slug: lebanon

label: Lebanon

description: country in West Asia

section: Conflict & Security

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

title: 269

section: Events › By place › Near East

text: The Maronite Church is founded by Saint Maron in Lebanon.

title: 375

section: Events › By topic › Religion

text: Emperor Justinian II negotiates a peace treaty with the Umayyad Caliphate (resulting in caliph Abd al-Malik paying tribute). He removes 12,000 Christian Maronites, who continually resist the Arabs, from Lebanon. Justinian reinforces the Byzantine navy on Cyprus, and transfers cavalry troops from the Thracesian Theme in Anatolia to the Theme of Thrace in the Balkan Peninsula.

title: 687

section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire

section: Crime & Justice

text: The city of Baalbek (modern Lebanon) is sacked with great slaughter.

title: 748

section: Events › By place › Arabian Empire

text: Revolt of Tyre: The citizens of Tyre (modern Lebanon) revolt against the Fatimid Caliphate. Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah sends an expeditionary army and navy to blockade the city by land and sea.

title: 996

section: Events › By place › Africa

text: Summer – Revolt of Tyre: The city of Tyre (modern Lebanon) is stormed by forces of the Fatimid Caliphate. A Byzantine squadron attempts to reinforce but is repulsed by the Fatimid navy. The defenders are massacred or taken captive to Egypt. The Byzantine captives are executed.

title: 998

date: February 14

text: February 14 – The Crusaders under Raymond IV besiege the fortified town of Akkar – whose garrison is loyal to Jalal al-Mulk Abu'l-Hasan, emir of Tripoli (modern Lebanon). On May 13 after a 3-month siege the investment of Akkar is raised and Raymond orders the camp to be struck. The Crusader host, finally joined by the forces of Godfrey of Bouillon and Robert II, resumes his march southwards to Tripoli.

title: 1099

section: Events › By place › First Crusade

text: Siege of Tripoli: The Crusaders under Raymond IV begin the siege of Tripoli (modern Lebanon). The garrison calls for assistance, but a Seljuk relief army from Damascus and Homs is defeated by Raymond.

title: 1102

section: Events › By place › Levant

text: Autumn – Baldwin I hastens to Tyre (modern Lebanon) and begins the construction of a new fortress, known as Scandelion Castle, at the Ladder of Tyre, which completes the blockade of the town from the mainland.

title: 1116

date: June 10

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

title: 1179

section: Climate & Environment

date: May 20

text: May 20 – An earthquake shakes the Levant from Egypt to northern Iraq, causing severe damage in Palestine, Lebanon and western Syria, including the fortifications of the Crusader cities of Acre, Jaffa and Tyre.

title: 1202

section: Events › By place › Middle East

date: September 14

text: September 14 – The 18-year-old Maria of Montferrat marries the French nobleman John of Brienne, who brings a dowry of 40,000 silver pounds (from King Philip II and Pope Innocent III). On October 3, the couple is crowned as King and Queen of Jerusalem in the Crusader Cathedral of Tyre (modern Lebanon).

title: 1210

section: Exploration & Expansion

date: December

text: December – King John I of Jerusalem leads an expedition into Lebanon. On December 3, he undertakes fruitless assaults on Muslim fortresses and on Mount Tabor. Meanwhile, the Crusader army under Andrew II wanders across the Jordan Valley and up the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. During the occupation, Andrew spends his time collecting alleged relics. By the end of December, supplies run out, and the crusaders retreat to Acre.

title: 1217

section: Events › Fifth Crusade

date: August 24

text: August 24 – Battle of Mari: Mamluk forces (some 30,000 men) led by Baibars defeat the Armenian army in Cilicia, in retaliation for the support of the Mongol invasion in Syria. He expands his domain, capturing the city of Byblos (modern Lebanon) and the important castle of Toron from the Crusader States.

title: 1266

date: March

text: March – The 19-year-old King Henry II sends his younger brother Almalric, with a company of knights and 4 galleys to Tripoli (modern Lebanon). Meanwhile, many non-combatant citizens flee to Cyprus. The Mamluk army arrives before Tripoli and begins the attack with siege engines, while building buches (wooden defensive structures) outside the city on March 25.

title: 1289

date: June 5

text: June 5 – Jean de Lusignan, regent for the King of Cyprus, uses his navy to attack Sidon in what is now Lebanon, but is then forced to retreat because of a storm.

title: 1369

section: Events › April–June

date: November 1

text: November 1 – The Battle of Anjar is fought in modern-day Lebanon as the Druze emir Fakhr al-Din II defeats an invasion by Mustafa Pasha al-Hannaq, the Ottoman Governor of Damascus, and takes him prisoner.

title: 1623

section: Events › October–December

date: October 5

text: October 5 – Austria, Britain, France, Prussia and the Ottoman Empire form a commission to investigate the causes of the massacres of Maronite Christians, committed by Druzes in Lebanon earlier in the year.

title: 1860

date: January 6

text: January 6 – Ottoman troops clash with supporters of Maronite leader Youssef Bey Karam, at St. Doumit in Lebanon; the Ottomans are defeated.

title: 1866

date: January 31

text: January 31 – Maronite nationalist leader Youssef Bey Karam leaves Lebanon aboard a French ship for Algeria.

title: 1867

date: September 1

text: September 1 – Lebanon under the French Mandate gets its first constitution, thereby becoming a republic, with Charles Debbas as its president.

title: 1926

date: November 22

text: November 22 – Lebanon gains independence, upon the ending of the French Mandate.

title: 1943

section: Events › November

section: Culture & Society

date: December 3

text: December 3 – Lebanese University is founded in Lebanon.

title: 1951

date: October 13

text: October 13 – Saeb Salam forms a government in Lebanon.

title: 1970

date: October 3

text: October 3 – In Lebanon, the government of Prime Minister Rashid Karami resigns.

title: 1970

date: September 3

text: September 3–6 – Israeli forces fight Palestinian guerillas in southern Lebanon.

title: 1970

date: July 24

text: July 24 – Georgina Rizk of Lebanon is crowned Miss Universe 1971.

title: 1971

section: Events › July

date: April 13

text: April 13 – Bus massacre: The Kataeb militia kills 27 Palestinians during an attack on their bus in Ain El Remmeneh, Lebanon, triggering the Lebanese Civil War which lasts until 1990.

title: 1975

date: March 14

text: March 14 – Operation Litani: Israeli forces invade Lebanon.

title: 1978

section: Disasters & Accidents

date: December 15

text: December 15 – 1981 Iraqi embassy bombing in Beirut: An Islamic Dawa Party car bomb destroys the Iraqi Embassy in Lebanon, killing 61 people in one of the earliest significant post-World War II suicide attacks.

title: 1981

date: August 20

text: August 20 – Lebanese Civil War: A multinational force lands in Beirut to oversee the PLO withdrawal from Lebanon.

title: 1982

section: Events › August

date: June 6

text: June 6 – The 1982 Lebanon War begins: Israeli forces under Defense Minister Ariel Sharon invade southern Lebanon in their "Operation Peace for the Galilee," eventually reaching as far north as the capital Beirut. The United Nations Security Council votes to demand that Israel withdraw its troops from Lebanon.

title: 1982

section: Events › June

date: November 11

text: November 11 – In Lebanon, the first Tyre headquarters bombing kills between 89 and 102 people.

title: 1982

text: September 14 – Lebanese President-elect Bachir Gemayel is assassinated in Beirut.

title: 1982

date: September 23

text: September 23 – Amine Gemayel, brother of Bachir, is elected president of Lebanon.

title: 1982

text: May 17 – Lebanon, Israel, and the United States sign an agreement on Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.

title: 1983

text: February 14 – Lebanon hostage crisis: CNN reporter Jeremy Levin is freed from captivity in Lebanon.

title: 1985

text: February 16 – Israel begins withdrawing troops from Lebanon.

title: 1985

text: June 14 – TWA Flight 847, carrying 153 passengers from Athens to Rome, is hijacked by a Hezbollah fringe group. One passenger, U.S. Navy Petty Officer Robert Stethem, is killed. Greek police arrest a 65-year-old Lebanese suspect on September 21, 2019.

title: 1985

text: November 3 – Iran–Contra affair: The Lebanese magazine Ash-Shiraa reports that the United States has been selling weapons to Iran in secret, in order to secure the release of 7 American hostages held by pro-Iranian groups in Lebanon.

title: 1986

text: January 20 – Terry Waite, the special envoy of the Archbishop of Canterbury in Lebanon, is kidnapped in Beirut (released November 1991).

title: 1987

text: February 17 – U.S. Lieutenant Colonel William R. Higgins, serving with a United Nations group monitoring a truce in southern Lebanon, is kidnapped (and later killed by his captors).

title: 1988

text: July 31 – In Lebanon, Hezbollah announces that it has hanged U.S. Marine Lt. Col. William R. Higgins in retaliation for Israel's July 28 kidnapping of Hezbollah leader Abdel Karim Obeid. The same day, the United Nations Security Council passes United Nations Security Council Resolution 638, condemning the taking of hostages by both sides in the conflict.

title: 1989

text: March 14 – General Michel Aoun declares a "War of Liberation" to rid Lebanon of Syrian forces and their allies.

title: 1989

text: August 29 – Lebanon hostage crisis: Maronite general Michel Aoun leaves Lebanon on a French warship into exile.

title: 1991

text: November 18 – Lebanon hostage crisis: Kidnappers in Lebanon set Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite and academic Thomas Sutherland free.

title: 1991

text: April 11 – The Israeli government launches Operation Grapes of Wrath, consisting of massive attacks on Lebanon, in retaliation for "terrorist attacks", and sparking off a violent series of retaliations.

title: 1996

text: April 18 – Qana massacre: Over 100 Lebanese civilians are killed after Israel shells the United Nations compound in Qana.

title: 1996

text: February 4 – On their way to Lebanon, two Israeli troop-transport helicopters collide, killing all 73 on board.

title: 1997

text: April 26 – Cedar Revolution: Syria withdraws the last of its military garrison from Lebanon, ending its 29-year military occupation of the country.

title: 2005

text: August 4 – An explosion caused by unsafely stored ammonium nitrate kills at least 218 people, injures thousands, and severely damages the port in Beirut, Lebanon. Damage is estimated at $10–15 billion, and an estimated 300,000 people are left homeless. The following day, the Lebanese government declares a two-week state of emergency.

title: 2020

text: February 1 – Lebanese liquidity crisis: The central bank of Lebanon devalues the Lebanese pound by 90% amid an ongoing financial crisis.

title: 2023

text: August 25 – The Israel Defense Forces begin a series of preemptive strikes against targets in the south of Lebanon.

title: 2024

text: October 1 – The Israel Defense Forces invade southern Lebanon, escalating its conflict against Hezbollah.

title: 2024


slug: legio-ix-hispana

label: Legio IX Hispana

description: Roman legion

year_label: 58 BCE

section: Conflict & Security

text: Julius Caesar becomes a provincial governor (proconsul) and leads a Roman army (6 Roman legions; Legio VII, Legio VIII, Legio IX, Legio X, and newly levied Legio XI and Legio XII) into Gaul. He deploys auxiliaries as part of this army, including Balearic slingers, Numidian and Cretan archers, and Celtic/Gallic cavalry (such as the allied Aedui).

title: 58 BC

section: Events › By place › Roman Republic

year_label: 60 CE

text: Boudica leads a rebellion of the Iceni against Roman rule in alliance with the Trinovantes, Cornovii, Durotriges and Celtic Britons. The Iceni and Trinovantes first destroy the Roman capital Camulodunum (Colchester), wipe out the infantry of the Legio IX Hispana (commanded by Quintus Petillius Cerialis) and go on to burn Londinium (London) (probably destroying London Bridge) and Verulamium (St Albans), in all cases massacring the inhabitants by the thousands.

title: AD 60

section: Events › By place › Roman Empire

year_label: 61 CE

text: Boudica leads a rebellion of the Iceni against Roman rule in alliance with the Trinovantes, Cornovii, Durotriges and Celtic Britons. The Iceni and Trinovantes first destroy the Roman capital Camulodunum (Colchester), wipe out the infantry of the Legio IX Hispana (commanded by Quintus Petillius Cerialis) and go on to burn Londinium (London) (probably destroying London Bridge) and Verulamium (St Albans), in all cases massacring the inhabitants in their thousands.

title: AD 61

year_label: 71 CE

text: The Romans establish a fortress at York (Eboracum), as a base for their northern forces. Initially established solely for Legio IX Hispana, it expands later to include public housing, baths and temples.

title: AD 71

year_label: 82 CE

text: Gnaeus Julius Agricola raises a fleet, and encircles the Celtic tribes beyond the Forth; the Caledonians rise in great numbers against the Romans. They attack the camp of Legio IX Hispana at night, but Agricola sends his cavalry in, and puts them to flight.

title: AD 82

text: Emperor Hadrian stations Legio VI Victrix in Roman Britain, to assist in quelling the resistance of a local rebellion. The legion is key in securing the victory, and eventually replaces Legio IX Hispana at Eboracum.

title: AD 119

section: Crime & Justice

text: Legio IX Hispana last known to be in existence.

title: AD 120

text: Autumn – The Parthians invade Armenia, and install their own candidate on the throne. A legion (perhaps Legio IX Hispana) is destroyed at Elegeia.

title: AD 161

section: Events › By place › Parthian Empire


slug: legio-x-fretensis

label: Legio X Fretensis

description: Roman legion

title: 58 BC

year_label: 14 BCE

text: Winter – The Roman Legio X Fretensis is stationed in Syria, and the legionaries are settled at the ancient city of Beirut.

title: 14 BC

year_label: 18 CE

text: Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, governor of Syria, ignores the order of Germanicus to send Syrian-based legions, including Legio VI Ferrata and Legio X Fretensis, to Armenia to back him in his planned coronation of Artaxias III.

title: 10s

section: Events › 18 AD › Syria

year_label: 54 CE

text: Corbulo inspects a base of Legio X Fretensis in Syria, at Cyrrhus; the Roman legionaries are demoralized by a "long peace". Many soldiers sell their helmets and shields.

title: 50s

section: Events › 54 AD › Syrian

year_label: 59 CE

text: Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, Roman commander in the east, captures Tigranocerta in Mesopotamia. He installs Tigranes VI, a Cappadocian prince, as ruler of Armenia. For the next four years, a cohort from Legio VI Ferrata and Legio X Fretensis is stationed in the capital as bodyguard to the king, supported by fifteen hundred auxiliaries.

title: 50s

section: Events › 59 AD › Caucasus

year_label: 62 CE

text: Vologases I leads the Parthian army in a full-scale assault on the Euphrates. Legio X Fretensis and men of the other two legions (Legio III Gallica and Legio VI Ferrata) defend the eastern bank of the river, fighting off a desperate attack.

title: AD 62

year_label: 66 CE

section: Religion & Belief

date: September 22

text: September 22 – Emperor Nero creates the Legio I Italica. He appoints Titus Flavius Vespasian as General of the army of Judea, and Governor of Judea which gives him command of three legions — V Macedonica, X Fretensis and XV Apollinaris.

title: AD 66

year_label: 67 CE

text: First Jewish–Roman War: Vespasian arrives in Ptolemais in Phoenicia along with the Legio X Fretensis and Legio V Macedonica, to put down the revolt.

title: AD 67

year_label: 68 CE

text: Trajan moves to Scythopolis and crosses the Jordan River with Legio X Fretensis. He lays siege to Jericho and destroys the monastery of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are originated.

title: AD 68

year_label: 70 CE

text: 14th of Xanthikos (14th of Nisan, about April 14) – Siege of Jerusalem: Titus surrounds the Jewish capital, with three legions (V Macedonica, XII Fulminata and XV Apollinaris) on the western side and a fourth (X Fretensis) on the Mount of Olives to the east. He puts pressure on the food and water supplies of the inhabitants by allowing pilgrims to enter the city to celebrate Passover and then refusing them egress.

title: AD 70

text: Herodium, a Jewish fortress south of Jerusalem, is conquered and destroyed by Legio X Fretensis on their way to Masada.

title: AD 71

year_label: 72 CE

text: First Jewish–Roman War: The Roman army (Legio X Fretensis) under Sextus Lucilius Bassus lays siege to the Jewish garrison of Machaerus at the Dead Sea. After they capitulate, the Zealots are allowed to leave the fortress before it is destroyed.

title: AD 72

year_label: 73 CE

text: Spring – The Roman governor Lucius Flavius Silva lays siege to Masada, the last outpost of the Jewish rebels following the end, in AD 70, of the First Jewish-Roman War (Jewish Revolt). The Roman army (Legio X Fretensis) surrounds the mountain fortress with a 7-mile long siege wall (circumvallation) and builds a rampart of stones and beaten earth against the western approach. After the citadel is conquered, 960 Zealots under the leadership of Eleazar ben Ya'ir commit mass suicide when defeat becomes imminent.

title: AD 73

text: Legio X Fretensis must evacuate Jerusalem, returning to Caesarea. The Jews enter the city, and re-establish their system of sacrifices. They strike coins to celebrate their independence, which will last for only 30 months. Legio XXII Deiotariana, which advanced from Egypt, is completely destroyed.

title: AD 132


slug: leinster

label: Leinster

description: province in Ireland

section: Deaths

text: Illan mac Dúnlainge, king of Leinster (Ireland)

title: 527

text: Murchad mac Brain Mut, king of Leinster (Ireland)

title: AD 727

text: Dúnchad mac Murchado, king of Leinster (Ireland)

title: 728

text: Fáelán mac Murchado, king of Leinster

title: 738

text: Muiredach mac Murchado, king of Leinster (Ireland)

title: 760

text: Cellach mac Dúnchada, king of Leinster (Ireland)

title: 776

text: Bran Ardchenn, king of Leinster (Ireland)

title: 795

text: Muiredach mac Brain, king of Leinster (Ireland)

title: 818

text: Muiredach mac Ruadrach, king of Leinster

title: 829

text: Cellach mac Brain, king of Leinster (Ireland)

title: 834

text: Bran mac Fáeláin, king of Leinster (Ireland)

title: 838

text: Túathal mac Máele-Brigte, king of Leinster

title: 854

text: Ruarc mac Brain, king of Leinster (Ireland)

title: 862

text: Muirecán mac Diarmata, king of Leinster

title: 863

text: Ailill mac Dúnlainge, king of Leinster

title: 871

title: 885

date: September 13

text: September 13 – Battle of Belach Mugna: In an alliance with the kings Cerball mac Muirecáin of Leinster, Cathal mac Conchobair of Connacht, and Cellach mac Cerbaill of Osraige, High King Flann Sinna defeats the forces of King Cormac mac Cuilennáin of Munster near Castledermot (County Kildare).

title: 908

section: Events › By place › Ireland

text: Cerball mac Muirecáin, king of Leinster (Ireland)

title: 909

section: Exploration & Expansion

text: Viking raiders establish a settlement near Waterford (Ireland) led by Ottir (the Black). The Dublin Vikings are forced to pay tribute to the Irish kings of Meath and Leinster as the price to keeping their independence.

title: 914

section: Events › By place › Europe

text: Battle of Confey: The Norse Vikings under Sigtrygg Caech defeat and kill King Augaire mac Ailella of Leinster in battle. Sigtrygg re-captures Dublin and establishes himself as king, while his kinsman Ragnall ua Ímair returns to England to become King of Northumbria.

title: 917

text: Augaire mac Ailella, king of Leinster (Ireland)

title: 917

text: Domnall Claen, king of Leinster (Ireland)

title: 984

date: December 30

text: December 30 – Battle of Glenmama: The combined forces of Munster and Meath under Brian Boru (High King of Ireland) inflict a crushing defeat on the allied armies of Leinster and Dublin near Lyons Hill (County Kildare).

title: AD 999

text: Brian Boru, king of Leinster and Munster, becomes High King of Ireland. After the submission of Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, Brian Boru makes an expedition to the North.

title: 1002

section: Events › By place › British Isles

date: February 7

text: February 7 – Diarmait mac Máel na mBó, Irish king of Leinster

title: 1072

text: Domnall mac Murchada, king of Leinster and Dublin

title: 1075

section: Births

text: Diarmait Mac Murchada, Irish king of Leinster (d. 1171)

title: 1110

text: Diarmait Mac Murchada has the abbey of Kildare in Ireland burned, and the abbess raped. He becomes king of the province of Leinster.

title: 1132

section: Events › By topic › Religion

text: Domhnall Caomhánach, king of Leinster (d. 1175)

title: 1140

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: Diarmaid mac Murchadha (or Dermot), former king of Leinster, returns to Ireland with an advance party of Flemings under Richard fitz Godbert de Roche.

title: 1167

date: May

text: May – Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland: Anglo-Norman mercenaries land at the request of deposed King Diarmaid mac Murchadha (Dermot). Among those arriving is Richard de Clare (a vassal of Henry II), who has made an alliance with exiled Diarmaid mac Murchadha to help him regain the throne of Leinster. This begins the period of Anglo-Norman dominance of Ireland.

title: 1169

date: July

text: July – King Henry II decides to lead a military expedition to Ireland and summons Richard de Clare (Strongbow) to join forces. In September, Richard travels to England and promises his loyalty to Henry. He is granted Leinster as a fiefdom and is honored with the post of "royal constable in Ireland". The army is assembled at Pembroke – several siege towers are shipped over, should Henry need to assault the Norman-held towns (or others such as Cork and Limerick).

title: 1171

section: Events › By place › Britain

date: May 1

text: May 1 – Diarmaid mac Murchadha, king of Leinster (b. 1110)

title: 1171

text: Aoife MacMurrough (or Eva), princess of Leinster (b. 1145)

title: 1188

text: Battle of Ros-Mhic-Thriúin: The Kingdom of Leinster, led by King Art mac Art MacMurrough-Kavanagh, defeats an invading army from England, led by King Richard II of England and Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March.

title: 1394

section: Events › Date unknown


slug: leipzig

label: Leipzig

description: largest city in Saxony, Germany

text: Otto II, Margrave of Meissen, grants Leipzig city and market privileges. The city is located at the crossways of the Via Regia and Via Imperii trade routes.

title: 1165

date: December 10

text: December 10 – Theodoric IV, the ruler of the semi-independent states of Lusatia, Osterland and Thuringia, is murdered at Leipzig by Philip of Nassau. Theodoric is succeeded by Frederick the Brave as ruler of Thuringia and by Otto IV of Brandenburg as ruler of Lusatia. The areas are now part of eastern Germany.

title: 1307

section: Events › October – December

date: September 7

text: September 7 – At Leipzig, Ernest, Landgrave of Thuringia, 23, becomes the new Elector of Saxony upon the death of his father, Friederich II, while his younger brother Albert III, 21, succeeds his father as the new Duke of Saxony.

title: 1464

section: Events › July–September

section: Culture & Society

text: Johannes Widmann publishes his mercantile arithmetic Behende und hüpsche Rechenung auff allen Kauffmanschafft in Leipzig, containing the first printed use of plus and minus signs, to indicate trading surpluses or shortages.

title: 1489

date: July 4

text: July 4 – Martin Luther joins the debate regarding papal authority, against Johann Eck at Leipzig.

title: 1519

date: June 27

text: June 27 – The Leipzig Debate begins at the Pleissenburg lecture hall in the German city of Leipzig in Saxony, as Martin Luther defends his ideas on the Protestant Reformation against challenges by Johann Eck, the German leader of the anti-Reformation movement. While there, he is challenged to a theological debate by Johann Eck, the German leader of the anti-Reformation movement. The debate lasts until July 15 and gains new followers to Luther's theology.

title: 1519

section: Events › April–June

date: April 4

text: April 4 – Under a plan organized by Sister Katharina von Bora and Protestant reformer Martin Luther, fish merchant Leonhard Köppe helps carry out the rescue of Von Bora and other Cistercian Catholic nuns from the Nimbschen Abbey in Germany near Grimma and Leipzig. On the day before Easter, Köppe arrives at the convent under the pretext of bringing delivering herring and other foods to the Abbey, then uses empty barrels to smuggle the nuns to Wittenberg. Von Bora will later become Luther's wife.

title: 1523

date: May 25

text: May 25 – The inaugural declaration of the Protestant Reformation takes place in Leipzig (now part of Germany) with Martin Luther present, as Duke Henry IV pledges to adopt Lutheranism as the official religion of make the Duchy of Saxony.

title: 1539

section: Climate & Environment

date: December 18

text: December 18 – A widely reported earthquake occurs in Leipzig, Germany (also dated December 22).

title: 1616

section: Events › November-December

section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: French physicist Denis Papin, while in Leipzig and having observed the mechanical power of atmospheric pressure on his 'digester', builds a working model of a reciprocating steam engine for pumping water, the first of its kind, though not efficient.

title: 1690

date: December 25

text: December 25 – J. S. Bach leads the first performance of Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV 91, in Leipzig, based on Luther's 1524 Christmas hymn.

title: 1724

section: Events › October–December

date: October 22

text: October 22 – J. S. Bach leads the first performance of Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele (Adorn yourself, O dear soul) in Leipzig on the 20th Sunday after Trinity, based on the communion hymn of the same name.

title: 1724

date: February 2

text: February 2 – Johann Sebastian Bach's solo cantata, Ich habe genug, BWV 82, premieres in Leipzig.

title: 1727

section: Events › January–March

text: Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock publishes the first three cantos of his epic poem Der Messias in hexameters (anonymously), in Bremer Beiträge (Leipzig).

title: 1748

date: April 1

text: April 1 – Friedrich Maximilian Klinger's play Sturm und Drang is premiered by the Seyler Theatre Company in Leipzig, giving its name to the whole Sturm und Drang movement in German literature.

title: 1777

text: Friedrich Engels' treatise The Condition of the Working Class in England is published in Leipzig as Die Lage der arbeitenden Klasse in England.

title: 1845

date: March 13

text: March 13 – The Violin Concerto by Felix Mendelssohn premieres in Leipzig, with Ferdinand David as soloist.

title: 1845

date: January 1

text: January 1 – Brahms' Violin Concerto is premiered in Leipzig with Joseph Joachim as soloist and the composer conducting.

title: 1879

section: Events › January

text: December 30 – Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 7 is premiered in Leipzig, bringing the composer his first great success.

title: 1884

section: Events › December

text: The first sample fair (Mustermesse) is held at Leipzig, Germany.

title: 1895

section: Conflict & Security

date: October 18

text: October 18 – The Monument to the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig, Germany is finished.

title: 1913

section: Events › October

date: April

text: American troops led by 2nd Infantry Division and 69th Infantry Division capture the city of Leipzig.

title: 1945

section: Events › April


slug: leith

label: Leith

description: suburb of Edinburgh and former municipal burgh in Scotland

text: Summer – First War of Scottish Independence: King Edward I of England ("Longshanks") marches from Newcastle upon Tyne with his household to Alnwick and then by way of Chillingham to Roxburgh in Scotland, where he joins the army in July. He proceeds to Lauderdale and encamps at Kirkliston, to the west of Edinburgh, where he remains from July 15 to July 20. The army is accompanied by a long train of supply wagons. Meanwhile, English supply ships, delayed by bad weather, bring food to Leith.

title: 1298

section: Events › By place › British Isles

date: June 19

text: June 19 – English forces march to the environs of Edinburgh; here Edward II waits for the wagon train of over 200 baggage and supply wagons – which straggle behind the long columns, to catch up. At the nearby port of Leith, English supply ships land stores for the army – who will be well rested before the 35 mi march that will bring them to Stirling Castle, before the deadline of June 24.

title: 1314

section: Events › April – June

date: March 22

text: March 22 – From the port of Sluis (now in the Netherlands), the Kingdom of France dispatches a fleet of ships, carrying an army of 1,315 soldiers, 300 crossbowmen and 200 assistants, to aid the Kingdom of Scotland in defense of an invasion by the Kingdom of England. The fleet arrives at the Scottish port of Leith, near Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, on March 25.

title: 1385

date: August 14

text: August 14 – King Henry IV leads the English Army into Scotland, after receiving no answer from Scotland's King Robert III to his August 6 demand. The troops reach Haddington, East Lothian the next day and at Leith, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, by August 18. As historian James Hamilton Wylie will note almost 500 years later, "the walls of Edinburgh did not fall before this ram's-horn blast, and August 23rd came and went without the required homage or recognition."

title: 1400

section: Exploration & Expansion

date: June 18

text: June 18 – Mary of Guelders arrives in Scotland at Leith after being escorted from the Duchy of Burgundy to Scotland following her selection by Lord Crichton

title: 1449

date: May 3

text: May 3 – Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, with an English army, captures Leith and Edinburgh from the Kingdom of Scotland.

title: 1544

date: June 16

text: June 16 – The first of 8,000 French troops under the command of General André de Montalembert arrive at the port of Leith at the invitation of the King of Scotland, who seeks to drive out the occupying forces of the Army of England.

title: 1548

date: January 7

text: January 7 – In the Kingdom of Scotland, French troops commanded by Henri Cleutin and Captain Corbeyran de Cardaillac Sarlabous sail across the Firth of Forth from Leith, which they are occupying, and fight with the Lords of the Congregation at Pettycur Bay near Kinghorn.

title: 1560

date: August 19

text: August 19 – Mary, Queen of Scots, is denied passage through England after returning from France. She arrives at Leith, Scotland later the same day.

title: 1561

date: April 2

text: April 2 – The first Rules of golf are drawn up at Leith, for the first golf competition.

title: 1744


slug: lemnos

label: Lemnos

description: island of Greece

year_label: 499 BCE

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: Miltiades the Younger, the ruler of the Thracian Chersonese, which has been under Persian suzerainty since approximately 514 BC, joins the Ionian revolt. He seizes the islands of Lemnos and Imbros from the Persians.

title: 499 BC

section: Events › By place › Greece

year_label: 490 BCE

section: Deaths

text: Hippias dies at Lemnos on the journey back to Sardis after the Persian defeat.

title: 490 BC

year_label: 393 BCE

text: Pharnabazus dispatches Conon with substantial funds and a large part of the fleet to Attica, where he joins in the rebuilding of the long walls from Athens to Piraeus, a project that had been initiated by Thrasybulus in the previous year. The construction is soon completed and Athens quickly takes advantage of its walls and its fleet to seize the islands of Scyros, Imbros, and Lemnos, on which it establishes cleruchies (citizen colonies).

title: 393 BC

year_label: 356 BCE

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

title: 356 BC

year_label: 313 BCE

text: Cassander orders Dionysius (the commander of his garrison in Athens) and Demetrius of Phalerum (the tyrant of Athens) to send a fleet of 20 warships to try and recapture Lemnos. An Athenian strategos named Aristoteles is sent, ravaging the island in conjunction with Seleucus (who was sent into the Aegean by Ptolemy). After Seleucus sails away, Aristoteles is attacked by the Antigonid fleet, most of his ships being captured.

title: 313 BC

year_label: 307 BCE

text: Antigonus gives Athens control of the island of Lemnos and Imbros.

title: 307 BC

text: The Heruli invade the Black Sea coast; they unsuccessfully attack Byzantium and Cyzicus. The Roman fleet defeats the Herulian fleet (500 ships) but allows them to escape into the Aegean Sea, where they raid the islands of Lemnos and Skyros.

title: 267

section: Events › By place › Roman Empire

text: Battle of Lemnos: Kievan Viking raiders (800 men) sail through the straits at Abydos to the Aegean Sea. From there they make for the island of Lemnos, but are defeated by a Byzantine fleet of the Cibyrrhaeot Theme.

title: 1024

section: Events › By place › Europe

section: Religion & Belief

date: January 18

text: January 18 – The Order of Our Lady of Bethlehem is founded by Pope Pius II, to defend the island of Lemnos.

title: 1459

date: January 25

text: January 25 – The Treaty of Constantinople is signed between the Ottoman Empire and Republic of Venice, ending 16 years of war between the two powers; Venice will cede Negroponte, Lemnos and Shkodër, and pay an annual sum of 10,000 gold ducats.

title: 1479

text: October 18–21 – First Balkan War: The Greek navy captures the island of Lemnos for use as a forward base against the Dardanelles.

title: 1912


slug: lenape

label: Lenape

description: indigenous people of North America

section: Economy & Finance

date: May 24

text: May 24 – Peter Minuit buys Manhattan from a Native American tribe (Lenape or Shinnecock) for trade goods, valued at 60 guilders ($1,143 U.S. dollars as of 2020).

title: 1626

section: Events › April–June

date: August 15

text: August 15 – Oratam, leader of the Hackensack tribe of the Lenape nation, meets in New Amsterdam (now New York City) with Weswatewchy, Memshe and Wemessamy, three chiefs of the Monsiyok tribe, to ask for the Hackensacks to supply a cannon to defend their fort, and to confirm that the Monsiyok are not allied with the other major division of the Lenape, the Esopus tribe.

title: 1663

section: Events › July–September

date: June 7

text: June 7 – Under the pretext of working out a treaty with Dutch settlers in the colony of New Netherland, the Esopus tribe of the Delaware people enter the fortress at Wiltwijck (now the U.S. city of Kingston, New York) and stage a surprise attack. Unbeknownst to the Wiltwijck residents, another group of Esopus warriors had destroyed the village of Nieu Dorp (now Hurley, New York) earlier in the day. The episode begins the Second Esopus War.

title: 1663

date: September 20

text: September 20 – Runner Edward Marshall completes his journey in the Walking Purchase, forcing the cession of 1200000 acre km2 of Lenape-Delaware tribal land to the Province of Pennsylvania.

title: 1737

date: June 13

text: June 13 – The Treaty of Logstown is signed by representatives of the Iroquois Confederation, Lenape and Shawnee leaders, and commissioners from Virginia, headed by Joshua Fry. Christopher Gist and William Trent represent the Ohio Company. The treaty grants control over lands south and east of the Ohio River to the English, along with permission to build a fort on the site of what is now Pittsburgh.

title: 1752

date: May 21

text: May 21 – Seven Years' War – French and Indian War: Mary Campbell is abducted from her home in Pennsylvania by members of the Lenape Nation.

title: 1758

text: Neolin, a Lenape prophet, begins to preach in America.

title: 1762

section: Events › Date unknown

date: April 19

text: April 19 – Teedyuscung, known as the "King of the Delaware Indians" (the Lenape tribe) is assassinated by arsonists who burn down his home in Pennsylvania while he is sleeping, in an apparent retaliation for signing the Treaty of Easton to relinquish Lenape claims to the Province of New Jersey.

title: 1763

date: November 9

text: November 9 – Mary Campbell, a captive of the Lenape during the French and Indian War, is turned over to forces commanded by Colonel Henry Bouquet.

title: 1764

date: September 17

text: September 17 – The Treaty of Fort Pitt is signed, the first formal treaty between the United States and a Native American tribe (the Lenape or Delaware).

title: 1778

text: June 7 – Indiana Territory governor (and future U.S. president) William Henry Harrison signs treaties at Fort Wayne, with representatives of the Delaware, Shawnee, Potawatomi, Miami, Kickapoo, Eel River, Wea, Piankeshaw and Kaskaskia Indian tribes. The U.S. Senate ratifies the treaties on November 25.

title: 1803


slug: leo-i-emperor

label: Leo I (emperor)

description: Eastern Roman emperor from 457 to 474

section: Births

text: Leo I, Byzantine Emperor (d. 474)

title: 401

date: February 7

text: February 7 – Leo I, a Thraco-Roman (or Dacian) high-ranking officer, becomes the new emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, reigning for nearly 20 years. He is first to accept the Byzantine crown from the hands of the patriarch of Constantinople.

title: 457

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

text: Emperor Leo I founds the Excubitors (imperial guard) at Constantinople; this elite tagmatic unit (300 men) is recruited from among the warlike Isaurians (approximate date).

title: 460

text: Vandal War (461-468): After negotiations, Emperor Leo I pays a large ransom for Licinia Eudoxia and Placidia. They return after seven years of captivity in Carthage.

title: 462

text: Basiliscus, with the help of his sister Verina (wife of emperor Leo I), becomes a consul in the Eastern Roman Empire.

title: 465

text: Emperor Leo I repels the Hun invasion of Dacia (modern Romania). They ravage the Balkans but are unable to take Constantinople thanks to the city walls, which are rebuilt and reinforced.

title: 466

date: April 12

text: April 12 – Emperor Leo I has his general Anthemius elected emperor of the Western Roman Empire. He allies himself with Ricimer, de facto ruler of Rome, and marries Anthemius's daughter Alypia to him, to strengthen the relationship and end the hostilities between the Eastern and Western Empire.

title: 467

text: Emperor Leo I assembles a massive naval expedition at Constantinople, which costs 64,000 pounds of gold (more than a year's revenue) and consists of over 1,100 ships carrying 100,000 men. It is the greatest fleet ever sent against the Vandals and brings Leo near to bankruptcy.

title: 468

text: Ostrogoth prince Theodoric, age 15, returns to Pannonia, after living as a child hostage at the court of Emperor Leo I in Constantinople (see 459).

title: 469

section: Crime & Justice

text: Basiliscus, brother-in-law of Emperor Leo I, returns from exile (see 468) and leads an imperial conspiracy against Aspar (magister militum), helping in his murder at Constantinople.

title: 471

date: March 3

text: March 3 – Gundobad (nephew of Ricimer) nominates Glycerius as emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Emperor Leo I refuses to recognize him, and chooses Julius Nepos as candidate to the Western throne.

title: 473

text: January 18 – Emperor Leo I dies of dysentery at Constantinople, after a 17-year reign. He is succeeded by his 7-year-old grandson Leo II, who briefly becomes ruler of the Byzantine Empire.

title: 474

text: January 18 – Leo I, Byzantine emperor (b. 401)

title: 474

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

title: 483

section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire

text: Verina, wife of former emperor Leo I

title: 484


slug: leo-iii-the-isaurian

label: Leo III the Isaurian

description: emperor of Byzantine Empire

text: Leo III, emperor of the Byzantine Empire (d. 741)

title: 685

text: The Byzantine general Leo (future emperor Leo III) recovers the Abkhazia (Caucasus) for the Byzantine Empire, from the Arabs.

title: 710

date: March 25

text: March 25 – Emperor Theodosios III is deposed after a reign of 1 year and 10 months. He is succeeded by the 32-year-old Leo III the Isaurian, a general (strategos) of the Anatolic Theme (modern Turkey). Theodosios and his son enter the clergy, and he probably becomes bishop of Ephesus. Leo brings an end to the Twenty Years' Anarchy in the Byzantine Empire, which marks the beginning of the so-called Isaurian Dynasty.

title: 717

section: Conflict & Security

text: Ex-Emperor Anastasios II starts a revolt against Leo III with considerable support, including auxiliaries provided by Tervel, emperor (khagan) of the Bulgarian Empire. His attack on Constantinople fails; Anastasios is captured and is put to death (by beheading), on the orders of Leo.

title: 719

section: Culture & Society

text: Summer – Emperor Leo III secures the Byzantine frontier, by inviting Slavic settlers into the depopulated districts of the Thracesian Theme (western Asia Minor). He undertakes a set of civil reforms, and reorganizes the theme structure in the Aegean region. Leo's 2-year-old son Constantine V is associated on the throne, and married to Tzitzak, daughter of the Khazar ruler (khagan) Bihar.

title: 720

text: Emperor Leo III enforces the baptism of all Jews and Montanists in the Byzantine Empire.

title: 722

section: Events › By topic › Religion

text: Emperor Leo III issues a series of edicts banning the veneration of images (726–729), and launching the iconoclastic controversies. Most of the clergy – particularly in Italy and Greece – are opposed to these edicts with uncompromising hostility, and in the western parts of the Byzantine Empire the people refuse to obey his religious reforms.

title: 726

text: A revolt breaks out in Greece against the religious policies of Emperor Leo III (see 726). A rebel fleet under Agallianos Kontoskeles sets out for Constantinople with Kosmas, an anti-emperor, but is destroyed by the Byzantine fleet through the use of Greek fire.

title: AD 727

text: Tiberius Petasius proclaims himself emperor in Tuscia. Eutychius defeats him with the support of Pope Gregory II, and Tiberius is killed in Monterano, with his head sent to the Byzantine emperor Leo III as a gift.

title: 730

text: Byzantine Emperor Leo III marries his 15 year old son Constantine to Tzitzak (later baptised as Irene), the daughter of the Khazar Khagan Bihar, as a sign of diplomatic unity between the Byzantine Empire and the Khazar Khaganate.

title: 732

text: Emperor Leo III confiscates the papal territories in Sicily and Calabria (Southern Italy), from which Pope Gregory III derives most of his income tax. He transfers ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the former Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum to Anastasius, patriarch of Constantinople. Gregory begins his support of a revolt in Italy against iconoclasm. By now the break between the papacy and the Byzantine Empire is almost complete.

title: 733

date: June 18

text: June 18 – Emperor Leo III ("the Isaurian") dies of dropsy at Constantinople, after a 24-year reign that has saved the Byzantine Empire and delivered Eastern Europe from the threat of an Arab conquest. He is succeeded by his son Constantine V.

title: 741

text: June 18 – Leo III, emperor of the Byzantine Empire

title: 741


slug: leo-vi-the-wise

label: Leo VI the Wise

description: Byzantine Emperor

date: September 19

text: September 19 – Leo VI, Byzantine emperor (d. 912)

title: 866

date: August 29

text: August 29 – Emperor Basil I the Macedonian dies from a fever, contracted after a hunting accident. He is succeeded by the 19-year-old Leo VI, officially Basil's son, but reputedly a son of former emperor Michael III, as sole ruler (basileus) of the Byzantine Empire. After his coronation Leo reburies the remains of his reputed father Michael, with great ceremony in the imperial mausoleum, within the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.

title: 886

date: December

text: December – Emperor Leo VI dismisses Patriarch Photius I, who has been his tutor, and replaces him with his own brother Stephen I.

title: 886

text: Byzantine–Bulgarian War: Stylianos Zaoutzes, leading minister and basileopator, convinces Emperor Leo VI (the Wise) to move the Bulgarian market from Constantinople to Thessaloniki. This affects the commercial importance of Bulgarian trade. Simeon I, ruler (khan) of the Bulgarian Empire, mobilizes his Bulgarian forces and invades Byzantine territory, ravaging the countryside.

title: 894

text: The Magyars are expelled from western Siberia, and settle in the Carpathian Basin, under the leadership of Árpád (the traditional date of 896 held during the 20th century has proved to be erroneous). Emperor Leo VI (the Wise) seeks aid from the Magyars, and after crossing the Danube on Byzantine ships, they ravage Bulgarian territory.

title: 895

text: Zoe Zaoutzaina, Byzantine empress consort of Leo VI

title: 899

text: Arab–Byzantine wars: Emperor Leo VI ("the Wise") begins an offensive against the Abbasid army in Cilicia, Upper Mesopotamia and Armenia. He also continues the war against the Muslims in Sicily and southern Italy.

title: 900

section: Events › By place › Abbasid Caliphate

text: Summer – After the death of his wife Zoe Zaoutzaina, the Byzantine emperor Leo VI marries Eudokia Baïana.

title: 900

text: April 12 – Eudokia Baïana, Byzantine empress and wife of Leo VI

title: 901

date: January

text: January – Arethas of Caesarea speaks on the occasion of the Epiphany. He becomes the official rhetor at the Byzantine court of Emperor Leo VI (the Wise) at Constantinople, and is nominated as Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia.

title: 901

text: Emperor Leo VI (the Wise) is forced to sign a peace treaty with Simeon I, ruler (knyaz) of the Bulgarian Empire. All Slavic-inhabited lands of Macedonia and southern Albania are ceded to the Bulgarians.

title: 904

date: February 1

text: February 1 – Nicholas I Mystikos is deposed as Patriarch of Constanstinople, (having fallen out with the Byzantine Emperor Leo VI), and is replaced by Euthymius I Syncellus.

title: 907

date: May 15

text: May 15 – The three-year-old Constantine VII, the son of Emperor Leo VI (the Wise), is crowned as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire by Patriarch Euthymius I at Constantinople. The ceremony is held in the Hagia Sophia. After the rituals, Constantine is crowned (symbolically) and becomes Leo's successor.

title: 908

date: May 11

text: May 11 – Emperor Leo VI (the Wise) dies after a 26-year reign, in which he has completed the Byzantine code of laws (Basilika). He is succeeded by his brother Alexander III as emperor (basileus) alongside Leo's 6-year-old son Constantine VII. Alexander becomes de facto ruler of the Byzantine Empire and expels Empress Zoe Karbonopsina, the mother of Constantine, from the palace and exiles her to a nunnery.

title: 912

date: June 6

text: June 6 – Emperor Alexander III dies of exhaustion while playing the game tzykanion (Byzantine name for polo). He is succeeded by his 8-year-old nephew Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos ("born in the purple"), a son of the late emperor Leo VI (the Wise). The government is administered by a regency council composed of Constantine's mother, Empress Zoe Karbonopsina, Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos and his guardian John Eladas.

title: 913


slug: leon-spain

label: León, Spain

description: municipality in Castile and León, Spain

text: Umayyad conquest of Hispania: Arabs led by Tariq ibn Ziyad advance from the area La Rioja (modern-day Spain), and conquer the fortress city of León.

title: 715

section: Events › By place › Arabian Empire

section: Exploration & Expansion

text: The Mozarabs, Iberian Christians who live under Moorish rule, try to repopulate León in Al-Andalus (modern Spain). The city is recaptured by the Muslim Arabs.

title: 846

text: King Ordoño I of Asturias is said to have begun the repopulation of the town of León in the northwest of Spain (approximate date).

title: 856

date: January 19

text: January 19 – King García I dies at Zamora (Spain) after a 4-year reign. He is succeeded by his brother Ordoño II, who becomes king of Galicia and León. Ordoño continues his expansion and settles his court in León.

title: 914

text: Al-Mansur, the de facto ruler of Al-Andalus, assaults and partially destroys the city of Santiago de Compostela. He is accompanied in his raid by Christian Portuguese lords, who all receive a share of the booty. On their way, they sack the cities of Zamora and León.

title: 997

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: King Sancho III (the Great) of Pamplona captures León, after defeating a string of rivals. His rule now extends from the borders of Galicia in the west to the County of Barcelona in the east.

title: 1034

date: December 24

text: December 24 – King Ferdinand I of León ("the Great") dies in León, Spain, after an 11-year reign as Emperor of All Spain. His kingdom is divided among his three sons: the eldest Sancho II, the second Alfonso VI and the youngest García II. The kingdoms of Galicia and Portugal become independent under the rule of García.

title: 1065

date: October 30

text: October 30 – A papal court in Avignon, with Cardinal Berengar Fredol the Elder presiding, rules that Juan Fernández was properly elected Bishop of León (now in Spain), dismissing a challenge by Juan García. Fernández had been elected a year before, but his confirmation by the Pope was delayed because of the challenge. Before Fernández can travel to Avignon, however, he passes away on December 17.

title: 1316

section: Events › October – December

date: April 30

text: April 30 – Henry of Trastámara, deposed a year earlier from his position as King of Castile and Leon, captures the city of León after a siege of more than three months.

title: 1368


slug: leonardo-da-vinci

label: Leonardo da Vinci

description: Italian Renaissance polymath (1452−1519)

text: Leonardo da Vinci and Sandro Botticelli become students of Verrocchio.

title: 1461

date: June

text: June – Leonardo da Vinci is admitted as a master in his own right to the artists' Guild of Saint Luke in Florence. An entry is made in the register of the Compagnia di San Luca reading "Anno Domini 1472— Leonardo, son of Ser Piero da Vinci, painter, to pay the sum of 6 sol, for the whole month of June 1472, for the remittance of his debt to the Company until July 1472... and to pay for the whole of November 1472, 5 sol due on 18 October 1472."

title: 1472

text: Leonardo da Vinci is acquitted on charges of sodomy, after which he disappears from the historical record for two years.

title: 1476

section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: From about this date, Leonardo da Vinci produces a number of designs for flying machines, including the aerial screw or helicopter (probably unworkable).

title: 1485

section: Science & Discovery

text: Leonardo da Vinci observes capillary action, in small-bore tubes.

title: 1490

text: Leonardo da Vinci creates the first known design for a helicopter.

title: 1493

date: February 9

text: February 9 – Leonardo da Vinci completes his painting The Last Supper, on the refectory wall of Milan's Santa Maria delle Grazie Convent. Because the location is a thin exterior wall, the effects of humidity and moisture-retaining rock behind the wall begin to cause the painting to deteriorate.

title: 1498

section: Events › January–March

date: October 26

text: October 26 – King Louis XII of France and his troops seize Milan, driving out Duke Ludovico Sforza, and Leonardo da Vinci flees to Venice.

title: 1499

section: Events › October–December

date: October

text: October – Earliest record of Leonardo da Vinci working on a portrait of Lisa del Giocondo, probably the Mona Lisa, in Florence.

title: 1503

text: In Florence, Leonardo da Vinci and Niccolò Machiavelli become involved in a scheme to divert the Arno River, cutting the water supply to Pisa to force its surrender: Colombino, the project foreman, fails to follow da Vinci's design, and the project is a major failure.

title: 1504

text: The Signoria of Florence commissions both Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo to paint the walls of the Grand Council Chamber in the Palazzo Vecchio.

title: 1504

text: Leonardo da Vinci completes most of his work on the Mona Lisa.

title: 1506

date: March 22

text: March 22 – Working from the house of Piero di Braccio Martelli at Florence, Leonardo da Vinci begins writing his "collection without order" of his scientific discoveries.

title: 1508

date: June 11

text: June 11 – Luca Pacioli's De divina proportione, concerning the golden ratio, is published in Venice, with illustrations by Leonardo da Vinci.

title: 1509

text: Leonardo da Vinci accepts Francis I's invitation to France.

title: 1516

section: Deaths

date: June 19

text: June 19 – Luca Pacioli, Mathematician, collaborator with Leonardo da Vinci and 'father of accounting' (b. c. 1447)

title: 1517

date: August 21

text: August 21 – Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is stolen from the Louvre museum in Paris by Vincenzo Peruggia; the painting is returned in 1913.

title: 1911

section: Events › August

date: December 14

text: December 14 – Leonardo da Vinci's early 16th-century painting the Mona Lisa is assessed for insurance purposes at US$100 million before touring the United States for several months, the highest insurance value for a painting in history. However, the Louvre, its owner, chooses to spend the money that would have been spent on the insurance premium on security instead.

title: 1962

section: Events › December

date: February 13

text: February 13 – American researchers discover the Madrid Codices by Leonardo da Vinci in the National Library of Spain.

title: 1967

section: Events › February

date: May 28

text: May 28 – After 22 years of restoration work, Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper is placed back on display in Milan, Italy.

title: 1999

section: Events › May

date: November 15

text: November 15 – A Leonardo da Vinci painting, Salvator Mundi, sells for US$450 million at Christie's in New York, a new record price for any work of art.

title: 2017

section: Events › November


slug: leopold-i-holy-roman-emperor

label: Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor

description: Holy Roman Emperor (1658-1705), King of Hungary and Croatia and King of Bohemia (1640–1705)

section: Religion & Belief

date: July 18

text: July 18 – Prince Leopold of the House of Habsburg, son of the late Ferdinand III, is elected as the new Holy Roman Emperor.

title: 1658

section: Events › July–September

section: Conflict & Security

date: April 17

text: April 17 – The Ottoman Empire declares war against Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, beginning the Austro-Turkish War.

title: 1663

section: Events › April–June

date: May 21

text: May 21 – The Holy Roman Empire, ruled by Leopold I, repurchases the territory of the Duchy of Opole and Racibórz (Oppeln und Ratibor), which it had ceded to Poland in 1645, for the sum of 120,000 guldens and consolidates it with Upper Silesia. The territory will be ceded from Germany to Poland in 1945 at the end of World War II.

title: 1666

section: Culture & Society

date: October 15

text: October 15 – The University of Innsbruck is chartered in Austria by Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor. After being reduced to a lesser function on November 29, 1781, it is rechartered in 1826.

title: 1669

date: September 23

text: September 23 – Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor grants the status and privileges of a university to the Jesuit Academy in Zagreb, the precursor to the modern University of Zagreb.

title: 1669

date: August 30

text: August 30 – Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, Spain, Netherlands and the Lutherans form an anti-French covenant.

title: 1673

date: April 6

text: April 6 – Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor visits the University of Innsbruck.

title: 1677

text: April 6 – Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor issues a document inviting Serbians to resettle in Hungary, at this time a part of the Empire.

title: 1690

date: January 6

text: January 6 – At the age of 11 years old, Prince Joseph, son of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, is named as "King of the Romans", the next in line to become the Emperor.

title: 1690

section: Economy & Finance

text: In Amsterdam, the bank Wed. Jean Deutz & Sn. floats the first sovereign bonds on the local market. The scheme is designed to fund a 1.5 million guilder loan to the Holy Roman Emperor. From this date on, European leaders commonly take advantage of the low interest rates available in the Dutch Republic, and borrow several hundred millions on the Dutch capital market.

title: 1695

section: Events › Date unknown

date: July 4

text: July 4 – A Byzantine icon, the "Weeping Madonna of Pócs", arrives in Vienna after a five-month journey following its forced removal from the Hungarian village of Pócs by order of the Holy Roman Emperor, Leopold I. It has been housed for more than 320 years in St. Stephen's Cathedral.

title: 1697

text: October 30 – The Nine Years' War, between France and the Grand Alliance comes to an end with the signing of the last pacts of the Peace of Ryswick in the Dutch city of Rijswijk as Leopold I of Austria accedes two days before a deadline that had been set by the other members of the Grand Alliance. The areas of the Duchy of Lorraine (Lotharingen), Freiburg im Breisgau, and Vieux-Brisach (Breisach) are returned by France to Leopold's control.

title: 1697

date: October 1

text: October 1 – The founding deed of the University of Wrocław is signed by the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I of the House of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia.

title: 1702

date: October 24

text: October 24 – A peace treaty is signed between Prince Ferenc Rákóczi of Transylvania, and representatives of the Holy Roman Emperor, Leopold I at Schemnitz (now Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia)

title: 1704

date: May 5

text: May 5 – Joseph I succeeds his father Leopold I as Holy Roman Emperor.

title: 1705


slug: lesbos

label: Lesbos

description: Greek island located in the northeastern Aegean Sea

year_label: 620 BCE

section: Births

text: Alcaeus of Mytilene, Greek lyric poet from Lesbos Island

title: 620 BC

text: Sappho, Greek lyric poet from Lesbos Island (approximate date)

title: 620 BC

year_label: 494 BCE

text: Having successfully captured several of the revolting Greek city-states, the Persians under Artaphernes lay siege to Miletus. The decisive Battle of Lade is fought at the island of Lade, near Miletus' port. Although out-numbered, the Greek fleet appears to be winning the battle until the ships from Samos and Lesbos retreat. The sudden defection turns the tide of battle, and the remaining Greek fleet is completely destroyed. Miletus surrenders shortly thereafter, and the Ionian Revolt comes to an end.

title: 494 BC

section: Events › By place › Persian empire

year_label: 406 BCE

section: Exploration & Expansion

text: Callicratidas is appointed as the navarch of the Spartan fleet, replacing Lysander. Callicratidas assembles a fleet and sails to Methymna, on Lesbos, to which he lays siege. This move threatens the Athenian grain supply.

title: 406 BC

section: Events › By place › Greece

year_label: 388 BCE

section: Crime & Justice

text: The Athenian general, Thrasybulus, sails to Lesbos, where, with the support of the Mytileneans, he defeats the Spartan forces on the island and wins over a number of cities. While still on Lesbos, however, Thrasybulus is killed by raiders from the city of Aspendus where his financial exactions have made him unpopular.

title: 388 BC

year_label: 370 BCE

text: Theophrastus, Greek philosopher, a native of Eressos in Lesbos, the successor of Aristotle in the Peripatetic school (d. c. 285 BC) Chanakya

title: 370 BC

year_label: 285 BCE

text: Theophrastus, Greek philosopher, a native of Eressos in Lesbos, the successor of Aristotle in the Peripatetic school (b. c. 370 BC). 288 B.C. is also given as a potential date of death.

title: 285 BC

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: The Republic of Venice pillages the islands of Rhodes, ravages Samos and Lesbos, and occupies Chios (controlled by the Byzantine Empire). The Republic of Florence sacks and conquers the neighboring independent republic of Fiesole in Italy.

title: 1125

section: Events › By place › Europe

section: Climate & Environment

date: August 5

text: August 5 – An earthquake strikes the island of Lesbos in Greece, killing numerous people including the Genoan Lord of Lesbos, Francesco I Gattilusio, along with his two eldest sons, Andronico and Domenico. His son Jacopo Gattiliuso survives and rules the island under the name Francesco II.

title: 1384

date: September 15

text: September 15 – The Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II conquers the Greek island of Lesbos after a 14-day attack by sea and by land with over 20,000 troops, capturing the last fortress in the siege of Mytilene.

title: 1462


slug: lesser-poland

label: Lesser Poland

description: historical region of Poland

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

title: 965

text: Bolesław III, duke of Poland, begins a civil war against his half-brother Zbigniew, for control over Lesser Poland and Silesia.

title: 1106

text: Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth of Poland has his half-brother Zbigniew blinded and thrown into a dungeon in Tyniec Abbey. Archbishop Martin I excommunicates Bolesław for committing this terrible crime.

title: 1112

section: Deaths

date: January 5

text: January 5 – Bolesław IV the Curly, High Duke of Poland, dies after a 27-year reign. He is succeeded by his half-brother Mieszko III the Old, and as duke of Sandomierz in Lesser Poland by Casimir II the Just.

title: 1173

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

title: 1194

text: May 5 – Casimir II the Just, duke of Lesser Poland

title: 1194

text: Approximate date – High Duke Bolesław V the Chaste promulgates legal protection for Jewish communities in Lesser Poland, including protection from kidnapping and forcible baptism of Jewish children.

title: 1264

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

title: 1287

date: December 12

text: December 12 – The noblemen of Lesser Poland meet at Wiślica and, as with the November 25 decision of the nobles of Greater Poland, vote to invite Jadwiga of Hungary to be their ruler.

title: 1382

section: Events › October–December


slug: levant

label: Levant

description: geographic and cultural region consisting of the eastern Mediterranean between Anatolia and the Sinai Peninsula

year_label: 92 BCE

text: 92 BC Levant earthquake, earthquake mentioned in catalogues of historical earthquakes. An earthquake and a tsunami reportedly affected areas of the Levant, including the modern states of Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, and Syria.

title: 92 BC

section: Events › By place › Levant

text: Byzantine–Persian War: King Khosrau II captures the Byzantine positions east of the Euphrates; the Persians destroy many cities in the Levant region, after prolonged sieges such as the Byzantine fortress of Dara (modern Turkey).

title: 604

section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire

text: Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, governor of Syria, develops an Arab navy in the Levant and uses it to confront the Byzantine Empire in the Aegean Sea. It is manned by Monophysitise Christian, Coptic and Syrian Christian sailors.

title: 649

section: Events › By place › Arabian Empire

date: July 29

text: July 29 – Sack of Thessalonica: A Muslim fleet, led by the Greek renegade Leo of Tripoli, appears outside Thessalonica and begins its attack after a short and silent inspection of the fortification of the city. After attacks from the sea for two days, the Saracens are able to storm the city walls, overcome the Thessalonians' resistance and capture the city. The sacking continues for a full week, before the raiders depart for their base in the Levant. Having freed 4,000 Muslim prisoners and captured 60 ships, gaining a large loot, they carry off 22,000 men and women as slaves.

title: 904

text: Summer – Muhammad ibn Tughj al-Ikhshid is appointed governor and becomes the ruler of Egypt and parts of Syria (or the Levant). He launches a campaign against his rival Ahmad ibn Kayghalagh by land and sea: the naval forces take Tinnis and ibn Kayghalagh is forced to retreat. Ibn Tughj enters Fustat, making it his capital, and founds the Ikhshidid dynasty, marking Egypt's independence as an autonomous state.

title: 935

section: Events › By place › Africa

date: July 14

text: July 14 – Donation of Altavilla: Bohemond I grants commercial privileges and the right to use warehouses (fondaco) to the Republic of Genoa. This marks the beginning of Italian merchant settlements in the Levant.

title: 1098

section: Events › By place › First Crusade

text: Autumn – King Sigurd I sails for the Holy Land with 60 ships (with some 5,000 men) on the first stage of the Norwegian Crusade to Palestine. Now 17, he is the first European king to support the Crusaders in the Levant. Sigurd leaves his older brother Eystein I to rule the kingdom in his absence – and visits England, France, Galicia and Sicily en route.

title: 1107

date: July 31

text: July 31 – Philip II, accompanied by Conrad of Montferrat, departs to Tyre and returns to France. He leaves behind a French army (some 10,000 men) under the command of Hugh III, duke of Burgundy. Richard I is left in sole command of the Crusader forces in the Levant. Back in France, Philip schemes with Richard's brother, Prince John, to dispossess Richard of his French lands while he is still away, but the intervention of John's mother, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, foils the plan. Meanwhile, Richard rebuilds and strengthens the walls of Acre.

title: 1191

section: Events › By place › Third Crusade

section: Religion & Belief

text: Spring – Boniface I, Marquis of Montferrat, sends envoys to Venice, Genoa and other city-states to negotiate a contract for transport to the Levant. Meanwhile, Boniface and various nobles are mustering an expeditionary army (mainly forces from France and the Holy Roman Empire) at Paris. On February 23, Baldwin IX, count of Flanders and his brother Henry of Flanders take the cross at Bruges (modern Belgium), and agree to take part in the Fourth Crusade called by Pope Innocent III (see 1199).

title: 1200

text: Spring – A treaty is signed between the Crusade leaders and Venice. Doge Enrico Dandolo agrees to manufacture a fleet capable of transporting the Crusader army to the Levant, and to provide provisions for 33,500 men and 4,500 horses, for the price of 85,000 silver marks while Venice will also take half of whatever the expedition conquers. As part of this deal the Venetians will provide – at their own expense – sufficient ships to carry the Crusader forces, plus 50 galleys to defend it.

title: 1201

date: May 20

text: May 20 – An earthquake shakes the Levant from Egypt to northern Iraq, causing severe damage in Palestine, Lebanon and western Syria, including the fortifications of the Crusader cities of Acre, Jaffa and Tyre.

title: 1202

section: Events › By place › Middle East

date: July 25

text: July 25 – Emperor Frederick II takes an oath at San Germano (near Cassino) and promises to depart on a Crusade (the Sixth Crusade), for the Near East in August 1227. He sends 1000 knights to the Levant and provides Rome with 100,000 ounces of gold, to be forfeited to the Catholic Church should he break his vow. These funds will be returned to Frederick once he arrives at Acre.

title: 1225

section: Events › July – September

date: September

text: September – A second contingent joined by Frederick II, departs from Brindisi to the Levant. On September 11, during the second day of the voyage, one of Fredericks' companions, Louis IV of Thuringia, dies of an illness (possibly cholera) at Otranto. Frederick also becomes sick and decides to return home, while sending the rest of the Crusader fleet (20 galleys) to Acre. There, they fortify the coastal towns of Caesarea and Jaffa.

title: 1227

date: April 15

text: April 15 – The Ottoman–Mamluk War officially ends as the Ottoman Empire annexes the Mamluk Sultanate territories in the Middle East (the Levant), the Arabian Peninsula (Hejaz) and Egypt as provinces.

title: 1517


slug: lhasa-prefecture-level-city

label: Lhasa (prefecture-level city)

description: prefecture-level city and capital of Tibet

section: Health & Medicine

text: Songtsän Gampo becomes the first emperor of the Tibetan Empire, after his father Namri Songtsen is poisoned. During his reign he expands Tibet's power beyond Lhasa (Tibetan Plateau) and the Yarlung Valley.

title: 618

section: Events › By place › Asia

section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: King Songtsän Gampo builds the first palace on the site of the Potala Palace in Lhasa (Tibet).

title: 637

text: Dromtön, an Atiśa chief disciple, founds Reting Monastery in the Reting Tsangpo Valley (north of Lhasa) as the seat of Kadam lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.

title: 1056

section: Events › By topic › Religion

text: After many years of construction, the Potala Palace in Lhasa is completed.

title: 1695

section: Events › Date unknown

date: November 11

text: November 11 – A riot breaks out in Lhasa after the murder of the regent of Tibet.

title: 1750

section: Exploration & Expansion

date: August 3

text: August 3 – British expedition to Tibet: The British expedition under Colonel Francis Younghusband takes Lhasa, Tibet.

title: 1904

section: Events › August

text: Spring – Francophone explorer, spiritualist and former operatic soprano Alexandra David-Néel, disguised as a male pilgrim, makes a 2-month stay in the forbidden city of Lhasa, Tibet.

title: 1924

section: Conflict & Security

date: March 10

text: March 10 – The Tibetan uprising erupts in Lhasa when Chinese officials attempt to arrest the Dalai Lama.

title: 1959

section: Events › March


slug: liang-dynasty

label: Liang dynasty

description: China's Southern Dynasties (502–557)

section: Births

text: Wu Di, Chinese emperor of the Liang dynasty (d. 549)

title: 464

text: Xu Mian, high official of the Liang dynasty (d. 535)

title: 466

text: Zhou She, high official of the Liang dynasty (d. 524)

title: 469

text: Zhu Yi, high official of Southern Liang (d. 549)

title: 483

text: Xiao Tong, crown prince of the Liang Dynasty (d. 531)

title: 501

text: The Liang Dynasty is founded by Xiao Yan, who marches on Jiankang (later Nanjing). Emperor He Di, age 14, is put to death. The Southern Qi Dynasty ends and Wu Di becomes ruler of the Liang Dynasty.

title: AD 502

section: Events › By place › China

date: December 2

text: December 2 – Xiao Gang, later Emperor Jianwen of Liang, emperor of the Chinese Liang dynasty (killed 551)

title: 503

text: Lý Nguyên Khải, Jiaozhou's governor, rebels against the Liang dynasty, but is suppressed by Lý Tắc, a state official, and subsequently prosecuted.

title: 505

section: Events › By place › Vietnam

text: Battle of Zhongli: army of Liang dynasty led by Wei Rui decisively defeated army of Northern Wei

title: 507

date: September 16

text: September 16 – Yuan Di, emperor of the Liang Dynasty (d. 555)

title: 508

text: Emperor Wu Di of the Liang Dynasty becomes a Buddhist, and introduces the new religion to central China. He demands that sacrifices to imperial ancestors be changed to using dried meat, instead of the traditional animals (goats, pigs and cows).

title: 517

text: Xuan Di, emperor of the Liang Dynasty (d. 562)

title: 519

section: Deaths

text: Zhou She, high official of Southern Liang (b. 469)

title: 524

text: Wang Lin, general of the Liang Dynasty and Northern Wei (d. 573)

title: 526

text: Xiao Tong, eldest son of emperor Wu Di, compiles the Wen Xuan (Literary Selections), a famous anthology of works dating from the Han to the Liang dynasty (approximate date).

title: 530

date: May 30

text: May 30 – Xiao Tong, prince of the Liang Dynasty (b. 501)

title: 531

text: Xu Mian, official of the Liang dynasty (b. 466)

title: 535

text: Lý Bí initiates a rebellion against the ruling Chinese Liang dynasty in Giao Châu province.

title: 541

text: Xiao Ming Di, emperor of the Liang dynasty (d. 585)

title: 542

text: Jing Di, emperor of the Liang dynasty (d. 558)

title: 543

title: 544

date: October

text: October – The Liang dynasty retaliates against Van Xuân, and sends an imperial army (120,000 men) under Chen Baxian to re-occupy the region.

title: 544

text: The Tonkin revolt (Vietnam), led by Lý Nam Đế, is suppressed by the Chinese Liang dynasty.

title: 547

text: Jianwen Di succeeds his father Wu Di as emperor of the Liang Dynasty (China).

title: 549

date: February 16

text: February 16 – Zhu Yi, official of the Liang dynasty (b. 483)

title: 549

text: Autumn – Xiao Dong, great-nephew of the rebellious general Hou Jing, succeeds Jianwen Di as emperor of the Liang Dynasty. Xiao Dong has no real power and Hou Jing controls the imperial government at the capital Jiankang.

title: 551

text: Jianwen Di, emperor of the Liang Dynasty (b. 503)

title: 551

text: Yuan Di succeeds Xiao Dong as emperor of the Liang dynasty.

title: 552

text: Hou Jing, regent of the Liang dynasty

title: 552

text: August 5 – Xiao Ji, prince of the Liang dynasty (b. 508)

title: 553

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: Chinese Liang dynasty: Jing Di, age 12, succeeds his father Yuan Di and is declared emperor by general Chen Baxian.

title: 555

date: January 27

text: January 27 – Yuan Di, emperor of the Liang dynasty (b. 508)

title: 555

text: Xiao Yuanming, emperor of the Liang Dynasty

title: 556

text: The Liang dynasty ends: Chen Wu Di, a distinguished general, becomes the first emperor of the Chen dynasty in Southern China.

title: 557

text: Jing Di, emperor of the Liang Dynasty (b. 543)

title: 558

section: Culture & Society

text: Spring – Xiao Ming Di, age 20, succeeds his father Xuan Di as emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty.

title: 562

text: Xuan Di, emperor of the Liang Dynasty (b. 519)

title: 562

text: Wang, empress of the Liang dynasty

title: 563

text: Xiao Yu, prince of the Liang Dynasty (d. 647)

title: 574

text: Xiao Xian, prince of the Liang dynasty (d. 621)

title: 583

text: Emperor Xiao Jing Di succeeds his father Xiao Ming Di as ruler of the Liang dynasty (China).

title: 585

text: Xiao Ming Di, emperor of the Liang dynasty (b. 542)

title: 585

text: Fall – The Liang dynasty ends: Emperor Wéndi of the Sui dynasty abolishes Western Liang and expands his territory into the lower valley of the Yangtze River. He sends his official Gao Jiong to the capital Jiangling, to pacify the citizens. The former emperor Xiao Jing Di becomes a vassal and is named the Duke of Liang.

title: 587

text: Xiao Xian, prince of the Liang dynasty (b. 583)

title: 621

text: Yao Silian, Chinese historian, completes his Book of Liang. It contains the history of the Liang dynasty.

title: 635

section: Events › By topic › Literature

text: Xiao Yu, prince of the Liang dynasty (b. 574)

title: 647


slug: liao-dynasty

label: Liao dynasty

description: Khitan imperial dynasty in East Asia (916-1125), controlling northern and northeastern China, Mongolia, Russian Far East and North Korea

text: Abaoji, ruler (khagan) of the Khitan Empire (d. 926)

title: 872

date: October 19

text: October 19 – Yingtian, empress of the Khitan Liao Dynasty (d. 953)

title: 879

text: Yelü Bei, prince of the Liao Dynasty (d. 937)

title: 899

date: November 25

text: November 25 – Tai Zong, emperor of the Liao dynasty (d. 947)

title: 902

date: February 27

text: February 27 – Abaoji, ruler (khagan) of the confederation of Khitans, proclaims himself emperor and establishes the Liao dynasty, killing most of the other Khitan chieftains. He occupies territories along China's northern border including parts of Hebei and Shanxi provinces.

title: 907

text: Abaoji, Khitan ruler and founder of the Liao Dynasty, adopts Chinese court formalities in which he declares himself emperor in the Chinese style and adopts an era name, Taizu of Liao. He names his eldest son Yelü Bei as heir apparent, a first in the history of the Khitan. Abaoji leads a campaign in the west, conquering much of the Mongolian Plains.

title: 916

text: Emperor Taizu of the Khitan Empire occupies a newly walled city called Shangjing (modern-day Inner Mongolia), meaning Supreme Capital. It becomes the residence of the Chinese Liao dynasty.

title: 918

date: January 29

text: January 29 – Shi Zong, emperor of the Liao Dynasty (d. 951)

title: 919

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

title: 921

text: Emperor Taizu of the Liao Dynasty leads a campaign to the West. He reaches the former capital of the Uyghur Khaganate, Ordu-Baliq, on the Orkhon River. The Zubu begin to pay tribute to the Khitan Empire.

title: 924

date: September 6

text: September 6 – Emperor Taizu dies after a 10-year reign. He is succeeded by his second son Tai Zong (Yaogu) as ruler of the Chinese Liao Dynasty. Taizu's eldest son Yelü Bei (designated heir apparent) becomes ruler of the Dongdan Kingdom (former Balhae), a puppet state of the Khitan Empire.

title: 926

text: September 6 – Abaoji (Taizu), emperor of the Khitan Empire

title: 926

section: Science & Discovery

text: Yelü Bei, prince and elder brother of the Liao dynasty (Khitan) Emperor Taizong, leaves for China.

title: 930

date: September 19

text: September 19 – Mu Zong, emperor of the Liao dynasty (d. 969)

title: 931

date: February 13

text: February 13 – Xiao Wen, empress of the Liao Dynasty

title: 936

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

text: The Sixteen Prefectures, which includes the area around modern-day Beijing, are absorbed in the Khitan Empire.

title: 938

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

date: May 18

text: May 18 – Tai Zong, emperor of the Liao Dynasty (b. 902)

title: 947

date: September 1

text: September 1 – Jing Zong, emperor of the Liao Dynasty (d. 982)

title: 948

text: Xiao Han, general of the Khitan Liao dynasty

title: 949

date: February 9

text: February 9 – The Northern Han Kingdom is founded by Liu Chong (called Shizu) in modern-day Shanxi who restores the diplomatic relations with the Khitans. Northern Han becomes a protectorate of the Liao dynasty.

title: 951

date: October 7

text: October 7 – Shi Zong, emperor of the Liao dynasty (b. 919)

title: 951

section: Religion & Belief

text: In China the Longquan Monastery is founded during the Liao Dynasty.

title: 957

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: March 12

text: March 12 – Mu Zong, emperor of the Liao dynasty (b. 931)

title: 969

date: January 16

text: January 16 – Sheng Zong, emperor of the Liao Dynasty (d. 1031)

title: 972

text: The Liao Dynasty exchanges ambassadors with the Song Dynasty on New Years Day (Spring Festival).

title: 974

text: Battle of Gaoliang River: Emperor Tai Zong leads an expedition into You Prefecture (or Youzhou). The Liao Dynasty counter-attacks and defeats the Song forces near modern-day Beijing.

title: 979

date: October 13

text: October 13 – Chinese Emperor Jingzong dies in camp during a hunting trip after a 13-year reign. He is succeeded by his 11-year-old son, Shengzong, as ruler of the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty. His mother, Empress Dowager Xiao Yanyan becomes the regent.

title: 982

text: October 13 – Jing Zong, emperor of the Liao Dynasty (b. 948)

title: 982

text: Emperor Sheng Zong of the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty leads an expeditionary force against the Zubu after they killed their own khan and begin to act in defiance of the Khitan.

title: 983

text: Summer – Chi Go Pass Campaign: The Song Dynasty sends armies on three fronts against the Liao Dynasty in the Sixteen Prefectures, but they are defeated on all fronts.

title: 986

text: The Liao dynasty adopts civil service examinations in the 'Southern Chancellery', based on Tang dynasty models (approximate date).

title: 988

text: Goryeo-Khitan War: Negotiations led by the Korean diplomat Sŏ Hŭi prevents a fullscale invasion of the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty. King Seongjong accepts Liao's demands – and agrees to end the alliance with the Chinese Song Dynasty. Goryeo becomes a Liao tributary state, the Khitan army (60,000 men) withdraws while Seongjong orders the Korean border defenses strengthened.

title: 995

section: Events › Asia

text: The Niujie Mosque is constructed in Beijing during the Liao Dynasty. The first mosque is built under supervision of the Muslim architect Nazaruddin.

title: 996

text: Yelü Xiuge, general and politician of the Liao Dynasty

title: 998

text: Emperor Sheng Zong of the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty leads an expedition into Mongolia and subdues the Zubu tribe who are forced to pay an annual tribute.

title: 1003

text: Summer – Emperor Sheng Zong of Liao launches a major offensive against the Song dynasty. He invades Shanyang and threatens the Song capital of Kaifeng (approximate date).

title: 1004

date: January 13

text: January 13–18 – The Shanyuan Treaty is negotiated between the Liao dynasty and the Song dynasty. The Song government agrees to pay an annual tribute of 200,000 bolts of raw silk and 100,000 taels of silver, ending the northern border clashes against Liao.

title: 1005

text: Second conflict in the Goryeo–Khitan War: The Goryeo king is unseated in a revolt, resulting in an invasion by the Liao dynasty, and the burning of the Korean capital Gaegyeong.

title: 1010

text: April 3 – Xing Zong, emperor of the Liao dynasty (d. 1055)

title: 1016

text: December – Goryeo–Khitan War: Khitan forces of the Liao dynasty invade Goryeo (North Korea). Goryeo forces led by General Kang Kam-ch'an annihilates the Khitan army at Kusong.

title: 1018

text: March 10 – Battle of Gwiju: Korean forces, led by General Kang Kam-ch'an, gain a decisive victory over the Khitan Liao Dynasty at modern-day Kusong, ending the Third Goryeo-Khitan War.

title: 1019

text: A Zubu revolt against the Liao dynasty is suppressed, with the Zubu forced to pay an annual tribute of horses, camels and furs.

title: 1026

text: June 25 – Sheng Zong, emperor of the Liao Dynasty (b. 972)

title: 1031

text: Xiao Guanyin, Chinese empress consort of the Liao dynasty (d. 1075)

title: 1040

text: The Pagoda of Fogong Temple at Shanxi in northern China is built during the Liao dynasty. Work begins on the Pizhi Pagoda of Lingyan Temple at Shandong under the opposing Song dynasty.

title: 1056

text: Summer – Shen Kuo, Chinese polymath scientist and statesman, solves a border dispute with the Liao dynasty by dredging up old diplomatic records. He refutes Emperor Dao Zong's bluffs point for point during a meeting at Mt. Yongan (near modern-day Pingquan), reestablishing the rightful borders of the Song dynasty.

title: 1075

text: June 5 – Tianzuo (Yanning), last emperor of the Liao dynasty

title: 1075

text: The Liao dynasty crushes the Zubu, a tribute state of the Khitan Empire, and takes their khan prisoner.

title: 1100

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

title: 1101


slug: liberal-party-of-australia

label: Liberal Party of Australia

description: Australian political party

date: December 10

text: December 10 – 1949 Australian federal election: The Liberal/Country Coalition led by Robert Menzies defeats the Labor government, led by Prime Minister Ben Chifley. Menzies is sworn in on December 19, his second stint as prime minister; he will hold the office for over 16 years until his retirement in 1966 and Labor will not win office again until 1972, under Gough Whitlam.

title: 1949

section: Events › December

date: May 9

text: May 9 – Australian Senate election, 1953: The Liberal/Country Coalition Government, led by Prime Minister Robert Menzies, holds their Senate majority, despite gains made by the Labor Party, led by H. V. Evatt. This is the first occasion where a Senate election is held without an accompanying House of Representatives election.

title: 1953

section: Events › May

date: May 29

text: May 29 – 1954 Australian federal election: Robert Menzies' Liberal/Country Coalition Government is re-elected with a decreased majority, defeating the Labor Party led by H.V. Evatt. The election has come shortly after the Petrov Affair, arguably helping the Government survive what was initially predicted to be a defeat.

title: 1954

text: December 10 – 1955 Australian federal election: Robert Menzies' Liberal/Country Coalition Government is re-elected with a substantially increased majority, defeating the Labor Party led by H. V. Evatt. This election comes in the immediate aftermath of the devastating split in the Labor Party, which leads to the formation of the Democratic Labor Party. The DLP will preference against Labor, and keep the Coalition in office until 1972.

title: 1955

section: Technology & Infrastructure

date: November 22

text: November 22 – 1958 Australian federal election: Robert Menzies' Liberal/Country Coalition Government is re-elected with a slightly increased majority, defeating the Labor Party led by H.V. Evatt. This is the first election where television is used as a medium for communicating with voters. Evatt will eventually resign as Labor leader and will be replaced by his deputy Arthur Calwell.

title: 1958

section: Events › November

date: December 9

text: December 9 – 1961 Australian federal election: Robert Menzies' Liberal/Country Coalition Government is re-elected with a one-seat majority, narrowly defeating the Labor Party led by Arthur Calwell. One of the closest election results in Australian history, such a result will not be replicated again until 2016. Notably, former Prime Minister Earle Page loses his seat, although he dies a few days later, never knowing the result.

title: 1961

date: November 30

text: November 30 – 1963 Australian federal election: Robert Menzies' Liberal/Country Coalition Government is re-elected with an increased majority to an unprecedented eighth term in office, defeating the Labor Party led by Arthur Calwell. (This would be the final lower house election won by Menzies, who would retire from office during the term as the longest-serving Prime Minister in Australian history; he would be replaced by Harold Holt.)

title: 1963

date: December 5

text: December 5 – Australian Senate election, 1964: The Liberal/Country Coalition Government led by Prime Minister Robert Menzies hold their status quo, while the Labor Party led by Arthur Calwell lose one seat to the Democratic Labor Party, who hold the balance of power in the Senate alongside independent Reg Turnbull.

title: 1964

section: Climate & Environment

date: December 17

text: December 17 – Harold Holt, 17th Prime Minister of Australia, disappears when swimming at Cheviot Beach, 60 km from Melbourne. He was briefly replaced as prime minister by John McEwen, until the Liberal Party elected Minister for Education and Science John Gorton as leader.

title: 1967

text: November 25 – 1967 Australian Senate election: The Liberal/Country Coalition government led by Prime Minister Harold Holt lost two seats, while the Labor Party led by Gough Whitlam failed to make any gains. The Democratic Labor Party won the two seats from the Liberals and gained the sole balance of power in the Senate.

title: 1967

date: January 10

text: January 10 – John Gorton is sworn in as 19th Prime Minister of Australia, taking over from John McEwen after being elected leader of the Liberal Party the previous day, following the disappearance of Harold Holt. Gorton becomes the only Senator to become Prime Minister, though he immediately transfers to the House of Representatives through the 1968 Higgins by-election in Holt's vacant seat.

title: 1968

section: Events › January–February

date: October 25

text: October 25 – 1969 Australian federal election: John Gorton's Liberal/Country Coalition government is narrowly re-elected with a sharply reduced majority, defeating a resurgent Labor Party led by Gough Whitlam. Prime Minister Gorton survived a leadership challenge by his deputy William McMahon as well as David Fairbairn in the immediate aftermath of the election.

title: 1969

section: Events › October

date: November 21

text: November 21 – 1970 Australian Senate election: The Liberal/Country Coalition government led by Prime Minister John Gorton and the Labor Party led by Gough Whitlam each end up with 26 seats, both suffering a swing against them. The Democratic Labor Party wins an additional seat and holds the balance of power in the Senate. This is the last occasion on which a Senate election is held without an accompanying House of Representatives election.

title: 1970

text: May 18 – 1974 Australian federal election: Gough Whitlam's Labor government is re-elected with a reduced majority, defeating the Liberal/Country Coalition led by Billy Snedden. Whitlam consequently becomes the first Labor Prime Minister to be re-elected in his own right. The Democratic Labor Party meanwhile loses all five of their Senate seats, effectively wiping them out as a political force.

title: 1974

section: Events › May–June

date: December 13

text: December 13 – 1975 Australian federal election: The Liberal/National Country Coalition led by Malcolm Fraser defeats the recently dismissed Labor government led by Gough Whitlam. The Fraser government achieves what is so far the largest parliamentary majority in federal Australian political history. Whitlam would subsequently survive a leadership challenge against him.

title: 1975

date: November 11

text: November 11 – Australian constitutional crisis of 1975: Governor-General of Australia Sir John Kerr controversially dismisses the Whitlam Labor government and commissions Malcolm Fraser of the Liberal/National Country Coalition as caretaker Prime Minister.

title: 1975

text: December 10 – 1977 Australian federal election: Malcolm Fraser's Liberal/National Country Coalition government is re-elected with a slightly reduced majority, defeating the Labor Party led by former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. Consequently, Whitlam resigns as ALP leader after holding the job for nearly 11 years; he is replaced by former treasurer Bill Hayden.

title: 1977

date: October 18

text: October 18 – 1980 Australian federal election: Malcolm Fraser's Liberal/National Country Coalition government is re-elected with a substantially reduced majority, defeating the Labor Party led by Bill Hayden. The Government also loses control of the Senate, with the Australian Democrats winning the balance of power.

title: 1980

date: March 5

text: March 5 – Australian federal election: The Labor Party led by Bob Hawke defeats the Liberal/National Coalition government led by Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. Hawke is to be sworn in on March 11. As soon as the results become clear, Fraser resigns from the Liberal leadership; he is replaced by outgoing Minister for Industry and Commerce Andrew Peacock.

title: 1983

date: December 2

text: December 2 – 1984 Australian federal election: Bob Hawke's Labor government is re-elected with a reduced majority, defeating the Liberal/National Coalition led by Andrew Peacock.

title: 1984

date: July 11

text: July 11 – 1987 Australian federal election: Bob Hawke's Labor government is re-elected with an increased majority, defeating the Liberal Party led by John Howard and the National Party led by Ian Sinclair.

title: 1987

section: Events › July

date: March 24

text: March 24 – 1990 Australian federal election: Bob Hawke's Labor government is re-elected with a reduced majority, narrowly defeating the Liberal/National Coalition led by Andrew Peacock.

title: 1990

date: March 13

text: March 13 – 1993 Australian federal election: Paul Keating's Labor government is re-elected with an increased majority, defeating the Liberal/National Coalition led by John Hewson.

title: 1993

date: March 2

text: March 2 – 1996 Australian federal election: The Liberal/National Coalition led by John Howard defeats the Labor government led by Prime Minister Paul Keating. Howard was sworn in on March 11.

title: 1996

date: October 3

text: October 3 – 1998 Australian federal election: John Howard's Liberal/National Coalition government is re-elected with a substantially reduced majority, defeating the Labor Party led by Kim Beazley.

title: 1998

date: November 24

text: November 24 – 2007 Australian federal election: The Labor Party led by Kevin Rudd defeats the Liberal/National Coalition government led by Prime Minister John Howard. Rudd would be sworn in on December 3.

title: 2007

date: August 21

text: August 21 – 2010 Australian federal election: Julia Gillard's Labor government is re-elected, narrowly defeating the Liberal/National Coalition led by Tony Abbott.

title: 2010

date: September 7

text: September 7 – 2013 Australian federal election: The Liberal/National Coalition led by Tony Abbott defeats the Labor Government led by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Abbott is sworn in on September 18.

title: 2013

section: Events › September

date: September 14

text: September 14 – Malcolm Turnbull defeats Tony Abbott in a Liberal Party leadership ballot. Turnbull becomes Prime Minister of Australia, being sworn in the following day.

title: 2015

date: August 24

text: August 24 – Scott Morrison succeeds Malcolm Turnbull as Prime Minister of Australia following a Liberal Party leadership ballot. Morrison is sworn in as Prime Minister later that evening.

title: 2018

text: May 18 – 2019 Australian federal election: Scott Morrison's Liberal/National Coalition government is narrowly re-elected, defeating the Labor Party led by Bill Shorten.

title: 2019

date: May 21

text: May 21 – 2022 Australian federal election: The Labor party, led by Anthony Albanese, defeats the Liberal-National Coalition government led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Albanese is sworn in as Prime Minister two days later.

title: 2022