Browse Historical Events by Month: What Happened in January?

The Roman Emperor Severus Alexander is born.

Saint Emerentiana, a Christian martyr, is stoned to death in Rome during the Diocletianic Persecution.

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

The Roman Empire is permanently divided into Eastern and Western halves upon the death of Emperor Theodosius I.

Theodosius II becomes co-emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire at the age of seven.

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

The Byzantine general Belisarius enters Rome during the Gothic War.

Justin II succeeds his uncle Justinian I as Eastern Roman Emperor.

The Rashidun Caliphate is established following the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

The Bulgarian Khan Asparukh defeats the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IV at the Battle of Ongal.

Charlemagne, King of the Franks, is born in modern-day Belgium.

Charlemagne's son, Louis the Pious, succeeds him as Holy Roman Emperor.

January 20 - The Byzantine Empire defeats the Abbasid Caliphate at the Battle of Lalakaon.

Alfred the Great leads the West Saxon army to repel a Danish invasion at the Battle of Ashdown.

Arnulf of Carinthia, King of East Francia, dies, leading to a period of instability in the Carolingian Empire.

The coronation of Henry the Fowler as King of East Francia (Germany) marks the beginning of the Saxon Dynasty.

The caliphate of Abd al-Rahman III in Al-Andalus is recognized by the Fatimid Caliphate in North Africa.

Otto I is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope John XII in Rome.

Baptism of Kievan Rus' ruler Vladimir the Great, leading to the Christianization of the region.

Gregory V becomes Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.