This day in history: 2 october

Europa

• 939 – Battle of Andernach: Otto I, later Holy Roman Emperor, crushed a rebellion led by Eberhard of Franconia and other Frankish dukes, consolidating his power in what is now Germany.
• 1470 – English Wars of the Roses: The Earl of Warwick’s rebellion forced King Edward IV of England to flee to the Netherlands, temporarily restoring Henry VI to the throne.
• 1501 – Catherine of Aragon Arrives in England: The Spanish princess, who would later marry Henry VIII, landed in England and was received with great celebration, marking a key moment in Tudor and European dynastic history.
• 1900 – Royal Wedding in Belgium: Belgian Crown Prince Albert married Duchess Elisabeth of Bavaria, an event uniting two major European royal families. Albert would later become King Albert I of Belgium.
• 1836 – Charles Darwin Returns to England: After a five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle, Charles Darwin returned to England, bringing observations that would lead to his theory of evolution.
• 1901 – Launch of the Royal Navy’s First Submarine: HMS Holland 1, the Royal Navy’s first submarine, was launched in Barrow-in-Furness, England, marking a milestone in European naval technology.
• 1902 – Birth of Graham Greene: The influential English novelist was born on this day, known for works such as “The Power and the Glory” and “Brighton Rock”.
• 1925 – Early Television Test in Britain: John Logie Baird performed the first test of a working television system, laying the groundwork for modern broadcasting.
• 1939 – Battle of Hel Ends in Poland: After three weeks of resistance, Polish forces at the Hel Peninsula capitulated to German troops during the invasion of Poland.
• 1944 – End of the Warsaw Uprising: German forces ended the Warsaw Uprising, marking a tragic moment in Polish and European wartime history.
• 1941 – Hitler Attacks Moscow: The German military launched its assault on Moscow, beginning the pivotal Battle of Moscow.
• Cultural and Social Milestones
• 1902 – Publication of “The Tale of Peter Rabbit”: Beatrix Potter’s classic children’s book was published in London, becoming a staple of English literature.
• 1995 – Oasis Releases “Morning Glory?”: The British rock band Oasis released their second album, “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?”, which became a major cultural and commercial success in Europe.

America

• 1780 – Execution of John André: British Army officer John André was hanged as a spy by American forces after being caught in Benedict Arnold’s plot to surrender West Point to the British. This event highlighted the high stakes and personal risks involved in the American fight for independence.
• 1789 – Bill of Rights Sent to the States: The First Congress of the United States sent the proposed Bill of Rights—ten amendments outlining fundamental freedoms and limiting federal power—to the states for ratification. This was a foundational moment for American democracy and civil liberties.
• 1835 – Battle of Gonzales: Marking the start of the Texas Revolution, Texan settlers resisted Mexican troops’ attempt to reclaim a cannon, leading to the first armed conflict of the revolution. This battle is often called the “Lexington of Texas” for its symbolic role in the struggle for independence.
• 1836 – Charles Darwin Returns to England: While not an American event, Darwin’s return from the HMS Beagle is sometimes noted in U.S. historical calendars for its impact on science.
• 1950 – First Peanuts Comic Strip Published: Charles M. Schulz’s iconic comic strip “Peanuts” was published for the first time in nine U.S. newspapers, introducing the world to characters like Charlie Brown and Snoopy.
• 1964 – U.S. Ratifies the 24th Amendment: The 24th Amendment, which abolished the poll tax in federal elections and expanded voting rights, was ratified, marking a significant victory in the Civil Rights Movement.
• 1967 – Thurgood Marshall Sworn in as Supreme Court Justice: Thurgood Marshall became the first African American justice of the United States Supreme Court, a landmark in the nation’s legal and civil rights history.
• 2002 – Beltway Sniper Attacks Begin: A series of sniper attacks began in the Washington, D.C. area, resulting in ten deaths and widespread fear over the following three weeks.

Asia

• Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday (Gandhi Jayanti)
  October 2 is most famously celebrated as the birthday of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869–1948), known as Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India’s nonviolent independence movement against British colonial rule. Gandhi Jayanti is a national holiday in India and is also observed globally as the International Day of Non-Violence, recognizing Gandhi’s philosophy and its impact on civil rights movements worldwide.
• Lal Bahadur Shastri’s Birthday
  Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India, was also born on October 2 (1904). He is remembered for his leadership during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War and for his slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” (“Hail the Soldier, Hail the Farmer”). His birthday is commemorated across India alongside Gandhi Jayanti.
• International Day of Non-Violence
  The United Nations declared October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence in honor of Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy, promoting peace and nonviolent resistance as tools for social change.
• 1986 – Assassination Attempt on Rajiv Gandhi: On this day, there was an attempt to assassinate then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, highlighting the political tensions in India during the 1980s.
• 1971 – South Vietnam Presidential Election: Nguyen Van Thieu was re-elected as President of South Vietnam in a one-man election, reflecting the political climate of the Vietnam War era.
• 1990 – Xiamen Airlines Flight 8301 Hijacking: A hijacked airliner crashed in Guangzhou, China, resulting in the deaths of 132 people, one of the deadliest hijacking incidents in Asian aviation history.
• 2018 – Jamal Khashoggi Assassination: Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, drawing global attention to issues of press freedom and human rights in the region.

Africa

• Guinea’s Independence (1958)
  The most significant event in African history on October 2 is Guinea’s declaration of independence from France in 1958. Guinea became the first French African colony to choose complete independence rather than remain in the French Community, following a referendum in which the people overwhelmingly rejected continued association with France. Ahmed Sékou Touré became the first president of the newly independent nation, marking a pivotal moment in the African decolonization movement and inspiring other French colonies to seek independence.
• U.S. Sanctions Against Apartheid South Africa (1986)
  On October 2, 1986, the U.S. Senate overrode President Ronald Reagan’s veto to impose economic sanctions on South Africa in response to its apartheid policies. This was a key moment in the international campaign against apartheid, increasing pressure on the South African government to reform.