History
On this day in 1802: Victor Hugo was born
Few authors have shaped the moral imagination of modern Europe as profoundly as Victor Hugo, whose novels and political activism...
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On this day in 1570: Pope Pius V excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I of England from the Roman Catholic Church
On 25 February 1570, Pope Pope Pius V formally excommunicated Elizabeth I, declaring her a heretic and releasing her subjects...
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On this day in 2022: Russia launches full-scale invasion of Ukraine, reshaping Europe’s security order
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine marked one of the most consequential turning points in modern European history, triggering the largest...
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On this day in 1665: Composer George Frideric Handel was born
George Frideric Handel, one of the defining composers of the late Baroque era, was born on 23 February 1685 in...
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‘Yanukovych impeached after mass protests reshape Ukraine’s political future
Ukraine entered a decisive new chapter in February 2014 when president Viktor Yanukovych was impeached following weeks of nationwide demonstrations...
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On this day in 1916: The Battle of Verdun began
On this day in 1916, the Battle of Verdun began, marking the start of what would become one of the...
Read moreDetailsOn this day in 1956: The Soviet Union launched the core module of the space station Mir
The Soviet Union launched the core module of the Mir space station in February 1986, marking the beginning of what...
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On this day in 2019: Fashion designer and photographer Karl Lagerfeld died in Paris
Karl Lagerfeld — the prolific fashion designer, creative director, and photographer — has died in Paris, closing the chapter on...
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On this day in 1930: Pluto discovered by Clyde Tombaugh
On 18 February 1930, a faint moving dot on a set of photographic plates revealed a new world at the...
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On this day in 1979: China invaded Vietnam
China launched a full-scale invasion of Vietnam on 17 February 1979, marking one of the most abrupt and politically charged...
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