This day in history: 15 february

1798: The Roman Republic was proclaimed after French General Louis-Alexandre Berthier invaded Rome, ending the Papal States’ temporal power for a brief period. This was part of the revolutionary upheavals inspired by the French Revolution and marked a significant challenge to Europe’s traditional monarchical and religious order.
1835: Serbia adopted its first constitutional law, known as the Sretenje Constitution, introducing modern legal principles such as separation of powers and civil rights. Although it was suspended by the Ottoman Empire, it is celebrated as a foundational moment for modern Serbian statehood.
1944: The Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy began, a crucial and costly series of assaults by Allied forces against Axis positions during World War II. The historic monastery at Monte Cassino was destroyed in the fighting.
1971: The United Kingdom and Ireland decimalized their currencies, moving from the old system of pounds, shillings, and pence to a decimal system.
2003: The largest peace demonstration in history took place, with up to 30 million people protesting against the Iraq War in over 600 cities worldwide, including major European capitals like London, Rome, and Madrid.

1898: USS Maine Explosion in Havana Harbor
The American battleship USS Maine exploded and sank in Havana Harbor, Cuba, killing more than 260 crew members. This incident was a pivotal moment that led the United States to declare war on Spain, marking the beginning of the Spanish-American War.
1879: Women’s Rights in the U.S.
President Rutherford B. Hayes signed a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, a significant milestone in the history of women’s rights in America.
1933: Assassination Attempt on FDR
In Miami, Giuseppe Zangara attempted to assassinate President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt. While Roosevelt was unharmed, Chicago mayor Anton J. Cermak was shot and later died from his wounds.
1764: Founding of St. Louis
The city of St. Louis was established in Spanish Louisiana (now Missouri, USA), which would become a major American city.
1870: Stevens Institute of Technology Founded
The Stevens Institute of Technology was founded in New Jersey, becoming the first school in the U.S. to offer a Bachelor of Engineering in mechanical engineering.
1909: Flores Theater Fire in Mexico
The Flores Theater fire in Acapulco, Mexico, killed 250 people, one of the deadliest theater fires in the Americas.
1925: Serum Run to Nome
The second delivery of serum arrived in Nome, Alaska, part of the famed effort to stop a diphtheria outbreak.

590 CE: Khosrau II was crowned king of Persia (Sasanian Empire), ushering in a period of both cultural flourishing and political turmoil in the region.
1565: Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi took possession of Cibabao (now part of Samar, Philippines), marking the beginning of Spanish colonization in the Philippines.
1869: The death of Mirza Ghalib, a renowned poet whose contributions to Urdu and Persian literature remain influential in South Asian culture.
Total Defence Day in Singapore: 15 February is commemorated as Total Defence Day in Singapore, marking the anniversary of the British surrender and serving as a reminder of the importance of national resilience.

1900: The Relief of Kimberley (South Africa)
After a 124-day siege during the Second Anglo-Boer War, British forces under Lieutenant-General John French relieved the diamond-mining town of Kimberley. The siege had severe humanitarian consequences, especially for Black and Coloured residents, with high mortality rates due to famine and disease.
1886: Mafeking Renamed (South Africa)
The Barolong settlement of Mahikeng was renamed Mafeking by Sir Charles Warren after the British annexation of Bechuanaland. This marked a significant moment in the colonial administration of the region.
1962: South African Apartheid Security Measures
B.J. Vorster, South Africa’s Minister of Justice, announced extensive new security measures to suppress unrest following the Sharpeville Massacre and the banning of the ANC and PAC. These included strengthening the security police, border controls, and expanding the police reserve to include non-Whites.
1986: University of Pretoria Admits First Black Students
The University of Pretoria admitted its first twenty Black students, marking a step in the gradual dismantling of educational segregation in apartheid South Africa.
2025: Bukavu Offensive (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
On 15 February 2025, the city of Bukavu experienced mass looting and sporadic gunfire as M23 rebels advanced. The Congolese military withdrew, and the situation led to humanitarian concerns in the region.