Europa
- 45 BC: The Julian calendar takes effect as the civil calendar of the Roman Republic, establishing January 1 as the start of the new year.
- 153 BC: Roman consuls begin their year in office on January 1 for the first time, setting a precedent for future Roman administration.
- 404 AD: Gladiatorial games are banned in the Roman Empire after the monk Telemachus is killed trying to stop a fight, prompting Emperor Honorius to issue a ban.
- 800 AD: Charlemagne is crowned Emperor of the Romans (not mentioned in the results, but widely recognized in European history; note that this event actually took place on December 25, not January 1).
- 1600: Scotland recognizes January 1 as the start of the year, replacing March 25 as New Year’s Day.
- 1772: The first traveler’s cheques are issued in London, usable in 90 European cities, marking a milestone in international finance.
- 1801: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is proclaimed, uniting the two kingdoms into a single state that lasted until 1922.
- 1958: The European Economic Community (EEC) is founded, a major step towards European integration and a precursor to the European Union.
- 1999: The euro becomes the official currency in 11 European countries (for electronic transactions and accounting).
- 2002: Euro banknotes and coins are introduced, making the euro the sole legal tender in participating EU countries.
- 1527: Croatian nobles elect Ferdinand I, Archduke of Austria, as King of Croatia.
- 1515: Francis I becomes King of France.
- 1947: American and British occupation zones in Germany merge to form the Bizone, a step towards the eventual creation of West Germany.
America
- 1863: The Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all enslaved people in Confederate states to be free. This executive order added a moral imperative to the Civil War and allowed Black soldiers to serve in the Union Army. - 1808: Ban on the Importation of Slaves
A federal law prohibiting the importation of enslaved people into the United States took effect, marking a significant step in the fight against slavery. - 1776: First National Flag Raised
General George Washington hoisted the first United States flag, known as the Grand Union Flag, at Prospect Hill during the American Revolution. - 1892: Ellis Island Opens
The Ellis Island Immigration Station in New York Harbor formally opened, processing nearly 700 immigrants on its first day. Over 12 million immigrants would pass through before its closure in 1954. - 1902: First Rose Bowl Game
The inaugural college football bowl game, later known as the Rose Bowl, was played between the University of Michigan and Stanford University. - 1942: Declaration of the United Nations
Twenty-six countries, including the United States, signed the Declaration of the United Nations in Washington, D.C., pledging to fight together against the Axis powers in World War II.
Asia
- 1912: Establishment of the Republic of China
On January 1, 1912, the Republic of China was officially established, marking the end of over two thousand years of imperial rule and the beginning of republican governance in China. - 1877: Queen Victoria Proclaimed Empress of India
On this day, Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India, solidifying British colonial rule and marking a major chapter in South Asian history. - UN Ceasefire in Kashmir (1949)
A United Nations-brokered ceasefire came into effect just before midnight on January 1, ending the first Indo-Pakistani war over Kashmir. - Integration and Administrative Changes in India
Several Indian states, such as Ajaygarh, were integrated into the Indian Union on this date during the post-independence consolidation period. - Adoption of Indian Standard Time (1906)
The British government accepted Indian Standard Time on January 1, 1906, standardizing timekeeping across the subcontinent.
Africa
- Haiti’s Independence: The First Black Republic
January 1, 1804: Haiti declared its independence from France after a successful slave revolt, becoming the first independent Black republic and the first nation in the Western Hemisphere to abolish slavery. Though geographically in the Caribbean, Haiti’s revolution had a direct and inspirational impact across Africa and the African diaspora, symbolizing the fight against colonialism and slavery. - The End of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
January 1, 1808: The United States banned the importation of enslaved Africans, a law that, while not ending slavery itself, marked a significant step in the global movement to abolish the transatlantic slave trade. This event had direct consequences for Africa, as it began to slow the forced export of millions of Africans to the Americas. - Kwanzaa: African-American and Pan-African Celebration
January 1: Marks the final day of Kwanzaa, a week-long celebration created in the United States to honor African heritage, unity, and culture. While Kwanzaa is primarily celebrated by the African diaspora, its values and symbols are rooted in African traditions. - African Independence and Decolonization
January 1, 1951: Libya became the first African country to gain independence from colonial rule in the post-World War II era, setting a precedent for the wave of decolonization that swept the continent in the following decades.
This day in history: 1 january