Europa
- In 1995, European Union leaders announced that their new currency would be known as the Euro, marking a major step in European integration.
- In 1840, Napoleon Bonaparte was reburied in Les Invalides, Paris, after his remains were returned from exile on Saint Helena.
- Kingdom Day in the Netherlands
On December 15, 1954, Queen Juliana signed the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Hall of Knights (Ridderzaal). This charter established the Kingdom as comprising the Netherlands in Europe, Suriname, and the Netherlands Antilles. The day is marked as Kingdom Day, with government buildings flying the Dutch flag, a Kingdom Concert since 2005, and, since 2008, Naturalisation Day ceremonies for new Dutch nationals also take place on this date. However, Kingdom Day is not an official public holiday. - Founding of Ekenäs (Finland)
On December 15, 1546, King Gustav Vasa of Sweden founded the town of Ekenäs (Finnish: Tammisaari), which is now part of modern Finland. - Battle of Baia (Moldavia vs. Hungary)
In 1467, Stephen III of Moldavia defeated Matthias Corvinus of Hungary at the Battle of Baia. Matthias Corvinus was injured three times during the battle.
America
- U.S. Bill of Rights Becomes Law (1791)
On December 15, 1791, the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, became law after ratification by the state of Virginia. These amendments guarantee fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press, and protect against unreasonable searches and cruel punishments. Bill of Rights Day is observed annually in the United States to commemorate this milestone. - End of the Battle of Fredericksburg (1862)
The Battle of Fredericksburg, a major conflict during the American Civil War, ended on December 15, 1862. The Union Army, led by General Ambrose Burnside, withdrew across the Rappahannock River after suffering heavy losses to Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee. - Battle of Nashville Begins (1864)
On December 15, 1864, the Battle of Nashville began. This pivotal Civil War battle resulted in the destruction of the Confederate Army of Tennessee as a fighting force, with Union forces under General George H. Thomas achieving a decisive victory the following day. - Death of Sitting Bull (1890)
Sioux leader Sitting Bull was killed on December 15, 1890, during a confrontation with U.S. Indian police on the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota. His death marked a significant moment in the history of Native American resistance to U.S. government policies. - Premiere of “Gone with the Wind” (1939)
The iconic film “Gone with the Wind,” adapted from Margaret Mitchell’s novel and starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, premiered in Atlanta, Georgia, on December 15, 1939. The film became a cultural landmark in American cinema. - 1836: The U.S. Patent Office in Washington, D.C., nearly burned to the ground, destroying thousands of patents and models.
- 1981: The U.S. Congress passed a $200 billion spending bill, the largest in U.S. history at the time.
- 2009: The maiden flight of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a major milestone in American aviation, took place.
Asia
- Abolition of State Shinto in Japan (1945)
On December 15, 1945, during the Allied occupation of Japan after World War II, General Douglas MacArthur issued the “Shinto Directive,” which abolished Shinto as the state religion of Japan. This directive was a significant step in the democratization and restructuring of Japanese society, separating religion from government and promoting religious freedom. - Mongol Conquest of Alamut Castle (1256)
On this day in 1256, Mongol forces under Hulagu Khan captured and dismantled the Nizari Ismaili (Assassin) stronghold at Alamut Castle, located in present-day Iran. This marked a decisive moment in the Mongol campaign across Islamic southwest Asia, effectively ending the power of the Assassins. - Assassination of Jin Dynasty Emperor Wanyan Liang (1161)
Military officers assassinated Emperor Wanyan Liang of the Jin dynasty on December 15, 1161, after a military defeat at the Battle of Caishi. This event was pivotal in the Jin–Song wars, affecting the balance of power in East Asia. - US Recognition of the People’s Republic of China (1978)
On December 15, 1978, US President Jimmy Carter announced that the United States would formally recognize the People’s Republic of China, starting January 1, 1979. This historic diplomatic shift marked the beginning of official relations between the two countries, dramatically altering the geopolitical landscape of Asia. - Death of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1950, India)
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a leading figure in India’s independence movement and the country’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, died on December 15, 1950. Patel played a crucial role in integrating the princely states into the Indian Union. - King Mahendra of Nepal Dissolves Parliament (1960)
On December 15, 1960, King Mahendra of Nepal suspended the country’s constitution, dissolved parliament, dismissed the cabinet, and imposed direct rule, marking a significant turning point in Nepalese political history.
Africa
- Start of the South Sudanese Civil War (2013)
On December 15, 2013, political tensions in South Sudan erupted into armed conflict, marking the beginning of the South Sudanese Civil War. The violence began when opposition leaders, including Dr. Riek Machar, Pagan Amum, and Rebecca Nyandeng, boycotted a meeting of the National Liberation Council in Juba, leading to widespread clashes and a humanitarian crisis. - Recognition of African Achievements
On December 15, 2023, William Taylor Burwell Williams, a prominent educator and dean at Tuskegee, was awarded the Spingarn Medal for his significant contributions to education and the advancement of African American communities. - While not specific to December 15, December has seen other important African milestones, such as Guinea-Bissau’s independence, the founding of the Solomonid Dynasty in Ethiopia, and the emergence of the Empire of Benin in Nigeria. However, these are not directly tied to December 15.
This day in history: 15 december