This list includes 49 Historical events that start with E, from “Easter Crisis (Denmark)” to “Exxon Valdez oil spill”. It highlights political crises, environmental disasters, and cultural milestones across regions, useful for study, teaching, and quick reference.
Historical events that start with E are notable incidents, movements, or crises whose common English names begin with E. For example, the “Exxon Valdez oil spill” reshaped environmental policy and public awareness of oil risks.
Below you’ll find the table with Year, Location, and Significance.
Year: The year or range when the event occurred, helping you place it accurately on historical timelines and comparisons.
Location: The concise city, region, or country where the event happened, giving you quick geographic context for study.
Significance: A brief 15–25 word summary explaining why the event matters and what historical consequence or trend it represents.
Historical events that start with E
| Event | Year | Location | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easter Rising | 1916 | Dublin, Ireland | Rebellion |
| Edict of Milan | 313 | Milan (Roman Empire) | Edict |
| Edict of Nantes | 1598 | France | Edict |
| Edict of Fontainebleau | 1685 | France | Edict |
| Ems Dispatch | 1870 | Ems (Germany)/France | Diplomatic incident |
| Entente Cordiale | 1904 | United Kingdom / France | Treaty |
| Evacuation of Dunkirk | 1940 | Dunkirk, France | Evacuation |
| Evian Conference | 1938 | Évian-les-Bains, France | Diplomatic conference |
| Emancipation Proclamation | 1863 | United States | Proclamation |
| Emancipation Reform of 1861 | 1861 | Russian Empire | Reform |
| Enabling Act | 1933 | Germany | Legislation |
| English Civil War | 1642–1651 | England | Civil war |
| English Reformation | c.1534 | England | Religious reform |
| European Revolutions of 1848 | 1848 | Europe (multiple) | Revolutions |
| End of Apartheid | c.1990–1994 | South Africa | Political transition |
| Expulsion of the Acadians | 1755–1764 | Maritime Canada, Louisiana | Deportation |
| Expulsion of the Moriscos | 1609–1614 | Spain | Expulsion |
| Expulsion of the Jews from Spain | 1492 | Spain | Expulsion |
| Expulsion of the Jews from England | 1290 | England | Expulsion |
| Expulsion of the Jesuits | 1767–1768 | Spanish Empire (Americas) | Expulsion |
| Expedition of the Thousand | 1860 | Southern Italy | Military expedition |
| Eureka Rebellion | 1854 | Ballarat, Australia | Rebellion |
| Eruption of Mount Vesuvius | 79 | Pompeii (Italy) | Volcanic eruption |
| Eruption of Mount Tambora | 1815 | Sumbawa (Indonesia) | Volcanic eruption |
| Eruption of Krakatoa | 1883 | Sunda Strait (Indonesia) | Volcanic eruption |
| Eruption of Mount St. Helens | 1980 | Washington, United States | Volcanic eruption |
| Ebola epidemic | 2014–2016 | West Africa (Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone) | Epidemic |
| Establishment of the State of Israel | 1948 | Palestine / Israel | State establishment |
| Establishment of the People’s Republic of China | 1949 | Beijing, China | State establishment |
| Establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate | 1603 | Edo (Tokyo), Japan | Political establishment |
| Enclosure Acts | 18th–19th c | England | Legislation |
| Emu War | 1932 | Western Australia | Culling campaign |
| Eichmann trial | 1961 | Jerusalem, Israel | Trial |
| Elbe Day | 1945 | Torgau / Elbe River (Germany) | Military meeting |
| Embargo Act | 1807–1809 | United States | Economic policy |
| Eight-Nation Alliance | 1900–1901 | China (Beijing) | Military intervention |
| Eighty Years’ War | 1568–1648 | Low Countries (Netherlands) | War |
| Easter Crisis (Denmark) | 1920 | Denmark | Constitutional crisis |
| Easter Offensive | 1972 | South Vietnam | Military offensive |
| Economic crisis of 2007–2008 | 2007–2008 | Global (US, Europe) | Financial crisis |
| Eelam War I | 1983–1987 | Sri Lanka | Civil war |
| Eelam War II | 1990–1995 | Sri Lanka | Civil war |
| Eelam War III | 1995–2002 | Sri Lanka | Civil war |
| Entebbe raid | 1976 | Entebbe, Uganda | Rescue operation |
| Euromaidan | 2013–2014 | Kyiv, Ukraine | Protest movement |
| Exxon Valdez oil spill | 1989 | Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA | Environmental disaster |
| Execution of Charles I | 1649 | London, England | Execution |
| Execution of Joan of Arc | 1431 | Rouen, France | Execution |
| Execution of Louis XVI | 1793 | Paris, France | Execution |
Descriptions
Easter Rising
Armed insurrection by Irish republicans that galvanized independence movement and reshaped Ireland’s 20th-century politics.
Edict of Milan
Imperial decree granting religious tolerance to Christians, marking a major shift in Roman religious policy.
Edict of Nantes
Granted limited religious freedoms to Huguenots, ending major French wars of religion and temporarily easing sectarian conflict.
Edict of Fontainebleau
Revoked the Edict of Nantes, outlawing Protestant worship and triggering mass Huguenot emigration from France.
Ems Dispatch
Altered diplomatic communications that inflamed Franco-Prussian tensions and helped precipitate the Franco‑Prussian War.
Entente Cordiale
Series of agreements resolving colonial disputes and laying groundwork for Anglo‑French cooperation before World War I.
Evacuation of Dunkirk
Mass rescue of Allied soldiers across the Channel, preserving forces that would fight on in WWII.
Evian Conference
International meeting to address Jewish refugees; limited relief offered, highlighting global reluctance to accept fleeing Jews.
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln’s declaration freeing slaves in rebelling states, redefining the Civil War’s aims and advancing abolition.
Emancipation Reform of 1861
Tsar Alexander II freed serfs, a transformative social reform that altered Russia’s economy and power structures.
Enabling Act
Gave Hitler’s government authority to enact laws without Reichstag consent, enabling Nazi dictatorship.
English Civil War
Conflict between monarchy and Parliament that changed British governance and temporarily abolished the monarchy.
English Reformation
Henry VIII’s break with Rome created the Church of England and radically altered English religious life.
European Revolutions of 1848
Widespread liberal and nationalist uprisings challenging established orders across the continent, with mixed long-term outcomes.
End of Apartheid
Negotiated dismantling of racial segregation culminating in 1994 democratic elections and a major political transformation.
Expulsion of the Acadians
British removal of French‑speaking settlers, dispersing communities and contributing to Cajun identity in North America.
Expulsion of the Moriscos
Forced removal of converted Muslims, significantly altering Spain’s demographic and economic landscape.
Expulsion of the Jews from Spain
The Alhambra Decree expelled Jews from Spain, causing large-scale exile and reshaping Sephardic Jewish history.
Expulsion of the Jews from England
King Edward I’s decree expelled Jewish communities, a landmark medieval act of religious persecution.
Expulsion of the Jesuits
Royal orders expelled Jesuit clergy from Spanish territories, disrupting education and colonial church influence.
Expedition of the Thousand
Giuseppe Garibaldi’s volunteers conquered Sicily and southern Italy, accelerating Italian unification.
Eureka Rebellion
Miners’ revolt for rights and representation that became a foundational symbol of Australian democracy.
Eruption of Mount Vesuvius
Cataclysm buried Pompeii and Herculaneum, preserving exceptional archaeological evidence of Roman life.
Eruption of Mount Tambora
Massive eruption caused global climate anomalies, the “Year Without a Summer,” and widespread agricultural crisis.
Eruption of Krakatoa
Explosive eruption produced tsunamis and global atmospheric effects, remembered as one of history’s most violent volcanic events.
Eruption of Mount St. Helens
Powerful eruption reshaped local landscape, caused fatalities, and influenced volcanic monitoring practices.
Ebola epidemic
Largest recorded Ebola outbreak, producing severe humanitarian crisis and driving global public health responses.
Establishment of the State of Israel
Declaration of Israel’s independence led to Arab‑Israeli conflict and major geopolitical changes in the Middle East.
Establishment of the People’s Republic of China
Mao Zedong proclaimed the PRC after civil war, creating the modern Chinese state and transforming global politics.
Establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate
Tokugawa rule began, initiating two-and-a-half centuries of centralized rule, stability, and relative isolation.
Enclosure Acts
Parliamentary laws privatized common lands, accelerating agricultural change and prompting rural displacement during industrialization.
Emu War
Australian military operation against emu populations became notorious for its unexpected difficulties and cultural legacy.
Eichmann trial
Public trial of a key Nazi official that brought Holocaust atrocities into global public consciousness.
Elbe Day
Symbolic link-up of U.S. and Soviet forces signified the effective collapse of Nazi Germany in Europe.
Embargo Act
U.S. trade embargo aimed at Britain and France disrupted commerce and provoked domestic opposition.
Eight-Nation Alliance
Multinational force suppressed the Boxer Rebellion, imposing heavy penalties and influencing China’s international position.
Eighty Years’ War
Protracted Dutch revolt against Spanish rule led to independence and the rise of the Dutch Republic.
Easter Crisis (Denmark)
King Christian X’s dismissal of government provoked public outcry and limited monarchic prerogative, strengthening parliamentary rule.
Easter Offensive
Major North Vietnamese conventional attack that reshaped negotiations and military dynamics during the Vietnam War.
Economic crisis of 2007–2008
Worldwide banking collapse triggered long recessions, unemployment, and major financial regulatory reforms.
Eelam War I
First major phase of the Sri Lankan civil conflict between government forces and Tamil militants, escalating national strife.
Eelam War II
Renewed large-scale fighting with significant casualties, marking a brutal chapter in prolonged ethnic conflict.
Eelam War III
Later phase featuring intense military offensives and major humanitarian consequences in Sri Lanka’s civil war.
Entebbe raid
Israeli operation freed hostages from a hijacked airliner, notable example of long‑range counterterrorism rescue.
Euromaidan
Mass demonstrations demanding European integration and political change, culminating in government overthrow and geopolitical consequences.
Exxon Valdez oil spill
Major oil tanker spill causing extensive ecological harm and prompting changes in maritime and environmental policy.
Execution of Charles I
Regicide that abolished monarchy briefly and profoundly altered English constitutional and political development.
Execution of Joan of Arc
Her trial and execution became a powerful symbol of French resistance and later sainthood and national myth.
Execution of Louis XVI
The king’s execution marked radicalization of the French Revolution and led to internal and external turmoil.