates as far as the Qin town of Zui, west of the strategic Hangu Pass and in the Qin heartland of Guanzhong, but they are defeated. Afterwards, Chu moves its capital east to Shouchun, further away from the threat of Qin. Qin counterattacks, sacking the Wei city of Chaoge.

title: 241 BC

year_label: 234 BCE

text: The Qin general Huan Yi wins a major victory over the Zhao general Hu Zhe in the Battle of Pingyang, and captures Pingyang and Wucheng.

title: 234 BC

year_label: 233 BCE

text: The Zhao general Li Mu defeats the Qin army, led by Huan Yi, in the Battle of Fei.

title: 233 BC

year_label: 232 BCE

text: The Zhao general Li Mu defeats the Qin army in the Battle of Fanwu.

title: 232 BC

year_label: 229 BCE

text: Li Mu, Chinese general of the Zhao State (Warring States Period)

title: 229 BC

year_label: 209 BCE

text: The rebels restore the monarchies of Chu, Qi, Yan, Zhao, Wei and (in 208) Han.

title: 209 BC

year_label: 208 BCE

text: Zhang Han seizes the Zhao capital Handan and besieges its king Zhao Xie in Julu.

title: 208 BC

year_label: 205 BCE

text: Han Xin begins the conquest of Dai and Zhao, and he defeats Chen Yu in the Battle of Jingxing.

title: 205 BC

year_label: 204 BCE

text: Han Xin completes the conquest of Zhao and receives the surrender of Yan. He captures the Zhao capital of Handan and defeats Chu relief forces sent by Xiang Yu.

title: 204 BC


slug: zhejiang

label: Zhejiang

description: province of China

text: The Guoqing Temple is built on Mount Tiantai (Zhejiang), and becomes the site for the teachings of Chinese Buddhism.

title: 598

section: Events › By topic › Religion

section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: In China during the Tang Dynasty, a barge load of tea (a medicinal herb) comes up the Grand Canal to Luoyang, from Zhejiang (approximate date).

title: 750

section: Events › By topic › Food and drink

text: Fang La, a Chinese rebel leader, leads an uprising against the Song dynasty in Qixian Village (modern-day Zhejiang) in southeast China. He raises an army and captures Hangzhou.

title: 1120

section: Events › By place › Asia

text: Emperor Emperor Huizong of Song sends an expedition to crush the rebellion at Hangzhou (modern-day Zhejiang) in China. The rebels are defeated and their leader Fang La is captured and executed.

title: 1121

section: Exploration & Expansion

text: Wu Ge, Chinese Song Dynasty Deputy Transport Commissioner of Zhejiang, has paddle wheel warships constructed with a total of nine wheels, and others with thirteen wheels.

title: 1134

section: Economy & Finance

text: Just two years after the Ming dynasty court of China allowed landowners paying the grain tax to pay their tax in silver instead, the Ming court now decides to close all silver mines and prohibit all private silver mining in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces. This is a concerted effort to halt the increase of silver circulating into the market. The illegal mining of silver is now an offense punishable by death; although it becomes a dangerous affair, the high demand for silver also makes it very lucrative, and so many chose to defy the government and continue to mine.

title: 1438

section: Events › Date unknown

section: Climate & Environment

text: In China, a tsunami floods over the seawall in Haiyan County of Zhejiang province, inundating fields with saltwater, ruining many acres of crops. This drives up the price of foodstuffs, and many are forced to live off of tree bark and weeds (as Wang Wenlu states in his writing of 1545).

title: 1538

date: December 16

text: December 16 – In China, the 1661 edict of the "Great Clearance", the forcible evacuation of the coastal areas of Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangnan, and Shandong in order to fight a rebellion, is rescinded by the Kangxi Emperor after lobbying by Zhou Youde, the Viceroy of Liangguang.

title: 1668

section: Events › October –December

date: July 25

text: July 25 – The Imperial Court of China's Emperor Qianlong and his three senior grand councilors, Fuheng, Yenjisan and Liu T'ung-hsun, issues a directive to officials in the Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shandong provinces warning them about the need to respond to rumors of sorcery.

title: 1768

section: Events › July–September

date: August 10

text: August 10 – 32 are killed and 1,000,000 evacuated as Typhoon Lekima makes landfall in Zhejiang, China. Earlier it had caused flooding in the Philippines.

title: 2019

section: Events › August


slug: zheng-he

label: Zheng He

description: Chinese mariner, explorer, and diplomat

section: Births

text: Zheng He, Chinese mariner and explorer (d. 1433)

title: 1371

date: July 11

text: July 11 – Ming Dynasty fleet commander Zheng He sets sail from Suzhou, to explore the world for the first time.

title: 1405

section: Conflict & Security

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

title: 1408

text: Cheng Ho (or Zheng He), admiral of the Ming empire fleet, deposes the king of Sri Lanka.

title: 1409

section: Religion & Belief

date: February 15

text: February 15 – The Galle Trilingual Inscription, with inscriptions in three languages (Chinese, Tamil and Persian) is installed by the Chinese admiral Zheng He at Galle in Sri Lanka, where he has stopped while on his way home during the second of his treasure voyages.

title: 1409

section: Events › January–March

date: July 6

text: July 6 – Ming dynasty Chinese Admiral Zheng He returns to Nanjing after his third voyage, and presents the ruler Vira Alakesvara, captured during the Ming–Kotte War, to China's Emperor Cheng Zu.

title: 1411

date: December 18

text: December 18 – China's Emperor Cheng Zu orders the fourth of the Ming treasure voyages, to be led by Admiral Zheng He.

title: 1412

section: Events › October–December

date: December 30

text: December 30 – The Ming Chinese explorers, commanded by Admiral Zheng He, arrive in Yemen to open trade with the Arab kingdom, and the admiral is brought to the court of the Emir Al Malik al Nasir. The Chinese stay until January 27.

title: 1418

text: The final 41 treasure ships are built in the Nanjing shipyards for use in the expeditions of Zheng He.

title: 1419

date: March 3

text: March 3 – Zheng He receives an imperial order from China's Emperor Zhu Di to begin the Ming treasure voyages, carrying imperial letters, silk products and other gifts to various rulers of countries around the Indian Ocean.

title: 1421

date: March 25

text: March 25 – China's Emperor Xuanzong of Ming directs Admiral Zheng He to oversee the rebuilding of the Porcelain Tower of Nanjing. The construction of the temple was completed in 1431.

title: 1428

date: March 7

text: March 7 – The seventh Ming Chinese overseas expedition fleet, led by Admiral Zheng He, arrives at the port of Surabaya on the island of Java (now in Indonesia). The Chinese do trading until leaving on July 13

title: 1432

date: January 17

text: January 17 – The seventh Ming Chinese overseas expedition fleet, led by Admiral Zheng He, arrives at the island of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, its furthest westward travel and stays for almost two months before setting off for its return to China.

title: 1433

date: July 22

text: July 22 – Admiral Zheng He and the crew of the seventh Ming Chinese overseas expedition return to China, arriving at Beijing two and one half years after their departure on January 19, 1411 from Nanjing. With the completion of the maritime expedition, the fleet is dispersed, altering the balance of power in the Indian Ocean, and making it easier for Portugal and other Western naval powers to gain dominance over the seas.

title: 1433


slug: zhou-dynasty

label: Zhou dynasty

description: dynasty of Ancient Chinese kings (王) lasting from c. 1046 to 256 BC

year_label: 947 BCE

section: Deaths

text: 947 BC— Zhou mo wang, King of the Zhou dynasty of China.

title: 940s BC

year_label: 935 BCE

text: 935 BC—Zhou gong wang, king of the Zhou dynasty of China.

title: 930s BC

year_label: 879 BCE

text: 879 BC: Death of King Yi of Zhou, king of the Zhou dynasty of China.

title: 9th century BC

section: Events › 870s BC

year_label: 782 BCE

text: 782 BC—Death of King Xuan of Zhou, king of the Zhou dynasty of China.

title: 780s BC

section: Events and trends

year_label: 781 BCE

text: 781 BC—King You of Zhou becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China.

title: 780s BC

year_label: 722 BCE

text: 722 BC: Spring and Autumn period of China's history begins as King Ping of Zhou of the Zhou dynasty reigns in name only.

title: 8th century BC

section: Events › 720s BC

year_label: 720 BCE

text: 720 BC—Death of King Ping of the Zhou dynasty of China.

title: 720s BC

section: Significant people

year_label: 719 BCE

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: 719 BC—Zhou Huan Wang of the Zhou dynasty becomes ruler of China.

title: 710s BC

year_label: 694 BCE

section: Crime & Justice

text: 694 BC—Duke Hei Jian(黒肩) of Zhou killed King Zhuang of Zhou and plotted to help Prince Ke(克) assume the throne. Xin Bo(辛伯) reported it to King Zhuang, and killed Duke Hei Jian. Prince Ke defected to Yan.

title: 690s BC

year_label: 682 BCE

text: 682 BC—King Zhuang of Zhou, King of the Zhou dynasty of China.

title: 680s BC

year_label: 652 BCE

text: Hui of Zhou, ruler of the Zhou dynasty

title: 652 BC

year_label: 651 BCE

text: Zhou Xiang Wang becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China.

title: 651 BC

section: Events › Asia

year_label: 636 BCE

text: Duke Wen of Jin becomes ruler of the State of Jin in Zhou dynasty China.

title: 636 BC

section: Events

year_label: 619 BCE

text: King Xiang of Zhou, king of the Zhou dynasty of China

title: 619 BC

year_label: 618 BCE

text: King Qing of Zhou succeeds his father King Xiang of Zhou as ruler of the Chinese Zhou dynasty.

title: 618 BC

year_label: 613 BCE

text: King Qing of Zhou, king of the Chinese Zhou dynasty

title: 613 BC

year_label: 612 BCE

text: King Kuang of Zhou becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China.

title: 612 BC

year_label: 607 BCE

text: King Kuang of Zhou, king of the Zhou dynasty of China

title: 607 BC

year_label: 606 BCE

text: King Ding of Zhou succeeds King Kuang of Zhou the ruler of the Zhou dynasty.

title: 606 BC

year_label: 586 BCE

text: 586 BC—King Ding of Zhou, king of the Zhou dynasty of China

title: 580s BC

year_label: 572 BCE

text: Jian, Chinese king of the Zhou Dynasty

title: 572 BC

year_label: 520 BCE

text: King Dao of Zhou, king of the Zhou dynasty of China

title: 520 BC

text: King Jing of Zhou, king of the Zhou dynasty of China from 544 to 520 BC

title: 520 BC

year_label: 519 BCE

text: Zhou Jing Wang/Ji Gail becomes King of the Zhou Dynasty of China.

title: 519 BC

section: Events › By place › China

year_label: 482 BCE

text: While King Fuchai of Wu attends a meeting in Huangchi, in an attempt to gain hegemony over all the other duchies of Zhou dynasty China, his capital city in the State of Wu is captured in a surprise assault by King Goujian of Yue. In 473 BC the State of Wu will be annexed by the State of Yue.

title: 482 BC

year_label: 476 BCE

text: Zhou Jing Wang, king of the Chinese Zhou dynasty

title: 476 BC

year_label: 475 BCE

text: King Yuan of Zhou becomes king of the Zhou dynasty.

title: 475 BC

year_label: 473 BCE

text: King Fuchai of Wu, the last king of Wu in Zhou dynasty, China

title: 473 BC

year_label: 469 BCE

text: King Yuan of Zhou (Ji Ren), 27th king of the Zhou dynasty of China

title: 469 BC

year_label: 468 BCE

text: Zhou Zhen Ding Wang becomes the twenty-eighth sovereign of the Chinese Zhou dynasty.

title: 468 BC

year_label: 443 BCE

text: Duke Ligong of Qin, 22nd ruler of the Zhou dynasty

title: 443 BC

year_label: 442 BCE

text: Zhou zhen ding wang, king of the Zhou dynasty of China

title: 442 BC

year_label: 441 BCE

text: King Zhending of Zhou, 28th king of the Zhou dynasty of China

title: 441 BC

text: Zhou Kao Wang becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China.

title: 440 BC

text: A set of sixty-five bells, from the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng (Zhou dynasty) in Suixian, Hubei, is made. It is now preserved at the Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan.

title: 433 BC

text: The Chinese Marquis Yi of Zeng is buried (approximate date) with lavish tomb items including a 65 set of bronze bells (bianzhong) with five octave musical scale and two musical tones that can be produced by each bell. Marquis Yi was from the State of Chu during the Warring States phase of the Zhou dynasty.

title: 432 BC

text: Zhou kao wang, king of the Zhou dynasty of China

title: 426 BC

text: Zhou wei lie wang becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China.

title: 425 BC

text: Zhou wei lie wang, king of the Zhou dynasty of China

title: 402 BC

text: Zhou an wang becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China.

title: 401 BC

text: Chuzi II, Chinese ruler of the Zhou Dynasty (approximate date)

title: 385 BC

text: Zhou An Wang, king of the Chinese Zhou dynasty

title: 376 BC

text: Zhou Lie Wang becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China.

title: 375 BC

text: Zhou Lie Wang, king of the Zhou dynasty

title: 369 BC

text: Zhou Xian Wang becomes king of the Zhou dynasty of China.

title: 368 BC

text: Duke Xian of Qin, ruler of the Zhou dynasty state of Qin

title: 362 BC

text: The rulers of Wei and Qi agree to recognize each other as kings, formalizing the independence of the Warring States and the powerlessness of the Zhou dynasty.

title: 334 BC

text: Going against his loyalty to the figurehead monarch of the Zhou dynasty, the Qin ruler, Duke Huiwen, takes on the title of King Huiwen, claiming royal title and sparking a trend amongst other Warring States rulers to do the same.

title: 325 BC

text: Zhou Shen Jing Wang, king of the Zhou dynasty of China

title: 315 BC

text: Zhou Nan Wang becomes King of the Zhou dynasty of China.

title: 314 BC

text: Luoyang falls without much resistance to the armies of the Qin, ending the reign of the emperor Zhou Nan Wang. Although a successor was appointed as Dong Zhou Hui Wang, traditionally in Chinese history this is considered the end of the Zhou dynasty.

title: 256 BC

text: Zhou Nan Wang, Chinese king of the Zhou dynasty

title: 256 BC

text: King Hui of Zhou becomes the last claimant king of the Zhou dynasty of China.

title: 255 BC

text: The last remnants of the Zhou dynasty, having rebelled against the State of Qin, are defeated by Prime Minister Lü Buwei.

title: 249 BC

text: Liu Fei, Chinese prince and proclaimed king of the former Qi State (Zhou dynasty) (b. 221 BC)

title: 189 BC


slug: zirid-dynasty

label: Zirid dynasty

description: Sanhaja Berber dynasty 972-1148

text: Ziri ibn Manad is installed as governor of central Maghreb. He initiates the construction of the fortress of Ashir, near Médéa (modern Algeria). It symbolises the rise of the Zirid dynasty in the Western Mediterranean region.

title: 935

section: Events › By place › Africa

text: The cities of Algiers and Miliana are re-founded by the Zirid ruler (emir) Buluggin ibn Ziri.

title: 944

text: The Fatimid general Jawhar al-Siqilli launches a military campaign in the west of the Maghreb. He resumes his expansion, together with the Zirids, and conquers Fez (modern-day Morocco).

title: 967

section: Events › By place › Arabian Empire

text: Ziri ibn Manad, founder of the Zirid dynasty

title: 971

text: Buluggin ibn Ziri is appointed viceroy in Ifriqiya (modern Tunisia) and becomes the first ruler (emir) of the Zirid Dynasty.

title: 972

text: Buluggin ibn Ziri, ruler (emir) of the Zirid Dynasty

title: 984

text: The Zirid Dynasty fails to reconquer the western part of the Maghreb (Land of Atlas), which they have recently lost to the Umayyad Caliphate.

title: 987

text: Hammad ibn Buluggin adopts Sunni Islam and declares his independence from the Zirid dynasty (modern Algeria). He recognizes the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad as being the rightful caliphs and becomes the first ruler of the Hammadid dynasty (until 1028).

title: 1014

text: Badis ibn Mansur, Muslim emir of the Zirid dynasty

title: 1016

text: The Sunnis of Kairouan (modern Tunisia) revolt against the Shi'ite Zirid dynasty. The city is quickly retaken and sacked.

title: 1017

section: Events › Africa

text: The 14-year-old Al-Mu'izz ibn Badis, with support of the Zirid nobles, takes over the government and (as a minor) ascends to the throne in Ifriqiya (modern Tunisia).

title: 1022

date: October 18

text: October 18 – Zirid princess and regent

title: 1023

section: Exploration & Expansion

text: Byzantine expedition to invade Sicily: Governor Ahmed al-Akhal appeals to the Zirids of Ifriqiya for help. They dispatch a fleet, but these are caught up in a storm and destroyed near Pantelleria.

title: 1024

section: Events › By place › Europe

text: Emir Al-Mu'izz ibn Badis of the Zirid dynasty in Ifriqiya (modern Tunisia) attempts to retake Sicily but is unsuccessful.

title: 1025

text: A Zirid expeditionary force invades Sicily and takes Palermo from the Normans, but fails to fully reconquer the island.

title: 1036

text: Summer – A Byzantine expeditionary force under George Maniakes lands at Sicily, and defeats the Zirids. Maniakes begins his campaign to reconquer the island.

title: 1037

text: The Zirid dynasty rejects Shi'ite obedience and Fatimid domination, and recognizes the Abbasids as their overlords.

title: 1041

text: The Banu Hilal, a confederation of tribes of Arabia, begin their invasion in the Maghreb (North Africa). They are organized by the Egyptian Fatimid Caliphate to punish their former Zirid vassals.

title: 1049

text: Battle of Haydaran: The Zirid dynasty is defeated by the invading Bedouin Arab tribes of the Banu Hilal.

title: 1052

text: The Banu Hilal razes Kairouan (in modern Tunisia). The Zirid dynasty has to re-settle to Mahdia (approximate date).

title: 1057

text: The Zirid ruler of Ifriqiya, Ali ibn Yahya, conquers the island of Jerba, then acting as an independent piratical republic.

title: 1116

text: Conflict between the de facto independent Muslim republics of Gabès and Mahdia (modern Tunisia) in Ifriqiya. Madhia is supported by the Zirid Dynasty while Gabes receives the aid of Roger II, count of Sicily.

title: 1117

date: August 9

text: August 9 – Battle of Al-Dimas: An Italo-Norman campaign in North Africa ends with their troops being massacred by Zirid forces near Mahdia (modern Tunisia).

title: 1123

section: Events › By date › July–September


slug: zoroastrianism

label: Zoroastrianism

description: Iranian religion founded by Zoroaster

year_label: 400 BCE

section: Religion & Belief

text: Zoroastrianism becomes the faith of many Persians. The Zoroastrians believe in a struggle between their god, Mazda, and the devil. They believe that the birth of their founder, the prophet Zarathustra, was the beginning of a final epoch that is to end in an Armageddon and triumph of good over evil.

title: 400 BC

section: Events › By topic

text: Commodus creates an official cult of the Zoroastrian god Mithra.

title: AD 180

section: Events › By topic › Religion

date: March 2

text: March 2 – Mani, a sage of Persia, dies at Gundeshapur after 30 years of preaching his "heresy" at the court of the late Sassanian King Shapur I and on long journeys to Khorasan, India and China. He is executed or allowed to die in prison, and claims to be a prophet of God. Mani combines Zoroastrian dualism with Christian theology, and his disciples gain wide support for Manichaeism, despite opposition from Roman Emperors.

title: 274

text: King Bahram I of Persia dies after a 3-year reign, in which the Zoroastrian priests at Ctesiphon (Iran) put pressure on him to persecute Buddhists, Christians, and Manichaeans. He is succeeded by his son Bahram II.

title: 276

section: Events › By place › Sassanid Empire

section: Conflict & Security

text: Shapur II, king of the Persian Empire, begins a widespread persecution of Christians. He orders forcible conversions to the state religion, Zoroastrianism, lest the Christians disrupt his realm while he is away fighting the Romans in Armenia and Mesopotamia.

title: 338

section: Events › By place › Persia

text: Byzantine–Sasanian War: Emperor Heraclius advances with an expeditionary force (40,000 men) along the Araxes River, destroying the fortress city of Dvin, capital of Armenia, and Nakhchivan (modern Azerbaijan). At Ganzak, Heraclius defeats the Persian army and destroys the famous fire temple at Takht-e Soleymān, an important Zoroastrian shrine. He winters his army in Caucasian Albania to gather forces for the next year.

title: 624

section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire

text: The Muslims replace Zoroastrianism with Islam in Mesopotamia (later Iraq); they do not force their conquered subjects to embrace the Islamic faith, but they do require acceptance of the Quran as the doctrine of divine teaching, and will oblige their subjects to learn Arabic (approximate date).

title: 637

text: Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution: Emperor Wu Zong begins the persecution of Buddhists and other foreign religions in China, such as Zoroastrianism, Nestorian Christianity and Manichaeism. More than 4,600 monasteries, 40,000 temples and numerous shrines are destroyed. More than 260,000 Buddhist monks and nuns are forced to return to secular life.

title: 845

section: Events › By place › Asia

date: March 15

text: March 15 – The day after his return to Paris from a nine-year mission, French explorer and scholar Anquetil Du Perron presents a complete copy of the Zoroastrian sacred text, the Zend Avesta, to the Bibliothèque Royale in Paris, along with several other traditional texts. In 1771, he publishes the first European translation of the Zend Avesta.

title: 1764

section: Events › January–June

date: October 23

text: October 23 – The Báb is publicly proclaimed to be the promised one of Islam (the Qá'im, or Mahdi). He is also considered to be simultaneously the return of Elijah, John the Baptist and the "Ushídar-Máh" referred to in the Zoroastrian scriptures. He announces to the world the coming of "He whom God shall make manifest". He is considered the forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh – the founder of the Baháʼí Faith – whose claims include being the return of Jesus.

title: 1844

section: Events › October–December


slug: zurich

label: Zürich

text: The Fraumünster Church in Zürich (modern Switzerland) is founded by Louis the German.

title: 853

text: Odo II, count of Champagne, invades Burgundy and seizes most of the kingdom for himself. With the assistance of Humbert I of Savoy, Queen-dowager Ermengarde (Rudolph III's widow) flees to the safety of Zürich.

title: 1032

date: April 25

text: April 25 – Representatives of the Swiss cantons of Lucerne, Uri and Unterwalden begin negotiations in Zurich with the Canton of Bern in an attempt to prevent the breakup of the Swiss Confederation. The negotiations soon fail.

title: 1419

section: Events › April–June

text: July 22 – Battle of St. Jakob an der Sihl (Old Zurich War): The forces of the city of Zurich are defeated, but the Swiss Confederacy have insufficient strength to besiege and take the city.

title: 1443

section: Events › July–September

date: January 1

text: January 1 – Ulrich Zwingli preaches for the first time, as people's priest of the Great Minister in Zurich.

title: 1519

section: Events › January–March

section: Health & Medicine

date: March 9

text: March 9 – In Zurich in Switzerland, the Affair of the Sausages begins as Pastor Huldrych Zwingli of Grossmünster publicly speaks out against the food restrictions during the Roman Catholic period of fasting during Lent, and advocating that followers of Martin Luther eat sausage, one of the prohibited foods. Zwingli defends his action in the sermon Von Erkiesen und Freiheit der Speisen ("Regarding the freedom of Choice of Foods"), in that the Bible does not prohibit the eating of meat during Lent. The public declaration sparks the Reformation in Zürich.

title: 1522

section: Culture & Society

date: January 21

text: January 21 – The Anabaptist Movement is born when Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, George Blaurock, and about a dozen others baptize each other in the home of Manz's mother on Neustadt-Gasse, Zürich, breaking a thousand-year tradition of church-state union.

title: 1525

date: September 14

text: September 14 – In Switzerland, the burning of most of the book collection of the Stiftsbibliothek of the Grossmünster Abbey in Zurich begins, by order of Huldrych Zwingli, as part of the Swiss Reformation. After 20 days of destruction of a collection built since 1259 for over 250 years, only 470 volumes are left.

title: 1525

section: Crime & Justice

date: January 5

text: January 5 – Felix Manz, co-founder of the Swiss Anabaptists, is drowned in the Limmat in Zürich by the Zürich Reformed state church.

title: 1527

date: October 11

text: October 11 – Battle of Kappel: The forces of Zürich are defeated by the Catholic cantons. Huldrych Zwingli, the Swiss religious reformer, is killed.

title: 1531

text: Pentecost – Calvinist congregations in Zurich introduce music into their services.

title: 1598

section: Events › Date unknown

text: Heinrich Escher, Mayor of Zürich, introduces chocolate to Switzerland from Brussels.

title: 1697

date: September 1

text: September 1 – Grasshopper Club Zürich is founded as the first football club in the Swiss city of Zürich by English students.

title: 1886

section: Events › September

date: September 6

text: September 6 – Dawson's Field hijackings: The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine hijacks four passenger aircraft from Pan Am, TWA and Swissair on flights to New York from Brussels, Frankfurt and Zurich and flies them to a desert airstrip in Jordan.

title: 1970

section: Science & Discovery

date: January 27

text: January 27 – Canadian Caper: Six United States diplomats, posing as Canadians, manage to escape from Tehran, Iran, as they board a flight to Zürich, Switzerland, on Swissair.

title: 1980

section: Events › January

section: Disasters & Accidents

date: March 5

text: March 5 – Macedonian Palair Flight 301, an F-100 on a flight to Zürich, crashes shortly after take-off from Skopje, killing 83 of the 97 on board.

title: 1993

section: Events › March