Benjamin Raich
b. 1978
Austrian skier
On This Day · The 59th day of the year
February 28
February 28 carries 10 recorded events spanning between -202 and 2026. Liu Bang is enthroned as the Emperor of China, beginning four centuries of rule by the Han dynasty.
Compiled & reviewed by Roman Tailor · Last reviewed July 13, 2026
What happened on February 28?
February 28 is the 59th day of the year. It marks 10 notable events in history, dated between -202 and 2026. Famous people born on February 28 include Benjamin Raich, Jelena Janković and Alfred von Schlieffen.
The shape of the day
Few dates reach as far back as February 28: its recorded history runs unusually deep, stretching to 202 BC. Its center of gravity is the 21st century, and conflict is a recurring thread.
Pisces is the sign for February 28 — read more on the Pisces page, or see February's birthstone & birth flower.
Released on February 28
Movies, games, albums & shows2025
- Game Monster Hunter Wilds
- Game PGA Tour 2K25
2024
- Game Spiritfall
2023
- Game Scars Above
- Game Phantom Brigade
Release data from TMDB & IGDB.
Events
10 notable moments- -202
Emperor Gaozu of Han
Liu Bang is enthroned as the Emperor of China, beginning four centuries of rule by the Han dynasty.
- 1525
Aztecs
Aztec king Cuauhtémoc is executed on the order of conquistador Hernán Cortés.
- 1638
National Covenant
The Scottish National Covenant is signed in Edinburgh.
- 1974
February 1974 United Kingdom general election
The British election ends in a hung parliament after the Jeremy Thorpe-led Liberal Party achieved their biggest vote share since 1929.
- 1986
Olof Palme
Olof Palme, 26th Prime Minister of Sweden, is assassinated in Stockholm.
- 1990
Space Shuttle Atlantis
Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on STS-36.
- 2002
2002 Gujarat violence
During the religious violence in Gujarat, 97 people are killed in the Naroda Patiya massacre and 69 in the Gulbarg Society massacre.
- 2013
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI resigns as the pope of the Catholic Church, becoming the first pope to do so voluntarily since Pope Gregory XII in 1415.
- 2024
Prime minister
Prime Minister Modi of India inaugurates the 2nd Space Port of India - Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport.
- 2026
United States
The United States and Israel launch attacks across Iran, assassinating Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Retaliatory strikes are launched by Iran against US military bases in the Gulf, with explosions reported in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE.
Famous birthday twins
Born on February 28Jelena Janković
b. 1985
Serbian tennis player
Alfred von Schlieffen
b. 1833
German military strategist
Antonio Candreva
b. 1987
Italian footballer
Michel de Montaigne
b. 1533
French philosopher and author
Sepp Maier
b. 1944
German footballer and manager
Linus Pauling
b. 1901
American chemist and activist, Nobel Prize laureate
Sebastian Rudy
b. 1990
German footballer
Deaths
- 2026Ali Khamenei
- 2013Donald Glaser
- 2011Annie Girardot
- 1966Charles Bassett
- 1929Clemens von Pirquet
- 1648Christian IV of Denmark
Holidays & observances
- —Christian feast day: February 28 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- —Kalevala Day, also known as the Finnish Culture Day (Finland)
- —National Science Day (India)
- —Peace Memorial Day (Taiwan)
- —Andalusia Day (Spain)
Historical facts, event summaries, and biographical lines above are adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) license. DateLore adds curation, structure, and original editorial commentary. DateLore is not affiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation.
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