Roman Emperor Caligula, is assassinated on January 24, 41 AD, after a tyrannical four-year reign by his Praetorian Guard. He was the first Roman Emperor to be assassinated. He was 28 years old and was succeeded by his uncle Claudius.
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On This Day in History: 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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Pope Nicholas II (born Gerard of Burgundy) succeeded Pope Stephen IX, on January 24, 1059, as the 155th pope. He was Installed amid conflict with the Antipope Benedict. Pope Nicholas was able to strengthened the papacy through crucial reforms, including the 1059 decree that established cardinal-bishops as the primary papal electors.
The Synod of Worms called by Henry IV is held on January 24, 1076, resulting in Henry and the German Bishops, condemning Pope Gregory VII and asking for his resignation.
Gregory VII responded in February 1076 at his Lenten Synod in Rome by excommunicating Henry IV, suspending him from the kingship, and releasing his subjects from their oaths of allegiance. This conflict escalated the Investiture Controversy—a major power struggle between church and state—and forced Henry IV to later beg for forgiveness at Canossa (1077).
Pope Gelasius II (Giovanni da Gaeta) succeeds Pope Paschal II as the 161st pope on January 24, 1118. His short pontificate was defined by the ongoing Investiture Controversy with Holy Roman Emperor Henry V, which forced him into exile shortly after his election.
The Investiture Controversy was a conflict between the Church and the state over the ability to choose and install bishops (investiture). Pope Gelasius II was driven from Rome by the Emperor who installed Antipope Gregory VIII. Gelasius II spent much of his short reign in exile before dying in Cluny, France, on January 29, 1119. He was succeeded by Callixtus II, who eventually brought the struggle over investiture to a close.
The Shaanxi earthquake, believed to be the deadliest earthquake ever recorded, strikes China's Shaanxi and neighboring Shanxi province on January 23, 1556, 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.
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.
The discovery unleashed the California Gold Rush and changed the course of California's and the nation's history. The migration rapidly transformed the region, boosting the U.S. economy, accelerating California's statehood, and making San Francisco a major city. The gold rush also caused displacement and harsh conditions for Native Americans. On December 5, 1848, President James K. Polk officially confirmed the discovery of gold during his annual address to Congress, this official confirmation ignited "gold fever" across the nation, leading to the massive migration in 1849. More
Japanese Army Sergeant Shoichi Yokoi is discovered by local farmers on Guam. Yokoi, who fought in World War II. He 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 on January 24, 1984 at Apple's annual shareholder meeting. The computer had a built-in 9-inch screen and 128KB RAM, featuring a mouse, graphical user interface, and an integrated design, helping to make personal computing accessible and user-friendly for the average person.
The six-wheeled robotic rover, Opportunity, lands on Mars on Jan. 24, 2004. Launched in mid 2003 it went on 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