Browse Historical Events by Day: What Happened on January 19th?

The Greek city-state of Argos defeats Sparta at the Battle of Tiryns.

Emperor Caracalla grants Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the Roman Empire.

The Eastern Roman Emperor Theodosius I defeats the Western Roman usurper Magnus Maximus at the Battle of Siscia.

The archbishopric of Uppsala in Sweden is established.

Edward II of England marries Isabella of France at Boulogne-sur-Mer.

The English capture the town of Dunbar in Scotland during the Second War of Scottish Independence.

The Parliament of Ireland meets in Dublin, strengthening English control over Ireland.

King Richard II of England marries Anne of Bohemia at Westminster Abbey.

Ferdinand II of Aragon marries Isabella I of Castile, leading to the unification of Spain.

Tsar Boris Godunov of Russia grants trading privileges to the English Muscovy Company.

The first submarine is tested in London's River Thames by its inventor, Cornelius Drebbel.

The Petition of Right is accepted by England's King Charles I, limiting his power.

The Treaty of the Pyrenees is signed between France and Spain, ending the Franco-Spanish War.

France declares war on the Dutch Republic, initiating the Franco-Dutch War.

The first institution dedicated to the study of volcanoes, the Osservatorio Vesuviano, is established in Naples, Italy.

The American Continental Army is established by the Continental Congress, with George Washington appointed as its commander-in-chief.

The Batavian Republic, a French client state, is established in the Netherlands.

Edgar Allan Poe, American author and poet, is born in Boston, Massachusetts.

Peninsular War: French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte storm the city of Valencia, Spain.

The United States Naval officer, Lt. Charles Wilkes, exploring expedition of the South Seas reaches the Antarctic continent. The six U.S. Navy vessels under Wilkes command had set out in 1838 on a great voyage of exploration with several hundred seamen and scientists to explore and map the Pacific, Antarctica, and the northwest coast of the United States. Lt. Charles Wilkes' tremendous feat of navigation during his 4 year expedition helped broadened the knowledge of uncharted areas of the world and to expand American scientific knowledge, commerce, industry, and world standing. Wilkes is credited with proving the existence of Antarctica as a land continent, a vital contribution to world geography. More

The first official basketball game is played at the YMCA gymnasium in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Japan begins its invasion of Burma during World War II.