This Day in History
Today: January 12, 2026
475
Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople, and his general, Basiliscus gains control of the empire.[1]
1528
Gustav I of Sweden is crowned King of Sweden, having already reigned since his election in June 1523.[2]
1554
Bayinnaung, who would go on to assemble the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia, is crowned King of Burma.[3]
1616
The city of Belém, Brazil is founded on the Amazon River delta by Portuguese captain Francisco Caldeira Castelo Branco.[4]
1792
Federalist Thomas Pinckney appointed first U.S. minister to Britain.[5]
1808
John Rennie's scheme to defend St Mary's Church, Reculver, founded in 669, from coastal erosion is abandoned in favour of demolition, despite the church being an exemplar of Anglo-Saxon architecture and sculpture.[6]
1808
The organizational meeting leading to the creation of the Wernerian Natural History Society, a former Scottish learned society, is held in Edinburgh.[7]
1848
The Palermo rising takes place in Sicily against the Bourbon Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.[8]
1866
The Royal Aeronautical Society is formed in London.[9]
1872
Yohannes IV is crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in Axum, the first imperial coronation in that city in over 200 years.[10]
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