Ancient World
Theodosian Walls (413): The Land Walls of Constantinople
The triple line of land walls made Constantinople almost impregnable until the Ottoman artillery siege of 1453.
All Articles
Every Chronicle article on world history, newest first: battles, empires, disasters, discoveries and revolutions.
Ancient World
Division of the Roman Empire (395): East and West Split
The empire was permanently governed by two separate courts, in Constantinople and in the West; the two halves were never again ruled by a single resident emperor.
Ancient World
Edict of Thessalonica (380): Nicene Christianity Made Official
Nicene Trinitarian Christianity was declared the true faith of the empire's people, and other Christian groups were branded heretics, paving the way for the Council of Constantinople in 381.
Ancient World
Julian the Apostate (361-363): The Last Pagan Roman Emperor
Julian's attempt to revive traditional Greco-Roman religion ended with his death on campaign in Persia, and his successors restored Christianity's privileged position.
Ancient World
Founding of Constantinople (330): Constantine's New Rome
Constantine's new city became the main residence of the eastern emperors and, for over a thousand years, the capital of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire.
Ancient World
First Council of Nicaea (325): The Nicene Creed and Arianism
The council condemned Arius's teaching, adopted the Nicene Creed declaring the Son 'of one substance' with the Father, and set a common rule for dating Easter.
Modern Era
Soviet Invasion of Manchuria (1945): Operation August Storm
Soviet victory; the Kwantung Army surrendered, about 600,000 Japanese soldiers were taken prisoner, and the Soviet entry into the war contributed to Japan's decision to surrender.
Middle Ages
Onin War (1467-1477): Kyoto Burns and Sengoku Japan Begins
No clear victor; Kyoto was largely destroyed, the Ashikaga shoguns lost real power, and Japan slid into more than a century of regional warfare.
Middle Ages
Savonarola and the Bonfire of the Vanities (1497)
Savonarola's followers burned thousands of 'vanities' at Carnival in 1497 and 1498, but the friar was excommunicated, arrested and executed in the same square in May 1498.
Ancient World
Arch of Constantine (315): Rome's Last Great Triumphal Arch
The Senate's arch celebrated Constantine's victory of 312 and survives as the largest and best-preserved Roman triumphal arch.
Modern Era
Potsdam Conference (1945): Truman, Stalin and the Fate of Germany
The Allies agreed on the occupation, denazification and demilitarisation of Germany, placed eastern German lands under Polish administration and issued the Potsdam Declaration to Japan, but deep disagreements remained.
Middle Ages
Tumu Crisis (1449): A Ming Emperor Captured by the Mongols
Oirat victory and the capture of the Ming emperor; Beijing held out under Yu Qian, and the Ming turned to a more defensive frontier policy.