Europa
- 1521: Martin Luther Excommunicated
Pope Leo X issued the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem, officially excommunicating Martin Luther. This act was a pivotal moment in the Protestant Reformation, leading to the establishment of Protestant churches separate from Roman Catholic authority. - 69 AD: Roman Legions Proclaim Vitellius Emperor
The Roman legions on the Rhine refused to support Emperor Galba and instead proclaimed their legate, Aulus Vitellius, as emperor. This marked the start of the Year of the Four Emperors, a period of civil war and political instability in the Roman Empire. - 1815: Secret Alliance Against Prussia and Russia
Austria, the United Kingdom, and France formed a secret defensive alliance aimed at countering the influence of Prussia and Russia in Europe. - 1749: First Issue of Berlingske
Denmark saw the publication of the first issue of Berlingske, which remains the country’s oldest continually operating newspaper. - 1924: Discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb Sarcophagus
British Egyptologist Howard Carter discovered the sarcophagus of Tutankhamun in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. This was a landmark archaeological achievement, though it took place in Egypt, it was led by a European and had a significant impact on European archaeology and culture. - 1946: Execution of William Joyce (“Lord Haw Haw”)
William Joyce, a British fascist who broadcast Nazi propaganda to the UK during World War II, was executed for treason in London.
America
- 1777: Battle of Princeton
During the American Revolution, General George Washington led the Continental Army to a crucial victory against British forces in Princeton, New Jersey. This win followed the success at Trenton and significantly boosted American morale, marking a turning point in the war. - 1870: Construction Begins on the Brooklyn Bridge
Work started on the iconic Brooklyn Bridge in New York, a landmark of American engineering and urban development. - 1959: Alaska Becomes the 49th U.S. State
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the proclamation admitting Alaska as the 49th state of the United States, expanding the nation’s territory and influence. - 1961: U.S. Severs Diplomatic Relations with Cuba
President Eisenhower announced the formal termination of diplomatic and consular relations with Cuba, escalating Cold War tensions in the Western Hemisphere. - 1977: Apple Computer Incorporated
Apple Computer (now Apple Inc.) was incorporated in Cupertino, California, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Mike Markkula, marking the birth of one of the world’s most influential technology companies. - 1938: March of Dimes Founded
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, himself afflicted by polio, established the March of Dimes to combat the disease, leading to major advances in public health and vaccine development. - 1823: Stephen F. Austin Begins Texas Colonization
Stephen F. Austin received a grant from the Mexican government and began colonizing the region of the Brazos River in Texas, a key event in the state’s history.
Asia
- 1868: Meiji Restoration in Japan
The Tokugawa shogunate was abolished as agents of Satsuma and Chōshū seized power, marking the beginning of the Meiji Restoration. This event radically transformed Japan’s political, social, and economic structures, setting the nation on a path toward modernization and industrialization. - 1885: Battle of Núi Bop (Sino-French War)
French troops under General Oscar de Négrier defeated a numerically superior Qing Chinese force in northern Vietnam. This battle was part of the broader conflict between China and France over influence in Southeast Asia. - 1911: Almaty Earthquake
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake destroyed the city of Almaty in Russian Turkestan (now Kazakhstan), causing widespread devastation in Central Asia. - 1916: Sykes-Picot Agreement
Britain and France secretly signed the Sykes-Picot Agreement, dividing the Ottoman Empire’s Middle Eastern territories into spheres of influence. This agreement shaped the modern borders of the Middle East, with lasting consequences for the region’s geopolitics. - 1948: Independence of Burma (Myanmar)
Burma (now Myanmar) formally gained independence from Britain, completing a negotiated transfer of power and ending colonial rule. - 1974: Constitution of Burma Adopted
The new constitution of Burma (Myanmar) was adopted, shaping the country’s political structure for years to come. - 1971: Indo-Pakistan War
On this day, the President of India declared a national emergency as the Indo-Pakistan War escalated. - 1998: Pakistan Approves Islamic Sharia Law
The National Assembly of Pakistan approved Islamic Sharia law as the country’s supreme law.
Africa
- 1961: Baixa de Cassanje Revolt in Angola
Agricultural workers in Baixa de Cassanje, Portuguese Angola, staged a protest that escalated into a revolt. This event is considered the beginning of the Angolan War of Independence and marked the start of the Portuguese Colonial Wars in Africa. - 1970: Marxist Government Takes Over in Congo
A Marxist government assumed power in the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville), reflecting the broader wave of post-colonial political change across the continent. - 1987: Varig Flight 797 Crash in Ivory Coast
Varig Flight 797 crashed near Akouré, Ivory Coast, resulting in 50 deaths. This tragic aviation disaster is one of the notable incidents in African civil aviation history. - 1994: Millions Gain South African Citizenship
Millions of people from the former Apartheid Homelands were granted South African citizenship. Under apartheid, black inhabitants had been stripped of citizenship to maintain a white majority. This event was a key milestone in dismantling apartheid and moving toward a more inclusive South Africa. - 1958: Lindsay Kline Hat-Trick Against South Africa
In sports, Australian cricketer Lindsay Kline took a hat-trick against South Africa in Cape Town, a remarkable achievement in international cricket.
This day in history: 3 january