c. 586 BCE
The city of Jerusalem is captured and destroyed by the Babylonian Empire under King Nebuchadnezzar II, leading to the Babylonian exile of the Israelites.
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What Happened Today in History on September 2
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on September 2nd. 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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Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son Caesarion, co-ruler with her as Ptolemy XV
c. 40 BCE, September 2
The Treaty of Brundisium is signed in September 40 BC, temporarily ending the Roman civil wars between Octavian and Antony.
The terms of the treaty divided the Roman Republic's territories; assigning to Octavian the West, including Gaul and Italy. Mark Antony retained control of the East and Lepidus continued to govern Africa. To strengthen the new alliance, Mark Antony married Octavian's sister, Octavia.
The naval battle of Actium. is fought in the Ionian Sea near Actium, Greece between the maritime fleet of Octavian (later known as Augustus) led by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, and the combined fleets of both Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Octavian emerges victorious, leading to the end of the Roman Republic and the establishment of the Roman Empire.
The Fatimid Caliphate captures the city of Cairo, establishing it as their new capital and the center of their empire. Their conquest shifted the center of power from Tunisia to Egypt and marked the beginning of a prosperous period for the region.
The Fatimid caliphate (909–1171 CE) was an Isma'ili Shi'a Muslim caliphate founded by rulers claiming descent from Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, They rules over North Africa including Egypt. The dynasty's reign was brought to an end by Saladin, who restored Sunnism to the region in 1171.
The Treaty of Jaffa, negotiated after the battle of Jaffa, is signed between Richard the Lionheart of England and Saladin. It gained safe passage for Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem and ended the Third Crusade; marking an important point in history where a negotiated settlement was achieved between warring factions during the Crusades.
The treaty was facilitated in part, by Richard's need to return to England where his brother, John, used the king's long absence to plot against him, causing instability and division among the nobility facing high taxes.
The Battle of South Foreland occurs during the First Barons' War, where English naval forces defeat a French fleet off the coast of Kent.
The Battle of Granada takes place, marking the final phase of the Spanish Reconquista, as the forces of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castille, together known as the Catholic Monarchs, capture the city of Granada from the Moors. More
King Christian III, of Denmark establishes a Lutheran state church in Norway.
The Great Fire of London starts at a bakery in Pudding Lane shortly and spreads rapidly. It swept through central London for four days gutting the medieval City of London inside the old Roman city wall, while also extending past the wall to the west. More
The British Empire adopts the Gregorian calendar, skipping 11 days to correct the discrepancy with the Julian calendar.
The First Congress of the United States creates the Department of Treasury, a permanent institution for the management of government finances. Alexander Hamilton served as the first Secretary of the Treasury from 1789 to 1795. Hamilton was killed in a duel in 1804. More
A group of 150 white coal miners in Rock Springs, Wyoming, attacked the Chinese workers, killing 28, wounding 15 others, and driving several hundred more out of town. More
Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese Communist leader, declares Vietnam independence from France on the same day Japan surrenders to the Allies. In a deliberate appeal for American support, he opened his speech with the words: “All men are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among them are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."
The U.S did not support the Vietnamese struggle and instead adopted a neutral policy when on the same year, France went to war to recolonize Vietnam and in 1950, President Harry S. Truman authorized financial and military assistance to the French. All leading to the eventual U.S military involvement. Vietnam's official estimate of war dead is as many as 2 million civilians on both sides and some 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. There were 58,220 U.S. military fatal casualties of the Vietnam War. More
Japan formally surrenders aboard the USS Missouri, marking the end of World War II and bringing about the official cessation of hostilities in the Pacific theater. More
The Partition of India takes effect, leading to the creation of the independent nations of India and Pakistan and resulting in widespread violence and mass migrations.
The Old Man and the Sea, written by Ernest Hemingway, is published and later wins the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
The first ATM in the U.S goes live at one of Chemical Bank’s New York branches.. The bank was concerned that people would reject the idea of a cash machine that handled their money and saw such an expense as a big risk. However, the public quickly accepted the new machines and people were even willing to pay a small fee to use them. More
Diana Nyad, 64, makes record swim from Cuba to Key West, Florida. However her crossing was not conducted under the supervision of an organized sporting association, and ratification of the accomplishment was later denied by the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA). Guinness World Records initially certified Nyad's achievement, but revoked its certification after considering the findings by WOWSA. More