Europa
- Battle of Morgarten (1315)
The Swiss Confederation achieved its first major military victory against the Austrian Habsburgs at the Battle of Morgarten. This event is considered a foundational moment for Swiss independence and the growth of the Old Swiss Confederacy. - First Assembly of the League of Nations (1920)
The inaugural meeting of the Assembly of the League of Nations took place in Geneva, Switzerland. This marked a significant step in international diplomacy after World War I, aiming to promote peace and cooperation among nations. - Battle of Zsibó (1705)
During Rákóczi’s War of Independence, the Habsburg Empire and Denmark defeated the Hungarian Kurucs at the Battle of Zsibó. This was a key conflict in the struggle between Hungarian rebels and Habsburg rule. - Anglo-Irish Agreement Signed (1985)
Irish Prime Minister Garret Fitzgerald and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement, which played a pivotal role in the Northern Ireland peace process. - Significant Events in 1918
In the aftermath of World War I, November 15, 1918, saw several important developments:- Prince Adolf abdicated the throne of Schaumburg-Lippe (Germany).
- Serbian forces entered the city of Sarajevo, contributing to the liberation of the Balkans from Central Powers control.
- The Battle of Lemberg (Lviv) began, sparking the Polish–Ukrainian War.
- The Italian Navy attacked Austro-Hungarian ships in Pula, Croatia, in the last major naval action of the war.
- The Banat Republic was established around Timișoara (now Romania) as Austria-Hungary dissolved.
- Political upheaval and unrest occurred in Luxembourg and the Netherlands, with socialist and communist movements gaining momentum.
America
- Articles of Confederation Approved (1777)
The Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, after over a year of debate. This document established a loose union of the states and served as the governing framework until the current U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1789. - Sherman’s March to the Sea Begins (1864)
Union General William Tecumseh Sherman began his famous “March to the Sea” from Atlanta, Georgia, during the American Civil War. This campaign, marked by significant destruction of infrastructure, ended with the capture of Savannah on December 21, 1864. - Largest Antiwar Rally in U.S. History (1969)
Approximately 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., to protest the Vietnam War, making it the largest antiwar demonstration in U.S. history. - 1791: Georgetown University, the first Catholic college in the U.S., opened in Washington, D.C..
- 1806: Explorer Zebulon Pike sighted the peak now known as Pikes Peak in Colorado.
- 1842: A slave revolt began in the Cherokee Nation.
- 1849: The steamboat Louisiana exploded in New Orleans, killing over 150 people.
- 1881: The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions (later the American Federation of Labor) was formed in Pittsburgh.
- 1939: President Franklin D. Roosevelt laid the cornerstone for the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C..
- 1959: The Clutter family murders in Kansas occurred, later chronicled in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”.
- 1966: Gemini 12, the final mission of NASA’s Gemini program, ended successfully with a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean.
- 2012: BP agreed to pay $4.5 billion in fines related to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Asia
- Proclamation of the State of Palestine (1988)
On November 15, 1988, the Palestine National Council, led by Yasser Arafat, declared the independence of the State of Palestine in Algiers. This declaration asserted Palestinian sovereignty over the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Today, a significant majority of United Nations member states recognize Palestine as an independent country. - Jharkhand Becomes a State in India (2000)
On this day, Jharkhand was officially established as the 28th state of India, carved out from the southern districts of Bihar. The creation of Jharkhand marked a major administrative and political development in India. - Mindoro Earthquake in the Philippines (1994)
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the central Philippine island of Mindoro, resulting in the deaths of 78 people, injuries to 430, and a tsunami with waves up to 8.5 meters high. - Cyclone Sidr Hits Bangladesh (2007)
Cyclone Sidr, one of the deadliest tropical cyclones in recent history, struck Bangladesh on November 15, 2007. The storm killed an estimated 5,000 people and caused widespread devastation, including severe damage to the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest. - Al Jazeera English Launches (2006)
Al Jazeera English, the 24-hour English-language news channel based in Doha, Qatar, launched on this day, expanding the reach of the influential Middle Eastern news network to a global audience. - Hu Jintao Becomes General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (2002)
On November 15, 2002, Hu Jintao was named General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, marking a significant leadership transition in China and the start of a new era in Chinese politics. - Execution of Gandhi’s Assassins in India (1949)
Nathuram Godse, Narayan Apte, and six other conspirators involved in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi were executed on November 15, 1949, at Ambala Jail, India. - Istanbul Synagogue Bombings (2003)
The first day of the 2003 Istanbul bombings occurred on November 15, when two car bombs targeted synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey, killing 25 people and injuring 300.
Africa
- Opening of the Berlin Conference (1884)
On November 15, 1884, the Berlin Conference began in Berlin, Germany. This conference brought together European powers to discuss and formalize their claims to territories in Africa, marking the start of the “Scramble for Africa” and the systematic colonization of the continent. The conference regulated European colonization and trade in Africa, with long-lasting consequences for African societies and borders. - Proclamation of the State of Palestine (1988)
While the declaration of the State of Palestine was made in Algiers, Algeria, on November 15, 1988, this event is significant in African history. The Palestine National Council, led by Yasser Arafat, declared independence for the State of Palestine, which was widely recognized by African nations and had a major impact on African-Arab relations. - Other Noteworthy Mentions
No major African national holidays or independence anniversaries fall specifically on November 15, but several important events in November as a whole include Algeria’s Revolution Anniversary (November 1), Angola’s Independence Day (November 11), and Comoros’ Maore Day (November 12).
This day in history: 15 november