This day in history: 18 december

Europa

• 1118: Alfonso I of Aragon, known as “the Battler,” captured Saragossa (Zaragoza) from the Almoravids, delivering a significant blow to Muslim rule in Spain and marking a key moment in the Christian Reconquista.
• 1774: Empress Maria Theresa of Austria expelled Jews from Prague, Bohemia, and Moravia, reflecting the period’s religious and social tensions.
• 1863: Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was born in Graz. His assassination in 1914 would later trigger World War I.
• 1940: Adolf Hitler signed the secret directive for Operation Barbarossa, the planned Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, which would begin in June 1941.
• 1892: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker Suite” premiered, becoming one of the most famous ballets in the world.
• 1892: Anton Bruckner’s 8th Symphony also premiered on this day.
• 1849: William Bond took the first photograph of the Moon through a telescope, advancing astronomical photography.
• 1876: Bangor City FC was established in Wales, later becoming a three-time national champion.
• 1921: The Portugal and Poland national football teams played their first-ever international matches, against Spain and Hungary respectively. Alberto Augusto scored Portugal’s first international goal in Madrid.

America

• Abolition of Slavery (1865)
  On December 18, 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was officially declared in effect by Secretary of State William Seward, abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude throughout the United States. This landmark event marked the legal end of slavery in America.
• New Jersey Ratifies the U.S. Constitution (1787)
  On this day in 1787, New Jersey became the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, following Delaware and Pennsylvania. This was a significant step in the formation of the United States as a unified nation under a new federal government.
• Prohibition Moves Forward (1917)
  The U.S. Congress passed the resolution containing the language of the Eighteenth Amendment on December 18, 1917, which would lead to the era of Prohibition by outlawing the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages. The amendment was then sent to the states for ratification.
• 1862: The first orthopedic hospital in the U.S., the Hospital for Ruptured and Crippled, was organized in New York City.
• 1903: The U.S. acquired the Panama Canal Zone “in perpetuity” for an annual rent, a critical step in the construction of the Panama Canal.
• 1958: The U.S. launched the world’s first communications satellite, SCORE, which broadcast President Eisenhower’s Christmas message to the world.

Asia

• Founding of the Yuan Dynasty (1271)
  On December 18, 1271, Kublai Khan officially renamed his empire “Yuan” (元 yuán), marking the start of the Yuan dynasty in Mongolia and China. This event established a new era in Chinese history, with the Yuan dynasty ruling over China and much of East Asia for nearly a century.
• Timur Captures Delhi (1398)
  On this day in 1398, the Central Asian conqueror Timur (Tamerlane) captured Delhi after defeating Sultan Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq. This marked a significant and devastating event in Indian history, leading to widespread destruction in the city.
• India’s Annexation of Goa, Daman, and Diu (1961)
  December 18, 1961, marks the day when India took control of the Portuguese colonies of Goa, Daman, and Diu, integrating them into the Indian Union after a brief military action. This event ended more than 450 years of Portuguese colonial rule in these territories.
• On December 18, 1941, during World War II, Japan invaded Hong Kong after the British governor refused to surrender. This invasion marked the beginning of the Battle of Hong Kong, a significant campaign in the Pacific War.
• In 1944, U.S. forces bombed Hankow (now Wuhan), China, targeting a Japanese supply base, as part of the Allied efforts against Japan in China.
• International Migrants Day: December 18 is observed globally as International Migrants Day, raising awareness about the rights and contributions of migrants, many of whom move within and from Asia.
• Minorities Rights Day in India: India observes December 18 as Minorities Rights Day, focusing on the protection and promotion of minority communities’ rights.
• Arabic Language Day: UNESCO celebrates December 18 as Arabic Language Day, recognizing the cultural and historical significance of the Arabic language, which is widely spoken in West Asia.

Africa

• Jacob Zuma Elected President of the ANC (2007)
  On December 18, 2007, Jacob Zuma was sworn in as president of the African National Congress (ANC), South Africa’s ruling party. Zuma’s election was a pivotal moment in South African politics, setting the stage for his later presidency of the country.
• Steve Biko’s Birthday (1946)
  December 18, 1946, marks the birth of Steve Biko, the influential South African anti-apartheid activist and founder of the Black Consciousness Movement. Biko’s ideas and activism played a significant role in mobilizing resistance against apartheid until his death in 1977.
• Boko Haram Attack in Nigeria (2023)
  On December 18, 2023, Boko Haram militants killed five people and abducted thirty-five travelers during a highway attack in Konduga, Borno State, Nigeria. This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in parts of West Africa.