The adoption of the Gregorian calendar

(preliminary version)

In the following list of dates of the official adoption of the Gregorian Calendar are indicated in the form of the last day of the Julian calendar and the first day of the Gregorian calendar. When only one date is given it is the firs day of the Gregorian calendar.

My immediate sources are the Explanatory Supplement to the Astr. Eph. and the Am. Eph. and Naut. Almanac, edition 1961, fourth reprint with amendments (1977), and Cappelli (ref. 13). The original sources are referred to by numbers in the references below.

In the Explanatory Supplement, references 4 and 7 are considered the most reliable, while 6 and 12 should be reliable for the native countries of their authors;
10 is considered "not documented". Ref. 13 contains some typos.
 
Alaska 1867, Oct. 18, when Alaska was transferred to the United States under treaty of purchase from Russia, where the Julian Calendar was still in use. The Julian calendar dates had been in accordance with the reckoning to the west of the international date line (ante litteram). A further change was therefore made to conform to the reckoning east of the date line, and consequently the date was advanced by only 11 days, instead of the 12 days by which the Gregorian calendar was then in advance of the Julian Calendar.
Albania 1912, December, for civil purposes (Lange, 7)
American Colonies 1752 Sept. 2 to Sept. 14 at the same time as in Great Britain
Austria see German States  
Artois (France): 1582 Dec. 21 to 1583 Jan. 1. Ref. 13
Belgium different sources disagree:
4: 1582, Dec. 21 to 1583, Jan. 1 in Flanders, Brabant, Hainaut and other southern provinces;
1583, Feb 10 to Feb. 21 in Liege Bishopric
10: 1582, Dec. 14 to Dec. 25 in Flanders, Brabant, Hainaut, Luxembourg and other southern provinces;
3: 1583 in Flanders
13: 1582 Dec. 21 to 1583 Jan. 1 in Flanders, Brabant, Hainaut, Namour,Luxembourg, Malines, and Limbourg)
(1583 Dec. 21 to 1584 Jan. 1 in Brabant is probably a typo)
15: 1582, Dec. 14 to 25 in Flanders, Brabant, Hainaut and the Netherlands.
Bulgaria different sources disagree:
3 1915
7 1917, Apr. 1 for civil purposes. Double dating had already been in use for some time,
but was excluded by the law introducing the Gregorian calendar.
13: 1917
Chinese Republic different statements are given in different sources:
11 1912, Jan. 1, bu S\"un Yat Sen
6 1912, but during 1912-1928 both the Gregorian date and the Chinese calendar date were
carried on official documents
12 1929, Jan. 1
Czechoslovakia See German States
Denmark
Expl. Suppl: 1700 Feb. 18 to March 1 (Ginzel, 4). Norway was then under Danish rule.
13: adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1700, in the form modified by Weigel, by eliminating
the last 11 days of February. Royal edict of 1699 Nov 28.
in Sjaelland (Seeland) 1582 Dec 21 to 1583 Jan 1; in 1700 adopded the corrections by Weigel.
Egypt 1875, by ordinance of Ismail Pasha, for civil purposes (Lang, 7)
Esthonia: 1918, Jan. (Lange, 7).
Finland see Sweden
France and Lorraine See also German States, and Savoy

1582 Dec. 9 to Dec. 20, by edict of Henry III (Ginzel, 4); the date of 1583 given by ref. 13 is a typo.

Frisia (Olanda o Germania?) 1701, Jan. 1 to 13.
German States: list according to the countries within which they now lie:

Austria
Austria 1584, Jan. 6 to 17, ref. 13.
1583, Oct 5 to 16, ref. 15
 
Brixen(note: Brixen is now in Italy and known as Bressanone/Brixen;
the Bishopric of Brixen then comprised what is now Tirol and Voralberg)
1583 Oct 5 to 16 Source: 10, 13
Carinthia 1583 Dec. 14 to 25 4
Salzburg 1583 Oct 5 to 16 10, 13
Styria 1583 Dec. 14 to 25 4, 13
Tyrol 1583 Oct 5 to 16 10

Czechoslovakia
Bohemia 1584, Jan. 6 to 17 4, 10, 13
Moravia 1584, Jan. 6 to 17 4

France
Alsace
after peace of Munster (1648) 4
Catholic States, 1584; other States in 1648 13 and Sc\"opflin, 14
Strassburg (city)
1682, Feb. 5 to 16 4, 10
1682, Feb 18 to March 1 13
Strassburg (bishopric)
1583, Nov. 11 to 22 10, 13
1583, Nov 16 to 27 4

Germany
Aachen 1583 Nov 3 to 14 4
Augsburg  1583 Feb 13 to 24 4, 13
Augsburg (bishopric)  1583 Feb 13 to 24 10
Baden (marquisate of) 1583 Nov. 16 to 27  4
Bavaria  1583 Oct. 5 to 16 10, 13
Bavarian bishoprics  1583 Oct. 5 to 16 4
Cologne (city of) 1583 Nov 3 to 14 4, 10, 13
Eichstadt  1583 Oct. 5 to 16 10, 13
Freising  1583 Oct. 5 to 16 10, 13
Hildesheim (bishopric of) 1631 March 15 to 26 4
Julich 1583 November 2 to 13 4
Lausitz (Lusazia)  1584 Jan. 6 to 17 10, 13
Mainz (archibishopric of)
(Magonza) 
1583 Nov. 11 to 22 4, 10, 13
Munster (city and county)  1583 Nov. 16 to 27 4
Neuburg Palatinate  
 1615 Dec. 13 to 24  4, 10
  Osnabruk (city)   1624  4
  Paderborn (bishopric)    1585 June 16 to 27  4, 10, 13
  Prussia (duchy of)   1610 August 22 to Sept. 2   4, 10, 13
  Regensburg (Ratisbona)   1583 Oct. 5 to 16  10, 13
  Silesia (Slesia)    1584 Jan. 12 to 23  4, 10
  Trier (archbishopric) (Treviri)    1583 Oct. 4 to 15 (sic)  4, 10, 13
  Westphalia (duchy of)   1584 July 1 to 12  4, 10, 13
  Wurzburg (bishopric)   1583 Nov. 4 to 15   4, 10, 13
  Kaiser and Parliament    1584 Jan. 6 to 17  4
  Catholic States    1584 Oct 5 to 16  13
  Protestant Germany    ref. 10: 1700 Feb. 18 to March 1
ref. 13: 1700 Feb. 18 to March 1.
 Adopted under the form improved by Weigel. The Gregorian Easter calculation was adopted in 1775.Under Frederick the Great, Gregorian reckoning was adopted in 1775 under the name of  ``improved calendar'' (ref. 4)
 Swizterland
Appenzel (Protestant half): separated from the Roman Catholic half in 1597and remained on Julian calendar 4; ref. 13 says: Adopted the Gregorian reform in 1584 but in 1590 returned to Julian calendar, and returned back to the Gregorian in 1724 Jan.
Baden 1700 Dec. 31 to 1701 Jan 12 13
Basel, Bern and Biel 1700 Dec. 31 to 1701 Jan 12 (improved Weigel calendar) 4, 13
Fribourg 1584 Jan. 11 to 22 4, 13
Geneva 1700 Dec. 31 to 1701 Jan 12 (improved Weigel calendar) 4, 13
Graubunden: Gregorian calendar adopted at first only by Roman Catholic districts in upper
Rhine valley. The others retained Julian calendar until 18th century.
ref. 13 says: part in 1784 and the rest in 1798, except the city of S\"us (Unter Engadina),
which adopted in 1811
Lucerne  1584 Jan. 11 to 22 4, 13
Mulhausen 1700 Dec. 31 to 1701 Jan 12 (improved Weigel calendar) 4, 13
Neuchatel 1700 Dec. 31 to 1701 Jan 12 10, 13
Prattigau (``The Districts'') 1812 4
Rheintal 1700 Dec. 31 to 1701 Jan 12, 13
Sargans 1700 Dec. 31 to 1701 Jan 12

  4, 13

Schaffhausen 1700 Dec. 31 to 1701 Jan 12 (improved Weigel calendar)  4, 13
Schweiz (Schwytz) 1584 Jan. 11 to 22 4, 13
Solothurn (Soletta) 1584 Jan. 11 to 22 4, 13
Thurgau 1700 Dec. 31 to 1701 Jan 12 10, 13
Unterwalden 1584 13
Uri 1584 Jan. 11 to 22 4, 13
Valais: 1622, except Sitten, Siders, Leuk, Raron, Visp, Brieg and Goms which
changed in 1656.
Expl. Suppl. ; Ref. 13 say simply: 1622
Zug 1584 Jan. 11 to 22  4, 13
Zurich 1700 Dec. 31 to 1701 Jan12 (improved Weigel calendar) 4
Federal Congress 1583 Nov. 10 4
  Great Britain and Dominions:   1752 Sept. 2 to 14, by act of Parliament passed 1751, March 18; at the same time the beginning of
the year was changed from March 25 to January 1, commencing with the year 1752. (Expl. Suppl. and 13)
  Greece:  see Milankovitch (8): a slight modified form of Gregorian calendar was introduced 1924, passing from
March 9 to March 23.
Ref 13: 1923, March 1.
  Hungary:  1587 Oct. 21 to Nov. 1 (Schram, 10, 13)
  Italy:   1582 Oct 4 to 15 (Ginzel, 4, and 13)
  Japan:  1873, Jan. 1 (van Vijk, 12)
  Jugoslavia:  1919 (Fotheringham, 3; but see also Milankovitch, 8)
  Montenegro:  1916 Jan. (ref. 13 and expl., Suppl.)
Serbia: 1919, Jan 18 to Feb. 1 (ref. 13)
Latvia: (Lettonia)  The Gregorian calendar gradually came into use for civil purposes during the German
occupation 1915-18 (Lange, 7)
Kurland:  adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1617, but it was used by few, so in 1796 returned to Julian calendar.
Lithuania: 1915, by the Catholic Church, which represented three quarters of the population (Lange, 7)
Luxembourg: 1582 Dec. 14 to 25 (Schram, 10) see also Belgium
Netherlands: In the Catholic States, 1582-1583; in the Protestant States, 1700-1701; but different
sources disagree on the exact dates. For minute details, see van Vijk, 12.
15: 1582,Dec. 14 to 25 in Flanders, Brabant, Hainaut and the Netherlands.
13: 1582, Dec. 21 to 1583 Jan. 1 (Holland: Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Leiden, Delft, Harlem and The Hague,
and part of ``Gheldria'', and Zeeland)
1583, Dec. 21 to 1584 Jan. 1 (Anwerpen)
1583, Feb. 28 to Mar. 11 (Gronigen). But on 1594 Jun. 24, when the city was caught by Maurice of Nassau
returned to Julian calendar, until 1701 Jan. 1 (Julian), after that it was 1701 Jan. 13 (Gregorian)
1700 Jun 30 to Jul 12 (another part of ``Gheldria'')
1700 Dec. 31 to 1701 Jan 12 (Over Ijssel)
1700 Feb 17 to Mar 1 (Netherlands (Paesi Bassi))
1700 Nov 30 to Dec 11 (Utrecht)
Norway: see Denmark
Poland: 1582 Oct 4 to 15 (Schram, 10). In the Russian part of Poland, the Gregorian calendar was
introduced by the German occupation troops, 1915 March 21 (Lange, 7)
1582 According to Weiner and Bostel, cited in ref. 13; 1585 Dec 21 to 1586 Jan 1 according to
Giry (16)
in ``Slesia'' 1584 Jan 12 to 23
Portugal: 1582 Oct 4 to 15 (Ginzel, 4, and 13)
Rumania: 1919 March 31 to April 14 (L'Astronomie: Bull. Soc. Astr. de France, 33, 529, 1919)
Transilvania: 1590 Dec 14 to 25 (ref. 13)
Savoy 1582 Dec 21 to 1583 Jan 1 (ref. 13)
Spain: 1582 Oct 4 to 15 (Ginzel, 4, and 13)
Sweden: 1753 Feb. 17 to March 1. Finland was then part of Sweden.
Ref 13 says: adopted Gregorian calendar under John III (dead 1592), but returned tu Julian under
Charles IX (1600-1611). Definitely returned to Gregorian skipping from 1753 Feb. 17 to March 1(Ruhl,
Chronologie, p. 241)
Turkey: 1927 Jan. 1 (Astr. Jahresber., 29, 48, 1927)
U.S.S.R.: 1918 Jan. 31 to Feb. 14 for civil purposes (Lange, 7; Observatory, 41, 146, 1918).
13: 1923 March.


References

1 Barton, Samuel G., It's a date, Scientific Monthly, 65, 408-14, 1947
2 Bartes, Ralph S., Give us back our fortnight Sky and Telescope, 11, 267-68, 1952
3 Fotheringham, J.K., The calendar. In The Naut. Almanac and Astr. Ephem., 1931-34, revised 1935-38, abridged 1939-41.
4 Ginzel, F.K., Handbuch der mathematischen und techischen Cronologie, vol III, p. 266-79. Leipzig, 1914.
5 H. S. H. The bicentennial of the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar in England, Jour. Roy. Astr. Soc. Canada, 46, 212, 1952.
6 Kao Kiun, Conversione des dates chinoises en jour de la periode julienne. Academia Sinica, Nat. Res. Inst. of Astr., Monograph No. 1, 1932 (in Chinese, with French introduction)
7 Lange, Ludwig, ``Paradoxe'' Osterdaten im Gregorianischen Kalender und ihre Bedeutung fur die moderne Kalenderreform, Sitz. d. Bayerischen Akad. d. Wiss., 1928, M\"unchen.
8 Milankovitch, M., Das Ende des julianischen Kalenders und der neue Kalender der orientalischen Kirchen. Astr. Nach., 220, 379-84, 1924.
9 Ruhl, Franz, Chronologie des Mittelatters und der Neuzeit, Berlin, 1897.
10 Schram, Robert, Kalendariographische und chronologische Tafeln, p. 65. Leipzig, 1908.
11 Vacca, G., Notizie sulla cronologia e sul calendario cinese, Calendario del R. Oss. di Roma, 1930.
12 van Wijk, Walter Emile, De Gregoriaansche kalender, The Hague, 1932.
13 Cappelli, Cronologia, cronografia e calendario perpetuo, Hoepli, 1988.
14 Sc\"opflin, Alsatia illustrata, II, Colmarie, 1761, p. 343.
15 Grotefend, Zeitrechnung des deutsches Mittelalters, Hannover, 1891.
16 Giry, Zur gregorianische kalendarreform in Poland, in Millheilungen des Institut f\"ur \"osterreische Geischictsforschung, VI, 1885, p. 626 ff.
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