This day in history: 19 january

379: Theodosius I was proclaimed co-emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire by Gratian, marking a pivotal shift in the empire’s religious and political landscape.
1419: During the Hundred Years’ War, the city of Rouen surrendered to Henry V of England, completing his conquest of Normandy and strengthening his claim to the French throne.
1520: Sten Sture the Younger, regent of Sweden, was mortally wounded at the Battle of Bogesund, a key moment in Swedish history.
1795: The Batavian Republic was founded in the Netherlands, signaling the end of the Dutch Republic and the beginning of a new political era influenced by revolutionary France.
1829: Goethe’s Faust (Part 1), one of the greatest works of German literature, was premiered.
1915: Georges Claude patented the neon discharge tube, revolutionizing advertising with neon lighting.
1915: German zeppelins carried out the first major aerial bombardment of civilian targets in the UK, bombing Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn during World War I.
1969: Jan Palach, a Czech student, died after self-immolating in Prague’s Wenceslas Square in protest against the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia.

1809: Edgar Allan Poe, the influential American poet, author, and critic known for pioneering detective fiction and gothic tales, was born in Boston.
1861: Georgia became the fifth state to secede from the United States, a key step toward the Civil War.
1862: The Battle of Mill Springs ended with a significant Union victory, marking the Confederacy’s first major defeat in the Civil War.
1883: Thomas Edison’s first electric lighting system using overhead wires began operation in Roselle, New Jersey, a milestone in electrical infrastructure.
1920: The U.S. Senate voted against joining the League of Nations, reflecting post-World War I isolationist sentiment.
1920: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was founded, established to defend constitutional rights and civil liberties.
1937: Howard Hughes set a transcontinental air record by flying from Los Angeles to New York City in 7 hours, 28 minutes, and 25 seconds.
1955: The first presidential news conference was filmed for television and newsreels with President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s permission.
1977: Snow fell in Miami, Florida, the only recorded snowfall in the city’s history.
1981: The United States and Iran signed an agreement to release 52 American hostages after 14 months of captivity, ending the Iran Hostage Crisis.

649 CE – Conquest of Kucha: The forces of Kucha, a key kingdom in the Tarim Basin (present-day Xinjiang, China), surrendered after a forty-day siege led by Tang dynasty general Ashina She’er. This established Tang control over the northern Tarim Basin, strengthening Chinese influence on the Silk Road.
1974 – Paracel Islands Battle: China gained control over all the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea after a military engagement with the naval forces of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). This event remains significant in the ongoing territorial disputes in the region.
1942 – World War II in Asia: Japanese forces captured North Borneo (now part of Malaysia), furthering their expansion in Southeast Asia during World War II.
1966 – Indira Gandhi Becomes Prime Minister: Indira Gandhi was elected as the third Prime Minister of India, marking the start of her influential tenure in Indian politics.
1979 – Kokborok Day in Tripura, India: The Indian state of Tripura celebrates Kokborok Day on January 19, commemorating the official recognition of the Kokborok language in 1979. The day is marked by cultural and literary events celebrating the region’s linguistic heritage.

1492: Arrival of Supplies for Elmina Castle (Ghana)
Supplies to build the Portuguese trading post Castelo de São Jorge da Mina (Elmina Castle) arrived on the Gold Coast, now Ghana. This marked the beginning of European colonization in Sub-Saharan Africa, as Elmina Castle became the first European building south of the Sahara.
1806: British Re-occupation of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
The United Kingdom re-occupied the Cape of Good Hope after victory in the Battle of Blaauwberg, establishing British rule in South Africa.
1900: Siege of Mafeking (South Africa)
During the Second Boer War, Boer General JP Snyman sent a starving group of Black women, who had been encouraged by the British to attempt a breakout, back to Mafeking under a white flag. Colonel Baden-Powell, the British commander, threatened to shoot them if they advanced.
2019: BK Arena Groundbreaking (Rwanda)
The official start of construction for the BK Arena (Bank of Kigali Arena), the largest indoor arena in East Africa, commenced in Kigali, Rwanda. The arena is a major venue for sports, concerts, and other events.