On This Day: February 25th

World War I: German forces capture Tallinn to virtually complete the occupation of Estonia.

World War I: In the Battle of Verdun, a German unit captures Fort Douaumont, keystone of the French defences, without a fight.

Marie-Adélaïde, the eldest of six daughters of Guillaume IV, becomes the first reigning Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.

Guangxu Emperor of Qing dynasty China begins his reign, under Empress Dowager Cixi's regency.

Hiram Rhodes Revels, a Republican from Mississippi, is sworn into the United States Senate, becoming the first African American ever to sit in Congress.

Lord George Paulet occupies the Kingdom of Hawaii in the name of Great Britain in the Paulet affair.

Samuel Colt is granted a United States patent for his revolver firearm.

George Frideric Handel's opera Nero premieres in Hamburg.

Khosrow II, the last great Shah of the Sasanian Empire (Iran), is overthrown by his son Kavadh II.

Roman emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius as his son, effectively making him his successor.