This day in history: 12 january

Europa

• 475: Byzantine Emperor Zeno was forced to flee Constantinople, and his general Basiliscus took control of the empire.
• 1519: Death of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, in Wels, Austria. Maximilian played a crucial role in expanding and consolidating the Habsburg dynasty’s holdings and was a key figure in European politics of his era.
• 1528: Gustav I of Sweden was officially crowned King of Sweden, marking the solidification of Swedish independence from Denmark and the start of the Vasa dynasty.
• 1866: The Royal Aeronautical Society was formed in London, a pioneering institution in the field of aeronautics.
• 1895: The National Trust was founded in the United Kingdom to preserve places of historic interest or natural beauty.
• 1945: The Red Army began the Vistula–Oder Offensive against Nazi Germany, a major World War II operation that contributed to the liberation of Poland.
• 1933: The Casas Viejas incident in Spain, where 22 peasants were killed by security forces during a rural uprising.
• 2012: Violent protests erupted in Bucharest, Romania, against austerity measures, with clashes reported in multiple cities.

America

• 2010 – Haiti Earthquake: A catastrophic magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, killing over 200,000 people and leaving more than a million homeless. The disaster prompted a massive international relief response, with the United States playing a leading role in humanitarian and rescue operations.
• 1991 – Gulf War Authorization: The U.S. Congress voted to authorize President George H. W. Bush to use military force against Iraq, paving the way for Operation Desert Storm and the liberation of Kuwait.
• 1969 – Super Bowl III: The New York Jets, led by quarterback Joe Namath, defeated the heavily favored Baltimore Colts 16–7 in Super Bowl III. This upset is considered one of the greatest in sports history and marked a defining moment for the American Football League.
• 1962 – Vietnam War Escalation: Operation Chopper marked the first American combat mission in the Vietnam War, with U.S. helicopters transporting South Vietnamese troops into battle, signaling a deeper U.S. military commitment.
• 1932 – Hattie Caraway Elected: Hattie Wyatt Caraway of Arkansas became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate, breaking a major gender barrier in American politics.
• 1773 – First Public Museum: The first public museum in the United States was established in Charleston, South Carolina, reflecting the country’s early commitment to public education and culture.
• 1959 – Motown Records Founded: Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Records (originally Tamla Records) in Detroit, Michigan, launching a musical revolution that would profoundly influence American culture and global pop music.
• 1828 – U.S.-Mexico Treaty of Limits: The United States and Mexico signed a treaty defining their boundary, reinforcing the border established by the 1819 Adams–Onís Treaty.
• 1948 – Sipuel v. Board of Regents: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that state law schools could not discriminate based on race, a significant step in the Civil Rights Movement.

Asia

• 1554 – Bayinnaung Crowned King of Burma (Myanmar):
  Bayinnaung was crowned king, eventually assembling the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia.
• 1875 – Guangxu Becomes Emperor of China:
  At just four years old, Guangxu ascended the throne as the 11th emperor of the Qing Dynasty, succeeding his cousin.
• 1748 – Ahmad Shah Durrani Captures Lahore:
  Ahmad Shah Durrani, founder of the Durrani Empire and considered the founder of modern Afghanistan, captured Lahore, expanding his influence in South Asia.
• 1942 – Japan Wins the Battle of Tarakan:
  During World War II, Japanese forces captured Tarakan Island (now part of Indonesia), a strategic oil-producing area, from the Dutch.
• 2012 – Ceasefire in Myanmar:
  The Burmese government and Karen rebels signed a ceasefire agreement, aiming to stabilize the region after decades of conflict.

Africa

• Zanzibar Revolution (1964)
  On this day, the Zanzibar Revolution erupted, leading to the overthrow of the Arab-dominated Sultanate of Zanzibar by black African revolutionaries. The revolution was led by John Okello and resulted in the establishment of the People’s Republic of Zanzibar, with Abeid Amani Karume as its first president. The revolution ended over 200 years of Arab rule, which had included participation in the slave trade and systematic discrimination against the black African majority. This event is commemorated as Zanzibar Revolution Day, a public holiday in Tanzania, especially celebrated in Zanzibar with events like the Mapinduzi Cup football tournament.
• Anglo-Zulu War (1879)
  On January 12, 1879, war broke out between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom. This conflict, known as the Anglo-Zulu War, would become one of the most significant military confrontations in Southern African history, with major implications for the region’s colonial dynamics.