Europa
- 250: Pope Fabian was martyred during the Decian persecution, marking a notable event in early Christian history.
- 1156: Finnish peasant Lalli killed English clergyman Henry, the Bishop of Turku, on the ice of Lake Köyliö, an event that became part of Finnish legend.
- 1265: The first English parliament to include representatives from major towns (not just the nobility) met at the Palace of Westminster, a milestone in the development of parliamentary democracy in England.
- 1320: Wladyslaw Lokietek became king of Poland, consolidating the Polish state.
- 1356: Edward Balliol surrendered his claim to the Scottish throne to Edward III of England in exchange for a pension, impacting the ongoing power struggles in Britain.
- 1401: The Taula de canvi, considered Europe’s first public bank, began operations in Barcelona, marking a significant development in European financial history.
- 1523: Christian II was forced to abdicate as King of Denmark and Norway.
- 1921: The British K-class submarine HMS K5 sank in the English Channel with all 56 crew lost.
- 1941: In Bucharest, Romania, the killing of a German officer sparked a violent rebellion and pogrom by the Iron Guard, resulting in the deaths of 125 Jews and 30 soldiers.
- 1942: The Wannsee Conference was held in Berlin, where senior Nazi officials discussed the implementation of the “Final Solution,” the plan for the systematic extermination of Jews in Europe.
- 1945: The provisional government of Béla Miklós in Hungary agreed to an armistice with the Allies, and Germany began the evacuation of 1.8 million people from East Prussia as World War II neared its end.
- The League of Nations Council issued an ultimatum to Yugoslavia regarding the occupation of the Adriatic seaport of Fiume by Italy, reflecting the post-World War I territorial disputes in Europe.
- The U.S. freighter Macona foundered off the coast of Sweden, resulting in the death of 40 crew members.
America
- Since 1937, January 20 has been the official date for U.S. presidential inaugurations, following the ratification of the 20th Amendment. This change was made to shorten the “lame duck” period and allow new presidents to assume office sooner.
- 1801: John Marshall was appointed Chief Justice of the United States, shaping the Supreme Court’s role in American government.
- 1887: The U.S. Senate approved the leasing of Pearl Harbor as a naval base, a pivotal moment in American military history.
- 1920: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was founded, marking a significant development in civil rights advocacy.
- 1964: Capitol Records released “Meet the Beatles!”, introducing the band to a wider American audience.
- 2008: The first episode of “Breaking Bad” premiered on AMC, later becoming a landmark in American television.
Asia
- 1841, Hong Kong ceded to Britain after the First Opium War, marking the beginning of colonial rule.
- 1925, Soviet-Japanese Peace Treaty signed, normalizing relations after years of conflict in the Russian Far East.
- 1941, Hindu College (now Presidency University) established in Calcutta, a major milestone in Indian education.
- 1948, Bomb attack on Mahatma Gandhi at Birla House in Delhi, an unsuccessful assassination attempt.
- 1957, Asia’s first nuclear research reactor, Apsara, inaugurated by Prime Minister Nehru in Trombay.
- 1969, Killing of a student activist set the stage for the Bangladesh Liberation War.
- 1990, Bloody January: Soviet troops violently suppressed the Azerbaijani independence movement in Baku, killing 150 civilians and injuring hundreds; this became a turning point in Azerbaijan’s national identity and independence movement.
- 1999, New government restrictions on Internet use announced, particularly targeting Internet cafés.
- 2011, Nationwide implementation of mobile number portability, allowing users to retain their numbers across carriers.
Africa
- Heroes’ Day in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde:
This national public holiday commemorates the anniversary of the assassination of Amílcar Cabral on January 20, 1973. Cabral was a leading figure in the struggle for independence from Portuguese colonial rule in both Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde. His legacy is honored for his vision of unity, education, and post-colonial development. - Assassination of Amílcar Cabral (1973):
Cabral, founder of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), was assassinated in Conakry, Guinea. His death was a significant blow to the independence movements, but his ideas continued to inspire liberation struggles across Africa. - South Africa’s Last Apartheid-Era President Takes Office (1989):
On this day, F.W. de Klerk became leader of South Africa’s National Party. He later played a pivotal role in ending apartheid, unbanning the African National Congress (ANC), and initiating the release of Nelson Mandela.
This day in history: 20 january