Events Pre-1600. 1 BC – Wang Mang consolidates his power and is declared marshal of state. Emperor Ai of Han, who had died the previous day, had no heirs.; 942 – Start of the four-day Battle of al-Mada'in, between the Hamdanids of Mosul and the Baridis of Basra over control of the Abbasid capital, Baghdad.; 963 – Nikephoros II Phokas is crowned emperor of the Byzantine …

February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 318 days remain until the end of the year (319 in leap years Events Pre ... collides with a MARC commuter train bound for Washington, D.C., killing 11 people. 1998 – China Airlines Flight 676 crashes into a road and residential area near Chiang Kai-shek International ...