This day in history: 13 december

Europa

• 1294 – Papal Resignation: Pope Celestine V resigned after only five months, one of the rare papal resignations in history.
• 1545 – Council of Trent Begins: The Catholic Church opened the Council of Trent in Italy, marking the start of the Counter-Reformation, a pivotal moment in European religious history.
• 1577 – Francis Drake Sets Sail: Sir Francis Drake departed from Plymouth, England, beginning his circumnavigation of the globe, which would become a major feat in maritime history.
• 1642 – Abel Tasman Sights New Zealand: Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first recorded European to sight New Zealand, expanding European knowledge of the world.
• 1943 – Massacre of Kalavryta: During World War II, German occupying forces committed the Massacre of Kalavryta in Greece, a tragic event in European wartime history.
• 2001 – EU Banking Supervision: European Union finance ministers agreed to grant the European Central Bank new powers to supervise eurozone banks, marking a significant development in European financial integration.
• 1795 – Wold Newton Meteorite: A meteorite crashed into Wold Newton, Yorkshire, England, and is now displayed at the Natural History Museum in London.
• 2019 – UK General Election: The first December general election in almost a century resulted in a significant Conservative victory led by Boris Johnson.

America

• 1636 – Birth of the National Guard: The Massachusetts Bay Colony organized three militia regiments to defend against the Pequot Indians. This date is now recognized as the founding of the National Guard of the United States.
• 1623 – Jury System Established: Plymouth Colony established the system of trial by a 12-man jury, a foundational moment for the American legal system.
• 1769 – Dartmouth College Founded: Dartmouth College was established in New Hampshire by Reverend Eleazar Wheelock, receiving a royal charter from King George III.
• 1862 – Battle of Fredericksburg: One of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War ended, with Confederate General Robert E. Lee repulsing Union forces led by Major General Ambrose Burnside at Marye’s Heights, resulting in heavy Union casualties.
• 1972 – Last Human Moon Landing: Apollo 17, the final mission of the U.S. Apollo lunar program, marked the last time humans landed on the Moon. Astronaut Gene Cernan became the last person to walk on the lunar surface.
• 2012 – Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting: A mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, left 28 people dead, including 20 children and the shooter.
• 1968 – U.S.-Mexico Border Ceremony: President Lyndon B. Johnson and Mexican President Gustavo Diaz Ordaz met in El Paso, Texas, to officiate the return of the El Chamizal area to Mexico, resolving a long-standing border dispute.

Asia

• Japanese soldiers during the final assault on Nanjing’s gates in the Battle of Nanjing
  The most significant event in Asian history on December 13 is the beginning of the Nanjing Massacre in 1937. On this day, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, Japanese forces captured Nanjing (then the capital of the Republic of China) and began a period of mass killings and atrocities against Chinese civilians and disarmed soldiers. The violence, which continued for several weeks, resulted in the deaths of an estimated 100,000 to over 300,000 people, with widespread reports of mass executions, rape, and destruction. In recognition of this tragedy, China observes December 13 as the National Memorial Day for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre. Established in 2014, this annual memorial day honors not only the victims of the massacre but also all Chinese who suffered during the Second Sino-Japanese War, including those affected by chemical and biological warfare, forced labor, and other war crimes. The day is marked by ceremonies at the Memorial Hall in Nanjing, moments of silence, air raid sirens, and public remembrance activities to ensure the events are not forgotten and to promote peace.
• International Impact and Remembrance
  The Nanjing Massacre is globally recognized as one of the most horrific episodes of World War II in Asia. The events have been commemorated by UNESCO, and new evidence and survivor testimonies continue to emerge, reinforcing the importance of historical memory. The massacre remains a pivotal moment in Chinese and Asian history, shaping national identity and international relations in the region.
• 1921: The Four-Power Pact was signed in Washington, D.C., by the United States, Great Britain, Japan, and France, addressing Pacific security concerns. While not an Asian event per se, it had significant implications for the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region.
• No other major pan-Asian events with comparable impact to the Nanjing Massacre are widely commemorated on December 13.

Africa

• Death of Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia (1913)
  On December 13, 1913, Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia died after a reign that began in 1889. Menelik II is celebrated for his leadership in modernizing Ethiopia and for his victory over Italian forces at the Battle of Adwa in 1896, which preserved Ethiopia’s independence during the era of European colonization.
• On December 13, 1989, South African President F.W. de Klerk met for the first time with Nelson Mandela, the imprisoned leader of the African National Congress (ANC), at de Klerk’s office in Cape Town. This historic meeting was a crucial step toward the end of apartheid and the beginning of negotiations for a democratic South Africa.
• On December 13, 1990, Oliver Tambo, the long-exiled president of the ANC, returned to South Africa after nearly 30 years in exile. His return was a major milestone in the country’s transition away from apartheid.