27 February in history
6 events that happened on 27 February, from 380 to 1939.
✦ Anniversary of the day
380 CE 1,646 years ago
Edict of Thessalonica makes Nicene Christianity Rome's state faith
Emperors Theodosius I, Gratian and Valentinian II decreed that all subjects should follow the Christianity of the bishops of Rome and Alexandria. Other Christians were branded heretics.
1594 CE 432 years ago
Henry IV crowned King of France at Chartres
A former Protestant who had converted to Catholicism, Henry was crowned at Chartres because Reims was held by the Catholic League. His Edict of Nantes in 1598 ended the Wars of Religion.
1812 CE 214 years ago
Lord Byron's maiden speech defends the Luddites
In the House of Lords, the young poet spoke against the Frame-Breaking Bill, which made wrecking machinery a capital crime. He blamed the desperation of the weavers on poverty, but the bill passed.
1900 CE 126 years ago
Labour Representation Committee founded in London
Trade unionists and socialist societies formed a committee to elect working-class MPs. Renamed the Labour Party in 1906, it formed governments from 1924 and created the NHS in 1948.
