slug: labour-party-uk

label: Labour Party (UK)

description: centrist social democratic political party in the United Kingdom

section: Culture & Society

date: February 27

text: February 27 – The British Labour Party is officially established, at a meeting in the Congregational Memorial Hall in London, and Ramsay MacDonald is appointed as its first secretary.

title: 1900

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

date: November 15

text: November 15 – In the 1922 United Kingdom general election forced by the Conservatives' withdrawal from the coalition government, the Conservative Party wins an overall majority. Labour for the first time becomes the main opposition party, winning more seats than the divided Liberals. A dining club of newly elected Conservative Members of Parliament evolves the following year into the 1922 Committee.

title: 1922

date: December 6

text: December 6 – 1923 United Kingdom general election: The governing Conservatives under Stanley Baldwin fail to achieve an overall majority and allow the Labour Party to form a minority government.

title: 1923

section: Events › November–December

date: January 22

text: January 22 – Ramsay MacDonald becomes the first Labour Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

title: 1924

section: Events › January

date: August 24

text: August 24 – The Labour Government of Ramsay MacDonald resigns in Britain, replaced by a National Government of people drawn from all parties, also under MacDonald.

title: 1931

section: Events › August

section: Climate & Environment

text: October 27 – The United Kingdom general election results in the victory of the National Government, and the defeat of Labour Party, in the country's greatest ever electoral landslide.

title: 1931

section: Events › October

section: Conflict & Security

date: October 25

text: October 25 – George Lansbury becomes the leader of the opposition British Labour Party.

title: 1932

date: July 26

text: July 26 – Winston Churchill resigns as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, after his Conservative Party is soundly defeated by the Labour Party in the 1945 general election. Clement Attlee becomes the new prime minister. It is the first time that Labour has governed Britain with a majority in the House of Commons.

title: 1945

date: October 26

text: October 26 – Winston Churchill is re-elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (a month before his 77th birthday) in a general election which sees the defeat of Clement Attlee's Labour government, after 6 years in power.

title: 1951

date: April 14

text: April 14 – Aneurin Bevan resigns from the British Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet in protest over his party's failure to oppose the rearmament of West Germany.

title: 1954

section: Events › April

section: Deaths

date: January 18

text: January 18 – Hugh Gaitskell, British politician, leader of the Labour Party (b. 1906)

title: 1963

section: Deaths › January

date: October 15

text: October 15 – 1964 United Kingdom general election: The Labour Party wins a narrow victory over Sir Alec Douglas-Home's Conservative Party, which has been in power for 13 years. The new prime minister is Harold Wilson.

title: 1964

date: January 27

text: January 27 – Britain's Labour Party unexpectedly retains the parliamentary seat of Hull North in a by-election, with a swing of 4.5% to their candidate from the opposition Conservatives, and a majority up from 1,181 at the 1964 General Election to 5,351.

title: 1966

date: March 31

text: March 31 – The British Labour Party led by Harold Wilson wins the 1966 United Kingdom general election, gaining a 96-seat majority (compared with a single seat majority when the election was called on February 28).

title: 1966

date: March 4

text: March 4 – Following a hung parliament in the United Kingdom general election, Conservative prime minister Edward Heath resigns and is succeeded by Labour's Harold Wilson, who previously led the country from 1964 to 1970.

title: 1974

section: Events › March–April

date: March 28

text: March 28 – In Britain, James Callaghan's minority Labour government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election which is to be held on 3 May.

title: 1979

date: May 3

text: May 3 – The 1979 United Kingdom general election for the House of Commons takes place, giving the Conservatives a majority, and designating Margaret Thatcher the nation's first woman prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan's Labour government.

title: 1979

section: Events › May

text: October 15 – James Callaghan announces his resignation as leader of the British Labour Party.

title: 1980

date: October 2

text: October 2 – Neil Kinnock is elected leader of the British Labour Party.

title: 1983

date: May 1

text: May 1 – Tony Blair becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, as the Labour Party wins the 1997 United Kingdom general election and returns to government for the first time in 18 years.

title: 1997

date: June 7

text: June 7 – 2001 United Kingdom general election: Tony Blair and the Labour Party win a second landslide victory.

title: 2001

section: Events › June

date: May 5

text: May 5 – The 2005 United Kingdom general election is won by Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Labour Party for a third consecutive majority government.

title: 2005

date: June 8

text: June 8 – A snap general election is held in the United Kingdom, three years before the next was due, resulting in a hung parliament, with the Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister Theresa May, losing their majority in Parliament. The Labour Party, led by Jeremy Corbyn, makes gains for the first time since 1997. Days later, the Conservative Party, now lacking a majority, enters a confidence-and-supply deal with the Northern Ireland loyalist party DUP.

title: 2017

date: July 4

text: July 4 – 2024 United Kingdom general election: Sir Keir Starmer leads the Labour Party to victory, returning the party to government for the first time in 14 years.

title: 2024


slug: ladislaus-of-naples

label: Ladislaus of Naples

description: king of Naples (1377-1414)

section: Births

date: February 15

text: February 15 – King Ladislaus of Naples (d. 1414)

title: 1377

date: February 24

text: February 24 – Elizabeth of Bosnia, the mother of the overthrown Queen Mary of Hungary and Croatia, arranges the assassination of Charles III of Naples, the ruler of Hungary, Naples, Achaea and Croatia, with the result that Mary is reinstated as Queen of Hungary and Croatia; Charles' son, Ladislaus, becomes King of Naples; and a period of interregnum begins in Achaea, lasting until 1396. The rule of Achaea is sought by numerous pretenders, none of whom can be considered to have reigned.

title: 1386

section: Events › January–March

section: Religion & Belief

date: November 1

text: November 1 – The Antipope John XXIII, reigning from Avignon, crowns Louis II of Anjou as King of Naples, although the underage King Ladislaus has been recognized as the rightful monarch by the late Pope Urban VI of Rome. Louis II will move to Naples on August 6, 1390, while Ladislaus flees, but since his troops cannot occupy the entire Neapolitan kingdom, Louis is only recognized in the French-occupied areas of Naples.

title: 1389

section: Events › October –December

date: January 11

text: January 11 – The King of Naples, Ladislao of Anjou-Durazzo, grants Neapolitan-controlled Greece to Nerio Acciaioli as the Duchy of Athens.

title: 1394

date: July 10

text: July 10 – Ladislaus regains the throne of the Kingdom of Naples, after King Louis II of Anjou and his army have left the city to suppress a rebllion in Apulia.

title: 1399

section: Events › July–September

date: August 5

text: August 5 – The coronation of Ladislaus of Naples as King of Hungary and Croatia takes place in Zara (now Zadar in Croatia), where Ladislaus had arrived on July 19. His reign lasts less than four months before he is deposed.

title: 1403

section: Exploration & Expansion

date: April 12

text: April 12 – Centurione II Zaccaria buys the Principality of Achaea, located on the Peloponnese peninsula in modern-day Greece, from King Ladislaus of Naples.

title: 1404

section: Events › April–June

date: January 9

text: January 9 – Pope Innocent VII declares that Ladislaus is deposed as King of Naples, but refuses to acknowledge the order.

title: 1406

date: July 9

text: July 9 – The Republic of Venice, led by the Doge Michele Steno, gains control of both sides of the Adriatic Sea by purchasing the Dalmatian coast (bordered in modern times by Slovenia and Croatia) from King Ladislaus the Magnanimous, ruler of the Kingdom of Naples for 100,000 ducats, or 350 kilograms of gold.

title: 1409

date: May 19

text: May 19 – At the order of Louis II of Anjou, General Muzio Attendolo, leader of the Neapolitan Army, defeats the army of King Ladislaus of Naples in a battle at the Battle of Roccasecca in the Lazio region of Italy.

title: 1411

date: June 14

text: June 14 – Antipope John XXIII signs an agreement with King Ladislaus of Naples, paying him 75,000 florins (262.5 kg or 9,375 oz. of gold), investing Ladislaus with the Neapolitan crown, and naming him as Gonfalonier of the Church within the Papal States. In return, King Ladislaus agrees to expel Pope Benedict XII from Naples and to recognize John as the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

title: 1412

text: June 8 – King Ladislaus of Naples and his troops conquer and sack the city of Rome and drive out the Antipope John XXIII.

title: 1413

date: August 6

text: August 6 – King Ladislaus of Naples (b. 1377)

title: 1414

text: August 6 – Joanna II becomes the reigning Queen of Naples upon the death of her brother, King Ladislaus.

title: 1414

date: January 19

text: January 19 – Joanna II, Queen of Naples, issues a pardon for Giacomo Orsini, who had rebelled against her predecessor, King Ladislaus of Naples.

title: 1417


slug: lahore

label: Lahore

description: capital of the Punjab province, Pakistan

text: Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni appoints Malik Ayaz to the throne, making Lahore (modern Pakistan) the capital of the Ghaznavid Empire.

title: 1021

section: Events › By place › Asia

date: December

text: December – Siege of Lahore (1241): The Mongols under Tair Bahadur besiege and sack the city of Lahore in the Delhi Sultanate.

title: 1241

section: Events

date: July 25

text: July 25 – In India, Sikandar Shah Suri, Sultan of the Sur Empire in Punjab, surrenders the fortress at Mau in the Nurpur kingdom (now in Uttar Pradesh) after a six month siege by the Mughal Empire. Mughal General Bairam Khan allows Sikandar to live in exile in Bihar, while Bakht Mal, Raja of Nurpur is imprisoned at Lahore and later beheaded.

title: 1557

date: December 15

text: December 15 – King Udai Singh of Marwar (now the Rajasthan and Punjab states of India and the Punjab province of Pakistan) returns to Lahore after having captured the Siwana fort.

title: 1594

section: Events › October–December

date: December 30

text: December 30 (Jumada-l awwal 2, 1037 AH) – Shihab-ud-Din Muhammad Khurram, son of the later Emperor Jahangir, enters Lahore after defeating his brother Shahryar Mirza. He is proclaimed as Shah Jahan.

title: 1627

date: October 28

text: October 28 – The Mughal Emperor Jahangir dies of a respiratory illness near Bhimber while attempting to return to his palace at Lahore.

title: 1627

date: June 12

text: June 12 – In India, in the modern-day Rajasthan state, the Mughal Grand Vizier Abu'l-Hasan Asaf Khan is killed in a battle in Bundi against the armies of Nurpur, commanded by the Raja Jagat Singh. The elaborate Tomb of Asif Khan is constructed at Lahore (modern Pakistan) on orders of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.

title: 1641

date: March 10

text: March 10 – Zakariya Khan Bahadur, the Mughal Empire's viceroy administering Lahore (in what is now Pakistan), orders the massacre of the city's Sikh people.

title: 1746

date: January 12

text: January 12 – Ahmad Shah Durrani captures Lahore.

title: 1748

text: April 12 – The Kingdom of Afghanistan, under the rule of Ahmad Shah Durrani, recaptures the city of Lahore four years after its capture by the Sikhs of Punjab.

title: 1752

date: July 12

text: July 12 – Ranjit Singh captures Lahore from the Bhangi Misl, a key step in establishing the Sikh Empire, and becoming Maharaja of the Punjab.

title: 1799

section: Culture & Society

date: November 3

text: November 3 – In the British Raj, what will become one of the biggest boys' schools in Pakistan, Aitchison College, Lahore, is founded under the auspices of Sir Charles Umpherston Aitchison.

title: 1886

section: Events › November

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

date: December 29

text: December 29 – The All India Congress in Lahore demands Indian independence.

title: 1929

section: Events › December

date: March 23

text: March 23 – Pakistan Movement: The Lahore Resolution, calling for greater autonomy for what will become Pakistan in British India, is drawn up by the All-India Muslim League during a three-day general session at Iqbal Park, Lahore.

title: 1940

section: Events › March

date: February 12

text: February 12 – 100 women protest in Lahore, Pakistan, against military dictator Zia-ul-Haq's proposed Law of Evidence. The women are tear-gassed, baton-charged and thrown into lock-up but are successful in repealing the law.

title: 1983

section: Events › February


slug: lan-na

label: Lan Na

description: Indianized state centered in present-day Northern Thailand from the 13th to 18th centuries

section: Conflict & Security

text: King Mangrai of Lan Na (modern Northern Thailand) founds the city of Chiang Rai as the kingdom's capital.

title: 1262

text: Kings Mangrai of the Lanna Kingdom (modern Thailand) and Ram Khamhaeng of the Sukhothai Kingdom agree to a peace treaty. They establish a "strong pact of friendship".

title: 1287

text: King Mangrai the Great of Ngoenyang conquers and annexes the Mon kingdom of Hariphunchai, creating a political union in the form of the Lan Na Kingdom.

title: 1292

date: December 27

text: December 27 – The Imperial Chinese Army invades the Lan Na kingdom, covering an area now divided between Myanmar, Thailand and China's Yunnan province.

title: 1405

date: December 7

text: December 7 – During the war between Dai Viet and Lan Xang (now the northern part of Vietnam and the entire nation of Laos), Emperor Xianxong of Ming dynasty China is informed by his envoys that Dai Viet had subdued Lan Xang and was preparing to invade Lan Na

title: 1480

section: Deaths

date: May 27

text: May 27 – Tilokaraj, king of Lan Na (b. 1409)

title: 1487

text: May 27 – At Chiang Mai, in what is now part of northern Thailand, King of Lan Na, Prince Yotchiangrai becomes the new reigning monarch upon the death of his father, King Tilokaraj.

title: 1487

date: October 23

text: October 23 – King Bayinnaung of Burma leads 64,000 men, 3,600 horses and 330 elephants on an invasion of the Lan Na kingdom

title: 1564

date: November 25

text: November 25 – The army of Burma, under the command of King Bayinnaung conquers Chiang Mai, capital of the Siamese Kingdom of Lan Na, and departs on November 30.

title: 1565

date: April 8

text: April 8 (March 29 O.S.) – Combined Taungoo–Lan Na armies break the rebel Thado Dhamma Yaza's siege of Taungoo, in modern-day Myanmar.

title: 1595

date: April 30

text: April 30 – The Kingdom of Lan Na (in modern-day northern Thailand) is invaded by 17,000 troops commanded by King Anaukpetlun of Burma (modern Myanmar). Lan Na's King Thado Kyaw is unsuccessful in getting assistance from the Kingdom of Siam, and turns to the Kingdom of Lan Xang (modern Laos), which provides assistance.

title: 1614


slug: lan-xang

label: Lan Xang

description: unified kingdom from 1354 to 1707, one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia

section: Births

text: Fa Ngum, Tai nobleman and ruler of Lan Xang (d. 1393)

title: 1316

text: Nang Keo Phimpha, queen of Lan Xang (d. 1438)

title: 1343

text: The Lao kingdom of Lan Xang is founded by Fa Ngum.

title: 1353

section: Events › Date unknown

text: Lan Kham Deng, King of Lan Xang 1416–1428 (d. 1428)

title: 1375

text: Fa Ngum, founder of the Lao Kingdom of Lan Xang (b. 1316)

title: 1393

text: Chakkaphat Phaen Phaeo, Lan Xang king (d. 1481)

title: 1415

section: Crime & Justice

text: At 95 years of age, Nang Keo Phimpha becomes queen of Lan Xang for a few months, then being deposed and killed.

title: 1438

title: 1480

date: October 31

text: October 31 – The "White Elephant War", which had started in 1479 with the invasion of the Kingdom of Lan Xang (now Laos) by the Dai Viet Empire (now northern Vietnam) with the Vietnamese withdrawing their troops and failing to conquer the Laotians.

title: 1484

date: November 27

text: November 27 – Burmese–Siamese War: Dispatched by King Bayinnaung, 55,000 Burmese troops arrive at Phitsanulok (in modern-day Thailand) and drive back the attack by armies from the Ayutthaya Kingdom (Thailand) and Lan Xang (Laos), then prepare to invade Ayutthaya to put down the rebellion by Ayutthayan King Maha Chakkraphat

title: 1568

date: May 8

text: May 8 – King Bayinnaung of Burma puts down the revolt by Setthathirath of Lan Xang (modern Laos), and ending Lan Xang's attempt to rescue Thailand's Ayutthaya Kingdom from conquest.

title: 1569

date: April 18

text: April 18 – Bayinnaung, King of Burma, returns to his capital at Pegu from Vientiane after installing Voravongsa I as the Burmese-appointed monarch of the Kingdom of Lan Xang (now Laos).

title: 1575

title: 1614

text: The Lao empire of Lan Xang unofficially ends.

title: 1694

text: The Lao empire of Lan Xang officially ends, and splits into the kingdoms of Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Champasak.

title: 1707


slug: lancashire

label: Lancashire

description: ceremonial county in North-West England, United Kingdom

text: Northumbria is divided by King William II into the counties of Northumberland, County Palatine of Durham, Yorkshire, Westmorland and Lancashire.

title: 1089

section: Events › By place › England

date: October 9

text: October 9 – Banastre Rebellion: A group of English knights start an uprising in Lancashire and revenge themselves on Thomas of Lancaster. After the rebellion, Liverpool Castle is granted to Robert de Holland.

title: 1315

section: Events › October – December

date: April 7

text: April 7 – In England, Thomas de Ashton and Edmund de Trafford, both knights of Lancashire, are granted special dispensation by King Henry VI to use their research in alchemy to transmute substances into precious metals.

title: 1446

date: June 5

text: June 5 – The rebel army led by Lambert Simnel, who has proclaimed himself as "King Edward VI" lands on Piel Island at Lancashire.

title: 1487

date: September 4

text: September 4 – The earliest recorded Preston Guild Court is held in Lancashire, England, in the modern sequence, which lasts unbroken until 1922.

title: 1542

section: Events › July–September

date: April 10

text: April 10 – In England, 12 persons who become known as the Pendle witches allegedly hold a coven at the Malkin Tower in Lancashire on Good Friday, after which 10 people die mysteriously. All but two of the accused witches are tried for causing harm by witchcraft on August 18.

title: 1612

date: August 20

text: August 20 – Ten Pendle witches are hanged, having been found guilty of practising witchcraft in Lancashire in England.

title: 1612

section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: The spinning mule is perfected by Lancashire inventor Samuel Crompton.

title: 1779

section: Health & Medicine

text: Beecham's Pills (a laxative) is first marketed in Lancashire, England, by Thomas Beecham, forming the basis of the Beecham Group and GSK plc pharmaceutical companies.

title: 1842

section: Disasters & Accidents

date: December 21

text: December 21 – Pretoria Pit disaster: a coal mine explosion at the Hulton Colliery Company of Westhoughton in Lancashire, England, kills 344 miners, with just one survivor.

title: 1910

date: May 23

text: May 23 – A methane gas explosion at Abbeystead water treatment works in Lancashire, UK, kills 16 people.

title: 1984

section: Events › May


slug: landscape-painting

label: Landscape painting

description: depiction of landscapes in painting

text: Guan Tong, Chinese landscape painter (approximate date)

title: 906

text: Fan Kuan, Chinese landscape painter (approximate date)

title: 960

text: Guan Tong, Chinese landscape painter

title: 960

text: Guo Xi, Chinese landscape painter (approximate date)

title: 1020

title: 1030

text: Li Tang, Chinese landscape painter (approximate date)

title: 1050

text: Guo Xi, Chinese landscape painter

title: 1090

text: Wang Ximeng, Chinese landscape painter (d. 1119)

title: 1096

text: Zhao Boju, Chinese landscape painter (d. 1182)

title: 1120

text: Zhang Zeduan, Chinese landscape painter (b. 1085)

title: 1145

text: Ma Yuan, Chinese landscape painter (d. 1225)

title: 1160


slug: languedoc

label: Languedoc

description: historical province of France

text: King Theodoric the Great sends an Ostrogoth army, led by his sword-bearer Theudis, drives the Franks out of Provence, and recovers Septimania (Languedoc) from the Visigoths.

title: 508

section: Events › By place › Europe

text: Claudius, duke (dux) of Lusitania, defeats the Franks and Burgundians at Carcassonne (Languedoc) on the Aude River.

title: 589

text: Emir Hisham I of Córdoba calls for a jihad ("Holy War") against the Christian Franks. He assembles an army of 70,000 men, half of which attacks the Kingdom of Asturias, destroying its capital, Oviedo, while the other half invades Languedoc, penetrating as far as Narbonne. After capturing the city, the contingent moves towards Carcassonne and conquers it too. Both armies return to Córdoba enriched with the spoils of war.

title: 793

section: Events › By place › Arabian Empire

date: November 17

text: November 17 – Innocent III asks the nobles in Northern France to take military action (the so-called Albigensian Crusade) against the Cathars in Languedoc.

title: 1208

section: Events › By topic › Religion

date: July 22

text: July 22 – Massacre at Béziers: The Crusader army, led by Simon de Monfort, arrives in the Languedoc area, and makes camp at Béziers, to start a siege. The citizens, believing that their city walls are impregnable, harass the Crusaders, by sending a group of soldiers (supported by armed civilians) to launch a sortie against their camp. When they are forced to retreat, the Crusaders storm the walls (which are not properly manned) and enter the gate, sacking and killing some 20,000 Cathars and Catholics alike.

title: 1209

section: Religion & Belief

date: January 8

text: January 8 – Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester, is elected lord of Languedoc in a council at Montpellier (Southern France), after his campaign against the Cathar heretics during the Albigensian Crusade. The Crusaders capture Château de Castelnaud-la-Chapelle and enter Toulouse; the town pays an indemnity of 30,000 marks and is gifted to Montfort.

title: 1215

section: Events › By continent › Europe

date: January 30

text: January 30 – King Louis VIII of France takes the cross to resume the Albigensian Crusade against the Catharism movement in Languedoc in southern France.

title: 1226

section: Events › January – March

date: June 7

text: June 7 – King Louis VIII of France begins the Crusade against the Cathars (Albigensians) in southern France and against Raymond VII, count of Count of Toulouse. Over the next three months, the Crusaders capture the cities of Béziers, Carcassonne, Beaucaire and Marseille and by Avignon's surrender on September 9, Louis forces the region of Languedoc into submission, and reasserts his authority upon the autonomous municipalities of his estates. Most cities have to accept the authority of Ramon Berenguer IV, count of Provence, but Marseille and Nice rebel.

title: 1226

section: Events › April – June

date: March 16

text: March 16 – Siege of Montségur: French forces capture and destroy Château de Montségur in Languedoc, after a 9-month siege. Some 200 'heretics' (perfecti and credentes) are burnt in a bonfire, near the foot of the castle. This marks the final defeat of the Cathars (or Albigensians); the followers become scattered fugitives, meeting in forests and mountain wilds.

title: 1244

text: Construction of Albi Cathedral in Languedoc begins.

title: 1282

date: December 26

text: December 26 – Count Febus of Foix and the Duke of Berry meet at Capestang and work out an agreement to end their war, with the Duke agreeing to cease support of Febus's enemies, the Armagnacs, and Febus agreeing to recognize the Duke's authority over Languedoc.

title: 1381

section: Events › October–December


slug: laon

label: Laon

description: commune in Aisne, France

year_label: 57 BCE

section: Conflict & Security

text: Caesar defeats a Belgic army near Bibrax (modern-day Laon) in the territory of the Remi. He moves northwards against the Belgic tribes, the Nervii and the Aduatuci.

title: 57 BC

section: Events › By place › Roman Republic

text: Prüm Abbey is founded by Bertrada, daughter of former king Theuderic III, and her son Charibert, count of Laon (approximate date).

title: 721

section: Deaths

date: January 1

text: January 1 – King Odo I (or Eudes) dies at La Fère (Northern France) after a 10-year reign. His rival, the 18-year-old Charles the Simple in Laon, gains sovereignty and becomes ruler (with no real authority) of the West Frankish Kingdom. This puts an end to five years of civil war between the Frankish nobles.

title: 898

text: King Rudolph I loses the support of Herbert II, count of Vermandois, who controls the prison at Péronne in which former King Charles III (the Simple) is imprisoned. Herbert brings him before William I (Longsword), count of Rouen, for homage and then to Rheims as leverage to blackmail Rudolph to make him cede sovereignty over Laon (Northern France).

title: 928

date: June 19

text: June 19 – At Laon, Louis IV, the 14-year old son of the late King Charles the Simple, is crowned King of West Francia after being recalled from Wessex by Hugh the Great, count of Paris. Hugh, whose father, King Robert I, was killed in battle near Soissons in 923, is given the title Duke of the Franks and becomes the second most powerful man in the West Frankish Kingdom. The crowning of Louis IV follows the death of King Rudolph I at Auxerre earlier in the year.

title: 936

text: Summer – King Louis IV ("d'Outremer") is captured by the Normans and handed over to Hugh the Great. In return for the release of Louis, Laon surrenders to him in compensation.

title: 945

text: Summer – King Otto I invades the West Frankish Kingdom with an expeditionary force, but his armies are not strong enough to take the key cities of Laon, Reims and Paris. After three months, Otto ends his campaign without defeating his rival Hugh the Great. He manages to depose Hugh of Vermandois from his position as archbishop of Reims, restoring Artald of Reims to his former office.

title: 946

text: Summer – The Hungarians plunder the surroundings of Laon, Reims, Chalon, Metz, and Gorze. After that, they return to Burgundy. In Provence, the Hungarians battle with the Moors from the Muslim enclave of Fraxinet.

title: 954

text: Fall – Otto II invades the West Frankish Kingdom accompanied by Charles and ravages the cities of Reims, Soissons (where he halts at the Abbey of Saint Médard for devotions) and Laon. Lothair III escapes and flees to Paris, where he is besieged by imperial forces. Charles is proclaimed 'King of the Franks' by Dietrich I, bishop of Metz, at Laon.

title: 977

date: March 2

text: March 2 – King Lothair III (or Lothair IV) dies after a 32-year reign at Laon. He is succeeded by his 19-year-old son Louis V as ruler of the West Frankish Kingdom.

title: 986

text: Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine (younger brother of the late King Lothair of France), revolts against Hugh Capet. He conquers the city of Laon in northern France with support of his half-brother Arnulf (archbishop of Reims).

title: 988

text: Anselm of Laon, French monk and theologian, becomes chancellor of the cathedral at Laon (approximate date).

title: 1109

section: Events › By topic › Education

text: Easter – The citizens of Laon in France, having proclaimed a commune, murder Bishop Waldric in his cathedral.

title: 1112

text: January 8 – Pope Celestine III dies at Rome, after a pontificate of nearly 7 years. He is succeeded by Innocent III, as the 176th pope of the Catholic Church. Shortly after he lays an interdict on Laon, in an attempt to create independent beliefs there. This will be followed by interdicts against France in 1199, and Normandy in 1203.

title: 1198


slug: laos

label: Laos

description: country in Southeast Asia

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

date: June 23

text: June 23 – Chinese warlord Sun Quan formally declares himself emperor of the Eastern Wu state. The city of Jianye (modern Nanjing) is founded as the capital of Eastern Wu. The independent kingdoms in Cambodia and Laos become Eastern Wu vassals.

title: 229

section: Events › By place › China

text: Khun Lo, a Thai prince, conquers Muang Sua, an early Laotian kingdom.

title: 698

section: Events › By place › Asia

section: Exploration & Expansion

text: The Kingdom of Nanzhao (Nanchao) in modern-day southern China expands into the Irrawaddy River region, first into Burma, then down into northern Laos and Thailand (approximate date).

title: 760

text: Khun Lo, founder of Luang Prabang (Laos)

title: 780

date: December 7

text: December 7 – During the war between Dai Viet and Lan Xang (now the northern part of Vietnam and the entire nation of Laos), Emperor Xianxong of Ming dynasty China is informed by his envoys that Dai Viet had subdued Lan Xang and was preparing to invade Lan Na

title: 1480

date: October 31

text: October 31 – The "White Elephant War", which had started in 1479 with the invasion of the Kingdom of Lan Xang (now Laos) by the Dai Viet Empire (now northern Vietnam) with the Vietnamese withdrawing their troops and failing to conquer the Laotians.

title: 1484

date: October 23

text: October 23 – King Bayinnaung of Burma leads 64,000 men, 3,600 horses and 330 elephants on an invasion of the Lan Na kingdom

title: 1564

date: January 3

text: January 3 – Longvek, the capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia, is conquered by the army of the Ayutthaya Kingdom (now Thailand), commanded by King Naresuan, after more than two years of war. King Chey Chettha I of Cambodia is able to flee to Laos, along with the former King Satha I, but the rest of the royal family is taken hostage, along with Prince Srei Soriyopear. "King Tilokarat (1441–1485)", in Popular History of Thailand, by Manich Jumsai (Claremint, 1976) pp. 227–231

title: 1594

section: Events › January–March

date: April 30

text: April 30 – The Kingdom of Lan Na (in modern-day northern Thailand) is invaded by 17,000 troops commanded by King Anaukpetlun of Burma (modern Myanmar). Lan Na's King Thado Kyaw is unsuccessful in getting assistance from the Kingdom of Siam, and turns to the Kingdom of Lan Xang (modern Laos), which provides assistance.

title: 1614

section: Events › April–June

date: July 13

text: July 13 – Paknam Incident: Two French Navy ships are fired upon by Siamese cannons stationed at the Paknam Fort, that guards the Chao Phraya River. Three months later, Siam is forced to cede modern-day Laos to France.

title: 1893

section: Events › July

date: October 13

text: October 13 – The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1893 is signed, as the Kingdom of Siam cedes all of its territories east of the Mekong River to France, creating the territory of Laos.

title: 1893

section: Events › October

date: May 2

text: May 2 – The Kingdom of Siam (modern-day Thailand) cedes its province of Luang Prabang (now Laos) to France.

title: 1899

date: August 1

text: August 1 – The First Indochina War ends with the Vietnam People's Army in North Vietnam, the Vietnamese National Army in South Vietnam, the Kingdom of Cambodia in Cambodia, and the Kingdom of Laos in Laos, emerging victorious against the French Army.

title: 1954

section: Events › August

date: August 4

text: August 4 – Martial law is declared in Laos.

title: 1959

text: May 23 – In Laos the Laotian Civil War begins between the Kingdom of Laos and communist rebels, the Pathet Lao.

title: 1959

date: September 1

text: September 1– Operation Sourisak Montry VIII opens when forces of the Royal Thai Army recapture several positions in the territory of Laos on the south bank of the Mekong in response to an encroaching Chinese presence to the north.

title: 1971

section: Events › September

date: August 15

text: August 15 – The U.S. bombing of Cambodia ends, officially halting 12 years of combat activity in Southeast Asia according to the Case–Church Amendment-an act that prohibits military operations in Laos, Cambodia, and North and South Vietnam as a follow-up of the Paris Peace Accords.

title: 1973

date: December 2

text: December 2 – In Laos, the Second Indochina War ends, when the communist party of the Pathet Lao takes over Vientiane and defeats the Kingdom of Laos, forcing King Sisavang Vatthana to abdicate and creating the Lao People's Democratic Republic. This ends the Laotian Civil War, with mass evacuation of American troops and Laotian civilians, but effectively begins the Insurgency in Laos with the Pathet Lao fighting the Hmong people, Royalist-in-exile and the Right-wings.

title: 1975

section: Events › December

date: January 15

text: January 15 – The Lao People's Revolutionary Party elects Thongloun Sisoulith as its new General Secretary, replacing retiring chief Bounnhang Vorachith. Sisoulith is elected for a five-year term as top leader in Laos.

title: 2021

section: Events › January

section: Economy & Finance

text: January 1 – The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the largest free trade area in the world, comes into effect for Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

title: 2022


slug: latakia

label: Latakia

description: principal port city of Syria

year_label: 43 BCE

section: Conflict & Security

text: Marcus Junius Brutus proceeds to secure his position in Thrace and Macedonia. Gaius Cassius Longinus campaigns in Syria and defeats the army of Publius Cornelius Dolabella at Laodicea.

title: 43 BC

text: Apollinaris the Younger, bishop of Laodicea in Syria.

title: 382

section: Climate & Environment

text: An earthquake devastates the port town of Latakia (modern Syria).

title: 494

section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire

text: An earthquake devastates the city of Latakia (modern Syria).

title: 555

text: 859 Syrian coast earthquake. It affected the Mediterranean coast of Syria It caused almost the complete destruction of Latakia and Jableh, major damage at Antioch and led to many deaths.

title: 859

section: Events › By place › Syria

section: Religion & Belief

text: Great German Pilgrimage of 1064–65: A large pilgrimage led by Siegfried I (archbishop of Mainz) arrives in Jerusalem after having been attacked by Bedouin bandits. Two weeks later (in April) they return to Ramla and take ships back to Latakia.

title: 1065

section: Events › By topic › Religion

date: February

text: February – The Crusaders under Godfrey of Bouillon set out from Antioch to Latakia. They are joined by forces of Bohemond I and Robert II, count of Flanders. On their arrival, Bohemond decides to turn back to consolidate his power in Antioch. Godfrey and Robert move on to besiege the small sea-port of Jabala. After two weeks, the Emir of Jabala makes a truce, and accepts the suzerainty of the Crusaders.

title: 1099

section: Events › By place › First Crusade

text: August 1 – A Genoese fleet leaves Italy to support the Crusaders' efforts to conquer the coastal cities; the ships reach Latakia on September 25.

title: 1100

section: Events › By place › Levant

text: Summer – The Byzantines re-occupy the Cilician cities of Tarsus, Adana and Mamistra. A naval squadron, under Admiral Cantacuzenus, pursues in Cypriot waters a Genoese raiding fleet, and sails on to Latakia, where they capture the harbour and the lower city. Bohemond I reinforces the garrison in the citadel.

title: 1104

section: Crime & Justice

text: Spring – Raymond of Poitiers, son of the late Duke William IX of Aquitaine, arrives at Antioch. Patriarch Ralph of Domfront (against the wishes of Princess Alice) arranges a marriage in secret with her 8-year-old daughter Constance. She is kidnapped and taken to the cathedral in Antioch, where Ralph hastily marries her to Raymond. Alice leaves the city, now under the control of Raymond and Ralph, and retires to Latakia, Syria.

title: 1136

date: July

text: July – Saladin marches through the Buqaia, and occupies Jabala and Lattakieh. From Lattakieh he turns inland and, after a few days of fierce fighting, takes Sahyun Castle (called Castle of Saladin) on July 29.

title: 1188

date: March

text: March – Mamluk forces under Sultan Qalawun (the Victorious) capture Latakia, last remnant of the Principality of Antioch. The city port falls easily into his hands, but the defenders retire to the citadel at the mouth of the harbour. Finally, Qalawun forces the Crusader garrison to surrender on April 20.

title: 1287

section: Events › By place › Middle East


slug: late-roman-army

label: Late Roman army

description: historical military organization

text: Constantine reorganises the Roman army in smaller units classified into three grades: palatini, (imperial escort armies); comitatenses, (forces based in frontier provinces) and limitanei (auxilia border troops).

title: 324

section: Events › Roman Empire

text: Battle of Singara: The Roman army under Constantius wins a close victory, at the strongly fortified city of Singara (Mesopotamia). His enemy, King Shapur II, is forced to lift the siege, and withdraw the Persian army.

title: 344

section: Events › By place › Roman Empire

text: As a result of the armies of the West having been largely withdrawn by the usurper Magnus Magnentius, to fight Constantius II, hordes of barbarians (Franks and Alemanni) cross the upper Rhine into Gaul and invade the lands of the Helvetians.

title: 354

section: Events › By place › Europe

text: Battle of Brumath: Roman forces pursue Germanic warbands through the Gallic countryside. Julian wins an open battle near Brumath (Alsace).

title: 356

text: Summer – Battle of Strasbourg: Julian, Caesar (deputy emperor) and supreme commander of the Roman army in Gaul, wins an important victory against the Alemanni at Strasbourg (Argentoratum), driving the barbarians back behind the Rhine.

title: 357

date: June 16

text: June 16 – The Roman army starts its retreat northward to Corduene (Armenia). Julian marches back up the Tigris and burns his fleet of supply ships. During the withdrawal Julian's forces suffer several attacks from the Persians.

title: 363

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

date: February 26

text: February 26 – Valentinian I is proclaimed Emperor by officers of the Roman army at Nicaea in Bithynia. He addresses the soldiers (who threaten to riot) in a speech. He founds the Valentinianic dynasty and rules the Western portion of the Roman Empire, from Caledonia (Scotland) to the Rhine frontier, ensuring it a few years of relative security. He settles in Lutetia (Paris) and establishes a militia to defend the region.

title: 364

text: Battle of the Willows: The Romans abandon the guerrilla strategy and are attacked by the Goths. The battle is indecisive but both sides suffer heavy casualties. The only Roman army available to face the Goths is no longer a fighting force. Richomeres withdraws his troops south of Marcianople (Bulgaria).

title: 377

text: Queen Mavia, with her Saracen forces, defeats the Roman army in southern Syria.

title: 380

date: April

text: April – Massacre of Thessalonica: Resentment among the citizens of Thessalonica (Macedonia) breaks out into violence after the arrest of a popular charioteer. Butheric, military commander of Illyricum, is murdered. Emperor Theodosius I orders vengeance, despite the pleas for mercy by Ambrose, bishop of Milan; more than 7,000 inhabitants are massacred by the Roman army.

title: 390

text: Late Roman army: The Notitia Dignitatum shows the development of forces in the Roman Empire. By now 200,000 soldiers guard the borders, and a reserve force of 50,000 is available for deployment. Many non-Roman soldiers are from Germanic tribes: Alamanni, Franks, Goths, Saxons and Vandals.

title: 394

date: August 23

text: August 23 – Radagaisus is executed; 12,000 "barbarians" are incorporated into the Roman army, or sold as slaves.

title: 406

text: A Roman army under command of vicar Maurocellus suffers a defeat at Braga in Gallaecia.

title: AD 420

text: The Roman army invades Gaul; they capture and execute the Frankish king Theudemeres with his family.

title: 422

text: Winter – A Roman army under the command of Ardaburius leaves Thessalonica (modern Central Macedonia) and marches for Northern Italy, where they make their base at Aquileia.

title: 424

text: Sebastianus, son-in-law of Bonifacius, becomes supreme commander (magister militum) of the Western Roman army. Empress Galla Placidia gives him considerable influence over imperial policy.

title: 432

text: The Burgundians sign a peace treaty with Rome, agreeing to serve as foederati in the Roman army. They begin to move from the Upper Rhine and Flavius Aetius, commander-in-chief (magister militum), gives them land in the Geneva area (Maxima Sequanorum).

title: 443

text: Battle of the Utus: Attila defeats the Roman army near the river Utus (Vit, Bulgaria). The Huns are forced to abandon the siege of Constantinople. They march north and plunder the defenseless Balkan provinces (including Thrace, Scythia, Moesia, Dacia and Illyricum).

title: 447

section: Events › By place › Byzantium

date: April 1

text: April 1 – Majorian is acclaimed emperor by the Roman army, after defeating 900 Alemanni near Lake Maggiore (Italy).

title: 457

text: Summer – The Vandals land in Campania, at the mouth of the Liri or the Garigliano River, and devastate the region. Majorian personally leads the Roman army and defeats the invaders near Sinuessa, destroying their ships on the seashore, loaded with booty.

title: 458

text: Franco-Roman War of 486 – Battle of Soissons (Gaul): Frankish forces under King Clovis I defeat the Roman army of Syagrius. Roman rule under Syagrius ends. The land between the Somme and the Loire becomes a part of the Frankish Empire. Syagrius flees to the Visigoths (under King Alaric II), but Clovis threatens war, and he is handed over for execution.

title: 486

text: Battle of Cotyaeum: The Isaurian rebels are defeated by the Eastern Roman army, under John the Scythian and John the Hunchback (subordinate commanders include the future Justin I). They retreat to their mountain fortresses, and continue guerrilla warfare against the Roman forces until 497.

title: 492


slug: later-jin-five-dynasties

label: Later Jin (Five Dynasties)

description: Chinese dynasty (936–947); one of the Five Dynasties

section: Births

text: Liu Xu, chancellor of Later Tang and Later Jin (d. 947)

title: AD 888

date: March 30

text: March 30 – Shi Jingtang, founder of the Later Jin Dynasty (d. 942)

title: 892

text: Shi Chonggui, emperor of Later Jin (d. 974)

title: 914

date: November 28

text: November 28 – Shi Jingtang is enthroned as the first emperor of the Later Jin by Tai Zong, ruler of the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty, following a revolt against his rival, emperor Fei of Later Tang.

title: 936

section: Events › By place › China

text: Winter – The Later Tang falls to the Later Jin (during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period) founded by Emperor Shi Jingtang (posthumously known as "Gaozu of Jin").

title: 937

section: Events › By place › Asia

section: Deaths

date: July 28

text: July 28 – Shi Jingtang, emperor of Later Jin (b. 892)

title: 942

text: Liu Xu, chancellor of Later Tang and Later Jin (b. 888)

title: 947

date: January 11

text: January 11 – Emperor Tai Zong of the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty invades the Later Jin (Five Dynasties), resulting in the destruction of the Later Jin. Khitan forces head southwards to the Yellow River, but must return to their base in present-day Beijing in May after Tai Zong dies of an illness.

title: 947

text: Shi Chonggui, emperor of Later Jin (b. 914)

title: 974


slug: later-liang-five-dynasties

label: Later Liang (Five Dynasties)

description: one of the Five Dynasties of China

text: Zhu Wen, emperor of Later Liang (d. 912)

title: 852

text: He Gui, general of Later Liang (d. 919)

title: 858

text: Xiao Qing, chancellor of Later Liang (d. 930)

title: 862

text: Wang Yanzhang, general of Later Liang (d. 923)

title: 863

text: Li Qi, chancellor of Later Liang (d. 930)

title: 871

date: October 20

text: October 20 – Zhu Youzhen, emperor of Later Liang (d. 923)

title: AD 888

date: June 1

text: June 1 – Zhu Quanzhong (Zhu Wen) usurps the throne and proclaims himself the first emperor of Later Liang. China is controlled by successive short-lived kingdoms (until 960).

title: 907

date: March 26

text: March 26 – Emperor Taizu (Zhu Wen) of Later Liang has the 15-year-old Li Zhu, the last Tang Dynasty emperor, poisoned. Li Zhu receives the posthumous name of Ai ("lamentable").

title: 908

date: July 18

text: July 18 – Emperor Taizu (Zhu Wen) is murdered in the imperial palace at Kaifeng by his eldest living son Zhu Yougui after a 5-year reign. He succeeds his father as the ruler of Later Liang.

title: 912

date: May 25

text: May 25 – Xue Yiju, chancellor of Later Liang

title: 912

date: March 27

text: March 27 – Du Xiao, chancellor of Later Liang

title: 913

text: The Later Liang Dynasty reports that all "barbarian" tribes have been pacified by the Khitan Empire.

title: 921

text: Liu Xun, general of Later Liang (b. 858)

title: 921

date: May 13

text: May 13 – The Later Liang, one of the Five Dynasties in China, falls to Later Tang (founded by Li Cunxu). Li proclaims himself emperor and moves his residence back to the old Tang capital of Luoyang.

title: 923

date: November 20

text: November 20 – Li Zhen, official of Later Liang

title: 923

date: June 19

text: June 19 – Xiao Qing, chancellor of Later Liang (b. 862)

title: 930

text: Dai Siyuan, general of Later Liang (Five Dynasties)

title: 935


slug: later-tang

label: Later Tang

description: empire and dynasty of China during the 10th-century Five Dynasties & Ten Kingdoms period

text: Li Cunshen, general of Later Tang (d. 924)

title: 862

text: Yao Yi, chancellor of Later Tang (d. 940)

title: 866

date: October 10

text: October 10 – Li Siyuan, emperor of Later Tang (d. 933)

title: 867

date: May 10

text: May 10 – Meng Zhixiang, general of Later Tang (d. 934)

title: 874

text: Xia Luqi, general of the Later Tang Dynasty (d. 930)

title: 882

date: February 11

text: February 11 – Li Congke, emperor of Later Tang (d. 937)

title: 885

text: Liu Xu, chancellor of Later Tang and Later Jin (d. 947)

title: AD 888

text: Li Conghou, emperor of Later Tang (d. 934)

title: 914

title: 923

text: Emperor Zhuang Zong of Later Tang bestows the chancellor title on Gao Jixing (Prince of Nanping) and creates the Nanping State (Central China). The Qi State falls to Later Tang.

title: 924

section: Conflict & Security

date: January 20

text: January 20 – China's Emperor Zhuangzong reverses an initial decision to spare the life of General Li Jitao after discovering that Li is continuing to plot the overthrow of the government, and has Li executed.

title: 924

section: Events › January—March

text: January 20 – Li Jitao, general of Later Tang

title: 924

text: Winter – Former Shu, one of the Ten Kingdoms in China, is invaded by Later Tang forces of Emperor Zhuang Zong, who incorporates the kingdom into his domains.

title: 925

date: December 15

text: December 15 — At Chengdu, capital of the Former Shu dynasty state in China, the Later Tang dynasty generals Li Jiji and Guo Chongtao accept the surrender of the surviving Shu official, Li Yan, representative of the Shu Emperor Wang Zongyan.

title: 925

section: Events › By date › July – December

date: December 28

text: December 28 — In China, Guo Chongtao, military commander of the Later Tang dynasty that rules from what is now the Henan province, has his deputy commanders Wang Zongbi, Wang Zongxun and Wang Zongwo arreted and executed on accusations of disloyalty, after receiving permission from Prince Li Jiji, 13 days after their victory over the Former Shu kingdom.

title: 925

date: May 23

text: May 23 – At Luoyang, Zhao Guangyin, the Grand Chancellor (equivalent to a Prime Minister) of the Emperor Li Cunxu of Later Tang dynasty China, dies. Zhao's duties are assumed by Li Cunxu's son, Prince Li Siyuan.

title: 925

section: Events › By date › January – June

text: May 23 – Zhao Guangyin, chancellor of Later Tang

title: 925

date: May 15

text: May 15 – Emperor Zhuang Zong is killed during an officer's rebellion led by Guo Congqian at the old Tang capital of Luoyang. He is succeeded by his adoptive brother Li Siyuan (Ming Zong) as ruler of Later Tang. Li sends Yao Kun, as an emissary, to create a friendly relationship with the Khitan Empire.

title: 926

text: May 15 – Zhuang Zong, emperor of Later Tang (b. 885)

title: 926

date: August 24

text: August 24 – Doulu Ge, chancellor of Later Tang

title: 927

text: Xia Luqi, general of Later Tang (b. 882)

title: 930

text: Li Congyi (Prince of Xu), prince of Later Tang (d. 947)

title: 931

date: May 18

text: May 18 – Ma Shaohong, general of Later Tang

title: 932

date: December 9

text: December 9 – Li Congrong, prince of Later Tang

title: 933

date: March 16

text: March 16 – Meng Zhixiang, a military governor (jiedushi), declares himself emperor (formally called "Gaozu") and establishes Later Shu as a new Chinese state, independent of Later Tang. He dies after a short-lived five-month reign and is succeeded by his son Meng Chang.

title: 934

date: May 16

text: May 16 – Meng Hanqiong, eunuch official of Later Tang

title: 934

date: December 25

text: December 25 – Zhang Jingda, general of Later Tang

title: 936

text: November 28 – Shi Jingtang is enthroned as the first emperor of the Later Jin by Tai Zong, ruler of the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty, following a revolt against his rival, emperor Fei of Later Tang.

title: 936

text: Winter – The Later Tang falls to the Later Jin (during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period) founded by Emperor Shi Jingtang (posthumously known as "Gaozu of Jin").

title: 937

text: January 11 – Cao, empress of Later Tang

title: 937

date: June 23

text: June 23 – Li Congyi, prince of Later Tang (b. 931)

title: 947


slug: later-yan

label: Later Yan

description: dynastic state in Northeast China (384-409 CE)

text: Murong Bao, Chinese emperor of Later Yan (d. 398)

title: 355

text: Murong Hui, Chinese general and prince of the Later Yan Dynasty (d. 397)

title: 373

text: Following Former Qin's defeat at the Battle of Fei River, Murong Chui, Murong Hong, and Yao Chang declares themselves emperors of Later Yan, Western Yan, and Later Qin respectively, precipitating the disintegration of Former Qin.

title: 384

text: Murong Xi, emperor of the Xianbei state Later Yan (d. 407)

title: 385

date: December 8

text: December 8 – Later Yan is defeated by its former vassal Northern Wei at the Battle of Canhe Slope, during the Southern and Northern Dynasties period of China.

title: 395

text: Murong Chui, general and founder of Later Yan (b. 326)

title: 396

text: Murong Hui, imperial prince of Later Yan (b. 373)

title: 397

date: May 27

text: May 27 – Murong Bao, emperor of the Xianbei state Later Yan (b. 355)

title: 398

text: Murong Sheng, emperor of the Xianbei state Later Yan (b. 373)

title: 401

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

title: 402

text: Murong Xi, emperor of the Xianbei state Later Yan (b. 385)

title: 407


slug: later-zhao

label: Later Zhao

description: northern Chinese dynasty of the Sixteen Kingdoms (319–351)

text: Shi Hu, Chinese emperor of Later Zhao (d. 349)

title: 295

text: Shi Hong succeeds his father Shi Le as Emperor of the Later Zhao Empire, in the Period of the Sixteen Kingdoms, but Shi Hong's third cousin Shi Hu holds the real power. Empress Dowager Liu (widow of Shi Le) fails to get rid of Shi Hu, and Shi Hu has her deposed and killed.

title: 333

text: Liu, Chinese empress of the Jie State (or Later Zhao)

title: 333

text: Emperor Shi Hu moves the capital of the Later Zhao state to Yecheng.

title: 335

text: Cheng, Chinese empress dowager of the Later Zhao state

title: 335

text: Shi Shi, Chinese emperor of Later Zhao (d. 349)

title: 339

text: Kui An, Indian general and minister of Later Zhao

title: 340

text: Shi Hu, emperor of the Jie state Later Zhao since 334, dies. The state plunges into turmoil with his sons Shi Shi, Shi Zun, Shi Jian and Shi Zhi plotting against each other and holding the emperorship in rapid succession, before ethnic Han Ran Min establishes the short-lived Ran Wei dynasty in 350, bringing the Later Zhao dynasty to an end in 351 before it is itself conquered and divided by the Former Yan and Former Qin dynasties in 351.

title: 349

text: Shi Hu, emperor of the Jie state Later Zhao (b. 295)

title: 349

text: The Ran Wei-Later Zhao war breaks out in North China. Ethnic Han ruler Ran Min had used the infighting between the brothers who reigned in quick succession as emperors of the Jie state of the Later Zhao to assume power, establish the Ran Wei dynasty, have an alleged 200,000 non-Han subjects (mostly Jie and Xiongnu) massacred and end the Later Zhao dynasty. This situation will soon be exploited by the neighbouring state of Former Yan which expands from the northeast towards the Yellow River.

title: 350

text: Shi Jian, emperor of the Jie state Later Zhao.

title: 350

section: Deaths › Date unknown

text: Fú Jiàn, an ethnic Di, declares himself "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang) during the collapse of Later Zhao, and establishes Former Qin.

title: 351

text: Emperor Shi Zhi, last ruler of the Later Zhao dynasty, is killed by Ran Min's forces, an action that sets the stage for Wei's victory in the Ran Wei–Later Zhao war.

title: 351

text: Shi Zhi, Chinese prince and emperor of Later Zhao

title: 351


slug: later-zhou

label: Later Zhou

description: Chinese dynasty (951–960); fifth of the Five Dynasties

text: Wang Jun, chancellor of Later Zhou (or 903)

title: 902

text: Li Gu, chancellor of Later Zhou (d. 960)

title: 903

date: September 10

text: September 10 – Guo Wei, emperor of Later Zhou (d. 954)

title: 904

date: October 27

text: October 27 – Chai Rong, emperor of Later Zhou (d. 959)

title: 921

text: Fu (the Elder), empress consort of Later Zhou (d. 956)

title: 931

date: February 13

text: February 13 – Guo Wei, a court official, leads a military coup and declares himself emperor of the new Later Zhou. The 19-year-old Emperor Liu Chengyou is killed after a 3-year reign, ending the short-lived Later Han.

title: 951

date: February 22

text: February 22 – Guo Wei, emperor of the Later Zhou (b. 904)

title: 954

text: Emperor Chai Rong of the Later Zhou invades the Northern Han and the Khitan Empire in the Sixteen Prefectures (northern China), but is defeated.

title: 958

date: July 27

text: July 27 – Chai Rong, emperor of Later Zhou (b. 921)

title: 959

date: August 12

text: August 12 – Li Gu, chancellor of Later Zhou (b. 903)

title: 960


slug: latin-empire

label: Latin Empire

description: feudal Crusader state founded by the leaders of the Fourth Crusade on lands captured from the Byzantine Empire

text: Baldwin I, emperor of the Latin Empire (d. 1205)

title: 1172

text: Yolanda, empress of the Latin Empire (d. 1219)

title: 1175

section: Religion & Belief

text: May 16 – Baldwin, Count of Flanders, is crowned emperor of the Latin Empire a week after his election by the members of the Fourth Crusade.

title: 1204

section: Events

text: Summer – Battle of Koundouros: Byzantine forces (some 5,000 men) under Michael Doukas, governor of the Theme of the Peloponnese (and later Despot of Epirus), tries to stop the Latin army (some 700 knights and foot soldiers) at the Olive Grove of Koundouros. The Byzantines are defeated by William of Champlitte, who later founds the Principality of Achaea (a vassal state of the Latin Empire).

title: 1205

section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire

date: August 20

text: August 20 – Henry of Flanders is crowned as the second emperor of the Latin Empire, in the Hagia Sophia at Constantinople, after hearing of the death of his brother, Emperor Baldwin I, who has died in prison at Baldwin's Tower in Tsarevets Castle, in Veliko Tarnovo (after being captured by the Bulgarians in 1205). Upon Henry's ascension as Latin emperor, the Lombard nobles of the Kingdom of Thessalonica refuse to give him allegiance.

title: 1206

date: April 9

text: April 9 – Peter II of Courtenay is crowned emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople at Rome, by Pope Honorius III. Shortly after his coronation, Peter borrows some ships from the Venetians, promising in return to conquer Durazzo for them. He fails in this enterprise and seeks to make his way to Constantinople by land. On the journey, he is seized by troops of Theodore Komnenos Doukas, despot of Epirus, and is put in prison.

title: 1217

section: Events › Other events by place › Europe

text: Emperor Robert I (or Courtenay) dies after a 7-year reign in Morea (Southern Greece). He is succeeded by his 11-year-old brother, Baldwin II, as ruler of the Latin Empire in Constantinople, with John of Brienne as regent.

title: 1228

text: Siege of Constantinople: The Byzantine emperor John III Doukas Vatatzes and the Bulgarian tsar Ivan Asen II besiege Constantinople in an attempt to take it from its Latin rulers, John of Brienne and Baldwin II. Angelo Sanudo successfully negotiates a two-year truce.

title: 1235

date: March 13

text: March 13 – Treaty of Nymphaeum: Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos signs a trade and defense agreement with the Republic of Genoa, to counterweight the Venetian presence in the region. Genoa agrees to ally with the Empire of Nicaea, by providing a fleet of up to 50 galleys during the projected Nicaean siege of Constantinople, while 16 galleys are to be immediately sent against the Latin Empire.

title: 1261

text: May 27 – Treaty of Viterbo: Emperor Baldwin II of Constantinople gifts the Principality of Achaea to King Charles I of Sicily, in the hope that Charles can help him restore the Latin Empire.

title: 1267

date: July 3

text: July 3 – Treaty of Orvieto: Charles I, Giovanni Dandolo, doge of Venice, and Philip I, Latin emperor, make an agreement to recover the Latin Empire. The treaty is signed in the Papal Palace, which Martin IV has moved to Orvieto after Viterbo is placed under an interdict for imprisoning two cardinals.

title: 1281

text: September 10 – Philip of Anjou becomes Titular Emperor of Constantinople and Prince of Taranto.

title: 1364

section: Events › January–December

section: Culture & Society

date: October 20

text: October 20 – Philip of Anjou, Titular Emperor of Constantinople, marries his second wife Elizabeth of Slavonia (daughter of Stephen of Anjou and Margaret of Bavaria).

title: 1370

section: Events › October–December

section: Exploration & Expansion

date: November 25

text: November 25 – James of Baux succeeds his uncle, Philip II, as Prince of Taranto (modern-day eastern Italy) and titular ruler of the Latin Empire (northern Greece and western Turkey).

title: 1374

date: June 2

text: June 2 – Due to the support by Queen Joanna I of Naples for the antipope Clement VII, Pope Urban VI declares her cousin, Carlo di Durazzo to be the new ruler of the Kingdom of Naples. Afterward, with the help of the Hungarians, Charles advances on Naples and captures Joanna. James of Baux, the ruler of Taranto and the Latin Empire, claims the Principality of Achaea after Joanna's imprisonment.

title: 1381

section: Events › April–June

date: July 7

text: July 7 – James of Baux, ruler of Taranto and Achaea, and last titular Latin Emperor, dies childless. As a result, Charles III of Naples becomes ruler of Achaea (modern-day southern Greece); Otto, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, the widower of Joanna I of Naples, becomes ruler of Taranto (eastern Italy); and Louis I, Duke of Anjou inherits the claim to the Latin Empire (western Turkey), but never uses the title of Emperor.

title: 1383

section: Events › July–September


slug: latin

label: Latin

description: Indo-European language of the Italic branch

year_label: 670 BCE

text: Mettius Fufetius, Latin king of Alba Longa

title: 670 BC

year_label: 268 BCE

text: The Romans found a colony at Malventum which they, for superstitious reasons, call Beneventum (since male means bad and bene means good in Latin).

title: 268 BC

section: Events › By place › Roman Republic

year_label: 240 BCE

section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: The first Latin tragedy by Livius Andronicus, Achilles, is first produced.

title: 240 BC

section: Events › By topic › Literature

year_label: 235 BCE

text: A work by the Latin epic poet and dramatist Gnaeus Naevius is performed for the first time.

title: 235 BC

year_label: 201 BCE

text: Gnaeus Naevius, Latin epic poet and dramatist of the Old Latin period, who invented a new genre of written historical plays called fabulae praetextae, which are based on Roman historical or legendary figures and events (b. c. 264 BC).

title: 201 BC

year_label: 184 BCE

text: Titus Macchius Plautus, Roman comic dramatist, whose works, loosely adapted from Greek plays, established a truly Roman drama in the Latin language (b. c. 254 BC)

title: 184 BC

year_label: 169 BCE

text: Quintus Ennius, Roman epic poet, dramatist, and satirist, the most influential of the early Latin poets – and often called the founder of Roman literature or the father of Roman poetry. His epic Annales, a poem telling the story of Rome from the wanderings of Aeneas to Ennius' own time, remains the national epic until it is later eclipsed by Virgil's Aeneid.

title: 169 BC

year_label: 159 BCE

text: Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Roman comic dramatist, the author of six verse comedies that are long regarded as models of pure Latin (b. c. 195 BC) (approximate date).

title: 159 BC

year_label: 105 BCE

section: Births

text: Decimus Laberius, Roman nobleman and Latin writer (d. 43 BC)

title: 105 BC

year_label: 94 BCE

text: The first (failed) attempt to open a Latin rhetorical school.

title: 94 BC

year_label: 82 BCE

text: Quintus Valerius Soranus, Roman politician and Latin poet (executed by order of Sulla)

title: 82 BC

year_label: 14 BCE

text: Lucius Varius Rufus, Roman Latin poet and writer

title: 14 BC

year_label: 12 BCE

text: Sextius Propertius, Roman Latin poet and writer (b. c. 50–45 BC)

title: 12 BC

year_label: 4 CE

text: AD 4 – Columella, Roman Latin writer (d. AD 70)

title: 0s

year_label: 17 CE

text: Gaius Julius Hyginus, Roman Latin writer

title: 10s

section: Deaths › 17 AD

year_label: 38 CE

text: Marcus Valerius Martialis, Roman Latin poet (approximate date)

title: 30s

section: Births › 38 AD

text: Calcidius translates Plato into Latin.

title: 321

section: Events › By topic › Art and Science

text: Jerome, having finished the Latin translation of the New Testament, begins translating the Old Testament.

title: 390

section: Events › By topic › Religion

text: Jerome's Vulgate translation of the Bible into Latin is completed by his translations of the Tanakh from the Hebrew language.

title: 405

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: Emperor Leo I signs a peace treaty with the Ostrogoths. King Theodemir sends his son, the future Theodoric the Great, age 5, as a child hostage to Constantinople. He learns at court about Latin, military tactics and religion (until 469).

title: 459

section: Events › By place › Roman Empire

text: Venantius Fortunatus, Latin poet and bishop (approximate date) (d. 600)

title: 530

text: Venantius Fortunatus, Latin poet and bishop (or 600)

title: 609

date: October 3

text: October 3 – Heraclian revolt: Heraclius arrives with a fleet from Africa at Constantinople. Assisted by an uprising in the capital, he overthrows and personally beheads Emperor Phocas. Heraclius gains the throne with help from his father Heraclius the Elder. His first major act is to change the official language of the Byzantine Empire from Latin to Greek (already the language of the vast majority of the population).

title: 610

text: King Rothari of the Lombards issues the Edictum Rothari, which is the first codification of Lombard law (written in Latin). The edict guarantees rights only for Lombard subjects.

title: 643

section: Events › By place › Europe

text: King Ratchis codifies the Lombard laws, promulgated in Latin, and advised by his council and the Lombard army (approximate date).

title: 746

date: March 4

text: March 4 – Trpimir I, duke (knez) of Croatia, and founder of the Trpimirović dynasty, issues a first state document in Bijaći of all Slavonic peoples. In this Latin document Trpimir refers to himself as the "duke of the Croats" (dux Chroatorum), and to his country as the "state of the Croats" (regnum Chroatorum).

title: 852

text: Pope John VIII issues the bull Industriae Tuae, creating an independent ecclesiastical province in Great Moravia, with archbishop Methodius as its head. Old Church Slavonic is recognized as the fourth liturgical language, besides Latin, Greek and Hebrew.

title: 880

date: October 26

text: October 26 – King Alfred the Great dies after a 28-year reign in which he has forced invading Danish Vikings to withdraw, consolidated England around Wessex, divided parts of Mercia into shires, compiled the best laws of earlier kings, encouraged learning by bringing famous scholars to Wessex and made his own translations of Latin works. He is succeeded by his eldest son, Edward the Elder as king of Wessex.

title: 899

section: Events › By place › Britain

text: The Book of Healing (Arabic: کتاب الشفاء Kitab Al-Shifaʾ, Latin: Sufficientia), a comprehensive scientific and philosophical encyclopedia written by the Persian polymath Avicenna (Abū ʿAlī ibn Sīnā), is published.

title: 1027

section: Events › By topic › Science, technology and medicine

text: King Alfonso VI ("the Brave") of León and Castile establishes Latin liturgy in the Catholic Church, in place of the Hispanic Rite.

title: 1080

section: Science & Discovery

text: Adelard of Bath, an English philosopher, translates Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī's arithmetic and astronomical works into Latin.

title: 1126

text: Robert of Ketton makes the first European translation of the Qur'an for Peter the Venerable, Lex Mahumet pseudoprophete, into Latin.

title: 1143

text: Adam of Saint Victor, French Latin poet and composer

title: 1146

date: March 6

text: March 6 – University of Paris strike: Students begin to riot, after a dispute over a bill with a tavern proprietor. Queen Blanche of Castile demands retribution, and allows the city guard to punish the student rioters. She puts an economic strain upon the student quarter of Paris (the Latin Quarter), where Latin is commonly heard in the streets.

title: 1229

text: Witelo translates Alhazen's 200-year-old treatise on optics, Kitab al-Manazir, from Arabic into Latin, bringing the work to European academic circles for the first time.

title: 1270

section: Events › Europe

date: March 7

text: March 7 – The Catholicon, a religious Latin dictionary, is completed by John of Genoa.

title: 1286

section: Events › By topic › Art and culture

text: Marsilio Ficino's translation of the Corpus Hermeticum into Latin, De potestate et sapientia Dei, is published.

title: 1471

section: Events › Date unknown

date: February 12

text: February 12 – The first complete inside edition of Avicenna's The Canon of Medicine (Latin translation) is published in Milan.

title: 1473

section: Events › January–March

text: c. December – Thomas More's most famous work, Utopia, completed this year, is published in Leuven (in Latin).

title: 1516

text: Chinese Rites controversy: Rome decrees that Roman ceremonial practice in Latin (not in Chinese) is to be the law for Chinese missions.

title: 1704

text: March 25 – English replaces Latin and Law French as the official language of English and Scottish courts following the enforcement of the Proceedings in Courts of Justice Act 1730.

title: 1733

text: February 2 – In a speech before The Asiatic Society in Calcutta, Sir William Jones notes the formal resemblances between Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit, laying the foundation for comparative linguistics and Indo-European studies.

title: 1786

text: November 1 – Turkey passes a law switching the country from the Arabic to the Latin-based modern Turkish alphabet.

title: 1928


slug: latium

label: Latium

description: historical Italian region

year_label: 493 BCE

text: During his second consulate, the Roman consul Spurius Cassius Vecellinus concludes a treaty with the Latin League, the Foedus Cassianum, confirming Roman primacy in Latium.

title: 493 BC

section: Events › By place › Roman Republic

year_label: 446 BCE

section: Conflict & Security

text: In the Battle of Corbione, Titus Quinctius Capitolinus Barbatus leads Roman troops to a victory over the Aequi of north-east Latium and the Volsci of southern Latium.

title: 446 BC

year_label: 313 BCE

text: The Samnites take Fregellae in Latium, the Roman dictator Gaius Poetelius Libo Visolus marches his army from Rome and moves to retake it, but the Samnites leave at night; Visolus places a garrison in the city.

title: 313 BC

section: Events › By place › Italy

year_label: 280 BCE

section: Crime & Justice

text: Roman commander and statesman, Gaius Fabricius Luscinus, is sent to negotiate the ransom and exchange of prisoners. Pyrrhus is so impressed by Fabricius refusing to accept a bribe, that Pyrrhus releases the prisoners without the requirement of a ransom. Following his victory, Pyrrhus advances as far north as Latium.

title: 280 BC

year_label: 124 BCE

text: Fregellae's revolt against Rome begins in Latium. Later the city is captured and destroyed by the Romans.

title: 124 BC

text: Gaius Marius the Younger is besieged at the fortress city of Praeneste in Latium. After a fierce resistance, Marius commits suicide.

title: 82 BC

text: Gothic War: King Totila establishes his military base at Tivoli (Central Italy), and prepares a campaign to reconquer the region of Latium.

title: 545

section: Religion & Belief

text: King Liutprand of the Lombards occupies all of the Exarchate of Ravenna. He advances towards Rome along the Via Cassia, and is met at the city of Sutri by Pope Gregory II, near the borders of the Duchy of Rome. Liutprand signs the Donation of Sutri, by which parts of Latium are given to the papacy (the first extension of papal territory in Italy). This marks the historical foundation of the Papal States.

title: 728


slug: latvia

label: Latvia

description: sovereign state in northeastern Europe

date: February 2

text: February 2 – Terra Mariana (or Medieval Livonia), comprising modern-day Estonia and Latvia, is established as a principality of the Holy Roman Empire. During its existence there is a constant struggle over supremacy between the lands ruled by the Teutonic Order, the secular German nobility, and the citizens of the Hanseatic towns of Riga and Reval.

title: 1207

date: December 4

text: December 4 – The Livonian Confederation, with a capital at Valka (now on the border of Latvia and Lithuania) is formed by an agreement signed at Valka by the Archbishop of Riga; Courland; the Dorpat; the Ösel–Wiek and bishops of Courland, Dorpat, Ösel-Wiek and Reval; the representatives of the Livonian Order and its vassals; and the deputies of Riga, Reval and Dorpat city municipal councils.

title: 1435

section: Events › October–December

date: August 7

text: August 7 – The Treaty of Mozhaysk is signed between Denmark and Russia to avoid going to war against each other over the Kingdom of Livonia, now divided into Estonia and Latvia.

title: 1562

section: Events › July–September

date: January 15

text: January 15 – Russia cedes its conquered areas in Livonia (Northern Latvia and Southern Estonia), to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

title: 1582

date: June 11

text: June 11 – Walk (modern-day Valka and Valga, towns in Latvia and Estonia respectively), receives city rights from Polish king Stefan Bathory.

title: 1584

section: Events › April–June

date: June 23

text: June 23 – Polish–Swedish War (1600–1611): The Battle of Kokenhausen is fought at Koknese in Livonia (now Latvia) after Swedish troops had invaded the Lithuanian territory). The Polish hussars, commanded by Prince Krzysztof Radziwill, overwhelm a numerically superior force of Swedish attackers led by General Carl Gyllenhielm, and over 2,000 Swedish soldiers are killed.

title: 1601

date: January 7

text: January 7 – Polish-Swedish War: Battle of Wallhof in Latvia – Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, defeats a Polish army.

title: 1626

date: August 14

text: August 14 – In one of the first battles of the Russo-Swedish War, Russian troops capture the Swedish-controlled city of Kokenhusen in Swedish Livonia (Latvia). Tsar Alexis, ruler of the Russian Empire and the leader of the Russian troops in battle, renames Kokenhausen "Tsarevich-Dmitriev" in honor of his late first-born son. Russia holds the city for more than 30 years before it is ceded back to Sweden. Kokenhusen is now the Latvian town of Koknese.

title: 1656

date: December 20

text: December 20 – Representatives of the Russian Empire and the Swedish Empire sign the Treaty of Valiesar at the Valiesar Estate near Narva, part of modern-day Estonia. In return for ceasing hostilities between the two empires in the Second Northern War, Russia is allowed to keep captured territories in Livonia (part of modern-day Latvia) for a term of three years.

title: 1658

section: Climate & Environment

text: The Great Famine of 1695–1697 begins as the Great Famine of Estonia (1695–97) in Swedish Estonia and spreads across Finland, Latvia, Norway and Sweden, while the "seven ill years" of famine in Scotland are ongoing.

title: 1695

date: February 22

text: February 22 (Gregorian), February 12 (Julian) – The Great Northern War begins with a joint invasion of Swedish territory in Germany and Latvia, by Denmark and Poland/Saxony. Sweden has control of the Baltic Sea and holds territory that includes Finland, Estonia, Latvia and parts of northern Germany. To challenge its power, an alliance is formed between Tsar Peter I of Russia, King Frederick IV of Denmark and Augustus II the Strong, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony. Sweden's ruler is the militaristic Charles XII, known as the "Swedish Meteor".

title: 1700

date: July 26

text: July 26 – Great Northern War: At the Battle of Gemauerthof, fought in modern-day Latvia, Swedish forces under the command of General Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt overwhelm a much larger force of Russian troops commanded by Count Boris Sheremetev, killing 2,000 Russians and wounding as many as 3,000.

title: 1705

text: July 3 – Estonian and Latvian Wars of Independence: The pro-German Baltische Landeswehr signs a peace treaty with Estonia and Latvia. The pro-German Prime Minister of Latvia Andrievs Niedra resigns, and Latvian forces take over Riga on July 8.

title: 1919

section: Events › July

date: June 5

text: June 5 – Estonian and Latvian Wars of Independence: The advancing pro-German Baltische Landeswehr initiates war against Estonia in Northern Latvia.

title: 1919

section: Events › June

date: February 9

text: February 9 – "Litvinov's Pact" is signed in Moscow by the Soviet Union, Poland, Estonia, Romania and Latvia, who agree not to use force to settle disputes between themselves.

title: 1929

section: Events › February

date: May 15

text: May 15 – Kārlis Ulmanis establishes an authoritarian government in Latvia.

title: 1934

section: Events › May–June

section: Disasters & Accidents

text: June 11 – Fire destroys 214 buildings in Ludza, Latvia.

title: 1938

date: August 23

text: August 23 – The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact is signed between Germany and the Soviet Union, a neutrality treaty that also agrees to division of spheres of influence (Finland, Estonia, Latvia, eastern Poland and Bessarabia (modern-day Moldova), north-east province of Romania to the Soviet Union; Lithuania and western Poland to Germany). Its annex reassigns Lithuania to the Soviet Union.

title: 1939

section: Events › August

date: June

text: Occupation of the Baltic states: The Soviet Union occupies Estonia and Latvia.

title: 1940

date: June 14

text: June 14 – June deportation: Soviet officials deport about 65,000 people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to Siberia.

title: 1941

section: Health & Medicine

date: March 25

text: March 25 – Operation Priboi: An extensive deportation campaign begins in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The Soviet authorities deport more than 92,000 people from the Baltic states to remote areas of the Soviet Union.

title: 1949

section: Events › March

text: August 23 – Singing Revolution: Two million indigenous people of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania join hands to demand freedom and independence from Soviet occupation, forming an uninterrupted 600 km human chain called the Baltic Way.

title: 1989

date: October 15

text: October 15 – The leaders of the Baltic States—Arnold Rüütel of Estonia, Anatolijs Gorbunovs of Latvia, and the Vytautas Landsbergis of Lithuania—sign the OSCE Final Act in Helsinki, Finland.

title: 1991

section: Events › October

date: August 31

text: August 31 – The Russian Army leaves Estonia and Latvia, ending the last traces of Eastern Europe's Soviet occupation.

title: 1994

section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: The first SampTA conference for mathematicians, engineers and applied scientists is held in Riga, Latvia.

title: 1995

date: April 16

text: April 16 – The Treaty of Accession is signed in Athens between the European Union and ten countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia), concerning these countries' accession into the EU, leading to the 2004 enlargement of the European Union.

title: 2003

section: Events › April

date: March 29

text: March 29 – Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia are admitted to NATO, the largest expansion of the organization.

title: 2004

date: December 21

text: December 21 – The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia join the Schengen border-free zone.

title: 2007

section: Events › December

date: March 27

text: March 27 – Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvītis and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov sign a border treaty between Latvia and Russia, officially demarcating the border between the two.

title: 2007

date: July 1

text: July 1 – Latvia becomes the 35th member of the OECD.

title: 2016


slug: lazic-war

label: Lazic War

description: war fought for the Lazica region

section: Conflict & Security

text: Lazic War: King Khosrau I intervenes in Lazica (modern Georgia), and supports the weakened king Gubazes II against a full-scale uprising. He sends an expeditionary force under Mermeroes and captures the Byzantine stronghold of Petra, located on the coast of the Black Sea, which provides the Persians a strategic port.

title: 541

section: Events › By place › Persia

text: Lazic War – Justinian I sends a Byzantine army (30,000 men) to Armenia. The Persians, severely outnumbered, are forced to retreat, but at Dvin the Byzantines are defeated by a force of 4,000 men in an ambush, and are completely routed.

title: 542

section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire

text: Lazic War: King Gubazes II revolts against the Persians, and requests aid from Justinian I. He sends a Byzantine expeditionary force (8,000 men) to Lazica (modern Georgia).

title: 548

text: Spring – Lazic War: The Byzantine army under Bessas combines forces with King Gubazes II, and defeats the Persians in Lazica (modern Georgia) in a surprise attack. The survivors retreat into Caucasian Iberia.

title: 549

text: Spring – Lazic War - Siege of Petra (550–551): The Byzantine army and their Sabir allies (some 6,000 men) under Bessas recapture the strategic Byzantine fortress of Petra, located on the coast of the Black Sea. He orders the city walls razed to the ground.

title: 551

text: Summer – Lazic War: The Byzantine army under Bessas is repulsed, and forced to retreat out of Archaeopolis (Georgia).

title: 555

text: Lazic War: A Byzantine expeditionary force under Justin retakes Archaeopolis (modern Georgia), and routs the Persian army.

title: 556

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: End of the Lazic War: In the Fifty-Year Peace Treaty, King Khosrau I recognises Lazica as a Byzantine vassal state for an annual payment of 5,000 pounds of gold each year.

title: 562


slug: lazica

label: Lazica

description: former country

title: 541

title: 548

title: 549

text: Emperor Justinian I appoints Bessas commander (magister militum) of Armenia, and entrusts him with the war in Lazica (Georgia).

title: 550

section: Religion & Belief

text: The churches of Lazica (Georgia) and Armenia split. While the Armenian Church remains independent, the Georgian church unites with the Byzantine Empire. This ecclesiastical union deepens political and cultural contact between the two states. As a sign of Lazica's status vis-à-vis Byzantium, Lazic princes are vested with honorific titles of the Byzantine court, including kouropalates, or "minister of the imperial palace" (approximate date).

title: 550

section: Events › By topic › Religion

section: Deaths

date: September

text: September/October - Gubazes II, king of Lazica (Georgia)

title: 555

text: Siege of Phasis: The Persians are defeated at the besieged town of Phasis in Lazica, held by the Byzantines.

title: 556

section: Exploration & Expansion

text: The Avars arrive in the northern region of the Caucasus, between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. They send envoys to the Byzantines in Lazica (modern Georgia). Like the Huns, the Avars are the former elite of a central Asian federation, which has been forced to flee westwards.

title: 557

section: Events › By place › Europe

text: Emperor Justinian I signs a peace treaty with the Sasanid Empire. The status quo ante is restored, with Lazica (modern Georgia) in Byzantine hands.

title: 562

date: August 13

text: August 13 – Maximus the Confessor, Byzantine monk and theologian, dies in exile in Lazica (modern Georgia), on the southeastern shore of the Black Sea.

title: 662


slug: le-havre

label: Le Havre

description: commune in Seine-Maritime, France

date: October 4

text: October 4 – English forces under Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick, land at Le Havre to aid the Huguenots against the French Crown.

title: 1562

section: Events › October–December

date: July 28

text: July 28 – The English surrender Le Havre to the French after a siege.

title: 1563

section: Events › July–September

date: March 19

text: March 19 – The Edict of Amboise is signed at the Château d'Amboise by Catherine de' Medici, acting as regent for her son Charles IX of France, having been negotiated between the Huguenot Louis I, Prince of Condé, and Anne, duc de Montmorency, Constable of France. It accords some toleration to the Huguenots, especially to aristocrats. It officially ends the first phase of the French Wars of Religion, and the combined Huguenot and royal armies then march north to besiege the English in Le Havre.

title: 1563

section: Events › January–March

date: April 20

text: April 20 – French explorer René Goulaine de Laudonnière and a group of 300 Huguenot Protestants depart from Le Havre on three ships (L'Élisabeth, Le Faucon and Le Breton) to colonize what is now the U.S. state of Florida.

title: 1564

section: Events › April–June

date: July 10

text: July 10 – Visit of the Marquis de Lafayette to the United States: Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette and a beloved hero of the American Revolution, departs from the port of Le Havre in France on the ship Cadmus for a triumphant return to the United States; he arrives in New York on August 15.

title: 1824

section: Crime & Justice

date: November 13

text: November 13 – Claude Monet begins painting Impression, Sunrise (Impression, soleil levant, the painting that will give a name to Impressionism) as viewed from his hotel room at Le Havre in France.

title: 1872

section: Events › November

section: Disasters & Accidents

date: July 4

text: July 4 – En route from New York to Le Havre, the ocean liner collides with another ship and sinks with the loss of 549 lives. It is considered one of the worst maritime disasters in history

title: 1898

section: Events › July

date: August 3

text: August 3 – WWI: Australian hospital ship is torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel on passage from Le Havre to Southampton by German submarine with the loss of 123 of the 801 people on board.

title: 1918

date: June 15

text: June 15 – Compagnie Générale Transatlantique's liner makes her maiden voyage from Le Havre to New York.

title: 1921

section: Events › June

date: May 29

text: May 29 – The French Compagnie Générale Transatlantique ocean liner sets out on her maiden voyage from Le Havre to New York, which she will reach in 4 days, 3 hours and 14 minutes, taking the Blue Riband; she gains the eastbound record on her return passage.

title: 1935

section: Events › May

section: Culture & Society

date: December 24

text: December 24 – Leading Korean dancer Choi Seung-hee arrives in Le Havre, France after her tour in the United States. This is to begin her European tour in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands. She is the first Korean Wave entertainer.

title: 1938


slug: le-hoan

label: Lê Hoàn

description: Vietnamese emperor and founder of the Early Lê dynasty

section: Births

text: Lê Hoàn, emperor of the Early Lê Dynasty (Vietnam) (d.1005)

title: 941

section: Conflict & Security

text: Song–Đại Cồ Việt war: Đại Cồ Việt under King Lê Đại Hành defeated the invasion of the Song.

title: 981

section: Events › By place › Asia

text: In Vietnam during the Early Le dynasty, provincial governor Dương Tiến Lộc seized control of the two provinces Hoan and Ái in an attempt to request annexation to Champa, which was rejected. He then rebelled against the emperor but was quickly suppressed within the same year, resulting in heavy civilian casualties in both provinces.

title: 989

section: Events › Asia

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: Emperor Lê Đại Hành personally led a campaign to conquer four tribes Đại, Phát, Đan and Ba in Ma Hoàng. The tribes were defeated and their lands then belonged to the Early Lê dynasty.

title: 996

text: Emperor Lê Đại Hành personally led a campaign to conquer a total of 49 tribes in Hà Động. The Nhật Tắc tribe and others in Định Biên province were defeated, while the remaining tribes capitulated to the emperor.

title: AD 999

text: In Vietnam during the Early Lê dynasty, a rebellion broke out in Cử Long in Thanh Hóa province against king Lê Đại Hành. Former emperor Đinh Phế Đế, who was a general under Đại Hành's reign, died in the battle while suppressing that rebellion.

title: 1001

section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: Emperor Lê Hoàn of the Anterior Lê dynasty ordered the excavation of the Đa Cái Canal and quelled the rebellions of the Đa Cái people.

title: 1003

text: Lê Trung Tông succeeds his father Lê Hoàn as emperor of the early Lê dynasty (modern Vietnam), preceding anarchy and 8 months succession war with other princes. Lê Ngoạ Triều succeeded his brother Lê Trung Tông, by assassinating him after just a 3 day reign.

title: 1005

text: Lê Hoàn, emperor of the Early Lê dynasty (b. 941)

title: 1005


slug: league-of-nations

label: League of Nations

description: 20th-century international organisation, predecessor to the United Nations

date: January 25

text: January 25 – The League of Nations is founded in Paris, France.

title: 1919

section: Events › January

date: June 28

text: June 28 – The International Labour Organization (ILO) is established as an agency of the League of Nations.

title: 1919

date: May 30

text: May 30 – By agreement with the United Kingdom, later confirmed by the League of Nations, Belgium is given the mandate over part of German East Africa (Ruanda-Urundi).

title: 1919

section: Religion & Belief

date: November 17

text: November 17 – The council of the League of Nations accepts the constitution for the Free City of Danzig.

title: 1920

date: October 27

text: October 27 – The League of Nations moves its headquarters to Geneva, Switzerland.

title: 1920

section: Events › October

date: June 21

text: June 21 – The International Hydrographic Bureau (IHB) is established as an agency of the League of Nations; it continues in this form until April 19, 1946.

title: 1921

date: September 11

text: September 11 – The Mandate of Palestine is approved by the Council of the League of Nations.

title: 1922

section: Events › September

date: August 31

text: August 31 – The Italian navy occupies Corfu, in retaliation for the murder of an Italian officer. The League of Nations protests, and the occupation ends on September 30.

title: 1923

section: Events › July–August

date: September 10

text: September 10 – The Irish Free State joins the League of Nations.

title: 1923

section: Events › September–October

date: October 2

text: October 2 – The Geneva Protocol is adopted by the League of Nations Assembly as a means to strengthen the League, but later fails to be ratified.

title: 1924

date: September 25

text: September 25 – The League of Nations Slavery Convention abolishes all types of slavery.

title: 1926

date: September 8

text: September 8 – The German Weimar Republic joins the League of Nations.

title: 1926

text: September 25 – A treaty signed by the League of Nations Slavery Commission abolishes all types of slavery.

title: 1927

section: Economy & Finance

text: March 27 – Japan announces it will leave the League of Nations (due to a cancellation period of exactly two years, the egression becomes effective March 27, 1935).

title: 1933

section: Events › March

date: January 1

text: January 1 – The International Telecommunication Union, a specialist agency of the League of Nations, is established.

title: 1934

section: Events › January–February

date: September 19

text: September 19 – The Soviet Union joins the League of Nations.

title: 1934

date: September 28

text: September 28 – Afghanistan joins the League of Nations.

title: 1934

date: December 11

text: December 11 – Italy withdraws from the League of Nations.

title: 1937

section: Events › December

date: February 21

text: February 21 – The League of Nations Non-Intervention Committee prohibits foreign nationals from fighting in the Spanish Civil War.

title: 1937

section: Events › February

date: September 21

text: September 21 – Winston Churchill warns of grave consequences to European security, if Czechoslovakia is partitioned. The same day, Soviet Foreign Commissar Maxim Litvinov makes a similar statement in the League of Nations.

title: 1938

date: December 14

text: December 14 – WWII: Winter War – The League of Nations expels the USSR for attacking Finland.

title: 1939

date: April 18

text: April 18 – The League of Nations, in its last meeting, transfers its mission to the United Nations and disbands itself.

title: 1946

section: Events › April