Europa
- 1500: Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, was captured by French forces, marking a significant moment in the Italian Wars.
- 1741: During the War of the Austrian Succession, Prussia gained control of Silesia at the Battle of Mollwitz, altering the balance of power in Central Europe.
- 1809: The War of the Fifth Coalition began when Austrian forces invaded Bavaria, part of the broader Napoleonic Wars.
- 1815: Mount Tambora in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) erupted, leading to one of the most violent volcanic eruptions in history. The effects were felt globally, including in Europe, where it contributed to the “Year Without a Summer” in 1816.
- 1821: The Greek War of Independence saw significant developments with the island of Psara joining the struggle for independence, and the execution of Patriarch Gregory V of Constantinople by the Ottoman government.
- 1864: Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico, an event with implications for European colonial ambitions in the Americas.
- 1886: Tynecastle Park, an international football venue, was inaugurated in Edinburgh, Scotland, marking a milestone in European sports history.
- 1887: Pope Leo XIII authorized the establishment of the Catholic University of America, reflecting the influence of the Catholic Church in European and American education.
- 1912: The RMS Titanic set sail from Southampton, England, on its ill-fated maiden voyage, an event that would resonate deeply in European and global maritime history.
- 1925: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby” was first published, influencing European literature and culture.
- 1938: The Anschluss, the political unification of Austria and Germany, was approved in a controlled plebiscite in Austria, a pivotal moment in the lead-up to World War II.
- 1941: The Independent State of Croatia was established as a fascist German puppet state during World War II.
- 1970: Paul McCartney announced the breakup of The Beatles, an event with significant cultural repercussions in Europe and worldwide.
- 1998: The Good Friday Agreement was signed, marking a historic step towards peace in Northern Ireland, ending decades of conflict.
America
- 1866: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was founded in New York City by Henry Bergh.
- 1912: The RMS Titanic set sail from Southampton, England, on its maiden and only voyage, an event that would resonate deeply in American maritime history.
- 1925: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby” was first published in New York City by Charles Scribner’s Sons, influencing American literature and culture.
- 1942: During World War II, the Bataan Death March began as American and Filipino prisoners were forced on a six-day march from an airfield on Bataan to a camp near Cabanatuan, resulting in over 5,000 American deaths.
- 1945: The Nazi concentration camp at Buchenwald was liberated by U.S. troops, marking a significant moment in the liberation of Europe from Nazi control.
- 1970: Paul McCartney announced the breakup of The Beatles, an event with significant cultural repercussions in America and worldwide.
Asia
- 1971: In an attempt to thaw relations with the United States, the People’s Republic of China hosted the U.S. table tennis team for a week-long visit, marking the beginning of “ping-pong diplomacy”.
- 1988: The world’s longest dual-use bridge (automobile and train), the Seto Ōhashi, was completed, joining Japan’s main island of Honshū with the island of Shikoku.
- 2001: A previously undisclosed document provided new details regarding the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol. The document showed that then-Vice President Mike Pence made a call to the acting Defense Secretary urging him to “clear the Capitol.” Additionally, the document showed that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also made demands for the Army to deploy the National Guard.
- 2013: A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck Lushan County, Ya’an, in China’s Sichuan province, killing more than 150 people and injuring thousands.
- 2016: A 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit 39 kilometers west-southwest of Ashkasham, shaking India, Afghanistan, Srinagar, and Pakistan.
Africa
- 1868: At Arogee in Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), British and Indian forces defeated an army of Emperor Tewodros II. While 700 Ethiopians were killed and many more injured, only two British/Indian troops died.
- 1875: Arya Samaj was founded in Mumbai by Swami Dayananda Saraswati to propagate his goal of social reform.
- 1902: South African Boers accepted British terms of surrender, marking a significant moment in the Second Boer War.
- 1947: Jackie Robinson, an African American, became the first to play major league baseball when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers.
- 1964: The Zanzibar Revolution, one of the most violent outbreaks of anti-Arab violence in postcolonial African history, led to the demise of the Arab Sultanate and the establishment of a revolutionary government.
- 1971: In an attempt to thaw relations with the United States, the People’s Republic of China hosted the U.S. table tennis team for a week-long visit, marking the beginning of “ping-pong diplomacy”.
- 1991: A rare tropical storm developed in the South Atlantic Ocean near Angola, the first to be documented by satellites.
- 2009: President of Fiji Ratu Josefa Iloilo announced the abrogation of the constitution and assumed all governance in the country, creating a constitutional crisis.
- 2016: An earthquake of 6.6 magnitude struck 39 km west-southwest of Ashkasham, impacting India, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Srinagar, and Pakistan.
- 2023: Today, April 10, 2023, is Family Day in South Africa, a public holiday celebrated every year on the Monday after the Easter holiday.
This day in history: 10 april