What happened on January 2

38 documented historical events happened on January 2, from antiquity to the present day. The best known is this: Mercurius, a Roman priest, was elected Pope John II; he was likely the first pope to adopt a new name upon elevation to the papacy. On the same day, in another year: Trunajaya rebellion: Amangkurat II of Mataram of Java and his courtiers stabbed Trunajaya to death a week after the rebel leader surrendered to VOC forces. On Almanaccolo every event is listed in chronological order, grouped by century, and links to the Wikipedia article it comes from, so you can always read further or check the source. Alongside the events you find who was born and who died on this date, and which observances are celebrated around the world.

156 people with a Wikipedia article were born on January 2, including Emperor Yōzei, Piero di Cosimo, Mehmed IV. The list spans every era and every field — art, science, politics, sport, entertainment — ordered by year of birth, from the earliest to the most recent. The six featured people are those most has been written about: the ordering uses the length of their Wikipedia article as an indicator of prominence. For each one you find their occupation, year of birth and a link to the full biography.

90 people with a Wikipedia article died on January 2, including William de St-Calais, Bertrand de Blanchefort, Lodomer. The list is in chronological order by year of death and spans all of documented history, from antiquity to the present day. For each person you find their occupation, the year and a link to the Wikipedia biography, where the full story and its sources can be read.

16 observances are celebrated on January 2 around the world: Ancestry Day (Haiti), Berchtold's Day (Switzerland), Christian feast day: Basil the Great (Catholic Church and Church of England), Christian feast day: Gregory of Nazianzus (Catholic Church), Christian feast day: John the Good, Christian feast day: Macarius of Alexandria. The list gathers national holidays, international days and religious or civil observances falling on this date in different countries, as recorded on Wikipedia. Some are fixed and recur on the same day every year; others depend on the local calendar. Each links to the article explaining its origin and meaning.