ON THIS day

202BC

Liu Bang is crowned Emperor Gaozu of Han, starting the Han dynasty, which will rule China until AD220.

1525

Aztec emperor Cuauhtemoc is tortured and executed by the Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes for allegedly killing Spanish citizens.

1594

Britain’s royal physician Roger Loper is arrested for alleged conspiracy to poison Queen Elizabeth I.

1784

John Wesley signs the “deed of declaration” formalising the establishment of the Wesleyan faith, or Methodists.

1890

The British Royal Mail ship Quetta strikes a rock near Albany Island off the tip of the Cape York Peninsula while on its way to Thursday Island, killing 134.

1911

Prime Minister Andrew Fisher opens his campaign for a referendum on the question of whether the government should have increased powers particularly over nationalising monopolies. The referendum, which takes place in April, is not carried. 1947

A Taiwanese protest against the heavyhanded policies of the nationalist Kuomintang government is met with a violent reaction by police and government forces. Thousands die in a month-long bloodbath. 1973

Gough Whitlam’s Labor government passes legislation to lower the voting age at federal elections from 21 to 18.

1986

Olof Palme (above), the internationally prominent prime minister of Sweden (1969–76, 1982–86) whose strong pacifist beliefs included opposition to the Vietnam War, is assassinated in Stockholm in 1986.

2013

Pope Benedict becomes the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years.

2014

Russian troops take Crimea and the newly-installed Ukrainian government is powerless to react.