slug: song-dynasty

label: Song dynasty

description: former imperial dynasty of China (960–1279)

section: Economy & Finance

text: The first Chinese paper money is issued, yet these banknotes will not become government-issued until the Song dynasty era Sichuan province issues them in the year 1024, with the central government of China following suit in the 12th century.

title: 650

section: Events › By place › Asia

section: Births

text: Du, empress of the Song dynasty (approximate date)

title: 902

text: Fan Zhi, chancellor of the Song dynasty (d. 964)

title: AD 911

text: Pan Mei, general of the Song dynasty (d. 991) (approximate date)

title: 925

date: March 21

text: March 21 – Taizu, emperor of the Song dynasty (d. 976)

title: 927

text: Cao Bin, general of the Song dynasty (d. 999)

title: 931

date: November 20

text: November 20 – Tai Zong, emperor of the Song dynasty (d. 997)

title: 939

text: Wang, empress of the Song Dynasty (d. 963)

title: 942

text: Liu Chenggui, official of the Song dynasty (d. 1016)

title: 951

text: Yang Yanzhao, general of the Song dynasty (d. 1014)

title: 958

text: Zhao Defang, prince of the Song Dynasty (d. 981)

title: 959

text: Li, empress consort of the Song Dynasty (d. 1004)

title: 960

date: February 4

text: February 4 – The Song Dynasty is established at Kaifeng by the 33-year-old military leader Zhao Kuangyin. He begins to unify the empire by conquering other lands and becomes the first emperor, called as Taizu of Song. The Song Dynasty will rule northern China for over 300 years (until 1279).

title: 960

date: July 17

text: July 17 – Du, empress dowager of the Song dynasty

title: 961

text: The Chinese government of the Song Dynasty attempted to ban the practice of cremation; despite this decree, the lower and middle classes continued to cremate their dead until the government resolved the problem in the 12th century, establishing public graveyards for paupers.

title: 963

text: Wang, empress of the Song Dynasty (b. 942)

title: 963

text: Liu Wenzhi, official of the Song Dynasty (d. 1028)

title: 964

date: July 12

text: July 12 – In China, Emperor Meng Chang of Later Shu dies after a 30-year reign. His kingdom is invaded and incorporated into the expanding Song dynasty.

title: 965

text: Ding Wei, grand chancellor of the Song dynasty (d. 1037)

title: 966

date: December 23

text: December 23 – Zhenzong, emperor of the Song Dynasty (d. 1022)

title: 968

text: Liu, empress and regent of the Song dynasty (d. 1033)

title: 969

date: January 23

text: January 23 – A war elephant corps of the Southern Han is defeated at Shao, by crossbow fire from Song dynasty troops. The Southern Han Kingdom is forced to submit to the Song dynasty. Ending Southern Han rule, but also the first regular war elephant corps employed in a Chinese army, that had gained the Southern Han victories throughout the 10th century.

title: 971

section: Events › By place › China

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

title: 974

text: Emperor Taizu conquers Hunan Province and brings the power of the military under Song control. Ending the era of the warlords (approximate date).

title: 975

text: Guo, empress of the Song Dynasty (d. 1007)

title: 975

date: November 14

text: November 14 – Emperor Taizu (Zhao Kuangyin) dies at Kaifeng after a 16-year reign. He is succeeded by his brother Tai Zong as ruler of the Song Dynasty. During his rule the Yuelu Academy (located in Hunan Province) is founded, which becomes one of the renowned academies (Shūyuàn).

title: 976

date: June 3

text: June 3 – Chen Hongjin, Jiedushi of Pinghai Circuit, surrenders his territories and pledges allegiance to the Song Dynasty.

title: 978

date: June 9

text: June 9 – King Qian Chu surrenders his territories and pledges allegiance to the Song Dynasty, saving his people from war and economic destruction. Qian Chu remains ruler and moves 3,000 members of his household to Bianjing (modern-day Kaifeng). Wuyue is absorbed into the Song Dynasty, effectively ending the kingdom.

title: 978

text: Summer – Tai Zong invades the Northern Han and besieges the capital of Taiyuan. A relief force sent by the Liao Dynasty is defeated. The Kingdom is absorbed into the Song Dynasty.

title: 979

date: August 26

text: August 26 – Zhao Dezhao, prince of the Song Dynasty (b. 951)

title: 979

text: Zhao Defang, prince of the Song dynasty (b. 959)

title: 981

section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: Qiao Weiyue, a Chinese engineer, innovates the first known use of the double-gated canal pound lock during the Song dynasty, for adjusting different water levels in segments of the Grand Canal in China.

title: 984

section: Events › By topic › Technology

text: Zhao Yuanyan, prince of the Song Dynasty (d. 1044)

title: 985

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

title: 986

text: Li, imperial consort of the Song Dynasty (d. 1032)

title: 987

text: Pang Ji, chancellor of the Song dynasty (d. 1063)

title: 988

date: September 5

text: September 5 – Fan Zhongyan, chancellor of the Song Dynasty (d. 1052)

title: 989

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

title: 995

section: Events › Asia

text: Song, empress of the Song Dynasty (b. 952)

title: 995

text: Following the border conflict with the Song in 995, Guangxi authorities arrested Bốc Văn Dũng, a political criminal to the Early Lê dynasty, along with his followers for extradition to Đại Cồ Việt. In return, emperor Lê Đại Hành extradited the captured pirates to the Guangxi authorities and agreed to make peace with the Song dynasty.

title: 996

date: May 8

text: May 8 – Emperor Tai Zong (Zhao Jiong) dies at Kaifeng after a 21-year reign. He is succeeded by his son Zhen Zong as the third ruler of the Song dynasty.

title: 997

date: March 5

text: March 5 – Bao Zheng, Chinese politician of the Song dynasty (d. 1062)

title: AD 999

text: Huyan Zan, Chinese general of the Song Dynasty

title: AD 1000

text: Mei Yaochen, poet of the Song dynasty (d. 1060)

title: 1002

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

title: 1004

text: Li, empress consort of the Song Dynasty (b. 960)

title: 1004

text: Ma Yize, Muslim astronomer of the Song dynasty

title: 1005

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

title: 1005

text: Guo, empress of the Song Dynasty (b. 975)

title: 1007

text: Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah sends a tributary mission to Emperor Zhenzong of the Song dynasty in order to reestablish trade relations between the Fatimid Caliphate and China (approximate date).

title: 1008

text: Di Qing, general of the Song Dynasty (d. 1057)

title: 1008

text: Song Zhun of Song dynasty China completes the work of the earlier geographer Lu Duosun, an enormous atlas of China that is written and illustrated in 1,556 chapters, showing maps of each region, city, town, and village (the atlas took 39 years to complete).

title: 1010

text: May 30 – Zhao Zhen, Emperor Renzong of the Song dynasty (d. 1063)

title: 1010

text: Guo, Chinese empress of the Song dynasty (d. 1035)

title: 1012

text: The Four Great Books of Song, the Song dynasty Chinese encyclopedia Prime Tortoise of the Record Bureau which has been compiled since 1005, is completed in 1,000 volumes of 9.4 million written Chinese characters.

title: 1013

text: February 9 – Yang Yanzhao, general of the Song dynasty

title: 1014

text: Cao, empress and regent of Song dynasty China (d. 1079)

title: 1016

text: The Chinese military has one million registered soldiers during the Song Dynasty, an increase since the turn of the 11th century (approximate date).

title: 1022

text: March 23 – Zhen Zong, emperor of the Song Dynasty (b. 968)

title: 1022

text: Song dynasty Chinese engineer Yan Su reinvents the 3rd-century south-pointing chariot, a mechanical-driven compass vehicle (as recorded in the Song Shi).

title: 1027

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

text: Liu Wenzhi, Chinese official of the Song dynasty (b. 964)

title: 1028

text: Liu, empress and regent of the Song dynasty (b. 969)

title: 1033

text: The Chinese rime dictionary of the Jiyun is published during the Song Dynasty.

title: 1037

text: Ding Wei, grand chancellor of the Song Dynasty

title: 1037

text: November 10 – Li Yuanhao proclaims himself Emperor of the Western Xia, declaring independence from the Song dynasty in China.

title: 1038

text: At about this time, the number of enlisted soldiers in the Song dynasty Chinese military reaches well over 1,250,000 troops, an increase since 1022, when there were a million soldiers.

title: 1041

text: In China, the statesmen Ouyang Xiu and Fan Zhongyan put forth the Qingli Reforms during the Song dynasty, which are halted by 1045.

title: 1043

text: February 13 – Zhao Yuanyan, Chinese prince of the Song dynasty (b. 985)

title: 1044

text: Xiang, Chinese empress regent of the Song dynasty (d. 1102)

title: 1047

text: May 25 – Shenzong, emperor of the Song dynasty (d. 1085)

title: 1048

text: The Iron Pagoda in Kaifeng is constructed, during the Chinese Song dynasty.

title: 1049

text: June 19 – Fan Zhongyan, chancellor of the Song dynasty (b. 989)

title: 1052

text: Liu Yong, Chinese poet of the Song dynasty (b. 987)

title: 1053

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

title: 1056

text: Mei Yaochen, poet of the Song Dynasty (b. 1002)

title: 1060

text: April 30 – Ren Zong, emperor of the Song Dynasty (b. 1010)

title: 1063

text: Sima Guang, chancellor of the Song dynasty, heads a team of scholars in initiating the compilation of an enormous written universal history of China, known as the Zizhi Tongjian.

title: 1065

text: Li Jie, Chinese writer of the Song Dynasty (d. 1110)

title: 1065

text: January 25 – Emperor Yingzong (or Zhao Shu) of the Song dynasty dies after a 4-year reign. He is succeeded by his 18-year-old son Shen Zong as emperor of China.

title: 1067

text: Song dynasty Chinese astronomer, engineer and statesman Su Song completes the compilation of the Ben Cao Tu Jing, a pharmaceutical treatise with related subjects of botany, zoology, mineralogy and metallurgy.

title: 1070

text: Wang Anshi, Chinese chief chancellor of the Song dynasty, creates a new bureau of the central government (called the Directorate of Weapons), which supervises the manufacture of military armaments and ensures quality control.

title: 1073

text: Meng, Chinese empress consort of the Song dynasty (d. 1131)

title: 1073

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

title: 1075

text: January 7 – Zhezong, Chinese emperor of the Song dynasty (d. 1100)

title: 1077

text: By this year, the iron industry in the Song dynasty is producing a total weight of 127,000,000 kg (125,000 t) of iron product per year.

title: 1078

text: Liu, Chinese empress of the Song dynasty (d. 1113)

title: 1079

text: June 7 – Huizong, emperor of the Song dynasty (d. 1135)

title: 1082

text: Wang, Chinese empress of the Song dynasty (d. 1108)

title: 1084

text: The output of copper currency for the Chinese Song dynasty reaches 6 billion coins a year, prompting the Chinese government to adopt the world's first paper-printed money later in the 1120s.

title: 1085

text: April 1 – Shenzong, emperor of Song dynasty China (b. 1048)

title: 1085

text: Han Shizhong, Chinese general of the Northern Song dynasty (d. 1151)

title: 1089

text: Qin Guan, Chinese poet of the Song dynasty, writes the Can Shu (Book of Sericulture), which describes a silk-reeling machine that has the world's oldest known mechanical belt drive.

title: 1090

section: Events › By topic › Science and Technology

text: Chen Yuyi, Chinese politician of the Song dynasty (d. 1138)

title: 1090

text: February 23 – Emperor Zhezong dies after a 15-year reign. He is succeeded by his 17-year-old brother Huizong as ruler of the Song dynasty. At about this date, the Chinese population reaches around 100 million and in Kaifeng, his capital, the number of registered citizens within the walls is about 1,050,000 with the army stationed here boosting the overall populace to some 1.4 million people.

title: 1100

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

title: 1101

text: Zhu, Chinese empress of the Song Dynasty (d. 1127)

title: 1102

text: Li Jie, Chinese government minister, publishes his Yingzao Fashi technical treatise on Chinese architecture, during the reign of Emperor Hui Zong of the Song Dynasty.

title: 1103

text: Emperor Hui Zong writes his Treatise on Tea, the most detailed description of the Song sophisticated style of tea ceremony.

title: 1107

text: Wang, Chinese empress consort of the Song dynasty (b. 1084)

title: 1108

text: Li Jie, Chinese writer of the Song dynasty (b. 1065)

title: 1110

text: The Donglin Academy, a Chinese educational institution, is established in Wuxi during the Northern Song dynasty.

title: 1111

text: Liu, Chinese empress of the Song dynasty (b. 1079)

title: 1113

text: Emperor Huizong of the Song dynasty sends a gift of Chinese musical instruments, for use in royal banquets to the Korean court of Goryeo, by request from King Yejong.

title: 1114

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

title: 1116

text: The magnetic compass is first used for maritime navigation purposes during the Song dynasty in China.

title: 1117

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

title: 1120

text: November – Jin–Song War: Emperor Taizong of the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty declares war on the Chinese Song dynasty – and orders his armies to invade Song territory. He sends the Western army to the city of Taiyuan in Shanxi province and the Eastern army to Bianjing (modern-day Kaifeng), the Song capital. The Song forces are not expecting an invasion and are caught off guard.

title: 1125

text: January 18 – Emperor Hui Zong of the Song Dynasty abdicates in favour of his eldest son, Qin Zong after a 24-year reign. Hui Zong assumes the honorary title of Taishang Huang (or "Retired Emperor").

title: 1126

text: January 9 – Jin–Song Wars: Jurchen forces sack the Chinese capital of Kaifeng of the Northern Song dynasty during the Jingkang incident. They capture Emperor Qinzong, along with his father, Huizong, and members of the House of Zhao.

title: 1127

text: July 23 – Zhao Fu, emperor of the Song Dynasty (d. 1129)

title: 1127

text: Jin–Song Wars: Emperor Gaozong of the Song dynasty establishes a new capital at Yangzhou, while the government retreats south, after Jurchen forces capture the previous capital of Kaifeng in the Jingkang Incident.

title: 1128

text: Jin–Song War: Emperor Gao Zong of the Song dynasty moves the capital from Yangzhou to Hangzhou, after the Jurchen Jin dynasty captures Kaifeng in the Jingkang Incident.

title: 1129

text: July 28 – Zhao Fu, emperor of the Song dynasty (b. 1127)

title: 1129

text: April 24 – Jin–Song Wars: Battle of Huangtiandang – Naval forces of the Song dynasty trap Wuzhu's Jin troops in the city for 48 days.

title: 1130

text: The Southern Song court establishes the first permanent standing navy, with the headquarters of the Chinese admiralty based at Dinghai.

title: 1132

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

title: 1134

text: Xie (Xiaozong), Chinese empress of the Song dynasty (d. 1207)

title: 1135

text: June 4 – Huizong, emperor of the Song dynasty (b. 1082)

title: 1135

text: In China during the Song Dynasty, a fire breaks out in the new capital of Hangzhou. The government suspends the requirement of rent payments, alms of 108,840 kg (120 tons) of rice are distributed to the poor, and items such as bamboo, planks and rush-matting are exempted from government taxation.

title: 1137

text: Chen Yuyi, Chinese politician of the Song dynasty (b. 1090)

title: 1138

text: July 8 or August 21 – Jin–Song Wars: Battle of Yancheng – Song dynasty general Yue Fei defeats an army led by Jin dynasty general Wuzhu.

title: 1139

text: November – The Jin dynasty and Southern Song dynasty sign the Treaty of Shaoxing, and peace in the Jin–Song Wars lasts for the next twenty years. The Huai River is established as the boundary between them.

title: 1141

text: January 28 – Despite having saved the southern Song Dynasty from attempts by the northern Jin Dynasty to conquer it, Chinese general Yue Fei is executed by the Song government.

title: 1142

text: Li Fengniang, Chinese empress of the Song dynasty (d. 1200)

title: 1144

text: Jin–Song Wars: The Battle of Tangdao (November 16) and Battle of Caishi (November 26–27) on the Yangtze River, between the Jin dynasty and the Song dynasty in China result in two pivotal Song naval victories.

title: 1161

text: July 24 – Emperor Gaozong of Song becomes embroiled in war again as hostilities resume with the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty (or "Great Jin") after 21 years of peace. Another peace treaty is signed, Gao abdicates the throne in favor of his adopted son Xiaozong. The smaller Southern Song empire becomes richer than the Song dynasty.

title: 1162

text: The Guanfuchang salt-fields (官富場) in Hong Kong (modern-day To Kwa Wan, Kowloon Bay, Kwun Tong and Lam Tin districts) are first officially operated by the Song dynasty.

title: 1163

text: In China the Jin dynasty ("Great Jin") and the Song dynasty make a lasting peace (until 1205).

title: 1165

text: The Qiandao era ends and the Chunxi era begins during the reign of Emperor Xiao Zong of the Song dynasty.

title: 1173

text: November 9 – Retired-Emperor Gao Zong dies at the age of 80, having abdicated 58 years ago (see 1129) after a reign in which he reestablished the Southern Song dynasty (until 1279).

title: 1187

text: February 18 – Emperor Xiaozong abdicates in favour of his son Guangzong as ruler of the Song dynasty. Xiaozong becomes a Taishang Huang ("Retired Emperor") and remains as the de facto ruler of China.

title: 1189

text: July 24 – Emperor Guangzong of Song (or Zhao Dun) is forced to abdicate the throne to his 25-year-old son Ningzong, who succeeds him as ruler of the Song dynasty. During his reign, he will be dominated by his prime-minister Han Tuozhou (or Han T'o-Chou).

title: 1194

text: June 28 – Xiao Zong, Chinese emperor (Song dynasty) (b. 1127)

title: 1194

text: April 15 – A fire breaks out in the Song Chinese capital city of Hangzhou, raging for four days and nights, destroying 58,097 houses over an area of more than 3 mi km, killing 59 people, and an unrecorded number of other people, who are trampled while attempting to flee. The government provides temporary lodging for 5,345 people, in nearby Buddhist and Taoist monasteries. The collective victims of the disaster are given 160,000 strings of cash, along with 400 tons of rice. Some of the government officials who lose their homes take up residence in rented boathouses on the nearby West Lake.

title: 1208

text: September 17 – Emperor Ning Zong of the Chinese Song dynasty dies at Hangzhou, possibly from poisoning, after a 30-year reign. He is succeeded by his relative, Li Zong, as all of Ning Zong's children have died.

title: 1224

text: April 9 – A huge fire breaks out at night in the southeast of Hangzhou during the Song dynasty. Fighting the flames is difficult due to limited visibility. When the fires are extinguished, it is discovered that an entire district of the city (some 10,000 houses) has been consumed by the flames.

title: 1231

text: December – Siege of Caizhou: The Mongols under Ögedei Khan besiege Caizhou and ally themselves with the Chinese Song dynasty to eliminate the Jin Dynasty.

title: 1233

text: A Chinese text of this year records that Hangzhou City, the capital of the Song dynasty, has various social clubs that include a West Lake Poetry Club, the Buddhist Tea Society, the Physical Fitness Club, the Anglers' Club, the Occult Club, the Young Girls' Chorus, the Exotic Foods Club, the Plants and Fruits Club, the Antique Collectors' Club, the Horse-Lovers' Club, and the Refined Music Society.

title: 1235

text: Mongol conquest of the Song dynasty: The Mongols under Ögedei Khan penetrate deep into the Southern Song. The important city of Xiangyang, gateway to the Yangtze plain, capitulates to them.

title: 1236

text: Starting in this year and ending in 1275, the Muslim Shougeng Pu, likely a Persian or an Arab, serves as the Commissioner of Merchant Shipping for the Song dynasty Chinese seaport at Quanzhou, due to his effort in defeating pirates.

title: 1250

text: Mongol conquest of the Song dynasty: the Mongols take the westernmost province of the Song dynasty empire.

title: 1252

text: The Chinese era Kaiqing begins and ends, in the Southern Song dynasty of China (Emperor Lizong).

title: 1259

text: May 21 – Kublai sends his envoy Hao Jing to negotiate with Song dynasty Chancellor Jia Sidao, after the small force left by Kublai south of the Yangtze River is destroyed, by a Chinese army of the Southern Song dynasty. Chancellor Jia Sidao imprisons the entire embassy of Kublai. This slight will not be forgotten by Kublai, but he is unable to assault the Song, due to the civil war with his rival brother Ariq Böke.

title: 1260

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

title: 1265

section: Events › By place › North Africa and Asia

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

title: 1268

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

title: 1276

text: Migration of the (Southern) Song dynasty: Some 50,000 citizens of the Song dynasty in China become the first recorded inhabitants of Macau, as they seek refuge from the invading armies of the Yuan dynasty. They also stay for a short period in (New) Kowloon.

title: 1277

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

title: 1278

text: March 19 – Zhao Bing, Chinese emperor (House of Zhao) (b. 1272)

title: 1279

text: May 31 – Zhao Xian, who had been the Song dynasty Emperor of China from 1274 to 1276, commits suicide as an alternative to being executed, after being viewed as a threat by the Yuan dynasty Mongol Emperor Yingzong.

title: 1323

text: March 16 – Red Turban Rebellions: Han Lin'er, a claimed descendant of Emperor Huizong of Song, is proclaimed emperor of the restored Song dynasty in Bozhou.

title: 1355

text: In Ming dynasty China, the lijia census registration system begun in 1371 is now universally imposed, during the reign of the Hongwu Emperor. The census counts 59,873,305 people living in China in this year. This depicts a drastic drop in population since the Song dynasty, which counted 100 million people at its height in the early 12th century. A modern historian states that the Ming census is inaccurate, as China at around this time has at least 65,000,000 inhabitants, if not 75,000,000.

title: 1381

text: A large Song dynasty trade ship of c. 1277 A.D. is dredged up from the waters near the southern coast of China with 12 compartments in its hull. It confirms the descriptions of bulkheaded hull compartments for junks in Zhu Yu's Pingzhou Table Talks of 1119.

title: 1973


slug: songhai-empire

label: Songhai Empire

description: former state located in western Africa

section: Conflict & Security

text: Sonni Ali, king of the Songhai Empire, takes power over Timbuktu.

title: 1468

section: Events › Date unknown

section: Deaths

date: November 6

text: November 6 – In what is now the West African nation of Mali, Sonni Baru becomes the new monarch of the Songhai Empire following death of his father, the Emperor Sonni Ali.

title: 1492

section: Events › October—December

date: April 12

text: April 12 – Battle of Anfao: Askia Mohammad I defeats Sonni Baru in what becomes the African nation of Mali, and usurps the throne of the Songhai Empire.

title: 1493

section: Events › April–June

text: Leo Africanus visits Timbuktu, second city of the Songhai Empire.

title: 1513

section: Events › Undated

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: August 26 – Askia Muhammad I, ruler of the Songhai Empire in West Africa since 1493, is forced to abdicate by his son, Askia Musa, who declares himself to be the new Songhai Emperor.

title: 1528

section: Events › July–September

text: April 12 – In the Songhai Empire that rules most of West Africa and the Niger River valley, the Emperor Askiya Musa is assassinated by his brothers after less than two years on the throne. Askia Mohammad Benkan is enthroned the same day.

title: 1531

date: March 2

text: March 2 – Askia Isma'il, ruler of the Songhai Empire in West Africa, dies after a reign of slightly less than two years and is succeeded by Askia Ishaq I.

title: 1539

section: Events › January–March

date: October 16

text: October 16 – Saadian invasion of the Songhai Empire: An army of 20,000 troops, led by Judar Pasha is dispatched from Marrakesh in the Saadi Sultanate (now Morocco), on orders of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur. The Saadi Army's objective is to conquer the Songhai Empire, led by the Emperor Askia Ishaq II, in North Africa, corresponding to what is now the Republic of Mali.

title: 1590

section: Events › October–December

date: March 13

text: March 13 – Battle of Tondibi: In Mali, forces sent by the Saadi dynasty ruler of Morocco, Ahmad al-Mansur, and led by Judar Pasha, defeat the Songhai Empire, despite being outnumbered by at least five to one.

title: 1591


slug: sophocles

label: Sophocles

description: ancient Greek playwright

year_label: 496 BCE

section: Births

text: Sophocles, Athenian dramatist and statesman (d. 406 BC)

title: 496 BC

year_label: 468 BCE

text: Sophocles, Greek playwright, defeats Aeschylus for the Athenian Prize.

title: 468 BC

section: Events › By topic › Literature

year_label: 441 BCE

text: The Greek playwright Sophocles writes Antigone.

title: 441 BC

year_label: 430 BCE

section: Culture & Society

text: Approximate date – Sophocles' drama Oedipus Rex is first performed in Athens.

title: 430 BC

section: Events › By topic › Art

year_label: 423 BCE

text: Aristophanes' play The Clouds is performed as is Sophocles' play Maidens of Trachi and The Putine (The Bottle), by Cratinus.

title: 423 BC

section: Events › By topic › Drama

year_label: 419 BCE

section: Crime & Justice

text: Sophocles' play Electra is performed. The play takes its theme from The Libation Bearers by Aeschylus.

title: 419 BC

year_label: 409 BCE

text: Sophocles' play Philoctetes is performed, with the theme of the Trojan War.

title: 409 BC

year_label: 406 BCE

text: Sophocles, Athenian dramatist and politician (b. c. 495 BC)

title: 406 BC

year_label: 401 BCE

text: Sophocles' tragic play Oedipus at Colonus is performed posthumously. It is produced by his grandson (also called Sophocles) at the Festival of Dionysus in Athens.

title: 401 BC

section: Science & Discovery

text: Flames destroy the great Library of Alexandria, established in the Mouseion in the fourth century BC. Among the items lost in the fire are works of science, including parchments by the Greek astronomer Aristarchus of Samos asserting that the Earth orbits the Sun, and dozens of dramatic works by Euripides and Sophocles.

title: 391


slug: south-africa

label: South Africa

description: country in southern Africa

text: The Kingdom of Mapungubwe is established, in modern-day South Africa.

title: 1075

section: Events › By place › Africa

section: Conflict & Security

date: November 4

text: November 4 – Afonso de Albuquerque becomes the Viceroy of Portuguese India, replacing Francisco de Almeida, who departs five days later from Diu. Almeida never makes it home, getting killed along with his 64 men in a battle on March 1 with the local Khoekhoe people at South Africa's Cape of Good Hope.

title: 1509

section: Exploration & Expansion

date: April 6

text: April 6 – Dutch sailor Jan van Riebeeck establishes a resupply camp for the Dutch East India Company at the Cape of Good Hope in modern-day South Africa, thus founding Cape Town.

title: 1652

date: April 2

text: April 2 – Sheikh Yusuf, exiled by the administrators of the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia), arrives at the Dutch Cape Colony on the ship De Voetboog, at what later becomes Cape Town, South Africa, along with two wives, two concubines and twelve children. Resettled by the colonial government at a farm in Zandvliet, the Sheikh introduces Islam to South Africa.

title: 1694

date: June 2

text: June 2 – Annular solar eclipse is visible from a region of the Southern Ocean between South Africa and Antarctica.

title: 1704

section: Disasters & Accidents

date: November 20

text: November 20 – The Dutch East India Company cargo ship Schoonenberg runs aground in South Africa's Struis Bay and is looted by most of its 110 crew, beginning a legend and questions of whether the wreck was part of a conspiracy or simply an accident. Almost 300 years later, the event is reconstructed in detail by investigators.

title: 1722

section: Health & Medicine

text: A huge locust swarm hits South Africa.

title: 1784

date: July 5

text: July 5 – New Rush in Griqualand West, South Africa, is renamed Kimberley.

title: 1873

section: Events › July

section: Technology & Infrastructure

date: March 1

text: March 1 – Eskom, the largest electricity producer in Africa, is established in South Africa.

title: 1923

section: Events › March–April

date: March 6

text: March 6 – The first commercial air route from the United Kingdom to South Africa is established by Alan Cobham.

title: 1926

section: Events › March

text: June 9 – Ellis Park Stadium, a well-known sport venue of South Africa, officially opens in Johannesburg.

title: 1928

section: Events › June

date: June 26

text: June 26 – The Freedom Charter of the anti-apartheid South African Congress Alliance is adopted, at a Congress of the People in Kliptown.

title: 1955

date: July 24

text: July 24 – In Acapulco, Mexico, Margaret Gardiner of South Africa is crowned Miss Universe.

title: 1978

date: September 22

text: September 22 – Vela incident: The "South Atlantic Flash" is observed near the Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, thought to be a nuclear weapons test conducted by South Africa and Israel.

title: 1979

section: Events › September

date: August 24

text: August 24 – South Africa announces "all outstanding issues" preventing independence for South West Africa (present-day Namibia) have been resolved, except for the continuing presence of 23,000 Cuban troops in neighboring Angola.

title: 1983

section: Events › August

date: June 12

text: June 12 – South Africa declares a nationwide state of emergency.

title: 1986

section: Economy & Finance

date: April 15

text: April 15 – End of Apartheid: The European Economic Community lifts economic sanctions on South Africa.

title: 1991

section: Events › April

date: January 29

text: January 29 – In South Africa, Nelson Mandela of the African National Congress and Mangosuthu Buthelezi of the Inkatha Freedom Party agree to end violence between the two organizations.

title: 1991

section: Events › January

date: March

text: Bill Clinton makes the first visit to South Africa by a U.S. president.

title: 1998

date: June 11

text: June 11–July 11 – The 2010 FIFA World Cup was held in South Africa and was won by Spain.

title: 2010

date: September 10

text: September 10 – Scientists announce the discovery of Homo naledi, a previously unknown species of early human in South Africa.

title: 2015

date: November 2

text: November 2–November 3 – Tigray War: The Ethiopian government and the TPLF agree to a formal cessation of hostilities, signing a peace agreement in Pretoria, South Africa.

title: 2022

section: Events › November

date: December 29

text: December 29 – A genocide case against Israel is brought towards the International Court of Justice by South Africa for Israel's invasion and subsequent bombardment of the Gaza Strip, and its role in the subsequent humanitarian crisis.

title: 2023

section: Events › December

date: November 22

text: November 22–23 – The G20 Johannesburg summit is held in South Africa, the first time a G20 summit has been held in Africa.

title: 2025


slug: south-african-republic

label: South African Republic

description: independent Boer-ruled country in Southern Africa between 1856–1902

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

date: January 17

text: January 17 – The United Kingdom recognizes the independence of the Transvaal.

title: 1852

section: Events › January–March

date: April 12

text: April 12 – The United Kingdom annexes the South African Republic, violating the Sand River Convention of 1852, causing the First Boer War.

title: 1877

date: December 30

text: December 30 – The Transvaal becomes a republic, and Paul Kruger becomes its first president.

title: 1880

date: March 17

text: March 17 – The first railway in Transvaal, the Randtram, opens between Boksburg and Braamfontein in Johannesburg.

title: 1890

section: Culture & Society

date: May 23

text: May 23 – Gandhi arrives in South Africa, where he will live until 1914, lead non-violent protests on behalf of Indian immigrants in the South African Republic (Transvaal), and develop a deeper experience of such activities.

title: 1893

section: Events › May

date: December 15

text: December 15 – The railways of the Cape of Good Hope, Colony of Natal, the Orange Free State, the South African Republic and southern Mozambique are all linked at Union Junction near Alberton.

title: 1895

text: June 26 – Joseph Chamberlain sets into motion the Second Boer War after receiving an appeal from the British Cape Colony in South Africa to help British subjects oppressed in the Transvaal Republic.

title: 1899

date: September 15

text: September 15 – Preparing for an attack on Britain's Cape Colony from the neighboring Transvaal Republic, Robert Baden-Powell arrives at the border town of Mafeking and begins recruiting volunteers and stockpiling munitions to prepare for an attack and siege.

title: 1899

date: October 25

text: October 25 – The United Kingdom annexes the Transvaal.

title: 1900

section: Events › October


slug: south-america

label: South America

description: continent located mainly in the southwestern quadrant of the Earth

section: Exploration & Expansion

text: c. 2500 BC: Evidence of long-distance trade routes in South America.

title: 25th century BC

section: Events

year_label: 500 BCE

section: Health & Medicine

text: The world population reaches 100,000,000—85,000,000 in the Eastern Hemisphere and 15,000,000 in the Western Hemisphere, primarily Mesoamerica and northern South America (Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela).

title: 500 BC

section: Events › By topic › Demographics

section: Deaths

date: March 16

text: March 16 – A solar eclipse crosses northern South America and Central Europe. (March 8 O.S.) Although King Richard III's wife, the Queen Consort, dies on March 16, 1485 as well, the Julian calendar date is eight days sooner than the Gregorian calendar date of March 24.

title: 1485

text: Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro and his brothers first reach Inca territory in South America.

title: 1526

section: Events › Date unknown

text: Rats make their first appearance in South America, arriving in Peru with the species black rat.

title: 1544

date: November 26

text: November 26 — Francisco Álvarez de Toledo becomes the new Spanish Viceroy of Peru, succeeding Lope García de Castro as the governor-general of all Spanish territory in South America.

title: 1569

section: Events › October–December

section: Religion & Belief

date: August 7

text: August 7 – In Lima in the Viceroyalty of Peru, Italian printer Antonio Ricardo receives official permission to set up the first printing press in South America, and prints the first publication there, Pragmatica, a four-page outline of how the new Gregorian calendar (adopted 1582) works.

title: 1584

section: Events › July–September

date: December 18

text: December 18 – Francisco de Borja y Aragón becomes the new Viceroy of Peru, a colony of Spain encompassing all of Spanish language-speaking South America and what are now the nations of Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

title: 1615

date: May 27

text: May 27 – Spain creates the Viceroyalty of New Granada in South America from the northern section of the Viceroyalty of Peru. The viceroyalty, with a capital at Bogotá, later declares independence and splits up into what become the nations of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela.

title: 1717

section: Events › April–June

date: October 12

text: October 12 – Banco do Brasil, a major financial group in South America, founded in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

title: 1808

date: July 20

text: July 20 – First Republic of New Granada: Patria Boba: A junta of seven patriots, led by José Acevedo y Gómez, assemble in Bogotá in the Viceroyalty of New Granada (modern-day Colombia), to declare its independence from the Spanish Empire, the first South American nation to break away from Spain as the third oldest independent republic state after Haiti.

title: 1810

date: February 28

text: February 28 – Charles Darwin and the crew of arrive at South America for the first time.

title: 1832

text: August 7 – Banco de Concepcion, predecessor of Itaú Unibanco, a major financial services provider in South America, is founded in Chile.

title: 1871

date: February 27

text: February 27 – Japanese immigration to South America, primarily Peru, begins as the ship Sakura Maru departs from Yokohama with 790 men employed by the Morioka-shokai Sugar Company. The group arrives in Callao on April 3.

title: 1899

section: Events › February

date: September 18

text: September 18 – Rede Tupi, the first television broadcast network in South America, is founded in Brazil.

title: 1950

date: May 21

text: May 21 – The Union of South American Nations, an intergovernmental organization between states in South America, is founded.

title: 2008

section: Science & Discovery

date: July 2

text: July 2 – A total solar eclipse occurs over South America. It is the 58th solar eclipse from Saros cycle 127.

title: 2019

section: Events › July

date: September 4

text: September 4 – The La Línea highway tunnel, the longest road tunnel in South America at a length of 8.65 kilometres (5.37 mi), is opened in Colombia after 14 years of construction and several delays.

title: 2020


slug: south-australia

label: South Australia

description: state of Australia

date: January 26

text: January 26 – The Dutch ship t Gulden Zeepaert, skippered by François Thijssen, makes the first recorded European sighting of the coast of South Australia.

title: 1627

section: Events › January–March

section: Births

date: May 1

text: May 1 – George Fife Angas, English coachbuilder, businessman and politician; founder of South Australia (d. 1879)

title: 1789

date: June 24

text: June 24 – George Goyder, surveyor-general of South Australia (d. 1898)

title: 1826

section: Births › January–June

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

date: December 26

text: December 26 – The Crown colony of South Australia is officially proclaimed (subsequently celebrated in the state of South Australia as Proclamation Day).

title: 1836

date: December 28

text: December 28 – The Colony of South Australia is founded by Captain John Hindmarsh.

title: 1836

date: July 27

text: July 27 – The settlement of Adelaide, South Australia, is founded.

title: 1836

date: October 6

text: October 6 – William Light, British Army colonel, first Surveyor-General of South Australia (b. 1786)

title: 1839

section: Deaths › July–December

section: Conflict & Security

date: June 18

text: June 18 – Maria massacre: British brigantine Maria is wrecked off South Australia. All 26 passengers and crew make it to the shore but none survive the trek to safety over the following two weeks, most being massacred by Aboriginal Australians.

title: 1840

section: Technology & Infrastructure

date: July 6

text: July 6 – Queen Victoria issues Letters Patent, annexing to South Australia the part of the colony of New South Wales that will later become the Northern Territory.

title: 1863

date: May 15

text: May 15 – George Fife Angas, English coachbuilder, businessman and politician, founder of South Australia (b. 1789)

title: 1879

section: Deaths › January–June

text: December 18 – Women in South Australia become the first in Australia to gain the right to vote and the first in the world with the right to be elected to Parliament, taking effect from 1895, after decades of activism.

title: 1894

section: Events › December

date: January 1

text: January 1 – The British colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia federate as the Commonwealth of Australia; Edmund Barton becomes the first Prime Minister of Australia.

title: 1901

section: Events › January

text: South Australia becomes the first Australian state to decriminalize homosexual acts between consenting adults.

title: 1975

section: Disasters & Accidents

date: February 16

text: February 16 – The Ash Wednesday bushfires in Victoria and South Australia claim the lives of 75 people, in one of Australia's worst bushfire disasters.

title: 1983

date: August 6

text: August 6 – A low-pressure system moving from South Australia and redeveloping off the New South Wales coast dumps a record 328 mm in of rain in a day on Sydney.

title: 1986

section: Events › August


slug: south-carolina

label: South Carolina

description: state of the United States of America

section: Exploration & Expansion

date: August 9

text: August 9 – Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón of Spain founded the failed colony, San Miguel de Gualdape in present-day Winyah Bay, Georgetown County, South Carolina. It was the first European settlement, as well as the first documented occurrence of enslavement of African peoples in what would later become the continental United States.

title: 1526

section: Events › July–September

date: August 17

text: August 17 – A group of English settlers, led by Joseph West, departs from The Downs on the ship Carolina with instructions to make the first European settlement in the modern-day U.S. state of South Carolina. After a long voyage with stops in Ireland and Barbados, the Carolina settlers arrive at Port Royal on March 17 next.

title: 1669

date: March 15

text: March 15 – The first English settlers arrive at the modern-day U.S. state of South Carolina, at this time the Province of Clarendon carved out of the Province of Carolina, and construct a settlement at Albemarle Point on the Ashley River.

title: 1670

section: Climate & Environment

date: September 13

text: September 13-14 – The Rising-sun hurricane of 1700 strikes the coast of South Carolina, killing 98.

title: 1700

date: July 25

text: July 25 – Seven of the original eight Lords Proprietor of the Province of Carolina sell their shares back to the British crown. The 1710 division of the Province is made permanent and the area is reorganized into the Royal Colonies of North Carolina and South Carolina.

title: 1729

date: June 14

text: June 14 – The colony of South Carolina reverses a 10-year-old law that had imposed a tax of 100 pounds sterling on the purchase of imported African slaves, and reduces the tax to £10. The move effectively restores the slave trade to the colony.

title: 1751

date: August 29

text: August 29 – September 12 – The Independence Hurricane from South Carolina to Nova Scotia kills 4,170, mostly fishermen and sailors.

title: 1775

section: Events › July–December

date: November

text: November – American Revolution: Colonel Richard Richardson's South Carolina revolutionaries march through Ninety-Six District in what becomes known as the Snow Campaign, effectively ending all major support for the Loyalist cause in the backcountry of South Carolina.

title: 1775

date: January 20

text: January 20 – American Revolution: South Carolina Loyalists led by Robert Cunningham sign a petition from prison, agreeing to all demands for peace by the formed state government of South Carolina.

title: 1776

section: Events › January–February

text: South Carolina becomes the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation.

title: 1778

date: January 17

text: January 17 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Cowpens: The American Continental Army, under Daniel Morgan, decisively defeats British forces in South Carolina.

title: 1781

date: June 21

text: June 21 – Theodosia Burr Alston, First Lady of South Carolina during War of 1812, daughter of Aaron Burr (d. 1813)

title: 1783

date: May 23

text: May 23 – South Carolina ratifies the United States Constitution, and becomes the eighth U.S. state.

title: 1788

date: April 7

text: April 7 – The Mississippi Territory is organized by the United States, from territory ceded by Georgia and South Carolina; later it is twice expanded, to include disputed territory claimed by both the U.S. and Spain (which acquired territory in trade with Great Britain).

title: 1798

section: Events › January–June

date: January 12

text: January 12–27 – Webster–Hayne debate: In the United States Congress, Robert Y. Hayne of South Carolina debates against Daniel Webster of Massachusetts about the question of states' rights vs. federal authority.

title: 1830

section: Economy & Finance

date: November 24

text: November 24 – Nullification Crisis: The U.S. state of South Carolina passes the Ordinance of Nullification, challenging the power of the U.S. federal government, by declaring that it will not enforce national tariffs signed into law in 1828 and 1832.

title: 1832

section: Events › October–December

section: Health & Medicine

date: May 22

text: May 22 – Caning of Charles Sumner: United States Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina beats Senator Charles Sumner with a cane in the hall of the United States Senate for a speech Sumner had made attacking pro-slavery Southerners, especially elderly South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler, a relative of Brooks. Sumner is unable to return to duty for three years while he recovers; Brooks becomes a hero across the South.

title: 1856

date: April 12

text: April 12 – The American Civil War begins with the bombardment of Fort Sumter, South Carolina.

title: 1861

section: Events › April

date: July 9

text: July 9 – Lindsey Graham, American politician, lawyer, U.S. Army soldier, U.S. Senator (R-Sc.) and unsuccessful 2016 presidential candidate (d. 2026)

title: 1955

section: Births › July

date: February 8

text: February 8 – Civil rights movement in the United States: Orangeburg Massacre – A civil rights demonstration on a college campus to protest de facto racial segregation in South Carolina is broken up by highway patrolmen; three African American students are killed, the first instance of police killing student protestors at an American campus.

title: 1968

section: Culture & Society

date: November 3

text: November 3 – South Carolina voters repeal the state's 103-year-old constitutional ban on interracial marriage, making Alabama the last U.S. state with such a ban in place.

title: 1998

section: Events › November


slug: south-dakota

label: South Dakota

description: state of the United States of America

date: April 10

text: April 10 – A total eclipse of the Sun takes place over North America, with its peak over the region occupied by the Lakota Sioux people in modern-day South Dakota.

title: 1679

section: Events › April–June

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

date: July 4

text: July 4 – In the United States, the Iowa Territory is formally established, following the signing of a bill by President Martin Van Buren on June 12. In addition to Iowa, which will become a state on December 28, 1846, the Territory also includes most of what will become the states of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Robert Lucas, former Governor of Ohio, takes office as the first Territorial Governor.

title: 1838

date: February 22

text: February 22 – President Grover Cleveland signs the Enabling Act of 1889, admitting North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Washington as U.S. states.

title: 1889

section: Events › February

date: November 2

text: November 2 – North Dakota and South Dakota are admitted as the 39th and 40th U.S. states, respectively.

title: 1889

date: October 1

text: October 1 – The United States Congress grants permission for Gutzon Borglum to begin constructing Mount Rushmore National Memorial on federal land in South Dakota.

title: 1925

section: Events › October

date: October 4

text: October 4 – Carving of the sculptures at Mount Rushmore, South Dakota, begins.

title: 1927

text: July 4 – The dedication of George Washington's sculpted head is held at Mount Rushmore, South Dakota.

title: 1930

section: Events › July

section: Science & Discovery

date: January 2

text: January 2 – South Dakota native Ernest Lawrence invents the cyclotron, used to accelerate particles to study nuclear physics.

title: 1931

date: November 11

text: November 11 – Dust Bowl: In South Dakota, a very strong dust storm ("the great black blizzard") strips topsoil from desiccated farmlands (one of a series of disastrous dust storms this year).

title: 1933

date: October 31

text: October 31 – The last day of carving on Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.

title: 1941

date: June 9

text: June 9 – The Black Hills flood kills 238 in South Dakota.

title: 1972

section: Events › June


slug: south-korea

label: South Korea

description: country in East Asia

section: Religion & Belief

text: Bulguksa, a Buddhist temple, is built in South Korea.

title: 528

section: Events › By topic › Religion

text: A stone tower astronomical observatory (named Cheomseongdae) at Gyeongju is constructed in Silla (South Korea) around this time.

title: 647

section: Events › By topic › Astronomy and science

text: The Temple of Sinheungsa in Gangwon Province (South Korea) is constructed by the Buddhist monk Jajang.

title: 653

section: Conflict & Security

text: The city of Seongnam (South Korea) is renamed Hansanju (approximate date).

title: 665

section: Events › By place › Asia

text: Kim Daeseong, chief minister of Silla, orders the construction of the Bulguksa and Seokguram temples at Gyeongju (South Korea).

title: 751

text: Bongwon Temple, located in Seoul (modern South Korea), is founded by the Korean Buddhist master Doseon.

title: 889

section: Deaths

date: August

text: August – In what is now South Korea, at Seorabeo (now Gyeongju in South Korea), Gyeongae becomes the new monarch of the Kingdom of Silla upon the death of his older brother, King Gyeongmyeong.

title: 924

section: Events › July—September

text: Goryeo forces push the army of Hubaekje back into its heartland and defeat them finally at Hongseong (modern South Korea).

title: 934

date: October 27

text: October 27 – King Gongmin of Goryeo is assassinated by several men who invade the royal palace at Songdo, enter the King's private chamber and hack him to death with swords. King Gongmin is succeeded by U of Goryeo as ruler of Goryeo (now part of South Korea).

title: 1374

date: September 12

text: September 12– In what is now South Korea, Taejong of Goryeo, King of Joseon from 1400 to 1418, then King Emeritus since 1418, is crowned as the first Grand King Emeritus of Joseon.

title: 1421

section: Events › July–September

date: April 4

text: April 4 – The "Disturbance of the Three Ports", an uprising by Japanese merchants against the Korean government, begins in what is now South Korea in the cities of Dongnae, Changwon and Ulsan.

title: 1510

date: August 1

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

section: Events › August

section: Climate & Environment

text: The Amur tiger becomes extinct in South Korea.

title: 1922

section: Events › Date unknown

text: Chosun Tire and Rubber Manufacture, predecessor of South Korean tire brand Hankook, is founded in Seoul (at this time part of the Empire of Japan).

title: 1941

date: September 9

text: September 9 – Japanese troops in Keijō (modern-day Seoul) formally relinquish control over Southern Korea to the United States Army Military Government in Korea, while Soviet forces control Northern Korea from Heijō (modern-day Pyongyang), effectively ending 35 years of Korea under Japanese rule and beginning the Division of Korea at the 38th parallel.

title: 1945

section: Events › September

date: June 28

text: June 28 – Lotte Group, a global conglomerate in Northeast Asia (South Korea and Japan), is founded.

title: 1948

date: July 27

text: July 27 – The Korean War ends, with the Korean Armistice Agreement: The United Nations Command (Korea) (United States), China and North Korea sign an armistice agreement at Panmunjom, and the north remains communist, while the south remains capitalist. No formal peace treaty is ever signed.

title: 1953

date: July 12

text: July 12 – Lotte World, a major recreation complex in Seoul, South Korea, is opened to the public, containing the world's largest indoor amusement park.

title: 1989

date: August 24

text: August 24 – China and South Korea establish diplomatic relations.

title: 1992

date: June 29

text: June 29 – Second Battle of Yeonpyeong: During the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan, two North Korean patrol boats cross a contested border in between the two Koreas and attack two South Korean Chamsuri-class patrol boats.

title: 2002

section: Crime & Justice

date: July 11

text: July 11 – South Korea suspends all trips to North Korea's Mount Kumgang after a 53-year-old South Korean tourist is shot and killed by a North Korean sentry.

title: 2008

text: November 11–12 – The G-20 summit is held in Seoul, South Korea. Korea becomes the first non-G8 nation to host a G-20 leaders summit.

title: 2010

date: February 25

text: February 25 – Park Geun-hye becomes the first woman to become the president of South Korea.

title: 2013

date: December 9

text: December 9 – South Korean President Park Geun-hye is suspended after MPs vote to impeach her, following a political scandal.

title: 2016

section: Events › December

text: September 9 – The government of North Korea conducts its fifth and reportedly biggest nuclear test. World leaders condemn the act, with South Korea calling it "maniacal recklessness".

title: 2016

section: Exploration & Expansion

date: April 27

text: April 27 – 2018-19 Korean peace process: Kim Jong Un crosses into South Korea to meet with President Moon Jae-in, becoming the first North Korean leader to cross the Demilitarized Zone since its creation in 1953.

title: 2018

date: May 5

text: May 5 – In North Korea, clocks are adjusted to UTC+9 (GMT+09:00) to the same as South Korea

title: 2018

section: Events › May

date: September 14

text: September 14 – North Korea demonstrates two short-range ballistic missiles that land just outside Japan's territorial waters; and then only hours later South Korea demonstrates its first submarine-launched ballistic missile.

title: 2021

date: February 28

text: February 28 – 2022 Russian financial crisis: In an unprecedented move, Switzerland, Monaco, Singapore and South Korea impose unilateral sanctions over Russia including the introduction of export controls and asset freezes.

title: 2022

date: January 1

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

title: 2022

section: Events › January

date: December 14

text: December 14 – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's powers and duties are suspended after MPs vote to impeach him, following his martial law declaration the previous week.

title: 2024

date: December 3

text: December 3 – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law during a late-night address broadcast live on YTN television, accusing the country's main opposition Democratic Party of sympathizing with North Korea and engaging in anti-state activities.

title: 2024


slug: south-pole

label: South Pole

description: one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface

date: January 9

text: January 9 – The British Nimrod Expedition to the South Pole, led by Ernest Shackleton, arrives at the farthest south reached by any prior expedition, at 88°23' S, prior to turning back due to diminishing supplies.

title: 1909

section: Events › January–February

text: December 14 – Amundsen and Scott expeditions: Roald Amundsen's Norwegian expedition reaches the geographical South Pole, 34 days ahead of Capt. Scott. News of Amundsen's success will not reach the outside world until next March.

title: 1911

date: January 17

text: January 17 – British polar explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott and a team of four become the second expeditionary group to reach the South Pole.

title: 1912

date: March 7

text: March 7 – Roald Amundsen, in Hobart, Tasmania, announces his success in reaching the South Pole the previous December.

title: 1912

section: Events › March

section: Science & Discovery

date: November 29

text: November 29 – Bernt Balchen, U.S. Admiral Richard E. Byrd, Captain Ashley McKinley and Harold June become the first to fly over the South Pole.

title: 1929

section: Events › November

date: October 31

text: October 31 – A United States Navy team becomes the third group to reach the South Pole (arriving by air), and commences construction of the first permanent Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station.

title: 1956

section: Events › October

date: January 4

text: January 4 – Edmund Hillary's Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition completes the third overland journey to the South Pole, the first to use powered vehicles.

title: 1958

date: March 2

text: March 2 – A British Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition team, led by Sir Vivian Fuchs, completes the first overland crossing of the Antarctic, using snowcat caterpillar tractors and dogsled teams, in 99 days, via the South Pole.

title: 1958

date: December 11

text: December 11 – The International Trans-Antarctica Expedition, a group of six explorers from six nations, reaches the South Pole.

title: 1989

section: Culture & Society

date: March 1

text: March 1 – The fourth International Polar Year, a $1.73 billion research program to study both the North Pole and South Pole, is launched in Paris.

title: 2007


slug: south-vietnam

label: South Vietnam

description: former state in Southeast Asia

section: Births

date: October 7

text: October 7 – Ngô Đình Nhu, Vietnamese archivist and politician, State Counsellor of South Vietnam (d. 1963)

title: 1910

section: Births › October

date: November 8

text: November 8 – Nguyễn Khánh, South Vietnamese politician and military leader, (d. 2013)

title: 1927

section: Births › November–December

section: Conflict & Security

date: August

text: Vietnam's capital Hanoi is taken by the Viet Minh, which ends the French occupation in what becomes North Vietnam, and thus the southern provinces become South Vietnam. This ends the August Revolution.

title: 1945

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: In South Vietnam, the Viet Minh is reorganised into the Viet Cong.

title: 1954

date: August 1

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

title: 1954

date: July 21

text: July 21 – First Indochina War: The Geneva Conference sends French forces to the south, and Vietnamese forces to the north, of a demarcation line. The agreement leads to the establishment of the North Vietnam regime and the state of South Vietnam.

title: 1954

section: Events › July

date: May 18

text: May 18 – Free movement of residents between North and South Vietnam ends.

title: 1955

section: Disasters & Accidents

date: March 16

text: March 16 – Flying Tiger Line Flight 739, a Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation chartered by the United States Military Air Transport Service, and carrying mainly United States Army personnel bound for South Vietnam, vanishes over the western Pacific Ocean, with the loss of all 107 on board (no wreckage or bodies are ever found).

title: 1962

date: November 2

text: November 2 – 1963 South Vietnamese coup: Arrest and assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem, the South Vietnamese President.

title: 1963

section: Deaths

text: November 2 – Ngô Đình Diệm, South Vietnamese politician, 1st President of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) (assassinated) (b. 1901)

title: 1963

section: Deaths › November

text: November 2 – Ngô Đình Nhu, South Vietnamese politician, State Counsellor of South Vietnam (assassinated) (b. 1910)

title: 1963

date: November 6

text: November 6 – 1963 South Vietnamese coup: Coup leader General Dương Văn Minh takes over as leader of South Vietnam.

title: 1963

date: July 19

text: July 19 – Vietnam War: At a rally in Saigon, South Vietnamese Prime Minister and military leader Nguyễn Khánh calls for expanding the war into North Vietnam.

title: 1964

date: March 8

text: March 8 – Vietnam War: Some 3,500 United States Marines arrive in Da Nang, South Vietnam, becoming the first American ground combat troops in Vietnam.

title: 1965

section: Events › March–April

date: September 2

text: September 2 – Vietnam War: In a follow-up to August's Operation Starlite, United States Marines and South Vietnamese forces initiate Operation Piranha on the Batangan Peninsula, 23 mi km south of the Chu Lai Marine base.

title: 1965

section: Events › September–October

date: April 8

text: April 8 – Buddhists in South Vietnam protest against the fact that the new government has not set a date for free elections.

title: 1966

section: Events › April

date: May 15

text: May 15 – The South Vietnamese army besieges Da Nang.

title: 1966

date: January 25

text: January 25 – South Vietnamese junta leader and Prime Minister Nguyen Cao Ky forces his rival, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Nguyen Huu Co, into exile while overseas on a diplomatic visit.

title: 1967

section: Economy & Finance

text: November 29 – Vietnam War: U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara announces his resignation to become president of the World Bank. McNamara's resignation follows U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson's outright rejection of McNamara's early November recommendations to freeze troop levels, stop the bombing of North Vietnam, and hand over ground fighting to South Vietnam.

title: 1967

date: February 1

text: February 1 – Vietnam War: Execution of Nguyễn Văn Lém – A Viet Cong officer is summarily executed by Nguyễn Ngọc Loan, a South Vietnamese National Police Chief. The event is photographed by Eddie Adams. The photo makes headlines around the world, eventually winning the 1969 Pulitzer Prize, and sways U.S. public opinion against the war.

title: 1968

date: February 24

text: February 24 – Vietnam War: The Tet Offensive is halted; South Vietnam recaptures Huế.

title: 1968

date: January 30

text: January 30 – Vietnam War: The Tet Offensive begins as Viet Cong forces launch a series of surprise attacks across South Vietnam.

title: 1968

date: July 26

text: July 26 – Vietnam War: South Vietnamese opposition leader Trương Đình Dzu is sentenced to 5 years hard labor for advocating the formation of a coalition government as a way to move toward an end to the war.

title: 1968

section: Events › July–August

date: September 23

text: September 23 – Vietnam War: The Tet Offensive comes to an end in South Vietnam.

title: 1968

date: July 30

text: July 30 – Vietnam War: U.S. President Richard Nixon makes an unscheduled visit to South Vietnam, meeting with President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu and U.S. military commanders.

title: 1969

date: June 8

text: June 8 – U.S. President Richard Nixon and South Vietnamese President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu meet at Midway Island. Nixon announces that 25,000 U.S. troops will be withdrawn by September.

title: 1969

section: Events › June

date: September 5

text: September 5 – Vietnam War: Operation Jefferson Glenn: The United States 101st Airborne Division and the South Vietnamese 1st Infantry Division initiate a new operation in Thua Thien Province (the operation ends in October 1971).

title: 1970

date: July 10

text: July 10–14 – The Democratic National Convention meets in Miami Beach. Senator George McGovern, who backs the immediate and complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Vietnam, is nominated for president. He names fellow Senator Thomas Eagleton as his running mate.

title: 1972

date: March 30

text: March 30 – Vietnam War: The Easter Offensive begins after North Vietnamese forces cross into the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) of South Vietnam

title: 1972

date: November 11

text: November 11 – Vietnam War: Vietnamization – The United States Army turns over the massive Long Binh military base to South Vietnam.

title: 1972

date: August 15

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

title: 1973

date: April 25

text: April 25 – Vietnam War: As North Vietnamese Army forces close in on the South Vietnamese capital Saigon, the Australian Embassy is closed and evacuated, almost 10 years to the day since the first Australian troop commitment to South Vietnam.

title: 1975

date: April 30

text: April 30 – Vietnam War – Fall of Saigon: The Vietnam War concludes as Communist forces from North Vietnam take over Saigon, resulting in mass evacuation of the remaining American troops and South Vietnam civilians. As the capital is taken, South Vietnam surrenders unconditionally and is replaced with a temporary Provisional Government.

title: 1975

text: March 10 – Vietnam War: North Vietnamese troops attack Ban Mê Thuột in South Vietnam on their way to capturing Saigon.

title: 1975

text: July 2 – North Vietnam dissolves the Provisional Government of South Vietnam and unites the two countries to form the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

title: 1976


slug: southampton

label: Southampton

description: city and major port in Hampshire, South-East England, United Kingdom

section: Religion & Belief

text: Birinus, Frankish missionary, lands at the port of "Hamwic" (now in the St. Mary's area of Southampton), on his mission to reconvert the West Saxons in England. About this time, the St Mary's Church is founded.

title: 634

section: Events › By topic › Religion

section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: Summer – King Alfred the Great orders the building of English warships (almost twice as long as the longships) on the Itchen at Southampton, against the Danish Viking raiders in Wessex.

title: 896

section: Events › By place › Britain

section: Exploration & Expansion

date: July 4

text: July 4 – King Richard I (the Lion Heart) and Philip II (Augustus), meet at Vézelay and agree to divide the spoils of the Crusade equally between themselves. They march to the coast and then make their way across the Mediterranean, taking different routes. Richard travels with an expeditionary force (some 17,000 men) via Marseille and Philip travels with a smaller contingent (some 15,000 men) via Genoa. Richard has some 100 ships at his disposal, several of which are from Norman ports, others from Shoreham and Southampton.

title: 1190

section: Events › By place › Europe

text: Southampton Old Bowling Green is established in Southampton. It is the oldest surviving bowling green.

title: 1299

section: Events › By place › British Isles

date: October 5

text: October 5 – Hundred Years' War, English Channel naval campaign: Southampton is destroyed.

title: 1338

section: Events

date: September 22

text: September 22 – After being tracked down by King Edward IV and taken prisoner at Southampton, the rebel Thomas Neville is beheaded at Middleham Castle in his native Yorkshire.

title: 1471

section: Events › July–September

section: Science & Discovery

date: April 10

text: April 10 – White Star liner departs from Southampton, England, with more than 2,200 passengers and crew on her maiden voyage, bound for New York.

title: 1912

section: Health & Medicine

date: August 3

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

title: 1918

section: Events › August

date: July 1

text: July 1 – sails from Southampton to Rosyth to be broken up.

title: 1935

date: July 3

text: July 3 - The SS United States Has Her maiden voyage en route from New York To Southampton And wins the Blue Riband

title: 1952

date: September 27

text: September 27 – The arrives in Southampton at the end of her last transatlantic crossing.

title: 1967

section: Events › September


slug: southeast-asia

label: Southeast Asia

description: south-eastern region of Asia

year_label: 68 CE

text: Kingdom of Funan is established in the Mekong Delta comprising present-day Cambodia, Southern Vietnam, Southern Thailand and Eastern Thailand, the first known civilization in Southeast Asia. The capital city is Vyadhapura or modern-day Ba Phnum District in Cambodia.

title: AD 68

section: Events › By place › Asia

text: Buddhism begins to spread to Southeast Asia.

title: 425

text: Arab merchants introduce Oriental spices into Mediterranean markets. Muslim merchant vessels visit the Maluku Islands (South East Asia) for the first time (approximate date).

title: 701

section: Events › By place › Arabian Empire

section: Conflict & Security

text: Srivijaya, a Buddhist kingdom based in Sumatra, is attacked by Emperor Rajendra I of the Chola dynasty of southern India in a dispute over trading rights in Southeast Asia. It survives but declines in importance.

title: 1025

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

title: 1281

date: May 25

text: May 25 – No. 9 Squadron RAAF becomes part of the 4,500 strong Australian Task Force assigned to duties in Vietnam, leaving for Southeast Asia aboard the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney.

title: 1966

section: Events › May

section: Climate & Environment

date: July 19

text: July 19 – Typhoon Doksuri forms in the eastern Pacific Ocean, going on to kill 137 people in Southeast Asia.

title: 2023

section: Events › July

date: October 17

text: October 17 – Whoosh, the first high speed rail in Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and the Southern Hemisphere, opens.

title: 2023

section: Events › October

section: Culture & Society

date: January 23

text: January 23 – Thailand becomes the 38th country and the first in Southeastern Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.

title: 2025

section: Events › January


slug: southern-han

label: Southern Han

description: one of the Ten Kingdoms of 10th-century China, centered on Guangdong Province

section: Births

text: Liu Yin, governor (jiedushi) of Southern Han (d. 911)

title: 874

text: Liu Yan, emperor of Southern Han (d. 942)

title: 889

section: Deaths

date: April 4

text: April 4 – Liu Yin, governor of Southern Han (b. 874)

title: AD 911

section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

date: September 5

text: September 5 – The Great Yue Kingdom, later renamed Southern Han, is founded by Liu Yan, former governor and military advisor, in Panyu (modern Guangdong) and Guangxi. Liu Yan declares himself emperor, and gives his niece Liu Hua in marriage to Wang Yanjun, a son of his rival Wang Shenzhi (Prince of Min), to cement a relationship between the two states.

title: 917

text: Liu Bin, emperor of Southern Han (d. 943)

title: 920

date: May 31

text: May 31 – Liu Hua, princess of Southern Han (b. 896)

title: 930

date: January 22

text: January 22 – Ma, empress of Southern Han

title: 935

text: Battle of Bach Dang: Tĩnh Hải Quân forces under the rule of Ngô Quyền defeated an invading force of the Southern Han state at the Bach Dang River. This put an end to Chinese imperial domination in Vietnam after nearly 1,000 years.

title: 938

text: Liu Chang, emperor of Southern Han (d. 980)

title: 942

date: April 15

text: April 15 – Liu Bin, emperor of Southern Han (b. 920)

title: 943

text: January 23 – A war elephant corps of the Southern Han is defeated at Shao, by crossbow fire from Song dynasty troops. The Southern Han Kingdom is forced to submit to the Song dynasty. Ending Southern Han rule, but also the first regular war elephant corps employed in a Chinese army, that had gained the Southern Han victories throughout the 10th century.

title: 971

section: Events › By place › China

text: Liu Chang, emperor of Southern Han (b. 942)

title: 980


slug: southern-italy

label: Southern Italy

description: macroregion of Italy

date: October 28

text: October 28 – Maxentius, son of former Western Emperor Maximian, leads a revolt by the Praetorian Guard and members of the Senate in Rome, and is proclaimed Emperor. Southern Italy supports Maxentius, as do Africa, Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily. Maxentius recalls Maximian from retirement, who joins his son in Rome.

title: 306

section: Events › By place › Roman Empire

section: Exploration & Expansion

date: March

text: March – Totila bypasses Rome and begins his expedition in Southern Italy. He captures Beneventum and receives the submission of the provinces of Apulia, Lucania and Bruttium.

title: 542

section: Events › By place › Europe

section: Religion & Belief

date: December 17

text: December 17 – Sack of Rome: After almost a year's siege, the capture of a grain fleet sent by the exiled Pope Vigilius near the mouth of the Tiber, and failure of troops of the Byzantine Empire under Belisarius to relieve the city, the Ostrogoths under King Totila plunder Rome and destroy its fortifications. He then withdraws to Apulia (Southern Italy).

title: 546

section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire

text: Radoald, duke of Benevento (Italy)

title: 651

text: Emperor Constans II launches an assault against the Duchy of Benevento (Southern Italy). Taking advantage of the fact that Lombard king Grimoald I is engaged against Frankish forces from Neustria, Constans disembarks at Taranto, and besieges Lucera and Benevento.

title: 663

text: Bubonic plague breaks out in Sicily, Calabria (Southern Italy), and Monemvasia (modern Greece).

title: AD 747

text: King Charlemagne orders a 3 kilometre long channel dug from Treuchtlingen to Weißenburg (the Rhine and Danube river basins), to improve the transportation of goods between the Rhineland and Bavaria. Charlemagne's son, Pepin of Italy, campaigns against the Lombards in Benevento (Southern Italy).

title: 793

text: Prince Grimoald IV is assassinated by a complot of Lombard nobles vying for his throne. He is succeeded by Sico as ruler of Benevento (Southern Italy), who is forced to pay an annual tribute of 7,000 solidi to Louis I.

title: 817

date: July 4

text: July 4 – Pactum Sicardi: Prince Sicard of Benevento signs a 5-year armistice with the duchies of Sorrento, Naples and Amalfi. He recognizes the trade of merchants among the three cities in Southern Italy.

title: 836

text: The Saracens, under the Berber leader Kalfun, capture the Byzantine city of Bari (Southern Italy). He becomes the first ruler of the Emirate of Bari, and expands his influence on the Italian mainland with raids.

title: 847

date: February 2

text: February 2 – Franco-Lombard forces, aided by a Croatian fleet (of Sclaveni), led by Emperor Louis II, capture Bari, capital of the Emirate of Bari in Southern Italy.

title: 871

text: Spring – Atenulf I, Lombard prince of Capua, conquers the Duchy of Benevento. He deposes Duke Radelchis II and unites the two southern Lombard duchies in Mezzogiorno (Southern Italy). The Byzantines offer a strategic alliance to Atenulf who directs a campaign against the Saracens. They establish themselves on the banks of the Garigliano River. From here, Arab warbands launch frequent raids in Campania.

title: 900

text: Spring – The Republic of Pisa conducts a military offensive against the Saracen strongholds in Southern Italy. The Pisan fleet sacks the city of Reggio Calabria. Pisa becomes one of the four commercial Maritime Republics (the other three are Genoa, Venice and Amalfi), which fight each other for control of the Mediterranean Sea.

title: 1005

text: Summer – An Arab Saracen fleet appears before Pisa, but departs again. The Pisans take their fleet to sea and chase the Arabs down to Southern Italy where, in the Battle of Reggio Calabria, the Pisan fleet defeats the Arabs.

title: 1006

text: Melus of Bari makes a second attempt against Byzantine-held Southern Italy. To support his cause, he hires Norman mercenaries, unwittingly triggering the rise of Norman rule over southern Italy.

title: 1016

text: Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor ("the Elder") travels to Southern Italy and holds court in Troia. He orders Pandulf IV of Capua to restore the territories of Monte Cassino. Pandulf holes himself up in the fortress of Sant'Agata de' Goti, and dispatches tribute (300 lb of gold) and his son as hostage to Troia as a token of peace. Conrad accepts his offer, but the son escapes. Conrad goes on the offensive and seizes Capua, and gives it to Guaimar IV of Salerno.

title: 1038

text: Autumn – Norman mercenaries assemble at Matera and decide to elect William Iron Arm as count of Melfi and leader of the Normans in Southern Italy.

title: 1042

text: Spring – Robert de Grandmesnil, his nephew Berengar, half-sister Judith (future wife of Roger I), and eleven monks of the Abbey of Saint-Evroul, are banished by Duke William II ("the Bastard") of Normandy for violence, and travel to Southern Italy.

title: 1061

date: August 23

text: August 23 – Battle of Tagliacozzo: The army of Charles of Anjou defeats the Ghibellines supporters of Conradin of Hohenstaufen, marking the fall of the Hohenstaufen Family from the Imperial and Sicilian thrones, and leading to the new chapter of Angevin domination in Southern Italy.

title: 1268

section: Events › By topic › War and politics

date: September 8

text: September 8 – The 7.2 Calabria earthquake shakes Southern Italy with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme), killing between 557 and 2,500 people.

title: 1905

date: December 28

text: December 28 – The 7.1 Messina earthquake shakes Southern Italy with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme), killing between 75,000 and 200,000.

title: 1908

section: Events › December

section: Technology & Infrastructure

date: March 3

text: March 3 – Italy: in one of the deadliest railway disasters in history, over 500 clandestine passengers die of carbon monoxide poisoning when a steam freight train stops in a railway tunnel near Balvano, Basilicata, Southern Italy.

title: 1944

section: Events › March


slug: southern-qi

label: Southern Qi

description: Chinese dynasty (479–502)

text: Qi Gaodi, Chinese emperor of the Southern Qi Dynasty (d. 482)

title: 427

text: Xiao Ni, prince of Southern Qi (d. 492)

title: 444

text: Qi Mingdi, emperor of Southern Qi (d. 498)

title: 452

text: Wang Baoming, empress of the Southern Qi (d. 512)

title: 455

text: Xiao Zhangmao, crown prince of Southern Qi (d. 493)

title: 458

text: Xiao Zhaoye, Chinese emperor of Southern Qi (known as the Prince of Yulin) (d. 494)

title: 473

section: Crime & Justice

text: Summer – The Liu Song dynasty ends and the Southern Qi dynasty begins in southern China. Emperor Shun Di is forced to abandon the throne and Qi Gao Di becomes the first ruler of Southern Qi. Later former Emperor Shun and empress Wang Zhenfeng are killed by the imperial guard, near the vicinity of the capital Jiankang.

title: 479

section: Events › By place › Asia

text: Xiao Zhaowen, emperor of Southern Qi (d. 494)

title: 480

text: Prince Qi Wudi succeeds his father Qi Gaodi, and becomes emperor of Southern Qi.

title: 482

text: Qi Gaodi, Chinese emperor of Southern Qi (b. 427)

title: 482

text: Xiao Baojuan, emperor of Southern Qi (d. 501)

title: 483

text: Fearing of a war with the Southern Qi, Jiaozhou governor Lý Thúc Hiến surrendered, officially marking the end of nearly 20 years of Lý clan rule in the region.

title: 485

text: Xiao Baoyin, prince of Southern Qi (d. 530)

title: 487

text: He Di, emperor of Southern Qi (d. 502)

title: 488

text: Wang Jian, official of Liu Song and Southern Qi (b. 452)

title: 489

text: Xiao Ni, prince of Southern Qi (b. 444)

title: 492

text: Xiao Zhangmao, crown prince of Southern Qi (b. 458)

title: 493

text: Xiao Zhaowen, emperor of Southern Qi (b. 480)

title: 494

text: Qi Mingdi, emperor of Southern Qi (b. 452)

title: 498

section: Conflict & Security

text: Dong Hun Hou is killed during a siege of the capital Jiankang. He is succeeded by his brother Qi He Di, who becomes emperor of Southern Qi (China).

title: 501

text: Xiao Baojuan, emperor of Southern Qi (b. 483)

title: 501

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

title: AD 502

text: He Di, Chinese emperor of Southern Qi (b. 488)

title: AD 502

text: Wang Baoming, empress of Southern Qi (b. 455)

title: 512

text: Xiao Baoyin, prince of Southern Qi (b. 487)

title: 530


slug: southern-tang

label: Southern Tang

description: one of the Ten Kingdoms of medieval China, ruling territory around Nanjing during the period 937–976

text: Song Qiqiu, chief strategist of Southern Tang (d. 959)

title: 887

date: January 7

text: January 7 – Li Bian, emperor of Southern Tang (d. 943)

title: 889

text: Feng Yanji, chancellor of Southern Tang (d. 960)

title: 903

text: Yuan Zong, emperor of Southern Tang (d. 961)

title: 916

text: Li Jingsui, prince of Southern Tang (d. 958)

title: 920

text: Li Jingda, prince of Southern Tang (d. 971)

title: 924

text: Zhou ("the Elder"), queen consort of Southern Tang (approximate date)

title: 936

text: Li Yu, ruler of Southern Tang (approximate date)

title: 937

date: November 10

text: November 10 – Li Bian usurps the throne and deposes Emperor Yang Pu. The Wu State is replaced and Li (called "Xu Zhigao") becomes the first emperor of Southern Tang, one of the Ten Kingdoms in southern China.

title: 937

date: March 30

text: March 30 – Li Bian, emperor of Southern Tang (b. 889)

title: 943

text: Autumn – The Min Kingdom is destroyed by the Southern Tang. Emperor Yuan Zong expands its domains beyond those of the former Wu Kingdom. He annexes Min territory into its own boundaries.

title: 945

date: November 16

text: November 16 – Emperor Li Jing sends a Southern Tang expeditionary force (10,000 men) under Bian Hao to conquer Chu. Li Jing removes the ruling family to his own capital in Nanjing, ending the Chu Kingdom.

title: 951

text: Xu You, official and court minister of Southern Tang

title: 960

date: August 12

text: August 12 – Li Jing, emperor of Southern Tang (b. 916)

title: 961

text: Zhong, empress consort of Southern Tang

title: 965

text: Li Jingda, prince of Southern Tang (b. 924)

title: 971

date: August 15

text: August 15 – Li Yu, ruler ('king') of Southern Tang

title: 978