Browse Historical Events by Day: What Happened on January 27th?

Trajan becomes Roman emperor following the death of Nerva.

Leo I becomes the Byzantine Emperor following the death of his predecessor Marcian.

Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV arrives at the fortress of Canossa, beginning the famous Walk to Canossa to seek forgiveness from Pope Gregory VII.

Grand Prince Sviatopolk II of Kiev is murdered, leading to political unrest in Kievan Rus'.

The Fourth Lateran Council is convened by Pope Innocent III, addressing church reform and promulgating decrees.

Andrew III of Hungary dies, leading to succession disputes and internal conflicts in Hungary.

Dante Alighieri is accused of corruption in political office like others from the White Guelphs political party (supporters independence for the city-state who were not aligned with the Pope). Dante's sentence was a hefty fine and banishment for two years from Florence and permanent exclusion from public office. Dante refused any pardon that required him to admit guilt against the city he loved and later that year, he was banned for life and threatened with execution if he returned. The poet never returned to Florence and died of malaria 20 years later in Ravenna on the Adriatic coast.

The Knights Templar's leadership is condemned by the Council of Vienne, leading to their suppression.

King Charles V of France creates the first franc coin, a new currency for France.

James I of Scotland is assassinated in Perth, Scotland.

The Second Peace of Thorn is signed, ending the Thirteen Years' War between the Teutonic Order and Poland.

Spain annexes Cuba.

The first recorded sighting of Maryland is made by English settlers.

The first state constitution of Georgia is adopted.

The British Parliament passes the Constitutional Act, dividing Canada into Upper Canada and Lower Canada.

The Rum Rebellion in Australia sees Governor William Bligh deposed by the New South Wales Corps.

Argentine General José de San Martín begins his crossing of the Andes during the South American Wars of Independence.

Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 8 in F Major premieres in Vienna, Austria.

The United Kingdom recognizes the independence of the Transvaal (South African Republic).

The first successful appendectomy is performed by Dr. William Grant in Iowa.

The first US raid was conducted on Germany proper as 91 US bombers were sent on a day light raid on the submarine bases at Wilhelmshaven. 53 bombers successfully bombed the target and 3 were lost. The US daylight bombing of Germany continued as the British continue their night bombing raids. More

The 900 day siege of Leningrad is broken when the Soviet Leningrad–Novgorod Offensive expels the German forces from the southern outskirts of the city. This was a combined effort by the Leningrad and Volkhov Fronts, along with the 1st and 2nd Baltic Fronts. The estimates of the death toll vary, but it is believed than more than 1 million Leningrad residents perished from hunger or bombardments, during the siege.

The Soviet troops liberate the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz, Poland.

The Nevada Test Site (NTS), 65 miles north of Las Vegas, detonates the first of several nuclear bombs, Shot Able, a 1-kiloton bomb, as part of Operation Ranger. Between 1951 and 1992, the U.S. government conducted a total of 928 nuclear tests here. Out of these tests 100 were atmospheric, and 828 were underground. More

The Apollo I Tragedy; a fire swept through the Apollo 1 Command Module during a launch rehearsal test, tragically killing astronauts Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee. A long investigation concluded that a faulty electrical wire inside the Apollo 1 command module was the probable cause of the fire. More

The United States, United Kingdom, and Soviet Union sign the Outer Space Treaty banning the militarization of space.

The Vietnam War Paris Peace Accords are signed, effectively ending direct U.S. involvement in the war. More