Exploring what happened on this day in history March 10, we find a date defined by the “firsts” that rewired our world. It is the day the first intelligible words were spoken over a telephone wire and the day the dot-com bubble reached its shimmering peak. From the tragic echoes of modern aviation disasters to the ancient naval victory that ended the First Punic War, March 10 serves as a powerful reminder of how quickly the tides can turn—whether in the depths of the ocean, the halls of a palace, or the fluctuating numbers of a stock market index.
Important Events That Happened On March 10 In History
241 BC – Battle of the Aegates Ends the First Punic War
In a decisive naval engagement off the coast of Sicily, the Roman fleet successfully intercepted and sank a massive Carthaginian supply fleet. This victory crippled Carthage’s ability to sustain its army in Sicily, forcing them to sue for peace and pay a heavy indemnity to Rome. The battle effectively brought the 23-year-long First Punic War to a close, establishing Rome as the new dominant naval power in the Mediterranean.
298 – Maximian’s Triumphal Entry into Carthage
Roman Emperor Maximian concluded a grueling and successful military campaign against the Berber tribes in North Africa. Following his victory, he made a grand triumphal entry into the city of Carthage, celebrating the restoration of imperial authority over the region. This campaign was crucial for securing the grain supply of the Roman Empire and reinforcing the stability of the Tetrarchy during a period of frequent border incursions.
947 – Foundation of the Later Han Dynasty
Liu Zhiyuan, a powerful military governor, officially declared himself emperor and founded the Later Han dynasty in northern China. This was the fourth of the “Five Dynasties” that ruled during a chaotic period of Chinese history following the fall of the Tang. Although the dynasty itself would be short-lived, Liu’s rise to power demonstrated the era’s reliance on military strength and the constant shifting of regional alliances.
1496 – Columbus Departs Santo Domingo
After establishing the city of Santo Domingo on the island of Hispaniola, Christopher Columbus departed for Spain to report his findings and defend his administration. He left his brother, Bartholomew Columbus, in command as adelantado (governor) of the new settlement. This departure marked a transition in the Spanish colonization of the Americas, as the focus shifted from pure exploration to the difficult task of governing a permanent colony.
1535 – Accidental Discovery of the Galápagos Islands
Fray Tomás de Berlanga, the Bishop of Panama, accidentally discovered the Galápagos Islands while sailing from Panama to Peru. His ship was blown off course by a calm followed by strong currents, leading him to the volcanic archipelago. Berlanga sent a vivid report to King Charles V of Spain, describing the “strange” giant tortoises and iguanas, though the islands were initially considered a desolate and waterless wasteland.
1607 – Battle of Gol in Ethiopia
Susenyos I achieved a definitive victory at the Battle of Gol, defeating the combined forces of Emperor Yaqob and the influential Abuna Petros II. The battle was a turning point in Ethiopian history, as it ended a period of civil war and firmly established Susenyos as the Emperor of Ethiopia. His reign would later become famous—and controversial—for his attempt to convert the empire to Roman Catholicism.
1629 – King Charles I Begins “Personal Rule”
In a dramatic escalation of the conflict between the monarchy and the legislature, King Charles I dissolved the Parliament of England. This move initiated an eleven-year period known as the “Personal Rule” or the “Thirteen Years’ Tyranny,” during which the King ruled without calling a parliament. Charles’ attempt to govern and raise taxes through royal prerogative alone eventually became a primary cause of the English Civil War.
1661 – Louis XIV Takes Personal Control of France
Following the death of his powerful chief minister, Cardinal Mazarin, the young King Louis XIV announced that he would henceforth govern France without a premier. This act signaled the beginning of his absolute monarchy, as the “Sun King” moved to centralize all political power within the royal court at Versailles. His reign would become the template for European absolutism, characterized by the phrase “L’état, c’est moi” (I am the state).
1735 – Agreement of Ganja
Nader Shah of Persia and the Russian Empire signed an agreement near Ganja, Azerbaijan, officially ending their territorial conflict in the Caucasus. Under the terms of the treaty, Russian troops were withdrawn from the occupied territories along the Caspian Sea that they had seized during the reign of Peter the Great. This diplomatic success allowed Nader Shah to focus his military resources on his upcoming campaigns against the Ottomans.
1762 – Execution and Torture of Jean Calas
Jean Calas, a French Protestant wrongly convicted of murdering his son, died after being subjected to the brutal torture of the “breaking wheel.” The authorities had accused Calas of killing his son to prevent him from converting to Catholicism, though evidence suggested the son had actually committed suicide. The horrific injustice of this execution inspired the writer Voltaire to launch a historic campaign for religious tolerance and legal reform that resonated throughout the Enlightenment.
1814 – Battle of Laon
In one of the final major engagements of the War of the Sixth Coalition, Napoleon’s French army was defeated by the Allied forces under Prussian General Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher at Laon. Despite Napoleon’s tactical attempts to break the Allied lines, the French were outnumbered and forced to retreat. The defeat at Laon severely weakened Napoleon’s hold on France and accelerated the momentum of the Allies toward Paris.
1830 – Creation of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL)
The Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger) was officially established to maintain colonial control over the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia). Composed of both European and indigenous soldiers, the KNIL would play a central role in numerous colonial wars, including the long and bloody Aceh War. It remained the primary military force in the archipelago until the Japanese invasion in World War II.
1831 – Founding of the French Foreign Legion
King Louis-Philippe of France signed a decree creating the French Foreign Legion, a military wing specifically designed to allow foreign nationals to serve in the French Army. Initially established to support the French conquest of Algeria, the Legion was a way to remove disruptive foreign veterans from French soil after the July Revolution. It has since become one of the most elite and legendary military units in the world.
1848 – Ratification of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The United States Senate officially ratified the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, bringing a formal end to the Mexican–American War. The treaty forced Mexico to cede 55% of its territory—including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of several other states—to the U.S. in exchange for $15 million. This massive territorial expansion significantly fueled the debate over the spread of slavery in the United States, leading toward the Civil War.
1861 – El Hadj Umar Tall Captures Ségou
The Islamic scholar and military leader El Hadj Umar Tall successfully seized the city of Ségou, effectively destroying the Bamana Empire in Mali. Tall was the founder of the Toucouleur Empire and sought to establish a state governed by strict Islamic principles. His conquest of Ségou was a major milestone in the 19th-century West African jihads, though his empire would later struggle against the growing threat of French colonialism.
1873 – First Azerbaijani Play Performed
History was made in Baku as the first Azerbaijani play, The Adventures of the Vizier of the Khan of Lenkaran, was performed for the public. Written by Mirza Fatali Akhundov and organized by Hasan-bey Zardabi, the performance marked the birth of national professional theater in Azerbaijan. This event was a cornerstone of the Azerbaijani Enlightenment, using drama to critique social traditions and advocate for modern education.
1876 – Alexander Graham Bell’s First Telephone Test
Alexander Graham Bell achieved the first successful transmission of clear, intelligible human speech over a telephone wire. Speaking to his assistant in the next room, Bell uttered the famous words: “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.” This simple request proved that sound could be converted into electrical signals and transmitted over a distance, a breakthrough that would fundamentally change the way humanity communicates.
1891 – Patenting of the Strowger Switch
Almon Strowger was granted a patent for the “Strowger switch,” the world’s first commercially successful automatic telephone exchange. Strowger, an undertaker by trade, reportedly invented the device because he suspected a human operator was diverting his business calls to a competitor. His invention eliminated the need for manual switchboard operators, leading to the complete automation of telephone circuit switching worldwide.
1906 – Courrières Mine Disaster
The worst industrial accident in European history occurred in northern France when a massive dust explosion ripped through the Courrières coal mine. The disaster killed 1,099 miners, many of whom were children, and devastated the local community. The catastrophe sparked a wave of strikes across France as workers demanded better safety regulations and contributed to the passage of laws mandating a weekly day of rest for industrial laborers.
1909 – Anglo-Siamese Treaty
The Anglo-Siamese Treaty was signed, in which Thailand (then Siam) officially relinquished its sovereignty over the northern Malay states of Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, and Terengganu to the United Kingdom. In exchange, the British agreed to relinquish their extraterritorial rights in Siam and provide a loan for railway construction. These states became British protectorates, forming part of the Unfederated Malay States until the eventual independence of Malaysia.
1922 – Arrest of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was arrested by British authorities in India and charged with sedition for his writings in the journal Young India. During the famous trial, Gandhi pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years in prison, though he was released in 1924 after an emergency operation for appendicitis. His arrest and dignified conduct during the trial further galvanized the Indian independence movement and strengthened the philosophy of non-violent resistance (Satyagraha).
1933 – Long Beach Earthquake
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck the Greater Los Angeles area, with its epicenter just off the coast of Newport Beach. The quake caused extensive damage in Long Beach and surrounding cities, leading to approximately 108 deaths. The disaster was a turning point for building safety in California, leading to the immediate passage of the Field Act, which mandated earthquake-resistant construction for all new public schools.
1944 – Establishment of the PEEA in Greece
During the Axis occupation of Greece, the National Liberation Front (EAM) established the Political Committee of National Liberation (PEEA). Often called the “Mountain Government,” the PEEA was intended to act as a formal administration for the areas liberated by the Greek resistance. Its formation signaled a deep political divide between the communist-led resistance and the Greek government-in-exile, a friction that would ultimately explode into the Greek Civil War.
1945 – Firebombing of Tokyo (Operation Meetinghouse)
In what is considered the single deadliest air raid in human history, over 300 U.S. B-29 bombers launched a massive incendiary attack on Tokyo. The firestorm incinerated 16 square miles of the city and killed more than 100,000 people, the vast majority of whom were civilians. The extreme heat was so intense that it boiled water in canals and melted asphalt, leaving a permanent scar on the memory of the Japanese capital.
1949 – Conviction of “Axis Sally”
Mildred Gillars, the American broadcaster known as “Axis Sally,” was convicted of treason in a U.S. federal court. During World War II, Gillars had been employed by Nazi Germany to broadcast English-language propaganda aimed at lowering the morale of American troops. She was sentenced to 10 to 30 years in prison, becoming one of the most famous examples of an American citizen prosecuted for collaborating with the enemy during the war.
1952 – Fulgencio Batista’s Coup in Cuba
Fulgencio Batista led a successful and relatively bloodless military coup in Cuba, seizing power just months before a scheduled presidential election in which he was trailing. Batista suspended the constitution and established himself as a dictator, a move that initially received support from the U.S. government. His authoritarian rule and corruption would eventually lead to the rise of the revolutionary movement led by Fidel Castro.
1959 – Tibetan Uprising Begins
Fearing that the Chinese military intended to abduct the Dalai Lama, thousands of Tibetans surrounded the Norbulingka palace in Lhasa to protect their spiritual leader. This spontaneous act of defiance marked the beginning of the Tibetan Uprising against Chinese rule. The ensuing conflict led to a brutal crackdown by Chinese forces and the eventual flight of the Dalai Lama to exile in India, where he has remained ever since.
1966 – Dismissal of General Nguyễn Chánh Thi
South Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Cao Kỳ officially dismissed his political rival, the popular General Nguyễn Chánh Thi, from his military command. The move sparked the “Buddhist Uprising,” a period of intense civil and military dissension in central South Vietnam, particularly in Da Nang and Huế. The internal chaos significantly weakened the South Vietnamese government at a time when North Vietnamese pressure was rapidly increasing.
1969 – James Earl Ray Pleads Guilty
In a courtroom in Memphis, Tennessee, James Earl Ray pleaded guilty to the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. By pleading guilty, Ray avoided a jury trial and a potential death sentence, receiving instead a 99-year prison term. Within days, however, Ray attempted to recant his plea, claiming he was a victim of a conspiracy—a claim that would fuel decades of controversy and skepticism surrounding the assassination.
1970 – Ernest Medina Charged with My Lai Crimes
The U.S. military formally charged Captain Ernest Medina with a series of war crimes in connection with the 1968 My Lai Massacre in South Vietnam. Medina was the commanding officer of the unit that killed hundreds of unarmed civilians. While Medina was eventually acquitted of the charges at a court-martial, the case brought the horrors of the massacre back into the national spotlight and intensified public opposition to the Vietnam War.
1971 – Resignation of Australian PM John Gorton
In a dramatic political move, Australian Prime Minister John Gorton resigned after a “vote of confidence” within the Liberal Party ended in a 33–33 tie. Gorton, exercising his own casting vote, voted against himself, stating that a leader required a clear majority to govern. He was replaced by William McMahon, marking a period of instability for the Liberal Party that would eventually lead to their defeat in the 1972 election.
1974 – Belgian General Elections
Belgium held general elections for all 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives. The Belgian Socialist Party emerged with the majority of seats (59), reflecting the country’s deep political and linguistic divisions. The election results led to the formation of a coalition government under Leo Tindemans, who struggled to address the economic impact of the 1973 oil crisis and the ongoing debate over regional autonomy for Flanders and Wallonia.
1975 – Attack on Ban Mê Thuột
North Vietnamese forces launched a major assault on the strategic city of Ban Mê Thuột in the central highlands of South Vietnam. The rapid collapse of the city’s defenses shocked the South Vietnamese government and triggered a disorganized retreat known as the “Column of Tears.” This victory was the opening move of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, the final military push that would lead to the fall of Saigon just six weeks later.
1977 – Discovery of the Rings of Uranus
While observing Uranus as it passed in front of a distant star, astronomers James L. Elliot, Edward W. Dunham, and Jessica Mink discovered that the planet was surrounded by a system of rings. This was a ground-breaking discovery, as it was previously believed that only Saturn possessed a ring system. The rings were found to be narrow and composed of very dark material, fundamentally changing our understanding of the outer solar system.
1979 – International Women’s Day Protests in Tehran
Protests against the mandatory wearing of the hijab in post-revolutionary Iran reached a peak as 15,000 women and girls held a three-hour sit-in at the Courthouse of Tehran. The demonstrators argued that the new religious mandates were a betrayal of the democratic goals of the revolution. While the protests were large and passionate, the Iranian government eventually moved forward with the enforcement of strict Islamic dress codes.
1982 – The “Syzygy” Alignment
In a rare astronomical event known as a syzygy, all nine planets recognized at the time—from Mercury to Pluto—aligned on the same side of the Sun within a 95-degree arc. While doomsday authors had predicted that the gravitational pull of the alignment would cause catastrophic earthquakes and solar flares (the “Jupiter Effect”), the day passed without any unusual geological or astronomical disturbances.
1989 – Crash of Air Ontario Flight 1363
An Air Ontario Fokker F-28 Fellowship crashed shortly after takeoff from Dryden Regional Airport in Ontario, Canada, killing 24 of the 69 people on board. The investigation revealed that the wings had been contaminated with ice, and the pilots had decided not to de-ice because they were afraid to turn off the engines while a power unit at the airport was broken. The tragedy led to a massive inquiry and significant changes to de-icing regulations in Canada.
1990 – Ousting of Prosper Avril in Haiti
Following a week of intense anti-government protests and a general strike, Haitian military leader Prosper Avril was forced to resign and flee the country. Avril had seized power in a 1988 coup but struggled to maintain authority amidst economic collapse and accusations of human rights abuses. His departure paved the way for a transitional government and the eventual election of Jean-Bertrand Aristide later that year.
1991 – Salvadoran Legislative Elections
El Salvador held legislative elections during the closing stages of the nation’s civil war. The right-wing Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) won 39 of the 84 seats, remaining the largest party in the Legislative Assembly. Despite the ongoing conflict, the elections were seen as a step toward a democratic solution, which was finally achieved with the signing of the Chapultepec Peace Accords in 1992.
2000 – The Dot-com Bubble Peaks
The NASDAQ Composite index reached an all-time intra-day high of 5,132.52 (closing at 5,048.62), marking the absolute peak of the “dot-com bubble.” The era was characterized by massive speculation in internet-based companies, many of which had no clear path to profitability. Within weeks, the bubble began to burst, leading to a massive market crash that wiped out trillions of dollars in market value and signaled the end of the 1990s economic boom.
2006 – Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Arrives
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) successfully entered orbit around the Red Planet after a seven-month journey from Earth. Equipped with the most powerful camera ever sent to another planet (HiRISE), the MRO was designed to study the history of water on Mars and scout for potential landing sites for future missions. Since its arrival, it has provided the world with thousands of high-resolution images and acted as a vital communication relay for Mars rovers.
2017 – Impeachment of Park Geun-hye Upheld
South Korea’s Constitutional Court voted unanimously to uphold the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, officially ending her presidency and stripping her of diplomatic immunity. Park was at the center of a massive political scandal involving influence-peddling and corruption by a close confidante. She became the first democratically elected South Korean leader to be removed from office by the court, leading to her subsequent arrest and conviction.
2019 – Crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302
A Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people on board. This was the second fatal crash of a 737 MAX in less than six months (following Lion Air Flight 610). The similarities between the two accidents led to the unprecedented grounding of the entire global fleet of 387 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and a major crisis for the aerospace giant.
2022 – Katalin Novák Becomes First Female President of Hungary
The National Assembly of Hungary elected Katalin Novák as the nation’s President, making her the first woman to hold the office in Hungarian history. A member of the ruling Fidesz party and a former Minister for Family Affairs, Novák’s election was seen as a significant milestone for female political representation in Central Europe. She was inaugurated as the head of state, a largely ceremonial role but one with significant symbolic importance.
2023 – Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB)
Silicon Valley Bank, a major lender to technology startups, collapsed following a massive run on its deposits, marking the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history at that time. The bank’s downfall was triggered by a rapid increase in interest rates and a decline in the value of its bond holdings. The FDIC took control of its operations, sparking a brief but intense banking crisis that forced the U.S. government to step in and guarantee all deposits to prevent a wider contagion.
2024 – Portuguese Legislative Elections
Portugal held general elections for the Assembly of the Republic following the resignation of Prime Minister António Costa. The Socialist Party (PS) lost its absolute majority, winning 77 seats, while the center-right Social Democratic Party (PSD) won 79. The result led to a fragmented parliament and a surge for the right-wing Chega party, creating a complex political landscape for the formation of a new coalition government.
2026 – Bam Adebayo’s 83-Point Game
In an extraordinary individual performance, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo scored 83 points in a single NBA game. This feat stands as the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, surpassed only by Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary 100-point performance in 1962. Adebayo’s scoring outburst shattered various franchise and modern-day league records, instantly becoming one of the most talked-about moments in professional basketball history.
Check Here March 9 Tales:
Observances & Institutional Dates
- Tibetan Uprising Day: Commemorating the 1959 uprising in Lhasa against Chinese rule.
- Mario Day (Mar10): A celebratory day for the iconic Nintendo character, derived from the date’s visual similarity to the name “Mario.”
- Harriet Tubman Day: A day honoring the American abolitionist and activist who led hundreds to freedom via the Underground Railroad.
- National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (USA): Focusing on the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls and encouraging testing.
- Székely Freedom Day (Romania): A day of protest for the autonomy of the Székely Land region.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What was the first telephone message? On March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell said, “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.”
- What happened on the “Personal Rule” of Charles I? From 1629 to 1640, King Charles I ruled England without calling a parliament, leading to deep political and religious tension.
- What was the dot-com bubble peak? The NASDAQ reached its then-all-time high on March 10, 2000, before a major market crash began.
- Why is March 10 called “Mario Day”? Because “Mar 10” looks like the name “MARIO.”
