Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies at Eboracum (modern York, England) while preparing to lead a campaign against the Caledonians. He leaves the empire in the control of his two quarrelling sons.

Septimius SeverusCaledonians

Battle of Dathin: Rashidun forces under Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan defeat an outnumbered Byzantine force near Gaza in Palestine.

Battle of DathinRashidun armyYazid ibn Abi SufyanByzantineGaza City

The coronation of Zhao Kuangyin as Emperor Taizu of Song, initiating the Song dynasty period of China that would last more than three centuries.

Emperor Taizu of SongSong dynasty

A strong earthquake struck the Ionian coast of Sicily, causing tens of thousands of injuries and deaths, especially in Catania.

1169 Sicily earthquakeCatania

In the Thirteen Years' War, the Secret Council of the Prussian Confederation sends a formal act of disobedience to the Grand Master.

Thirteen Years' War (1454-66)Prussian ConfederationGrand Masters of the Teutonic Knights

John Rogers is burned at the stake, becoming the first English Protestant martyr under Mary I of England.

John Rogers (Bible editor and martyr)Burned at the stakeProtestantMartyrMary I of England

In Edo (now Tokyo), 46 of the Forty-seven Ronin commit seppuku (ritual suicide) as recompense for avenging their master's death.

EdoForty-seven RoninSeppuku

Macapá, Brazil is founded.

MacapáBrazil

George Washington is unanimously elected as the first President of the United States by the U.S. Electoral College.

George WashingtonPresident of the United StatesU.S. Electoral College

The French legislature abolishes slavery throughout all territories of the French First Republic. It will be reestablished in the French West Indies in 1802.

SlaveryFrench First RepublicFrench West Indies

The Riobamba earthquake strikes Ecuador, causing up to 40,000 casualties.

1797 Riobamba earthquakeEcuador

John Marshall is sworn in as Chief Justice of the United States.

John MarshallChief Justice of the United States

The Royal Navy seizes Guadeloupe.

Royal NavyGuadeloupe

The Chilean Navy under the command of Lord Cochrane completes the 2-day long Capture of Valdivia with just 300 men and 2 ships.

Chilean NavyThomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of DundonaldCapture of Valdivia

The Ohio Legislature authorizes the construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal and the Miami and Erie Canal.

Ohio LegislatureOhio and Erie CanalMiami and Erie Canal

The first Mormon pioneers make their exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois, westward towards Salt Lake Valley.

Mormon pioneersNauvoo, IllinoisSalt Lake Valley

The Codex Sinaiticus is discovered in Egypt.

Codex SinaiticusEgypt

American Civil War: In Montgomery, Alabama, delegates from six break-away U.S. states meet and form the Confederate States of America.

American Civil WarMontgomery, AlabamaU.S. stateConfederate States of America

The Philippine-American War begins with the Battle of Manila.

Philippine-American WarBattle of Manila (1899)

Second Sino-Japanese War: Harbin, Manchuria, falls to Japan.

Second Sino-Japanese WarHarbinManchuriaDefense of HarbinEmpire of Japan

The United Service Organization (USO) is created to entertain American troops.

United Service Organization

World War II: Santo Tomas Internment Camp is liberated from Japanese authority.

World War IISanto Tomas Internment Camp

World War II: The Yalta Conference between the "Big Three" (Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin) opens at the Livadia Palace in the Crimea.

Yalta ConferenceWinston ChurchillFranklin D. RooseveltJoseph StalinLivadia Palace

World War II: The British Indian Army and Imperial Japanese Army begin a series of battles known as the Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations.

British Indian ArmyImperial Japanese ArmyBattle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations

Ceylon (later renamed Sri Lanka) becomes independent within the British Commonwealth.

CeylonSri LankaCommonwealth of Nations

The Angolan War of Independence and the greater Portuguese Colonial War begin.

Angolan War of IndependencePortuguese Colonial War

All Nippon Airways Flight 60 plunges into Tokyo Bay, killing 133.

All Nippon Airways Flight 60Tokyo Bay

Lunar Orbiter program: Lunar Orbiter 3 lifts off from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 13 on its mission to identify possible landing sites for the Surveyor and Apollo spacecraft.

Lunar Orbiter programLunar Orbiter 3Cape Canaveral Air Force StationSurveyor programApollo program

Yasser Arafat takes over as chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Yasser ArafatPalestine Liberation Organization

The Symbionese Liberation Army kidnaps Patty Hearst in Berkeley, California.

Symbionese Liberation ArmyPatty HearstBerkeley, California