What happened on 11 February?

7 events from the Ever-When timeline, ranked by how much they mattered.

1. 1990 Mandela released from prison Released after 27 years; negotiations on the end of apartheid begin.
2. 1847 Born: Thomas Edison American inventor; over a thousand patents including the practical light bulb and phonograph.
3. 1929 Lateran Treaty creates Vatican City Italy and Holy See agree to create independent Vatican City state.
4. 1979 The Iranian monarchy falls After two days of street fighting between rebel airmen and the Imperial Guard, the army declares itself neutral and the last government of the 2,500-year monarchy dissolves. Irania
5. 1889 Meiji Constitution First Japanese constitution; modeled on Prussian model; emperor formally supreme, with a Diet and partial cabinet government.
6. 2013 Benedict XVI resigns Citing failing strength, Benedict XVI becomes the first pope in six centuries to resign — announced in Latin, so the journalists who knew it caught the scoop.
7. 1806 Lord Grenville's premiership The Ministry of All the Talents abolishes the British slave trade before falling over Catholic emancipation.