The Roman Senate confers upon Claudius the title "Pater Patriae" (Father of the Country).
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What Happened Today in History on January 24
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on January 24th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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The Roman Empire defeats the Marcomanni in the Battle of Sirmium under the reign of Marcus Aurelius.
Emperor Otto III, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, dies unexpectedly at the age of 21. on January 24, 1002, at age 21, from a sudden fever while on campaign near Civita Castellana.
His death, before he could be married to the Byzantine princess Zoe, threw the Empire into political crisis due to the lack of a clear heir. Otto III was succeeded by his second cousin Henry II who was crowned King of Germany in 1002 and Holy Roman Emperor in 1014.
Louis IV becomes King of Germany, later Holy Roman Emperor.
Isabella of France and Roger Mortimer invade England, starting the downfall of Edward II.
King Edward III of England proclaims himself rightful heir to the French throne, initiating the Hundred Years' War.
The Shaanxi earthquake, believed to be the deadliest earthquake ever recorded, strikes China's Shaanxi and neighboring Shanxi province, killing or injuring and estimated 830,000 people. Although the quake lasted only seconds, it leveled mountains, altered the path of rivers, ignited fires that burned for days and caused massive flooding. More
The Dutch attempt to capture the Portuguese fort at Elmina in West Africa but fail.
Abel Tasman's expedition reaches Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga.
King Charles II ratifies the Treaty of Middle Plantation, guaranteeing peace between the Virginia colonists and Native American tribes.
The Battle of Ayubale establishes Russian dominance in the Caucasus, securing territories.
The first Freemasons' Grand Lodge is founded in London, establishing modern Freemasonry.
Charles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, arrives in France after his defeat in the Jacobite Rising.
Gold is discovered at Sutter's Mill in California by James W. Marshall as he sees shining flecks of gold in the tailrace of the sawmill he was building in partnership with John Sutter. This discovery unleashed the California Gold Rush changing the course of California's and the nation's history. More
Indira Gandhi becomes the first female Prime Minister of India.
Japanese Army Sergeant Shoichi Yokoi is discovered by local farmers on Guam. Yokoi, who fought in World War II, had been hiding in the jungle for almost 28 years. The return of the American forces to Guam and the bloody battle for possession of the island, created a breakdown of the Japanese command on Guam and soldiers like Yokoi were left to fend for themselves and told “to prefer death to the disgrace of getting captured alive”. More
Apple Computer Inc. unveils its Macintosh personal computer.
The six-wheeled robotic rover, Opportunity, lands on Mars. Launched in mid 2003 it readies to analyze Mars soil and rocks and relay pictures back to earth. It remained active on Mars from 2004 until 2018. Its twin rover, Spirit, had landed on Jan 3, 2004. More