February 19:

• 197 – Septimius Severus defeated usurper Clodius Albinus at the Battle of Lugdunum in present-day Lyon, France, securing full control over the Roman Empire.

• 1594 – King Sigismund III Vasa of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (pictured) was crowned King of Sweden, succeeding his father John III.

• 1942 – World War II: In the largest attacks mounted by a foreign power against Australia, more than 240

bombers and fighters of the Imperial Japanese Navy bombed Darwin, Northern Territory.

• 1978 – Attempting to intervene in a hijacking situation at Larnaca International Airport in Larnaca without authorisation from Cyprus authorities, Egyptian commando forces ended up exchanging gunfire with the Cypriot National Guard.

• 1986 – The space station Mir of the Soviet space program was launched, establishing the first long-term research station in space.