History

2008: Apology to Indigenous Australians On February 13, 2008, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a historic apology to Indigenous Australians for the injustices of the “stolen generations” – Aboriginal…

1542: Execution of Catherine Howard Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of King Henry VIII of England, was executed on February 13, 1542, for adultery. Married to Henry in 1540, Catherine's…

1945: Bombing of Dresden On February 13, 1945, Dresden, Germany, was subjected to heavy bombing by Allied forces during World War II. This controversial raid involved hundreds of British and…

1503: The Challenge of Barletta The Challenge of Barletta, held on February 13, 1503, was a jousting tournament between 13 Italian and 13 French knights near Barletta, Italy. This event…

1912: Abdication of Emperor Puyi in China On February 12, 1912, Puyi, the last Emperor of China, abdicated the throne, marking the end of over two thousand years of imperial…

1818: Chile's Independence from Spain On February 12, 1818, Chile formally declared its independence from Spain, marking the culmination of a prolonged struggle that began in 1810. Led by figures…

1996: IRA Ends Ceasefire with London Bombing The Irish Republican Army (IRA), an Irish paramilitary organization, ended its 18-month ceasefire on February 9, 1996, by detonating a large bomb in…

1807: The Battle of Eylau The Battle of Eylau, fought between Napoleon's Grande Armée and the Russian Empire, ended inconclusively on February 8, 1807. This brutal battle, taking place in…

1587: Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots, was executed on February 8, 1587, for treason after being implicated in the Babington Plot, which aimed to assassinate…

1962: U.S. Embargo on Cuba On February 7, 1962, the United States imposed a full trade embargo on Cuba, banning all imports and exports between the two countries. This action…