What Happened in June?

Pre-Socratic Greek philosopher, Thales of Miletus, dies in Miletus around 548 BCE, at the age of 78. Thales was one of the Seven Sages, founding figures of Ancient Greece. He is often considered the first Western philosopher. He is believed to have been born c. 624–620 BCE Expand +

The Roman Republic was established after the overthrow of the Roman monarchy around 509 BCE following the overthrow of the last king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, replacing the monarchy with a representative government. This transition marked a shift to a system led by two annually elected consuls and the Senate, lasting until 27 BCE. Expand +

Tiberius Gracchus, Roman politician and reformer,  was assassinated c. June  15, 133 BCE during a violent riot in Rome led by senators opposing his land redistribution reforms. His death, which occurred while he sought re-election, marked the first known major political violence in the late Roman Republic.

Birth of the Roman historian and politician, Gaius Sallustius Crispus (Sallust) was born c. 86 BCE in Amiternum, located in the Sabine territory of central Italy. He was a Roman historian and politician from a plebeian family who rose to prominence during the late Roman Republic.

The birth of the Roman historian and author of "The History of Rome," Livy (Titus Livius). c. 59 BCE although some believe he was born in, 64 BCE. His place of birth was Modern Padua, Italy and he died c 17 CE. He was a prominent historian during the Augustan era, famed for his monumental Ab Urbe Condita (History of Rome).

Emperor Augustus introduces the law "leges Juliae" against bachelors and childless marriages in Rome. Augustus enacted these reforms to address what he saw as a moral and social crisis among Rome's elite with the goals of increasing the birth rate among the upper classes and to reinforce traditional Roman virtues and family values. while encouraging marriage and discouraging celibacy.

Birth of the Roman historian Tacitus; Roman orator. public official, historian and  prose stylist who wrote in the Latin language. 

Roman Emperor Nero escaped from Rome and committed suicide on June 9, 68 CE, after being cornered at a freedman's villa. He fled  Rome after he was declared a public enemy by the Roman Senate and is condemned to death in absentia.  Expand +

Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, makes his son Commodus, co-Augustus (co-emperor) on June 17, 177. Marcus Aurelius had previously given Commodus the title of Imperator in November 176 CE.

Alexander III of Macedon, most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. It is believed that Alexander the Great died on this day in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon at the age of 32.

The Battle of the Catalaunian Plains, also known as the Battle of Châlons, the Battle of Maurica, the Battle of the Campus Mauriacus, and the Battle of Troyes., takes place between a Roman-Visigoth coalition led by the Roman general Flavius Aetius and the Visigoth king Theodoric I, against the Huns and their vassals, commanded by their king, Attila.  Expand +

Attila, frequently called Attila the Hun, entered Italy around around June 8, 452 CE, sacking several cities and facing little resistance, the situation seemed dire for Rome. The turning point came when Pope Leo I intervened, traveling to meet Attila in a dramatic encounter near Mantua in the Italian region of Lombardy.  Expand +

Saint Columba, an Irish missionary, dies, c. June 9, 597. He is credited for having a major role leaving a lasting legacy in spreading Christianity in Scotland. He is a patron saint of Scotland and one of the three patron saints of Ireland. His feast day is celebrated on June 9th.

Chinese governor Li Yuan, is crowned Emperor Gaozu of Tang, marking the beginning of the Tang Dynasty and the end of the Sui Dynasty. Emperor Gaozu, focused on consolidating his rule and unifying China. The Dynasty ruled from 618 to 907, with a short gap between 690 and 705. Historians generally regard the Tang as a high point in Chinese civilization, and of cosmopolitan culture Expand +

Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, died on June 8, 632 CE, in Medina, Saudi Arabia, marking a significant event in the history of the Islamic faith.

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

The Assyrian solar eclipse, also known as the Bur-Sagale eclipse, is recorded in Assyrian eponym lists that most likely dates to the tenth year of the reign of king Ashur-dan III. The eclipse is identified as the one that occurred on 15 June 763 BC in the proleptic Julian calendar and helped and was helpful to understand the chronology of Mesopotamian history and correlate it to certain events mentioned in the Old Testament. More

The Viking Age is considered to have begun on June 8, 793, CE with the raid on Lindisfarne monastery in Northumbria, England. The raid targeted the wealthy religious center for its treasures and signaled a new era of coastal, Scandinavian attacks.

Iceland's first parliament, the Althing (Icelandic: Alþingi), was established in Thingvellir National Park . A flag still stands in the exact spot today in commemoration. More

Leo VIII, is reinstated as Pope for a second term by Emperor Otto I, on June 23, 964, after Otto I forced the deposition of Benedict V who had been elected by the Romans after John XII's  sudden death. Leo VIII reigned from June 23, 964, until his death on March 1, 965. Expand +