This day in history: 14 january

Europa

• 1301 – End of the Árpád dynasty in Hungary: King Andrew III of Hungary died, marking the end of the Árpád dynasty, a pivotal moment in Hungarian and Central European history.
• 1814 – Treaty of Kiel: Frederick VI of Denmark ceded the Kingdom of Norway to Charles XIII of Sweden in return for Pomerania, reshaping the political landscape of Scandinavia.
• 1858 – Assassination attempt on Napoleon III: Napoleon III of France narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by Felice Orsini and his accomplices in Paris, an event that influenced French and Italian politics.
• 1899 – Launch of RMS Oceanic: The RMS Oceanic, then the largest ship afloat, was launched in Britain, symbolizing the era’s maritime engineering achievements.
• 1900 – Premiere of Puccini’s Tosca: Giacomo Puccini’s opera Tosca opened in Rome, becoming a staple of European classical music.
• 1941 – “V for Victory” campaign: Former Belgian Justice Minister Victor de Laveleye, in a BBC broadcast, suggested the use of the “V” sign as a symbol of resistance in occupied Europe, which quickly spread across Belgium, France, and the Netherlands.
• 1943 – Casablanca Conference: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, and Free French leader Charles de Gaulle met to discuss World War II strategy, agreeing on the demand for unconditional surrender from the Axis powers.
• 1953 – Tito becomes President of Yugoslavia: Josip Broz Tito officially became President, consolidating his role as the unifying leader of Yugoslavia during the Cold War.
• 2005 – Huygens probe lands on Titan: The European Space Agency’s Huygens probe landed on Saturn’s moon Titan, marking the first landing in the outer solar system and a major achievement for European space exploration.

America

• The treaty was signed in Paris on September 3, 1783, but required ratification by Congress to become official.
• On January 14, 1784, after difficulties in assembling enough delegates for a quorum, Congress met at the Maryland State House in Annapolis to ratify the treaty.
• The treaty established U.S. independence, set boundaries extending to the Mississippi River, secured fishing rights off the coast of Canada, and addressed issues such as the return of property to loyalists and the collection of debts.
• Prominent figures involved in the negotiations included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay.
• 1639: The “Fundamental Orders,” considered by some as the first written constitution in America, were adopted in Connecticut.
• 1943: President Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first sitting U.S. president to travel by airplane, flying to Morocco for the Casablanca Conference with Winston Churchill to discuss World War II strategy.
• 1973: Elvis Presley performed “Aloha from Hawaii,” the first live concert broadcast globally via satellite, setting a record for viewership at the time.

Asia

• The Third Battle of Panipat (1761, India)
  One of the largest and bloodiest battles of the 18th century, the Third Battle of Panipat was fought between the Afghan Durrani Empire, led by Ahmad Shah Abdali (also known as Ahmad Shah Durrani), and the Maratha Empire. The Afghans decisively defeated the Marathas, resulting in an estimated 60,000–70,000 fatalities and the massacre of about 40,000 Maratha prisoners. This defeat halted the Maratha expansion in northern India and marked a turning point that led to the decline of the Mughal Empire and the eventual rise of British power in India.
• Significant Event in Chinese Economic Policy (1998, China)
  At the National Financial Work Conference, Vice Premier Zhu Rongji announced that China would provide selfless assistance to countries most affected by the Asian financial crisis and reaffirmed China’s commitment not to devalue its currency. This stance played a crucial role in stabilizing Asia’s financial order during a period of regional economic turmoil.

Africa

• Uganda Presidential Election (2021)
  Yoweri Museveni won Uganda’s presidential election on January 14, 2021, securing 58.6% of the votes and beginning his sixth term in office.
• Barotseland Unrest in Zambia (2011)
  On January 14, 2011, Zambian police violently suppressed peaceful protests in Mongu, Western Province, over the Barotseland Agreement of 1964. The crackdown resulted in at least two immediate deaths, many injuries, and, according to subsequent inquiries, a total of 17 deaths with several people still missing. This day is remembered as a turning point in the struggle for Barotseland’s autonomy and is commemorated for the suffering and resilience of the Barotse people.
• Invention of the Electret Microphone (1964)
  On January 14, 1964, James E. West, an African American inventor, patented the electret microphone, a technology co-invented with Gerhard Sessler. While West was American, his invention has had a significant global impact, including in Africa, where the technology is widely used in telecommunication and recording devices.