Emperor Leo II dies after a reign of ten months. He is succeeded by his father Zeno, who becomes sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire.

Leo II (emperor)Zeno (emperor)Byzantine Empire

Japanese Emperor Kanmu changes his residence from Nara to Kyoto.

Emperor KanmuNara, NaraKyoto

Emperor Charles the Fat is deposed by the Frankish magnates in an assembly at Frankfurt. His nephew Arnulf of Carinthia is elected as king of the East Frankish Kingdom.

Charles the FatMagnateFrankfurtArnulf of CarinthiaEast Francia

The Battle of Mizushima takes place.

Battle of Mizushima

John Balliol becomes King of Scotland.

John Balliol

Sharif ul-Hāshim establishes the Sultanate of Sulu.

Sharif ul-Hāshim of SuluSultanate of Sulu

Henry VIII of England concluded the Treaty of Westminster, a pledge of mutual aid against the French, with Ferdinand II of Aragon.

Henry VIII of EnglandWar of the League of CambraiFerdinand II of Aragon

Elizabethan era begins: Queen Mary I of England dies and is succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth I of England.

Elizabethan eraMary I of EnglandElizabeth I of England

English explorer, writer and courtier Sir Walter Raleigh goes on trial for treason.

CourtierWalter RaleighTreason

Articles of Confederation (United States) are submitted to the states for ratification.

Articles of Confederation

French Revolutionary Wars: Battle of the Bridge of Arcole: French forces defeat the Austrians in Italy.

French Revolutionary WarsBattle of the Bridge of Arcole

The United States Congress holds its first session in Washington, D.C.

United States Congress6th United States Congress

Sweden declares war on its ally the United Kingdom to begin the Anglo-Swedish War, although no fighting ever takes place.

Anglo-Swedish War (1810-12)

José Miguel Carrera, Chilean founding father, is sworn in as President of the executive Junta of the government of Chile.

José Miguel CarreraChile

Captain Nathaniel Palmer becomes the first American to see Antarctica. (The Palmer Peninsula is later named after him.)

Nathaniel PalmerAntarctic Peninsula

Ecuador and Venezuela are separated from Gran Colombia.

EcuadorVenezuelaGran Colombia

Oberto, Giuseppe Verdi's first opera, opens at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy.

Oberto (opera)Giuseppe VerdiLa ScalaMilan

American Old West: On the Sonoita River in present-day southern Arizona, the United States Army establishes Fort Buchanan in order to help control new land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase.

American frontierSonoita CreekArizonaFort Buchanan, ArizonaGadsden Purchase

Modified Julian Day zero.

Julian day

American Civil War: Siege of Knoxville begins: Confederate forces led by General James Longstreet place Knoxville, Tennessee, under siege.

American Civil WarKnoxville CampaignConfederate States of AmericaJames LongstreetKnoxville, Tennessee

In Egypt, the Suez Canal, linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, is inaugurated.

EgyptSuez CanalMediterranean SeaRed Sea

The National Rifle Association is granted a charter by the state of New York.

National Rifle AssociationCharter

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "Slavonic March" is given its premiere performance in Moscow, Russia.

Pyotr Ilyich TchaikovskyMarche Slave

First assassination attempt against Umberto I of Italy by anarchist Giovanni Passannante, who was armed with a dagger. The King survived with a slight wound in an arm. Prime Minister Benedetto Cairoli blocked the aggressor, receiving an injury in a leg.

Umberto I of ItalyGiovanni PassannantePrime Minister of ItalyBenedetto Cairoli

Serbo-Bulgarian War: The decisive Battle of Slivnitsa begins.

Serbo-Bulgarian WarBattle of Slivnitsa

H. H. Holmes, one of the first modern serial killers, is arrested in Boston, Massachusetts.

H. H. HolmesSerial killerBoston

The Western Pennsylvania Hockey League, which later became the first ice hockey league to openly trade and hire players, began play at Pittsburgh's Schenley Park Casino.

Western Pennsylvania Hockey LeagueIce hockey1896-97 WPHL seasonPittsburghSchenley Park Casino

The Russian Social Democratic Labour Party splits into two groups: The Bolsheviks (Russian for "majority") and Mensheviks (Russian for "minority").

Russian Social Democratic Labour PartyBolsheviksMensheviks

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, which is the first black Greek-lettered organization founded at an American historically black college or university, was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Omega Psi PhiHistorically black colleges and universitiesHoward University

United States recognizes Soviet Union.

Soviet Union