15 February in history

9 events that happened on 15 February, from 706 to 1965.

1. ✦ Anniversary of the day

   

   706 CE 1,320 years ago

   Justinian II has his predecessors executed in the Hippodrome

   Justinian II, restored to the throne in 705 with the help of a Bulgarian army, had his predecessors Leontius and Tiberius III publicly executed in the Hippodrome of Constantinople. Both had reigned after his deposition in 695.

   Justinian IIHippodrome of Constantinople

2. 1002 CE 1,024 years ago

   Arduin of Ivrea is crowned king of Italy at Pavia

   At an assembly of Lombard nobles at Pavia, Arduin, margrave of Ivrea, was crowned King of Italy after the death of Emperor Otto III. Opposed by the bishops and by the German king Henry II, he held out until 1014.

   Arduin of Ivrea

3. 1113 CE 913 years ago

   Pope Paschal II recognises the Knights Hospitaller

   The bull Pie postulatio voluntatis placed the hospital of St John in Jerusalem under papal protection. The order later took on a military role and survives today as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

4. 1493 CE 533 years ago

   Christopher Columbus writes his letter on the first voyage

   Aboard the caravel Niña on the return leg, Christopher Columbus wrote the first known document announcing the completion of his first voyage across the Atlantic. A postscript was added on his arrival in Lisbon on 4 March.

   Christopher Columbus

5. 1564 CE 462 years ago

   Galileo Galilei is born in Pisa

   Galileo's telescopic discoveries, including Jupiter's moons, and his studies of motion made him a founder of modern physics. His defence of Copernicus brought his trial by the Inquisition in 1633.

6. 1898 CE 128 years ago

   USS Maine explodes in Havana harbour

   An explosion sank the American battleship, killing some 260 men. The cause is still debated, but US newspapers blamed Spain, and the cry 'Remember the Maine' helped bring war in April.

7. 1942 CE 84 years ago

   Singapore surrenders to Japan

   General Arthur Percival surrendered Singapore, and some 80,000 British, Indian and Australian troops became prisoners. Churchill called it the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history.

   Singapore

8. 1961 CE 65 years ago

   US figure skating team killed in the Sabena air crash

   Sabena Flight 548 crashed on approach to Brussels, killing all 72 aboard and a man on the ground. Among the dead was the entire US figure skating team, en route to the world championships in Prague.

   Prague

9. 1965 CE 61 years ago

   Canada raises its Maple Leaf flag

   The red and white Maple Leaf flag was raised on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, replacing the Canadian Red Ensign. 15 February is now marked as National Flag of Canada Day.

   Canada

Born on 15 February 11

• Ladislaus of Naples1377–1414
• Piero di Lorenzo de' Medici1472–1503
• Juliana of Stolberg1506–1580
• Pedro Menéndez de Avilés1519–1574
• Galileo Galilei1564–1642
• Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve1612–1676
• Louis XV1710–1774
• Domingo Faustino Sarmiento1811–1888
• Susan B. Anthony1820–1906
• Robert Ley1890–1945
• Milo Đukanovićb. 1962

Died on 15 February 6

• Oswiuc. 612–670
• Conrad III of Germany1093–1152
• Giovanni II Bentivoglio1443–1508
• Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor1578–1637
• Gotthold Ephraim Lessing1729–1781
• Mirza Ghalib1797–1869

Dates as the sources give them: in the Julian calendar before 1582, and in some countries for longer (Britain until 1752, Russia until 1918). Only people whose day of birth or death the records agree on are listed.

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