slug: john-i-tzimiskes

label: John I Tzimiskes

description: Byzantine emperor

text: John I Tzimiskes, Byzantine emperor (approximate date)

title: 925

date: October

text: October / November – Battle of Raban: The Byzantines under John Tzimiskes defeat the Hamdanid forces in northern Syria. Emir Sayf al-Dawla is forced to retreat – many of his court companions and ghilman fall in pursuit, while over 1,700 of his Turk cavalry are captured and paraded in the streets of Constantinople.

title: 958

section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire

text: Arab–Byzantine War: Emperor Nikephoros II continues the reconquest of south-eastern Anatolia (modern Turkey). He recaptured Cyprus through Niketas Chalkoutzes, and reorganizes the conquered lands into new themes. In the summer, they take the fortress cities of Anazarbus and Adana. Byzantine troops under General John Tzimiskes besiege Mopsuestia, but with the coming of winter he is forced to retreat to Caesarea.

title: 964

section: Events › Byzantine Empire

section: Crime & Justice

date: December 11

text: December 11 – Emperor Nikephoros II is murdered in the royal palace of Boukoleon at Constantinople after a 6-year reign. Former friends have acted on the instructions of his wife Theophano. Nikephoros is succeeded by his nephew John I Tzimiskes, who becomes co-emperor and regent. He sends Theophano into exile to the island of Prinkipo (Prince Islands).

title: 969

text: Emperor John I delegates the war in the Balkans to his brother-in-law, the Domestic of the Schools Bardas Skleros, and to the eunuch general Peter Phokas, who begin to gather a Byzantine army in Thrace. At the news of this, a powerful Kievan expeditionary force (30,000 men), along with many Bulgarians and a Pecheneg contingent, is sent south over the Balkan Mountains. After sacking the Bulgarian stronghold of Philippolis (modern-day Plovdiv), they bypass the heavily defended city of Adrianople, and turn towards Constantinople.

title: 970

text: John I returns in triumph to Constantinople. He brings along Boris II, ruler (tsar) of the Bulgarian Empire, and his family, together with the contents of the Bulgarian imperial treasury. Boris is given the Byzantine 'court title' of magistros as compensation. The Bulgarian lands in Thrace and Lower Moesia become part of the Byzantine Empire.

title: 971

text: Spring – Emperor John I Tzimiskes divides the Bulgarian territories, recently held by the Kievan Rus', into six new themes. He turns his attention to the East against the Abbasid Caliphate and its vassals, beginning with an invasion of Upper Mesopotamia. John transfers Byzantine troops to Macedonia, and the region of Philippopolis in Thrace, to dilute the Slavs.

title: 972

text: John I grants a charter for the Monastic Republic of Holy Mount Athos, in Greece.

title: 972

text: Arab–Byzantine War: Emperor John I raids Mesopotamia and invades Syria, using the Byzantine base at Antioch to press southwards to Tripoli. He conquers the cities of Baalbek, Damascus, Sidon, Tiberias and Caesarea, but fails to take Jerusalem.

title: 975

section: Deaths

date: January 10

text: January 10 – Emperor John I Tzimiskes dies at Constantinople, after returning from a second campaign against the Abbasids in Syria. He is buried in the Church of Christ Chalkites, and succeeded by his 18-year-old nephew Basil II, who becomes sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire. The administration remains in the hands of Basil Lekapenos (an illegitimate son of the late Emperor Romanos I).

title: 976


slug: john-ii-komnenos

label: John II Komnenos

description: Byzantine Emperor from 1118 to 1144

section: Births

date: September 13

text: September 13 – John II Komnenos, Byzantine emperor (d. 1143)

title: 1087

date: August 15

text: August 15 – Emperor Alexios I Komnenos dies after a 37-year reign, in which he has regained control over western Anatolia (modern Turkey). He stabilizes his frontiers against the wars with the Normans in the western Balkans, and the Seljuk Turks in the East. Alexios is succeeded by his 30-year-old son, John II Komnenos (the Good), as ruler of the Byzantine Empire.

title: 1118

section: Conflict & Security

text: Siege of Sozopolis: Byzantine forces under Emperor John II Komnenos conquer Sozopolis in Pisidia, from the Sultanate of Rum. The Seljuk garrison is defeated while they are trapped between the Byzantine cavalry and the army (which is besieging the fortress).

title: 1120

text: Emperor John II Komnenos recovers southwestern Anatolia (modern Turkey) from the Seljuk Turks and then hastens to the Balkans, where the Pechenegs are continuing their incursions. He transfers Byzantine troops to the Danube frontier at Paristrion.

title: 1121

text: Battle of Beroia: Emperor John II Komnenos transfers the Byzantine field army from Asia Minor (where it has been engaged against the Seljuk Turks) to the Balkans. The Pechenegs who have set up their camp (defended by a circular formation of wagons) near Beroia (modern Bulgaria) are defeated. John orders the Varangian Guard (some 480 men), the elite Palace Guard to hack their way through the Pecheneg circle of wagons, causing a general rout in their camp. Pecheneg survivors are taken captive and enlisted into the Byzantine army.

title: 1122

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: Summer – Emperor John II Komnenos re-confirms the treaty of 1082. This ends the hostilities with Hungary and Venice. John secures Braničevo, and recovers the region of Sirmium on the Danube, but is forced by Venice to renew the exclusive commercial privileges.

title: 1126

text: Byzantine–Hungarian War: Emperor John II Komnenos defeats the Hungarians and their Serbian allies at the fortress of Haram (or Chramon), which is modern-day Nova Palanka.

title: 1128

text: Lothair III receives a Byzantine embassy at his court, on behalf of Emperor John II Komnenos. It offers large financial subsidies for Lothair to start a campaign against Roger II. The negotiations will last for some months.

title: 1135

section: Events › By place › Europe

text: Summer – Emperor Lothair III invades southern Italy in response to the appeal of Emperor John II Komnenos (see 1135) and conquers Apulia from King Roger II of Sicily. Duke Grimoald of Bari, supported by Lothair III, rebels against Roger.

title: 1136

text: Spring – Emperor John II (Komnenos) leads a Byzantine expeditionary force into Cilicia (the Byzantine fleet guards his flank). He defeats the Armenians under Prince Leo I ("Lord of the Mountains"), and captures the cities of Mersin, Tarsus, Adana and Mamistra. Leo retreats to the great fortifications of Anazarbus – where its garrison resists for 37 days. The Byzantine siege engines batter down its walls, and the city is forced to surrender. Leo escapes into the Taurus Mountains, while the Byzantine forces march southward into the plain of Antioch.

title: 1137

date: April 20

text: April 20 – Byzantine Emperor John II Komnenos, having led an expeditionary force into Syria, arrives before the walls of Aleppo. The city proves too strong to attack, but the fortresses of Biza'a, Athareb, Ma'arrat Nu'man and Kafartab are taken by assault. While the Byzantines besiege the city of Shaizar, the Crusader allies Prince Raymond of Poitiers of Antioch and Count Joscelin II of Edessa remain in their camp playing dice.

title: 1138

section: Events › By place › Middle East


slug: john-ii-of-aragon

label: John II of Aragon

description: King of Aragon from 1458 to 1479

date: September 8

text: September 8 – In Spain, King Carlos III of Navarre dies after a reign of 38 years. His daughter, Princess Bianca, becomes the Queen of Navarre and her husband, King John II of Aragon becomes her co-ruler.

title: 1425

section: Events › July –September

date: June 27

text: June 27 – Alfonso V of Aragon, King of Aragon in Spain since 1416 and King of Naples in Italy since 1442, dies at his home at the Castel dell'Ovo in Naples. By prior arrangement with his family, Alfonso is succeeded as King of Naples by his son, Fernando, popularly known in Naples as "Ferrante". At the same time, Alfonso's brother Juan, King of Navarre and King of Sicily, becomes the new King of Aragon.

title: 1458

section: Events › April–June

date: December 2

text: December 2 – In Spain, the popular Prince Carlos de Viana, heir to the throne of Navarre, is arrested at Lleida and jailed in Morella by order of his father, King Juan II, leading to an uprising in Catalonia. King Juan eventually yields and frees Prince Carlos two months later on February 25.

title: 1460

section: Events › October–December

date: May 23

text: May 23 – Catalan Civil War: In the Principality of Catalonia in Spain, the Siege of Hostalric, controlled by forces loyal to John II of Aragon, is started by Catalan General Pere de Bell-lloc and the Hostalric castle surrenders six days later.

title: 1462

date: February 28

text: February 28 – In the Catalan Civil War, the Battle of Calaf is fought and Pedro V, the self-proclaimed King of Aragon, is defeated near Barcelona by the legitimate King, Juan II.

title: 1465

section: Events › January–March

date: October 28

text: October 28 – The Catalan Civil War comes to an end as Barcelona surrenders to King Juan II of Aragon with the signing of the Capitulation of Pedralbes by the rebel leader Hugh Roger III of Pallars Sobirà, guaranteeing the rights of the Principality of Catalonia in return for allegiance to the Kingdom of Aragon.

title: 1472

section: Culture & Society

date: January 15

text: January 15 – At Madrid, Queen Isabella I of Castile, who had been crowned on December 11, declares her husband Prince Fernando de Aragón to be the joint ruler with her, and is proclaimed as King Fernando V of Castile. Fernando, the oldest son and heir to the throne of King Juan II of Aragon, will make Isabella co-ruler of Aragon when he ascends the throne upon his father's death in 1479.

title: 1475

date: March 10

text: March 10 – The city of Perpignan is recaptured by the army of the Kingdom of France after having been captured by the Spanish king John II of Aragon.

title: 1475

date: September 14

text: September 14 – King Ferrante of Napoli marries Princess Juana, daughter of the Spanish King John II of Aragon and Navarre after being brought to Naples by King Ferrante's son Prince Alfonso, Duke of Calabria.

title: 1477

section: Events › July–September

date: January 20

text: January 20 – Fernando II already co-ruler of Crown of Castile with his wife, Isabella I, becomes the King of Aragon upon the death of his father, King Juan II of Aragon and Navarre. He and Isabella rule together over Aragon and Castile, unifying the two kingdoms and controlling most of the Iberian Peninsula. At the same time, King Juan's daughter, Leonor de Trastámara, who had served as regent during times when her father was away fighting in war, becomes Queen of Navarre.

title: 1479

text: January 20 – King John II of Aragon (b. 1397)

title: 1479


slug: john-ii-of-france

label: John II of France

description: monarch of the House of Valois who ruled as King of France from 1350 until his death

date: April 26

text: April 26 – John the Good, king of France (d. 1364)

title: 1319

date: November 30

text: November 30 – John, Duke of Berry, son of John II of France (d. 1416)

title: 1340

date: September 18

text: September 18 – Marie Valois, French princess, daughter of King John II of France (d. 1404)

title: 1344

date: September 11

text: September 11 – Bonne of Luxembourg, queen of John II of France (b. 1315)

title: 1349

date: September 19

text: September 19 – Hundred Years' War – Battle of Poitiers: The English, commanded by Edward the Black Prince, defeat the French. The greatly outnumbered English forces not only rout the French, but capture the French king John II of France and his youngest son, the future Philip the Bold of Burgundy.

title: 1356

section: Events › January–December

date: October 24

text: October 24 – The Treaty of Brétigny is ratified at Calais, marking the end of the first phase of the Hundred Years' War. Under its terms, Edward III of England gives up his claim to the French throne, and releases King John II of France in return for French land, including Calais and Gascony.

title: 1360

date: April 8

text: April 8 – King John II of France (b. 1319)

title: 1364

date: June 15

text: June 15 – John, Duke of Berry, son of John II of France (b. 1340)

title: 1416


slug: john-iii-of-sweden

label: John III of Sweden

description: Swedish king (1537-1592)

date: November 1

text: November 1 – Catherine Jagiellon, queen of John III of Sweden (d. 1583)

title: 1526

text: Future King Prince John, younger son of King Gustav I of Sweden becomes Duke of Finland.

title: 1556

section: Events › Date unknown

date: September 29

text: September 29 – The Swedish king Eric XIV is deposed by his half-brothers John and Charles. John proclaims himself king John III the next day.

title: 1568

text: 1569 Plot: The first of three conspiracies with the intent to depose John III of Sweden and reinstate the imprisoned Eric XIV on the Swedish throne is exposed in Sweden.

title: 1569

section: Events › Dates unknown

date: September

text: September – A plot to assassinate John III of Sweden is discovered, headed by Charles de Mornay and implicating Charles Dancay, Hogenskild Bielke, Gustaf Banér, Pontus De la Gardie, Princess Elizabeth of Sweden, Princess Cecilia of Sweden, and Duke Charles.

title: 1574

date: September 16

text: September 16 – Catherine Jagiellon, queen of John III of Sweden (b. 1526)

title: 1583

date: February 21

text: February 21 – King Johan III of Sweden, widowed since 1583, marries Gunilla Bielke in a ceremony at Västerås, which the King's siblings refuse to attend. The coronation of Queen consort Gunilla takes place the next day. Over the next seven years, she works on changing the Catholic government's attitude towards Protestants.

title: 1585

date: November 17

text: November 17 – Sigismund III Vasa becomes the new King of Sweden upon the death of his father, King John III.

title: 1592


slug: john-king-of-england

label: John, King of England

description: King of England from 1199 to 1216

date: December 24

text: December 24 – John, king of England (d. 1216)

title: 1166

text: Henry II makes an effort to end the strife between him and his wife, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, in order that he may dally in western Herefordshire with his mistress, Rosamund Clifford, the daughter of Walter de Clifford. He divides the succession to his kingdom among his four sons, Henry the Young King, Richard I, Geoffrey of Brittany, and John.

title: 1169

section: Events › By place › England

text: King Henry II of England and Humbert III, Count of Savoy ("the Blessed") agree to the marriage of their respective heirs, John and Alicia. The alliance never occurs because Henry's elder heir, Henry the Young King, becomes jealous over the castles in the realm which Henry has promised to the couple. He stages a rebellion which will take Henry two years to put down. By that time, Alicia will have died.

title: 1172

section: Events › By place › Britain

date: September 30

text: September 30 – The Revolt of 1173–1174: After a year and a half of rebellion, Henry II achieves peace agreements with his sons Henry the Young King, Richard, Geoffrey, and John at Montlouis, on the basis of the pre-war status quo. Before he returns to Normandy, Henry orders the rebel castles in England and Aquitaine to be destroyed.

title: 1174

text: King Henry II of England encourages his youngest (and favorite) son John to seize Aquitaine from his brother Richard.

title: 1184

section: Exploration & Expansion

date: December

text: December – Richard I sets sail with a crusader army from Dover Castle to France. To ensure he has the allegiance of his brother John, Richard approves of his marriage to their cousin Isabella of Gloucester.

title: 1189

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

date: March

text: March – Richard returns to England, and remains for only a few weeks before returning to the Continent. He leaves the administration of England in the hands of Hubert Walter, archbishop of Canterbury, who accompanied Richard on the Third Crusade and led his army back to England. He levied the taxes to pay the king's ransom and put down a plot against Richard by his younger brother John.

title: 1194

text: John of England captures a party of 18 French knights and many men-at-arms, in the ongoing conflict against France. His brother, King Richard I (the Lionheart) introduces a new Great Seal – in an attempt to keep the war against France funded. The government proclaims that charters previously struck with the old seal are no longer valid and must be renewed with a fresh payment. The office of Lord Warden of the Stannaries is also introduced, to tax the produce of tin mines in Cornwall and Devon.

title: 1198

date: April 6

text: April 6 – Richard I dies from gangrene, caused by his crossbow wound. His younger brother, John (Lackland), becomes King of England. Richard's jewels are left to his nephew, Otto IV, King of the Romans. Mercadier, a mercenary captain and Richard's second in command, has Pierre Basile flayed alive and hanged.

title: 1199

date: May 22

text: May 22 – The Kings John of England and Philip II of France, sign a peace treaty at Le Goulet, an island in the middle of the Seine River, near Vernon in Normandy. The agreement recognizes John as overlord of most of the English owned lands in France, but John has to give Philip the lands of Norman Vexin and Évreux and a large sum of money (some 20,000 marks) – a "relief" payment for recognition of John's sovereignty of Brittany.

title: 1200

section: Technology & Infrastructure

date: April 10

text: April 10 – John, King of England, permits Jews to live freely in England and Normandy.

title: 1201

section: Events › By topic › Religion

date: July 11

text: July 11 – Llywelyn the Great pays homage to John, King of England after Llywelyn has added Eifionydd and Llŷn to his kingdom of Gwynedd in north Wales.

title: 1201

section: Events › By place › British Isles

text: Spring – King Philip II of France ("Augustus") summons John, King of England ("Lackland") to Paris to answer his charges against the Lusignans. On April 28, failing to attend Philip's court, John is declared to be a 'rebel' and to have forfeited the areas of Aquitaine, Poitou and Anjou. Philip tries to mediate the political problems between John and the Lusignans (who are charged with treason) but this is ignored by John. The lands are given to Arthur of Brittany. Philip supports Arthur's claim to the English throne and betrothes his 4-year-old daughter Marie.

title: 1202

text: Spring – King Philip II of France invades Normandy and attacks a number of castles in the surrounding region. In April, John, King of England loses the support of his French vassals who desert him. Philip enters Rouen, leading to the eventual Treaty of Paris (1259) and unification of Normandy and France.

title: 1203

text: Summer – King Philip II ("Augustus") conquers most of the Angevin lands, including much of Aquitaine. Fearing a French invasion of England itself, John, King of England ("Lackland") requires every English male over 12 years to enter a mobilization "for the general defense of the realm and the preservation of peace". John prepares an expedition force of his own, but the barons refuse to cross the Channel.

title: 1205

date: June

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

title: 1206

text: John, King of England ("Lackland") introduces the first income tax. One-thirteenth of income from rents and moveable property has to be paid. Collected locally by sheriffs and administered by the Exchequer, the tax is unpopular with the English nobility and especially in the churches and monasteries, but does raise a lot of money for John, doubling his annual income for the year.

title: 1207

date: March 24

text: March 24 – Innocent III places England under a Papal Interdict, as punishment for John, King of England ("Lackland")'s refusal to accept Stephen Langton as archbishop of Canterbury. During the interdict, religious services as marriages, burials, or baptisms cannot be performed. John confiscates church property of clergy who are unwilling to conduct services. Many bishops in the country flee abroad to the Continent.

title: 1208

date: November

text: November – Against the backdrop of the continuing Papal Interdict of 1208, John, King of England, is excommunicated by Pope Innocent III. Despite the excommunication, John will continue to make amends to the Church – including giving alms to the poor whenever he defiles a holy day by hunting during it. He feeds 100 paupers to make up for when he "went into the woods on the feast of St. Mary Magdalen", and three years from now, he will feast 450 paupers "because the king went to take cranes, and he took nine, for each of which he feasted fifty paupers."

title: 1209

text: King John extends his taxes and raises £100,000 from church property as an extraordinary fiscal levy; the operation is described as an “inestimable and incomparable exaction” by contemporary sources.

title: 1210

text: Summer – John, King of England ("Lackland") campaigns in Wales against Llywelyn the Great, prince of Gwynedd. In July, after the Welsh uprising, John and Llywelyn reach an agreement and a peace treaty is signed.

title: 1211

text: John, King of England, impounds the revenue of all prelates appointed by bishops, who have deserted him at his excommunication. He remains on good terms, however, with churchmen who stood by him, including Abbot Sampson, who this year bequeaths John his jewels.

title: 1212

date: May 15

text: May 15 – John, King of England submits to Pope Innocent III, who in turn lifts the interdict of 1208 the following year.

title: 1213

section: Events

date: March 4

text: March 4 – John, King of England ("Lackland"), hoping to gain the support of Pope Innocent III against the Barons, takes the oath to go on Crusade. By doing so, Innocent declares John to be his vassal and claims ownership of the whole kingdom (with political protection under church law). On April 1, Innocent sends a letter to the Barons, asking them to halt their actions against John.

title: 1215

section: Events › By continent › Europe

text: Spring – First Barons' War: The English army, led by John, King of England ("Lackland"), sacks the town of Berwick-on-Tweed and raids southern Scotland. John pushes up towards Edinburgh over a ten-day period. On his return, he puts down a revolt in East Anglia. On March 24, he arrives at Hertford to deal with the challenge of a coming French invasion.

title: 1216

date: June 21

text: June 21 – 10-year-old Joan of England, eldest daughter of the late King John, marries the 21-year-old King Alexander II of Scotland at York Minster.

title: 1221

date: April 23

text: April 23 – William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, one of the enforcers of the Magna Carta, marries Eleanor of England, Countess of Leicester, the nine-year-old daughter of the late King John of England and sister of King Henry III, in order to strengthen the Marshal family's connection with the House of Plantagenet.

title: 1224

section: Events › April – June

text: Beaulieu Abbey in England, founded earlier by King John, is dedicated in the presence of King Henry III, Queen Eleanor and 7-year-old Prince Edward.

title: 1246


slug: john-lennon

label: John Lennon

description: British musician (1940–1980)

section: Births

date: February 18

text: February 18 – Yoko Ono, Japanese-born artist and musician, widow of John Lennon

title: 1933

section: Births › February

section: Crime & Justice

date: October 9

text: October 9 – The Lead Singer of The Beatles, John Lennon was born.

title: 1940

section: Events › October

date: July 6

text: July 6 – At the age of fifteen, Paul McCartney meets John Lennon and his band, the Quarrymen, at the St Peter's Church Hall fête in Woolton.

title: 1957

section: Events › July

section: Conflict & Security

date: September 11

text: September 11 – In Jacksonville, Florida, during a tour of the United States, John Lennon announces that the Beatles will not play to a segregated audience.

title: 1964

section: Events › September

date: August 11

text: August 11 – the Beatles hold a press conference in Chicago, during which John Lennon apologizes for his "more popular than Jesus" remark, saying, "I didn't mean it as a lousy anti-religious thing."

title: 1966

section: Events › August

text: March 4 – In an interview with London Evening Standard reporter Maureen Cleave, John Lennon of the Beatles states: "We're more popular than Jesus now."

title: 1966

section: Events › March

date: March 20

text: March 20 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono are married at Gibraltar, and proceed to their honeymoon "Bed-in" for peace in Amsterdam.

title: 1969

date: May 26

text: May 26–June 2 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono conduct their second bed-in. The follow-up to the Amsterdam event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. Lennon composes and records the song "Give Peace a Chance" during the event.

title: 1969

section: Events › May

date: December 10

text: December 10 – The John Sinclair Freedom Rally in support of the imprisoned activist features a performance by John Lennon at Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

title: 1971

section: Events › December

date: September 9

text: September 9 – English musician John Lennon releases his second studio album Imagine. Worldwide sales of the title track will exceed 5 million.

title: 1971

date: December 8

text: December 8 – Murder of John Lennon: Mark David Chapman is arrested following the murder of English musician John Lennon, formerly of the Beatles, outside his New York City apartment building, The Dakota.

title: 1980

date: August 24

text: August 24 – Mark David Chapman is sentenced to 20 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to murdering John Lennon in Manhattan eight months earlier.

title: 1981

date: November 2

text: November 2 – The Beatles release "Now and Then", the band's last ever song, featuring restored vocals by John Lennon (1940–1980), as well as guitar tracks by George Harrison (1943–2001).

title: 2023

section: Events › November


slug: john-of-brienne

label: John of Brienne

description: King of Jerusalem and Emperor of Latin Empire of Constantinople (c.1170-1237)

section: Religion & Belief

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: Events › By place › Levant

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: May 24

text: May 24 – A Crusader expeditionary force, (some 30,000 men) under King John I of Jerusalem, embarks at Acre (supported by Frisian ships), and sails for Egypt. They arrive at the harbour of Damietta, on the right bank of the Nile, on May 27. Sultan Al-Adil, surprised by the invasion, recruits an army in Syria, while his son Al-Kamil marches an Egyptian force northwards from Cairo, and encamps at Al-Adiliya, a few miles south of Damietta.

title: 1218

section: Events › By place › Fifth Crusade

date: July 4

text: July 4 – Pelagius orders a three-days fast in preparation for the advance. King John I of Jerusalem arrives at Damietta to rejoin the Crusade at the command of Honorius III. The Crusader force moves towards Sheremsah, halfway between Faraskur and Mansoura on the east bank of the Nile, occupying the city on July 12. Sources tell of 630 ships of various sizes, 5,000 knights, 4,000 archers, and 40,000 men. A horde of pilgrims march with the army. They are ordered to keep close to the river, to supply the Crusaders with water. Pelagius plans a new offensive and leaves a large garrison at Damietta.

title: 1221

date: March 23

text: March 23 – At a meeting in Ferentino at the imperial villa of the Papal States, Pope Honorius III hosts a meeting with the newly-widowed Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor; John I, King of Jerusalem; Patriarch Raoul of Mérencourt; and papal legate Pelagius Galvani to prepare for the Sixth Crusade by European Christians against the Muslims of the Middle East. Frederick agrees to lead the crusade in return for being able to marry John's daughter, Yolande of Brienne.

title: 1223

section: Events › January–March

section: Deaths

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

title: 1228

section: Events › By place › Europe

date: May

text: May – Frederick II arrives at Cyprus, where he attends the wedding proxy of the 12-year-old King Henry I (the Fat) to Alice of Montferrat – whose father is one of his staunch supporters in Italy. On June 10, Frederick lands at Brindisi, where the papal army under his father-in-law John of Brienne has invaded the Italian territories in Campania (→ War of the Keys).

title: 1229

section: Events › By place › Sixth Crusade

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

title: 1235

section: Disasters & Accidents

text: Spring – A fleet consisting of ships from the republics of Venice, Genoa and Pisa arrive at Constantinople. It is headed by Geoffrey II of Villehardouin, ruler of Achaea, who brings 100 of his own knights, 300 cross-bowman, and 500 archers. Geoffrey, formally a vassal of Emperor John I of Constantinople, breaks the blockade of the city, sinks 15 Byzantine ships and enters the Golden Horn. A treaty is signed for two years after the intervention of Angelo Sanudo, duke of Archipelago.

title: 1236

section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire


slug: john-of-gaunt

label: John of Gaunt

description: English magnate of the House of Plantagenet (1340-1399)

section: Births

date: March 6

text: March 6 – John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (d. 1399)

title: 1340

date: March 25

text: March 25 or 1347 – Blanche of Lancaster, wife of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (d. 1369)

title: 1345

date: November 25

text: November 25 – Katherine Swynford, mistress of John of Gaunt (approximate date; d. 1403)

title: 1350

text: Constance of Castile, wife of John of Gaunt (d. 1394)

title: 1354

section: Conflict & Security

date: July 26

text: July 26 – At Avignon, Pope Urban V learns of a possible invasion of France by John of Gaunt and his intention to capture Provence, and writes to England's King Edward III to take steps to prevent it.

title: 1367

section: Events › July–September

date: September 12

text: September 12 – Blanche of Lancaster, English duchess, spouse of John of Gaunt (b. 1345)

title: 1368

date: August 23

text: August 23 – John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, lands with English troops at Calais to begin a raid in France while Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, assembles troops to confront the English invasion. The standoff continues while Lancaster waits for additional troops from the Earl of Warwick.

title: 1369

date: July 21

text: July 21 – John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, resigns his command from the English Army and abandons the attempt to recapture the Duchy of Aquitaine, but remains in France.

title: 1371

section: Culture & Society

date: September 21

text: September 21 – John of Gaunt, son of King Edward III of England, marries Constance of Castile, daughter of King Pedro of Castile, giving John a claim to the throne of Castile.

title: 1371

section: Crime & Justice

date: January 29

text: January 29 – John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and the third son of England's King Edward III, begins a claim to the throne of Spain's Crown of Castile after his September 21 marriage to Princess Constance of Castile. King Pedro of Castile, who was killed by his brother, who took control as King Enrique II, in 1369.

title: 1372

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

date: July 10

text: July 10 – The Treaty of Tagilde is signed between Ferdinand I of Portugal and representatives of John of Gaunt of England, marking the beginning of the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, which remains in effect into the 21st century.

title: 1372

date: August 4

text: August 4 – Hundred Years' War: John of Gaunt launches a new invasion of France, setting out with 15,000 men from Calais and marching through Picardy, Champagne and Burgundy, "burning and destroying as he advanced

title: 1373

date: June 12

text: June 12 – John of Gaunt's chevauchée of 1373: King Edward III appoints John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster as his captain-general in the war in France and sends him with a large army across the English Channel to Calais.

title: 1373

section: Events › April–June

text: March 20 – In a meeting at Dax in what is now the département of Landes, Gaston III of Foix, overlord in France of multiple territories in the Pyrenees as Count of Foix and Viscount of Béarn forms an alliance with England's John of Gaunt

title: 1374

date: September 4

text: September 4 – In the Duchy of Aquitaine, now part of France but at the time ruled by the King of England, the civic leaders of the town of Soule sign an agreement with Gaston III of Foix, popularly known as "Fébus", for his protection against raids from John of Gaunt.

title: 1375

date: June 7

text: June 7 – The day before his death, Prince Edward of Wales, heir to the English throne and known as "The Black Prince" summons his father, King Edward III, and brother, John of Gaunt, and makes them swear to uphold the claim to the throne of his son Richard. Edward is the first "English" Prince of Wales (as opposed to Welsh) not to become King of England.

title: 1376

date: April 23

text: April 23 – King Edward III of England formally confers knighthood upon two of his grandsons, both aged 10, Prince Richard of Woodstock (son of King Edward's deceased son Edward the Black Prince), and upon Henry Bolingbroke (son of John of Gaunt), as well as his 13-year-old illegitimate son John de Southeray, and 11-year-old John de Mowbray. Two months later, Prince Richard will become King Richard II upon Edward's death, and in 1399, Bolingbroke will overthrow Richard and becomes King Henry IV.

title: 1377

date: January 27

text: January 27 – The "Bad Parliament", the 48th and last to be convened during the reign of King Edward III of England, begins its session with the goal of repealing most of the acts of the 1376 Parliament. Influenced by John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and son of King Edward, it undoes the work done by the Good Parliament, the previous year, to reduce corruption in the Royal Council. For the first time, the leader of the members of the House of Commons has a title, as Sir Thomas Hungerford, Gaunt's steward, is selected as the first "Speaker of the House of Commons".

title: 1377

date: June 14

text: June 14 – Peasants' Revolt: The Archbishop of Canterbury, Simon Sudbury

title: 1381

date: February 14

text: February 14 – John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, son of the late King Edward III of England and uncle of King Richard II, flees London after learning during a joust that he has been targeted for assassination by the King's advisors Thomas Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk and Robert de Vere, 9th Earl of Oxford; and John de Montacute, Earl of Salisbury

title: 1385

date: July 9

text: July 9 – John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and oldest surviving son of the late King Edward II of England, departs from England with 5,000 men and a fleet of English and Portuguese ships to make good his claim to the throne of Castile. John, whose nephew became King Richard II upon Edward's death, claims the Castilian throne by right of his marriage to Constanza of Castile in 1371.

title: 1386

date: July 8

text: July 8 –John of Gaunt, the uncle of Richard II of England, makes peace with Castile and gives up his claim to the Castilian throne, by allowing his daughter Catherine of Lancaster to marry Prince Henry, the eldest son of John I of Castile.

title: 1388

date: February 3

text: February 3 – John of Gaunt, Duke of Aquitaine uncle of King Richard II of England and father of Henry Bolingbroke, dies and King Richard becomes ruler of the Duchy.

title: 1399

date: May 10

text: May 10 – Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster, spouse of John of Gaunt

title: 1403


slug: john-the-fearless

label: John the Fearless

description: Duke of Burgundy

date: May 28

text: May 28 – John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy (d. 1419)

title: 1371

date: April 27

text: April 27 – At Dijon, in France's Burgundian State, John the Fearless (Jean sans Peur), nephew of Charles VI of France, becomes the new Duke of Burgundy upon the death of his father, Philip the Bold.

title: 1404

date: April 11

text: April 11 – The three sons of Philip the Bold—John the Fearless, Philip II, and Anthony— agree at Arras to partition the Burgundian lands of their father between themselves, with John to retain Flanders, Philip to take the County of Nevers, and Anthony to retain Rethel as well to purchase the Duchy of Brabant from John.

title: 1405

date: March 21

text: March 21 – John the Fearless, already Duke of Burgundy, becomes the Count of Flanders upon the death of his mother, Margaret III, Countess of Flanders, bringing the French speakers of Burgundy and the Flemish speaking citizens of Flanders under common rule in what will later become the Kingdom of Belgium.

title: 1405

date: November 20

text: November 20 – A solemn truce is agreed upon between John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy and Louis I, Duke of Orléans under the auspices of John, Duke of Berry.

title: 1407

section: Events › July–December

date: September 23

text: September 23 – The Battle of Othée is fought between the citizens of Liège and a professional army under command of John the Fearless. The militia of Liège suffers a heavy defeat.

title: 1408

date: October 7

text: October 7 – Jean de Montagu, Grand Master of France and a leading advisor to the mentally unstable King Charles VI of France, is arrested on orders of John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy. Montagu is publicly beheaded 10 days later at the Gibbet of Montfaucon in Paris.

title: 1409

section: Events › October–December

date: April 15

text: April 15 – At the wedding in Gien of Charles, Duke of Orléans to Bonne of Armagnac, the most powerful nobles of France form the League of Gien, joining forces to fight the Duke of Burgundy, John the Fearless, beginning a civil war that will last for 30 years.

title: 1410

section: Religion & Belief

date: October 3

text: October 3 – At the Abbey of St Vaast in Arras in France, John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy hosts English Bishop Henry Chichele and several envoys who are ready to negotiate terms for English support of Burgundy in the ongoing French civil war with the Armagnacs. The negotiations fail to attract much support other than to hire some of the English soldiers as mercentaries.

title: 1411

date: August 14

text: August 14 – The Peace of Auxerre is signed between the Duchy of Burgundy and the Armagnacs, betrothing Philip, Count of Vertus, younger brother of the late Louis I, Duke of Orléans to marry Catherine of Burgundy, the daughter of John the Fearless. The marriage never takes place.

title: 1412

date: May 18

text: May 18 – The Treaty of Bourges is signed between King Henry IV of England and Charles, Duke of Orléans, as the Armagnacs offer England full sovereignty over Aquitaine and Gascony in return for 4,000 troops and military aid against the Burgundians and John the Fearless.

title: 1412

date: February 22

text: February 22 – King Charles VI of France and John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, sign the Treaty of Arras.

title: 1415

date: May 29

text: May 29 – Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War: John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, captures Paris, forcing King Charles VI to flee from the violence of John's partisans.

title: 1418

date: September 10

text: September 10 – John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy is assassinated by adherents of the Dauphin.

title: 1419

text: September 10 – John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy (assassinated) (b. 1371)

title: 1419


slug: john-v-of-brittany

label: John V of Brittany

description: Duke of Brittany, Count of Montfort (1389-1442)

date: December 24

text: December 24 – Duke John V of Brittany (d. 1442)

title: 1389

date: July 1

text: July 1 – King Charles VI of France, outraged at an attempt to assassinate his advisor Olivier V de Clisson, leads an invasion against the Duchy of Brittany and Duke Jean V for harboring the perpetrator, Pierre de Craon.

title: 1392

date: September 19

text: September 19 – John V marries Joan of France.

title: 1396

date: November 1

text: November 1 – At Nantes, Jean V of the House of Montfort begins his reign of 43 years as the Duke of Brittany (Bretagne), an independent duchy that is now part of France, upon the death of his father, Jean IV.

title: 1399

section: Economy & Finance

date: February 12

text: February 12 – Discrimination against the Caquins of Brittany is increased as the Duke of Brittany, Jean V, forbids the Caquins from engaging in trade.

title: 1425

section: Events › January – March

date: January 15

text: January 15 – England, led by Henry VI, declares war against the Duchy of Brittany and the Kingdom of France after Duke John V of Brittany (Jean le Sage) allies with France's King Charles VI.

title: 1426

date: March 6

text: March 6 – Hundred Years' War: After being besieged since February 27 in Saint-James (near Avranches in Normandy), a 600-strong force of English knights led by Sir Thomas Rempston routs a 16,000-strong French and Brittanian force under Arthur de Richemont, Constable of France, in the Battle of Saint-James. This forces the Duke of Brittany (Richemont's brother) to offer a truce and on September 8 to acknowledge Henry VI of England's suzerainty over France.

title: 1426

date: January 6

text: January 6 – The siege of Pouancé is undertaken by Duke John V of Brittany, against his nephew John II, Duke of Alençon, as part of a conflict involving the payment of a dowry. The siege lasts until February 22 when Alençon surrenders.

title: 1432

date: August 29

text: August 29 – Duke John V of Brittany (b. 1389)

title: 1442


slug: john-v-palaiologos

label: John V Palaiologos

description: Byzantine emperor

date: June 18

text: June 18 – John V Palaiologos, Byzantine Emperor (d. 1391)

title: 1332

date: September

text: September–October – The Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347 (between John VI Kantakouzenos and the regency for the infant John V Palaiologos) breaks out.

title: 1341

section: Events

text: The agreement reorganizing the Byzantine Empire's affairs is finalized, as Anna of Savoy's son John V Palaiologos marries Kantakouzenos' 15-year-old daughter Helena.

title: 1347

section: Events › January–December

date: February 2

text: February 2 – The Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347 between John VI Kantakouzenos and the regency for John V Palaiologos ends with Kantakouzenos entering Constantinople.

title: 1347

date: December 10

text: December 10 – The reign of John VI Kantakouzenos as Byzantine Emperor is ended, after John V Palaiologos retakes Constantinople and is restored as sole emperor.

title: 1354

date: October 18

text: October 18 – John V Palaiologos, partiarch of Constantinople and leader of the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith, meets in Rome with the Roman Catholic Pope Urban V and agrees to recognize the Pope as the leader of all Christendom, after negotiation between Rome and Constantinople had been made by Demetrios Chrysoloras.

title: 1369

text: Byzantine co-emperor John V Palaiologos pledges loyalty to the Ottoman Empire, to prevent the Turks from invading Constantinople.

title: 1371

section: Events › Date unknown

date: May 6

text: May 6 – Byzantine co-emperor Andronikos IV Palaiologos allies with Savcı Bey, the son of the Ottoman Sultan Murad I, rebels against his father, John V Palaiologos, for agreeing to let Constantinople become a vassal of the Ottoman Empire, but the rebellion fails.

title: 1373

date: September 25

text: September 25 – At Constantinople, Manuel II Palaiologos is proclaimed as co-Emperor of Byzantium by his father, the Emperor John V Palaiologos.

title: 1373

text: July 1 – Forces of the Republic of Venice and Ottoman Turks, having invaded Constantinople, restore John V Palaiologos as Byzantine co-emperor. Andronikos IV Palaiologos is allowed to remain as co-emperor, but is confined to the city of Silivri for the remainder of his life.

title: 1379

date: April 14

text: April 14 – John VII Palaiologos overthrows his grandfather, John V Palaiologos, as Byzantine Emperor.

title: 1390

date: September 17

text: September 17 – John VII Palaiologos seeks refuge with the Ottoman sultan Bayezid I, after John V Palaiologos is restored by his son, Manuel, and the Republic of Venice.

title: 1390

section: Deaths

date: February 16

text: February 16 – John V Palaiologos, Byzantine emperor (b. 1332)

title: 1391

text: February 16 –Manuel II Palaiologos becomes Byzantine emperor after his father, John V Palaiologos, dies from a nervous breakdown, due to his continued humiliation by the Ottoman Empire.

title: 1391

section: Events › January–March


slug: john-wesley

label: John Wesley

description: founder of the Methodist movement (1703-1791)

section: Births

date: December 18

text: December 18 – Charles Wesley, English Methodist leader, brother of John Wesley (d. 1788)

title: 1707

section: Births › October–December

section: Exploration & Expansion

date: October 14

text: October 14 – John Wesley and his brother Charles set sail from England for Savannah in the Province of Georgia in British America; on the voyage they first encounter members of the Moravian Church.

title: 1735

section: Events › October –December

date: December

text: December – John Wesley leaves Savannah, Georgia, and returns to England.

title: 1737

date: May 24

text: May 24 – John Wesley, newly returned from America, experiences a spiritual rebirth at a Moravian Church meeting in Aldersgate, in the City of London, essentially launching the Methodist movement; the day is celebrated annually by Methodists as Aldersgate Day (his younger brother Charles had a similar experience three days earlier).

title: 1738

date: May 12

text: May 12 – John Wesley lays the foundation stone of the New Room, Bristol in England, the world's first Methodist meeting house.

title: 1739

date: February 28

text: February 28 – John Wesley ordains ministers for the Methodist Church in the United States.

title: 1784

date: May 22

text: May 22 – In Britain, Thomas Clarkson and Granville Sharp found the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade, with support from John Wesley, Josiah Wedgwood and others.

title: 1787

date: March 29

text: March 29 – Charles Wesley, English co-founder (with his brother, John Wesley) of the religious movement known as Methodism (b. 1707)

title: 1788


slug: jonathan-swift

label: Jonathan Swift

description: Anglo-Irish satirist and essayist (1667–1745)

date: November 30

text: November 30 – Jonathan Swift, Irish writer (d. 1745)

title: 1667

section: Culture & Society

text: A Tale of a Tub, the first major satire by Jonathan Swift (written 1694–1697), is published in London, running through three editions this year.

title: 1704

date: September 7

text: September 7 – In Jonathan Swift's satirical Gulliver's Travels, fictional Gulliver sets off on his fourth and final journey, a voyage to the Land of the Houyhnhnms.

title: 1710

section: Events › July–September

section: Crime & Justice

date: November 4

text: November 4 – The Bandbox Plot aims to kill British Lord Treasurer Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford but is foiled by Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver’s Travels).

title: 1712

text: Jonathan Swift begins major composition work on Gulliver's Travels in Ireland.

title: 1720

date: April 28

text: April 28 – The first of the seven Drapier's Letters, satirical pamphlets seeking to arouse public opinion in Ireland against the imposition by the British of a privately minted copper coinage, is published by Jonathan Swift, Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin and author, writing under the pseudonym "M. B., Drapier", identifying himself as a drapier or seller of cloth.

title: 1724

date: November 8

text: November 8 (October 28 Old Style) – Jonathan Swift's satirical novel Gulliver's Travels is first published (anonymously) in London; it sells out within a week.

title: 1726

text: Jonathan Swift (anonymously) publishes his satire A Modest Proposal.

title: 1729

section: Health & Medicine

date: August 17

text: August 17 – Irish author and poet Dean Jonathan Swift is declared by a court to be "of unsound mind and memory" and confined to home treatment for the remaining three years of his life.

title: 1742


slug: jordan-river

label: Jordan River

description: river in West Asia which flows to the Dead Sea

year_label: 26 CE

text: Jesus is baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist and begins his public ministry, according to some scholars.

title: 20s

section: Events › 26 AD › Palestine

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

section: Events › By place › Roman Empire

section: Conflict & Security

date: September

text: September – Battle of Mu'tah: The Muslims fail to take the lands east of the Jordan River, and are pushed back near Mu'tah by the Ghassanids.

title: 629

section: Events › By place › Arabia

date: January

text: January – Battle of Fahl: The Rashidun army, (30,000 men) under Khalid ibn al-Walid (known as the "Drawn Sword of God"), defeats the Byzantine forces led by Theodore Trithyrius, at Pella in the Jordan Valley (Jordan).

title: 635

date: June 28

text: June 28 – Battle of Al-Sannabra: The Crusaders led by Baldwin I are defeated (due to a feigned flight) by a Seljuk army under Mawdud ibn Altuntash, the Turkic governor (atabeg) of Mosul, at the Jordan River south of the Sea of Galilee. Mawdud sends raiding columns to ravage the countryside and sacks the town of Nablus.

title: 1113

section: Events › By place › Levant

text: Summer – Seljuk forces under Toghtekin make extensive raids into Galilee. King Baldwin II of Jerusalem, in reprisal, crosses the Jordan River with a Crusader army and ravages the countryside. He occupies and destroys a fortress that Toghtekin has built at Jerash.

title: 1121

date: June 26

text: June 26 – Saladin regroups his Muslim forces and marches towards the Jordan River. His army numbers around 30,000 men and is divided into three columns. The following day Saladin encamps on the Golan Heights, in a marshy area near Lake Tiberias. Raiding parties are sent across the Jordan to ravage Christian territory between Nazareth, Tiberias, and Mount Tabor.

title: 1187

date: November

text: November – The Crusader army (some 15,000 men) under Andrew II sets out from Acre, and marches up the Plain of Esdraelon. Sultan Al-Adil I, on hearing that the crusaders are assembling, sends some Muslim troops to Palestine, to halt their advance. The crusaders move towards Beisan, while Al-Adil waits at Ajloun Castle, ready to intercept any attack on Damascus. He sends his son, Al-Mu'azzam, to cover Jerusalem. On November 10, Andrew's well-mounted army defeats Al-Adil at Bethsaida, on the Jordan River. Beisan is occupied and sacked; the Muslims retreat to their fortresses and towns.

title: 1217

section: Events › Fifth Crusade

text: Al-Kamil decides to offer the Crusaders a deal, Jerusalem in exchange for their departure from Egypt. John I favored accepting this offer but Pelagius refuses, unless it also includes Kerak Castle and other former castles of Jerusalem, to the east of the Jordan River. Al-Kamil refuses these strategically important sites, and Pelagius rejects the offer. This angers the Crusaders – who consider Jerusalem their important goal.

title: 1218

section: Events › By place › Fifth Crusade


slug: jordan

label: Jordan

description: country in West Asia

year_label: 84 BCE

text: Battle of Cana: The Arab Nabataean Kingdom decisively defeats the Greek Seleucid Empire, slaying King Antiochus XII Dionysus, at modern-day Umm Qais in Jordan.

title: 84 BC

section: Events › By place › Asia

year_label: 9 BCE

text: Aretas IV Philopatris ascended to become the King of the Nabataeans (modern Jordan).

title: 0s BC

section: Events › 9 BC › Arabia

section: Climate & Environment

text: An earthquake strikes Al-Karak (Jordan).

title: 362

title: 635

text: Seismic activity in the Mediterranean Sea: The volcanic island of Thera erupts, while the city of Jerash (in present-day Jordan) suffers a major earthquake.

title: 726

section: Events › By place › Europe

text: The Crusader castle of Montreal (located in Jordan) is commissioned by King Baldwin I of Jerusalem, during an expedition against the Seljuk Turks.

title: 1115

date: February 9

text: February 9 – Sultan Qalawun (the Victorious) marches the Mamluk army out of Cairo, leaving his son Al-Ashraf Khalil commanding Cairo's Citadel, supported by Viceroy Baydara al-Mansuri. The army moves via Salihiya, across Sinai and through Jordan to Damascus. He orders the regional governors of Syria to mobilize in Damascus, where many infantry volunteers have assembled.

title: 1289

date: May 15

text: May 15 – 1948 Arab–Israeli War: The British Mandate of Palestine is officially terminated; expeditionary forces from Egypt, Transjordan, Syria and Iraq invade Israel and clash with Israeli forces after declaring war.

title: 1948

section: Events › May

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

date: August 11

text: August 11 – The Jordanian Parliament forces King Talal of Jordan to abdicate due to mental illness; he is succeeded by his son King Hussein.

title: 1952

section: Events › July–August

date: February 14

text: February 14 – The Hashemite Kingdoms of Iraq and Jordan unite in the Arab Federation, with King Faisal II of Iraq as head of state.

title: 1958

section: Events › February

date: June 5

text: June 5 – Six-Day War begins: Israel launches Operation Focus, an attack on Egyptian Air Force airfields; the allied armies of Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Jordan invade Israel. Battle of Ammunition Hill, start of the Jordanian campaign

title: 1967

section: Events › June

date: October 28

text: October 28 – In Jordan, the government of Ahmad Toukan resigns; the next prime minister is Wasfi al-Tal.

title: 1970

section: Events › October

date: September 21

text: September 21 – Palestinian armed forces reinforce guerillas in Irbidi, Jordan.

title: 1970

section: Events › September

date: July 25

text: July 25 – Israel and Jordan sign the Washington Declaration as a preliminary to signature on October 25 of the Israel–Jordan peace treaty, which formally ends the state of war that has existed between the nations since 1948.

title: 1994

section: Events › July

section: Deaths

date: February 7

text: February 7 – Abdullah II inherits the throne of Jordan, following the death of his father, King Hussein.

title: 1999

date: October 18

text: October 18 – Saudi Arabia rejects a seat on the United Nations Security Council, making it the first country to reject a seat on the Security Council. Jordan takes the seat on December 6.

title: 2013


slug: joseon-dynasty

label: Joseon Dynasty

section: Births

date: October 27

text: October 27 – Yi Seong-gye, Korean founder of the Joseon Dynasty

title: 1335

section: Conflict & Security

date: November 29

text: November 29 – The capital city of the Joseon dynasty (in present-day Korea) is moved from Gaegyeong (now Gaeseong) to Hanseong (now Seoul).

title: 1394

section: Events › October–December

date: October 14

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

title: 1398

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

title: 1401

section: Events › Date unknown

section: Culture & Society

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

title: 1402

date: June 20

text: June 20 – The Ōei Invasion of Tsushima Island, Japan on orders of King Sejong of Korea, begins as General Yi Jong-mu leads 227 ships and 17,285 soldiers to come ashore at Asō Bay.

title: 1419

section: Events › April–June

date: November 28

text: November 28 – At the Korean capital, Hanseong, Hwangbo In becomes the Chief State Councillor (Yeonguijeong) of the Kingdom of Korea as leader of the governing State Council, second in status only to King Munjong, replacing Ha Yeon.

title: 1451

date: September 9

text: September 9 – At Hanseong, Prince Yi Hwang of the Joseon dynasty becomes the new King of Korea, taking the regnal name Yejong, upon the death of his father, King Sejo.

title: 1468

section: Events › July–September

date: September 27

text: September 27 – Hong Yunsŏng becomes the new head of government of the Kingdom of Korea as the new Chief State Councillor for King Yejong, replacing Han Myŏnghoe.

title: 1469

section: Disasters & Accidents

date: July 12

text: July 12 – Joseon Dynasty official Choe Bu returns to Korea, after months of shipwrecked travel in China.

title: 1488

date: September 17

text: September 17 – Sukjong of the Joseon Dynasty, age 13, becomes the new Emperor of Korea upon the death of his father, the Emperor Hyeonjong. Sukjong reigns for more than 45 years until his death on July 12, 1720.

title: 1674

date: February 26

text: February 26 – The Japanese force the Korean government to sign the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876 (having brought a fleet to Incheon, the port of modern-day Seoul), opening three ports to Japanese trade and forcing Korea's Joseon dynasty to cease considering itself a tributary of China. On China's urging, Korea also signs treaties with the European powers, in an effort to counterbalance Japan.

title: 1876


slug: joseon

label: Joseon

description: Korean dynasty / kingdom (1392–1897)

date: August 5

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

title: 1392

date: January 15

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

title: 1394

section: Events › January–March

text: Date unknown – Eom Heung-do, local official of Joseon (d. 1474)

title: 1404

date: February 15

text: February 15 – In Korea, Grand Prince Yangnyeong of the Joseon Kingdom and heir to the throne, causes a scandal that ends any possibility of becoming the next King. Yangnyeong courts the wife of another official and attempts to bring here into the royal palace in Seoul, ending in his banishment from the royal household and being replaced on June 3, 1418.

title: 1417

date: August 10

text: August 10 – King Taejong, ruler of the kingdom of Joseon that encompasses most of Korea, agrees to abdicate his throne in order for his son Prince Yi Do to become the new monarch. Taejong then becomes the King Emeritus (Sangwang).

title: 1418

date: July 23

text: July 23 – Danjong of Joseon, King of Joseon (d. 1457)

title: 1441

section: Religion & Belief

date: December 30

text: December 30 – King Sejong the Great of Korea announces the creation of the Hunminjeongeum (literally "The Proper Sounds for the Instruction of the People") a manual for Hangul, a standardized writing system for the Korean language.

title: 1443

date: July 4

text: July 4 – King Danjong of Korea, ruler since the death in 1452 of his father, King Munjong, is forced to abdicate. He is promoted to the figurehead post of King Emeritus (Sangyang).

title: 1455

date: December 24

text: December 24 – Danjong of Joseon, King of Joseon (b. 1441)

title: 1457

date: September 11

text: September 11 – Sejo, Emperor of Korea (in the Joseon dynasty) receives the imperial edict from China's Xianzong of Ming, directing the Koreans to join Chinese forces in subjugating the Jurchen state in Manchuria. Sejo orders the mobilization of 10,000 Korean troops but instructs the Joseon commander to keep the Korean troops independent from the Chinese force, to wait until the Chinese attack before assisting with Korean troops, and to avoid confrontation with the Jurchen cavalry unless it appears that the Chinese army is winning.

title: 1467

text: February 26 – Eom Heung-do, local official of Joseon (b. 1404)

title: 1474

date: August 8

text: August 8 – King Injong of Joseon, ruler of the Korean Empire, dies at the age of 30, after only eight months as monarch. His allies suspect that he had slowly been poisoned by his stepmother, Queen Janggyeong, who had been Queen consort as the wife of King Jungjong. Queen Janggyeong's 12-year-old son Myeongjong is enthroned as the new King, with Janggyeong as the regent.

title: 1545

date: April 24

text: April 24 – Battle of Sangju: The Japanese are victorious over the Koreans fighting for the Kingdom of Joseon.

title: 1592

date: December 27

text: December 27 – Spanish Jesuit priest Gregorio Céspedes becomes the first Christian missionary to Korea, arriving at Busan to begin his ministry in the Buddhist kingdom of Joseon. Céspedes is able to enter Korea by coming with the Japanese invasion force of General Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

title: 1593

date: February 12

text: February 12 – Battle of Haengju: Korea defeats Japan.

title: 1593

date: January 29

text: January 29 – In what is now South Korea, a force of 50,000 troops of the Korean kingdom of Joseon and Chinese Ming dynasty troops begins the siege of Ulsan, a Japanese-controlled castle located in the southwest port of Ulsan on the Sea of Japan.

title: 1598

date: March 3

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

title: 1627

date: January 28

text: January 28 – Qing invasion of Joseon: The Manchu armies of China complete their invasion of northern Korea with the surrender of King Injo of the Joseon Kingdom.

title: 1637

date: August 1

text: August 1 – War is declared between the Qing Empire of China and the Empire of Japan over their rival claims of influence on their common ally, the Joseon dynasty of Korea. The event marks the start of the First Sino-Japanese War.

title: 1894

section: Events › August

section: Climate & Environment

text: February 15 – In Korea, peasant unrest erupts in the Donghak Peasant Revolution, a massive revolt by followers of the Donghak movement. Both China and Japan send military forces, claiming to come to the ruling Joseon dynasty government's aid.

title: 1894

date: October 8

text: October 8 – Queen Min, queen consort of Joseon (Korea), is assassinated at her private residence within Gyeongbokgung Palace by Japanese agents.

title: 1895

section: Economy & Finance

text: August 1 – The Park Seung-jik shop, predecessor of South Korean conglomerate Doosan Group, is founded in Joseon (the kingdom of Korea).

title: 1896

date: October 12

text: October 12 – The Korean Empire is proclaimed, marking the end of the Joseon dynasty after just over 500 years.

title: 1897


slug: joseph-ii-holy-roman-emperor

label: Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor

description: Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790, (1741-1790).

date: October 5

text: October 5 – The wedding of Princess Isabella of Parma and Prince Joseph of Austria takes place at Hofburg Palace's Redoute Hall (Redoutensaele), at the former imperial palace in Vienna.

title: 1760

date: March 27

text: March 27 – The prince-electors, a group of nine German princes who select the next leader of the Holy Roman Empire, vote for the last time as the health of the Emperor Francis I declines. The electors (including Britain's King George III, who also rules as Elector of Hanover) approve Francis's son, Prince Joseph of Austria as King of the Romans. Upon the death of Francis in 1765, Prince Joseph becomes the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II.

title: 1764

section: Events › January–June

date: August 18

text: August 18 – Joseph II becomes Holy Roman Emperor.

title: 1765

section: Events › July–December

date: January 23

text: January 23 – Prince Joseph of Austria marries Princess Maria Josepha of Bavaria in Vienna.

title: 1765

date: July 21

text: July 21 – Under pressure from the Bourbon courts, Pope Clement XIV suppresses the Society of Jesus (brief Dominus ac Redemptor). Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, expels the order from his territories.

title: 1773

date: May 12

text: May 12 – Heinrich XI, Prince Reuss of Greiz is elevated to Prince of the Principality of Reuss-Greiz by Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor. This year sees the first appearance of the modern-day national colors of Germany on a flag that closely resembles the modern flag of Germany, to occur anywhere within modern-day Germany.

title: 1778

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor abolishes serfdom.

title: 1781

date: July

text: July – Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, receives a visit from Pope Pius VI.

title: 1782

date: October 31

text: October 31–December 14 – The Revolt of Horea, Cloșca and Crișan in Transylvania causes Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor to suspend the Hungarian Constitution.

title: 1784

date: December 11

text: December 11 – An edict is issued limiting Masonic lodges throughout the Holy Roman Empire by Emperor Joseph II. With the exception of Vienna, Budapest and Prague, no Empire province may have more than one lodge.

title: 1785

text: Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, decrees that all peasant labor obligations be converted into cash payments.

title: 1789


slug: joseph-smith

label: Joseph Smith

description: American religious leader and founder of the Latter Day Saint movement (1805–1844)

date: March 26

text: March 26 – Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, receives his First Vision in Palmyra, New York.

title: 1820

date: July 18

text: July 18 – Lucy Smith Millikin, early Latter Day Saint and sister of Joseph Smith (d. 1882)

title: 1821

section: Births › July–September

date: September 22

text: September 22 – Joseph Smith first goes to the place near Manchester, New York, where the golden plates are stored, having been directed there by God through an angel (according to what he writes in 1838).

title: 1823

text: September 22 – Joseph Smith will claim in 1838 that on this day he took the golden plates from the place where they had been stored, and that he began writing down the Book of Mormon from them the following December.

title: 1827

date: May 15

text: May 15 – Joseph Smith claims to have received the Aaronic Priesthood from John the Baptist.

title: 1829

date: April 6

text: April 6 – Joseph Smith and five others organize the Church of Christ (later renamed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), the first formally organized church of the Latter Day Saint movement, in northwestern New York.

title: 1830

date: March 24

text: March 24 – In Hiram, Ohio, a group of men beat, tar and feather Mormon leader Joseph Smith.

title: 1832

text: September 22 – John Smith, nephew of Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the fifth Presiding Patriarch of LDS Church (d. 1911)

title: 1832

section: Births › September–October

section: Deaths

date: September 14

text: September 14 – Joseph Smith, Sr., American father of Joseph Smith, Jr. (b. 1771)

title: 1840

section: Deaths › July–December

section: Crime & Justice

date: June 27

text: June 27 – Killing of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and his brother Hyrum, are murdered in Carthage Jail, Carthage, Illinois by an armed mob, leading to a succession crisis in the movement. John Taylor, future president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is severely injured but survives, while the fourth man inside the upper room, then-apostle Willard Richards, escapes with only a graze to his upper ear.

title: 1844

date: December 9

text: December 9 – Lucy Smith Millikin, early Latter Day Saint and sister of Joseph Smith (b. 1821)

title: 1882


slug: joseph-stalin

label: Joseph Stalin

description: politician and leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from 1924 to 1953

section: Conflict & Security

date: March 10

text: March 10 – Clashes between police and Georgian workers led by Joseph Stalin leave 15 dead, 54 wounded, and 500 in prison.

title: 1902

section: Events › March

date: December 23

text: December 23 – The Tampere conference, where Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin meet for the first time, is held in Tampere, Finland.

title: 1905

section: Events › December

date: August 25

text: August 25 – Besarion Jughashvili, Georgian cobbler, father of Joseph Stalin (b. 1850)

title: 1909

section: Deaths › August

date: February 23

text: February 23 – Joseph Stalin is arrested by the Russian secret police, the Okhrana, in Petrograd, and exiled to Siberia.

title: 1913

section: Events › February

date: January

text: January – Joseph Stalin travels to Vienna to research his Marxism and the National Question. This means that, during this month, Stalin, Hitler, Trotsky and Tito are all living in the city, as also are Freud and Jung.

title: 1913

section: Events › January

date: November 12

text: November 12 – Leon Trotsky is expelled from the Soviet Communist Party, leaving Joseph Stalin with undisputed control of the Soviet Union.

title: 1927

section: Events › November

date: January 1

text: January 1 – Eastern Bloc emigration and defection: Boris Bazhanov, Joseph Stalin's personal secretary, crosses the border to Iran to defect from the Soviet Union.

title: 1928

date: October 1

text: October 1 – Joseph Stalin launches the first five-year plan (1928–1932); the average nonfarm wage falls by 50% in the Soviet Union.

title: 1928

section: Events › October

date: December 27

text: December 27 – Soviet General Secretary Joseph Stalin orders the "liquidation of the kulaks as a class".

title: 1929

date: December 5

text: December 5 – The original Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow (1883) is demolished, by order of Joseph Stalin.

title: 1931

date: February 4

text: February 4 – Soviet leader Joseph Stalin gives a speech calling for rapid industrialization, arguing that only strong industrialized countries will win wars, while "weak" nations are "beaten". Stalin states: "We are fifty or a hundred years behind the advanced countries. We must make good this distance in ten years. Either we do it, or they will crush us." The first five-year plan in the Soviet Union is intensified, for the industrialization and collectivization of agriculture.

title: 1931

section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: May 15 – Joseph Stalin opens the Moscow Metro to the public.

title: 1935

section: Events › May

text: Joseph Stalin's Great Purge begins in the Soviet Union.

title: 1936

section: Events › September–October

date: August 5

text: August 5 – The Soviet Union commences one of the largest campaigns of the Great Purge, to "eliminate anti-Soviet elements". Within the following year, at least 724,000 people are fired on order of the troikas, directed by Joseph Stalin. This is an offensive that targets social classes (such as the kulaks or nobles) and Stalin's personal opponents from the Communist Party and their sympathizers.

title: 1937

text: January 23 – Moscow Trials: Trial of the Anti-Soviet Trotskyist Center – In the Soviet Union 17 leading Communists go on trial, accused of participating in a plot led by Leon Trotsky to overthrow Joseph Stalin's regime, and assassinate its leaders.

title: 1937

date: June 4

text: June 4 – Keke Geladze, mother of Joseph Stalin, Leader of the Soviet Union (b. 1858)

title: 1937

section: Deaths › June

date: October 9

text: October 9 – WWII: Fourth Moscow Conference: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin begin a 9-day conference in Moscow, to discuss the future of Europe.

title: 1944

text: February 4–11 – WWII: President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin hold the Yalta Conference.

title: 1945

section: Culture & Society

date: December 21

text: December 21 – Soviet Leader Joseph Stalin's 70th Birthday is Held in Moscow.

title: 1949

date: March 1

text: March 1 – Joseph Stalin suffers a stroke, after an all-night dinner with Soviet Union interior minister Lavrentiy Beria and future premiers Georgy Malenkov, Nikolai Bulganin, and Nikita Khrushchev. The stroke paralyzes the right side of his body and renders him unconscious until his death on March 5.

title: 1953

date: March 6

text: March 6 – Georgy Malenkov succeeds Joseph Stalin, as Premier and First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

title: 1953

date: February 25

text: February 25 – Nikita Khrushchev attacks the veneration of Joseph Stalin, in a speech "On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences", at a secret session concluding the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. This is not officially made public in the Soviet Union at this time but becomes known in the West in June.

title: 1956

text: October 31 – Joseph Stalin's body is removed from the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow.

title: 1961

date: October 7

text: October 7 – The Soviet Union adopts its third Constitution. The Soviet National Anthem's lyrics are returned after a 24-year period, with Joseph Stalin's name omitted.

title: 1977


slug: josephus

label: Josephus

description: Roman–Jewish historian and military leader (c. 37–c. 100)

year_label: 6 CE

text: AD 6 – Quirinius conducts a census in Judea (according to Josephus), which results in a revolt in the province, led by Judas of Galilee, and supported by the Pharisee Zadok. The revolt is repressed, and the rebels are crucified, but it results in the birth of the Zealot movement, the members of which regard the God of Judaism as their only master.

title: 0s

section: Events › Roman Empire

year_label: 36 CE

text: Herod Antipas suffers major losses in a war with Aretas IV of Nabatea, provoked partly by Antipas' divorce of Aretas' daughter. According to Josephus, Herod's defeat was popularly believed to be divine punishment for his execution of John the Baptist. Emperor Tiberius orders his governor of Syria, Vitellius, to capture or kill Aretas, but he is reluctant to support Herod and abandons his campaign upon Tiberius' death in AD 37.

title: 30s

section: Events › 36 AD › Roman Empire

year_label: 37 CE

section: Births

text: Josephus, Romano-Jewish historian (d. c. 100 AD)

title: 30s

section: Births › 37 AD

year_label: 46 CE

section: Climate & Environment

text: A large famine occurred across Syria, recorded by Orosius, Suetonius, Tacitus and Josephus, due to bad harvests.

title: 40s

section: Timeline › AD 46

year_label: 67 CE

text: Siege of Yodfat: Its 40,000 Jewish inhabitants are massacred. The historian Josephus, leader of the rebels in Galilee, is captured by the Romans. Vespasian is wounded in the foot by an arrow fired from the city wall.

title: AD 67

section: Events › By place › Roman Empire

year_label: 69 CE

section: Religion & Belief

text: Josephus, Jewish rebel leader, is dragged before Vespasian and becomes his historian (he "prophesied" him his elevation to the purple).

title: AD 69

year_label: 93 CE

text: Josephus completes his Jewish Antiquities (or in AD 94).

title: AD 93

section: Events › By topic › Literature

text: Josephus, Jewish historian and writer (b. AD 37)

title: AD 100


slug: judaism

label: Judaism

description: Abrahamic monotheistic ethnic religion of the Jews

date: November 14

text: November 14 – Emperor Theodosius II orders a new edict for the death penalty of all heretics and pagans in the Empire. Judaism is considered a legal non-Christian religion.

title: 435

section: Conflict & Security

text: Approximate date – Jewish king Dhu Nuwas (also known as Yūsuf Asar Yathar) usurps the kingship of Himyar from Ma'dikarib Ya'fur.

title: 518

section: Events › By place › Arabia

text: The Jewish community in Medina (Saudi Arabia) rejects the idea of Muhammad being a leader of Judaism. He and his followers stop bowing toward Jerusalem and start bowing toward Makkah.

title: 623

section: Events › By topic › Religion

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: The Khazars, a nation of the Black Sea steppe, though not ethnically Jewish, voluntarily convert to Judaism.

title: 740

text: Possible conversion of some Khazars to Judaism (approximate date).

title: 838

text: The Domus Conversorum ("House of the Converts"), a building and institution in London for Jewish converts to Christianity, is established by Henry III.

title: 1232

section: Events › By place › England

date: December 25

text: December 25 – Frederick the Simple, King of Sicily, issues an order on Christmas Day directing all Jews on the island to wear a red badge identifying their heritage.

title: 1369

section: Events › October–December

section: Crime & Justice

date: February 6

text: February 6 – The first execution during the Spanish Inquisition is carried out in Seville in an auto-da-fé as six people convicted of heresy are burned alive. As a result of this and other murders, thousands of conversos— mostly Jewish people who had converted to Christianity— flee their homes.

title: 1481

section: Events › January–March

text: Johannes Pfefferkorn writes his fourth and fifth pamphlets condemning the Jewish faith and people, Das Osterbuch and Der Judenfeind.

title: 1509

section: Events › Date unknown

date: December 24

text: December 24 – The Inquisition in Portugal carries out the sentence of burning at the stake against several Marrano Jews in Évora.

title: 1696

date: February 21

text: February 21 – Spain grants Protestantism and Judaism legal equality with the Roman Catholic Church.

title: 1990

section: Events › February


slug: judea

label: Judea

description: region of ancient Israel

year_label: 444 BCE

text: Nehemiah, the Jewish cupbearer to Artaxerxes I at Susa, is given permission by Artaxerxes to return to Jerusalem as governor of Judea, in order to rebuild parts of it.

title: 444 BC

section: Events › By place › Persian empire

year_label: 360 BCE

text: Jerusalem has been rebuilt and the power of Judaism's hereditary priesthood is firmly established.

title: 360 BC

section: Events › By place › Judea

year_label: 320 BCE

text: Judea and Syria are annexed by Ptolemy and he gives Judea a large measure of self-government.

title: 320 BC

section: Events › By place › Macedonian Empire

year_label: 301 BCE

text: In the Battle of Ipsus in Phrygia, the armies of Antigonus, the ruler of Syria, Asia Minor, Phoenicia and Judea, and his son Demetrius Poliorcetes are defeated by the forces of Lysimachus and Seleucus. Antigonus is killed in the battle.

title: 301 BC

section: Events › By place › Asia Minor

year_label: 246 BCE

section: Deaths

text: Egypt's Ptolemy II dies and is succeeded by his son, Ptolemy III. At the time of Ptolemy II's death, Egypt comprises the ancient kingdom of Egypt in the Nile Valley, Cyrene, Judea and the coast of southern Syria, Cyprus and a number of cities on the shores and islands of the Aegean Sea. The Macedonian Ptolemies maintain their authority over their territories with a small mercenary army made up of Macedonians and other Greeks.

title: 246 BC

section: Events › By place › Egypt

year_label: 170 BCE

text: The usurped high priest of Judea, Jason, does not abandon his claims to being the high priest which he has lost to Menelaus two years earlier. While Antiochus IV is waging war against Egypt, he succeeds in making himself master of Jerusalem once more and forces Menelaus to seek refuge in the citadel.

title: 170 BC

section: Events › By place › Seleucid Empire

year_label: 167 BCE

text: King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, believing Judea to be in revolt, returns there after the failure of his Egyptian campaign.

title: 167 BC

year_label: 166 BCE

text: The Battle of Emmaus takes place between the Jewish rebels led by Judas Maccabeus and Seleucid forces sent by Antiochus IV and led by Lysias and his general, Gorgias. In the ensuing battle, Judas Maccabeus and his men succeed in repelling Gorgias and forcing his army out of Judea and down to the coastal plain in what is an important victory in the war for Judea's independence.

title: 166 BC

text: Mattathias, father of Judas Maccabaeus, Jewish priest from Modi'in, near Jerusalem, who has started and briefly led a rebellion by the Jews in Judea against the Seleucid kingdom of Syria

title: 166 BC

year_label: 164 BCE

text: Antiochus IV Epiphanes ("God Manifest"), Seleucid king of the Syrian kingdom who has reigned since 175 BC, and has encouraged Greek culture and institutions but also attempted to suppress Judaism, which has led to the uprisings in Judea towards the end of his reign (b. c. 215 BC)

title: 164 BC

year_label: 163 BCE

text: Regent Lysias tries to make peace with the Jews in Judea. He offers them full religious freedom if they will lay down their arms. Moderates including the Hasideans consent, but Judas Maccabeus argues for full political as well as religious freedom.

title: 163 BC

year_label: 162 BCE

text: The Maccabees, under the leadership of Judas Maccabeus, continue their struggle against the Seleucids and persecute the Hellenising faction in Judea.

title: 162 BC

year_label: 161 BCE

text: With the restoration of peace in Judea, an internal struggle breaks out between the supporters of Judas Maccabeus and the Hellenic party. The influence of the Hellenic Party all but collapses in the wake of the Seleucid defeat.

title: 161 BC

section: Events › by side › Seleucid Empire

year_label: 160 BCE

text: In response to the Jewish high priest, Alcimus', request for assistance, the Seleucid general Bacchides leads an army into Judea with the intent of reconquering this now independent kingdom. Bacchides rapidly marches through Judea after carrying out a massacre of the Assideans in Galilee. He quickly makes for Jerusalem, besieging the city and trapping Judas Maccabeus, the spiritual and military leader of the Maccabees, inside. However, Judas and many of his supporters manage to escape the siege.

title: 160 BC

year_label: 159 BCE

text: With the Seleucid victory in Judea over the Maccabees, Alcimus is re-established as the High Priest of Israel, and a strong force is left in Jerusalem to support him. However, he does not enjoy his triumph for long, as he dies soon after from a paralytic stroke.

title: 159 BC

section: Events › Greece › Seleucid Empire

text: Alcimus, high priest of Judea.

title: 159 BC

year_label: 153 BCE

text: As a result of the rise of the pretender, Alexander Balas, Demetrius I Soter is forced to recall most of his garrisons in Judea. To retain control of Judea, he makes a bid to gain the loyalty of Jonathan Maccabeus, whom he permits to recruit an army and to take back the hostages that the Syrians are holding in the city of Acre. Jonathan gladly accepts these terms, takes up residence in Jerusalem and begins to fortify the city, becoming High Priest of Jerusalem until 143 BC.

title: 153 BC

year_label: 142 BCE

text: Simon Maccabaeus succeeds his brother Jonathan as High Priest of Judea until 135 BC.

title: 142 BC

year_label: 141 BCE

text: The Seleucid garrison negotiates the surrender of Jerusalem. Simon Maccabaeus assumes control of the city. He becomes prince (ruler) of Judea until 135 BC.

title: 141 BC

section: Events › By place › Syria and Judea

section: Births

text: Salome Alexandra, queen and regent of Judea (d. 67 BC)

title: 141 BC

year_label: 140 BCE

text: Simon Maccabaeus crowned king of Judea.

title: 140 BC

year_label: 134 BCE

text: John Hyrcanus becomes high priest and prince (ruler) of Judea, until 104 BC, following the murder of his father Simon Maccabaeus by Ptolemy the son of Abubus in 135 BC.

title: 134 BC

year_label: 104 BCE

text: Aristobulus I succeeds John Hyrcanus, becoming king and high priest of Judea, until 103 BC.

title: 104 BC

text: John Hyrcanus, prince and high priest of Judea (b. 164 BC)

title: 104 BC

year_label: 103 BCE

text: Alexander Jannaeus succeeds his brother Aristobulus I as king and high priest of Judea, until 76 BC.

title: 103 BC

year_label: 76 BCE

text: Salome Alexandra becomes queen of Judea, after the death of her husband, Alexander Jannaeus, until 67 BC.

title: 76 BC

text: Alexander Jannaeus, king and high priest of Judea

title: 76 BC

year_label: 73 BCE

text: Herod the Great, client king of Judea (d. 4 BC)

title: 73 BC

year_label: 67 BCE

text: Salome Alexandra, queen of Judea (b. 139 BC)

title: 67 BC

text: Hyrcanus II becomes king of Judea, for first time (until 66 BC), upon the death of his mother, Salome Alexandra.

title: 67 BC

year_label: 66 BCE

text: Aristobulus II becomes king and high priest of Judea, until 63 BC.

title: 66 BC

year_label: 64 BCE

text: Pompey annexes Syria and captures Jerusalem, annexing Judea.

title: 64 BC

section: Events › By place › Roman Republic

year_label: 63 BCE

text: Pompey conquers the people of Phonecia, Coele-Syria, and Judea for the Roman Republic.

title: 63 BC

text: The Roman Republic takes control of Judea (approximate date).

title: 50 BC

title: 49 BC

text: Battle at Mount Tabor in Judea: Roman troops, commanded by Gabinius, defeat the forces of Alexander, son of Aristobulus II of Judea, who is attempting to re-establish Judean independence. Some 10,000 Jews die at the hands of the Romans.

title: 47 BC

text: Parthians conquer Jerusalem. Hyrcanus II is removed from power, while Antigonus the Hasmonean becomes king of Judea under Parthian rule. Herod the Great flees Jerusalem to Rome. There he is titled king of Judea by Mark Antony.

title: 40 BC

text: Phasael, prince of the Herodian dynasty of Judea

title: 40 BC

text: Publius Ventidius defeats Pharnastanes with his cataphracts at the Amanus Gates, and goes on to reclaim Syria, Phoenicia and Judea. Labienus flees to Cilicia, where he is captured and executed.

title: 39 BC

text: Romans conquer Jerusalem from the Parthians. Herod the Great becomes king of Judea and Ananelus is installed as High Priest; both positions are seized from Antigonus II Mattathias after a five-month siege. Thousands of Jews are slaughtered by Roman troops supporting Herod.

title: 37 BC

text: Aristobulus II, king and high priest of Judea (66–63 BC; assassinated)

title: 37 BC

text: Judea: Aristobulus III, the last of the Hasmoneans, becomes High Priest in Jerusalem, replacing Ananelus, who has only held the position for one year.

title: 36 BC

text: Aristobulus III, high priest of Judea (drowned) (b. 53 BC)

title: 35 BC

text: Aristobulus IV, Jewish prince of Judea (d. 7 BC)

title: 31 BC

text: Hyrcanus II, king and high priest of Judea (until 40 BC)

title: 30 BC

text: Herod the Great builds a palace in Jerusalem and the fortress Herodium in Judaea. He also marries his third wife, named Mariamne, the daughter of high priest Simon.

title: 23 BC

text: Herod Archelaus, ethnarch of Samaria (Judea) (d. AD 18)

title: 23 BC

text: Alexander, Herodian prince of Judea

title: 15 BC

text: Herod Agrippa, king of Judea (d. AD 44)

title: 11 BC

text: Aristobulus IV, Jewish prince of Judea (b. 31 BC)

title: 0s BC

text: Herod the Great dies, which causes unrest in his client kingdom of Judea. His son, Herod Archelaus, becomes the new ruler. Herod Antipas becomes tetrarch of Galilee and Perea,and the governor of Syria, Publius Quinctilius Varus, marches down to Jerusalem from Antioch to restore order; around 3000 Jews are crucified.

title: 0s BC

text: March or April – Herod the Great, king of Judea (b. 73 BC); some authors date his death to 1 BC (see Date of Herod's death).

title: 0s BC

text: AD 2 – Juba II of Mauretania joins Gaius Caesar in Armenia as a military advisor. It is during this period that he meets Glaphyra, a Cappadocian princess and the former wife of Alexandros of Judea, a brother of Herod Archelaus, ethnarch of Judea, and becomes enamoured with her.

title: 0s

text: AD 6 – Herod Archelaus, ethnarch of Samaria, Judea, and Idumea, is deposed and banished to Vienne in Gaul.

title: 0s

text: Quirinius returns from Judea to become a counselor to Tiberius.

title: 10s

text: Annius Rufus is appointed Prefect of Judea.

title: 10s

text: Pontius Pilate is appointed as prefect of the Roman imperial province of Judea.

title: 20s

text: Herod Agrippa II, king of Judea

title: 20s

text: Julia Berenice, Jewish client queen of the Roman imperial province of Judea

title: 20s

text: Agrippa I, king of Judaea, successfully accuses Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, of conspiracy against Caligula. Antipas is exiled and Agrippa receives his territory.

title: 30s

text: Claudius makes Agrippa king of Judea.

title: 40s

text: Cuspius Fadus (Roman governor of Judea) suppresses the revolt of Theudas, who is decapitated.

title: 40s

text: Herod Agrippa I, king of Judea (b. 11 BC)

title: 40s

text: Ananias becomes high priest in Judaea.

title: 40s

text: Agrippa II of the Herodians rules the northeast of Judea.

title: AD 60

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

text: Judea: The Jewish Revolt – Vespasian lays siege to Jerusalem; the city is captured the following year by his son Titus.

title: AD 69

text: Herod Agrippa II, Jewish king of Judea (b. AD 27)

title: AD 100

text: Bar Kokhba revolt: The messianic, charismatic Jewish leader Simon bar Kokhba starts a war of liberation for Judea against the Romans, which is eventually crushed (in 135) by Emperor Hadrian; Rabbi Akiva is supportive of the rebellion.

title: AD 132

text: Bar Kokhba Revolt: Sextus Julius Severus, Roman governor of Britain, is sent to Judea (in 136 renamed Syria Palaestina) to quell the revolt. Jewish rebels, led by Simon bar Kokhba and Eleazar, cut off the vital supply lines and Roman garrisons in Palestine. Despite Roman reinforcements from Syria and Egypt, they establish an independent state in Judea.

title: AD 133

text: Summer – Sextus Julius Severus, Roman governor of Judea, begins a campaign against the Jewish rebel strongholds in the mountains.

title: AD 134

text: Following the Bar Kokhba revolt, Emperor Hadrian expels the Jews from Judea, and receives a triumphal arch near Scythopolis. The Roman province of Iudaea (plus Galilee) becomes Syria Palaestina (the name Palestine as a designation for this land has been used since at least the 5th century BC (mentioned by Herodotus)).

title: AD 136

text: Byzantine–Sassanid War of 602–628: The Jews of Jerusalem gain complete control over the city; much of Judea and Galilee becomes an autonomous Jewish province of the Persian Empire. The Jewish Temple is rebuilt by Nehemiah ben Hushiel (exilarch of Jerusalem), who establishes a High Priesthood.

title: 616


label: Judith of Bavaria (died 843)

description: Carolingian empress and queen of the Franks

text: Judith of Bavaria, Frankish queen (or 797/805)

title: 795

text: Judith of Bavaria, Frankish empress (or 805)

title: 797

section: Culture & Society

text: Spring – Emperor Louis I marries Judith of Bavaria in Aachen. She becomes his second wife and Empress of the Franks. Like many of the royal marriages of the time, Judith is selected through a bridal show.

title: 819

section: Events › By place › Europe

text: Welf, father of Judith of Bavaria

title: 825

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: Emperor Louis the Pious appoints his 6-year-old son Charles (by his second wife Judith) as ruler of the Frankish subkingdom Alamannia, enraging his eldest son and co-emperor Lothair I, who begins an insurrection.

title: 829

section: Conflict & Security

text: Emperor Louis the Pious returns from a campaign in Brittany, and is captured by his son Pepin I, king of Aquitaine. He is put under house arrest at Compiegne, and his wife Judith is incarcerated at Poitiers.

title: 830

date: April 19

text: April 19 – Judith of Bavaria, Frankish empress

title: 843

text: Summer – King Louis the German, summoned by the disaffected Frankish nobles, invades the West Frankish Kingdom and secures Aquitaine for his nephew Pepin II ("the Younger"). King Charles the Bald flees to Burgundy; he is saved by the help of the bishops, and by the fidelity of the family of the Welfs, who are related to Judith (second wife of former emperor Louis the Pious).

title: 858


slug: jugurtha

label: Jugurtha

description: King of Numidia

text: Jugurtha, King of Numidia (d. 104 BC)

title: 160 BC

text: Scipio Aemilianus, victor of Carthage, takes command in Spain against the Numantians. He recruits 20,000 men and 40,000 allies, including Numidian cavalry under Jugurtha. Scipio, an expert in sieges, builds a ring of seven forts and a ditch palisade before beginning the Siege of Numantia. The perimeter of the circumvallations is twice as long as that of the city. The river Durius (Douro), enables the defenders to be supplied by small boats.

title: 134 BC

year_label: 118 BCE

text: Micipsa dies and Numidia, following the king's wish, is divided into three parts, a third each ruled by Micipsa's own sons, Adherbal and Hiempsal I, and the king's adopted son, Jugurtha.

title: 118 BC

section: Events › By place › Numidia

year_label: 113 BCE

text: Cirta is besieged by Jugurtha.

title: 113 BC

year_label: 112 BCE

text: The Roman Senate declares war against Jugurtha following the Siege of Cirta (ends 105 BC).

title: 112 BC

year_label: 111 BCE

section: Crime & Justice

text: Jugurtha, king of Numidia, bribes the commander Lucius Calpurnius Bestia and Roman friends to secure easy terms. He is given a safe conduct to Rome in order to account for his actions in the Roman Senate. Jugurtha contemptuously bribes his way through all difficulties.

title: 111 BC

year_label: 110 BCE

text: Jugurtha, king of Numidia, defeats a Roman army under Aulus Postumius Albinus.

title: 110 BC

year_label: 108 BCE

text: Roman forces under Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus defeat the forces of Jugurtha of Numidia at the Battle of the Muthul, with Gaius Marius as a subordinate.

title: 108 BC

year_label: 107 BCE

text: Gaius Marius, to whom the putative Marian reforms of the Roman army are commonly attributed, arrives in North Africa to lead the war against Jugurtha, with a young quaestor named Lucius Cornelius Sulla as a subordinate.

title: 107 BC

year_label: 105 BCE

text: Lucius Cornelius Sulla secures the capture of Jugurtha. His success is made possible by the treachery of Bocchus I, king of Mauretania, and this ends the Jugurthine War (which began in 112 BC).

title: 105 BC

text: Rome enacts a state of emergency, as the way to Italy lays open to the Germanic invaders. Gaius Marius, the conqueror of Jugurtha, is elected consul for the second time. He celebrates his triumph over Jugurtha, who is led in the procession and thrown into the Tullianum where he dies of starvation.

title: 104 BC

text: Jugurtha, king of Numidia (execution by Rome) (b. c. 160 BC)

title: 104 BC


slug: julia-the-elder

label: Julia the Elder

description: daughter of Emperor Augustus (39 BC – AD 14)

year_label: 39 BCE

text: Julia the Elder, daughter of Caesar Augustus (d. AD 14)

title: 39 BC

year_label: 21 BCE

text: Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa divorces Claudia Marcella Major, and marries Julia the Elder, daughter of Caesar Augustus.

title: 21 BC

section: Events › By place › Roman Empire

year_label: 19 BCE

text: Vipsania Julia Agrippina, daughter of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia the Elder

title: 19 BC

year_label: 17 BCE

text: Lucius Caesar, son of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia the Elder (d. AD 2)

title: 17 BC

year_label: 14 BCE

text: Agrippina the Elder, daughter of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia the Elder (d. AD 33)

title: 14 BC

year_label: 12 BCE

text: Agrippa Postumus, son of Julia the Elder and grandson of Augustus (d. AD 14)

title: 12 BC

year_label: 2 BCE

section: Science & Discovery

text: Julia the Elder, a daughter of Augustus, is exiled on charges of treason and adultery to Pandateria; her mother Scribonia accompanies her.

title: 0s BC

section: Events › 2 BC › Roman Empire

year_label: 4 CE

text: AD 4 – Julia the Elder returns from exile to live in Rhegium in disgrace.

title: 0s

section: Events › Roman Empire

text: AD 4 – February 21 – Gaius Caesar, son of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia the Elder (b. 20 BC)

title: 0s

year_label: 14 CE

text: Julia the Elder, daughter of Augustus (b. 39 BC)

title: 10s

section: Deaths › 14 AD