Europa
- 1528: Treaty of Gorinchem
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, and Charles of Guelders signed the Treaty of Gorinchem, temporarily halting conflict over territories in what is now the Netherlands. This event highlighted the growing power of the Holy Roman Empire in northern Europe. - 1568: Battle in the Eighty Years’ War
The Spanish Duke of Alba defeated Dutch rebel forces under William the Silent, a significant episode in the Dutch struggle for independence from Spanish rule. - 1714: Coronation of King George I
George I was crowned King of Great Britain, initiating the Hanoverian dynasty and marking a turning point in British and European political history. - 1740: Maria Theresa Becomes Ruler
Maria Theresa ascended to the thrones of Austria, Hungary, and Bohemia. Her succession triggered the War of Austrian Succession, as several European powers contested her right to rule. - 1944: Liberation of Belgrade
During World War II, the Soviet Red Army and Yugoslav Partisans liberated Belgrade from Nazi occupation, a pivotal moment in the Balkan theater of the war. - 1948: KLM Plane Crash
A KLM Lockheed L-049 Constellation crashed on approach to Glasgow Prestwick Airport, killing 40 people, marking a tragic event in European aviation history.
America
- 1803: U.S. Senate Ratifies the Louisiana Purchase
The United States Senate ratified the Louisiana Purchase Treaty, a landmark deal that doubled the size of the country by acquiring territory from France for $15 million. This purchase secured American control of the Mississippi River and New Orleans, dramatically expanding the nation’s territory westward. - 1818: U.S.-Canada Border Set at the 49th Parallel
The United States and Britain agreed to set the U.S.-Canadian border at the 49th parallel, a significant diplomatic achievement that defined much of the present-day boundary between the two countries. - 1944: General Douglas MacArthur Returns to the Philippines
During World War II, General Douglas MacArthur fulfilled his famous promise, “I shall return,” by landing at Leyte in the Philippines. This marked the beginning of the liberation of the Philippines from Japanese occupation. - 1947: House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) Opens Hollywood Hearings
The HUAC began its investigation into alleged communist infiltration of the U.S. film industry, leading to the Hollywood blacklist and significant repercussions for many in the entertainment industry. - 1967: Civil Rights Convictions in Mississippi
A jury in Meridian, Mississippi, convicted seven men of violating the civil rights of slain civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, sentencing them to prison terms ranging from 3 to 10 years. - 1968: Jacqueline Kennedy Marries Aristotle Onassis
Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, ending nearly five years of widowhood after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. - 1973: The “Saturday Night Massacre” During Watergate
Amid the Watergate scandal, President Richard Nixon fired Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox, and both Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus resigned. This triggered a political crisis and increased calls for Nixon’s impeachment. - 1977: Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash
A chartered plane carrying members of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed in Mississippi, killing lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines, and three others.
Asia
- 1935: End of the Long March in China
The Long March, a monumental military retreat by the Chinese Communist Party’s Red Army, ended on October 20, 1935. After trekking over 9,000 kilometers to evade Nationalist forces, the Red Army arrived in Shaanxi province. This event solidified Mao Zedong’s leadership and became a defining moment in Chinese revolutionary history. - 1962: Outbreak of the Sino-Indian War
On October 20, 1962, China launched a two-pronged attack on India along the disputed Himalayan border, marking the beginning of the month-long Sino-Indian War. The conflict ended with China taking control of Aksai Chin, and both sides eventually accepted a de facto border, now known as the Line of Actual Control. - 1944: General MacArthur Returns to the Philippines
During World War II, U.S. General Douglas MacArthur made his famous return to the Philippines, landing at Leyte on October 20, 1944. This marked the start of the campaign to liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation. - 1097: Siege of Antioch Begins (First Crusade)
On October 20, 1097, Crusader forces began the siege of Antioch, a strategic city in present-day Turkey. The siege lasted several months and was crucial for the Crusaders’ advance toward Jerusalem. - 1947: First Indo-Pakistani War
The first war between India and Pakistan began in October 1947, following the partition of British India and the accession crisis in the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. - 1774: Calcutta (now Kolkata) was made the capital of British India.
- 1568: Mughal Emperor Akbar attacked Chittorgarh in India.
- 1991: A major earthquake struck Uttarkashi, India, killing over 1,000 people.
Africa
- 2011: Death of Muammar Gaddafi
Libya’s long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed in his hometown of Sirte as revolutionary fighters captured the last major bastion of resistance, marking the end of his 42-year rule and a turning point in Libya’s modern history. - 1952: Mau Mau Uprising State of Emergency in Kenya
The British colonial administration declared a state of emergency in Kenya and began arresting hundreds of suspected leaders of the Mau Mau Uprising, a key moment in the struggle against colonial rule and for Kenyan independence. - 1898: Founding of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company
The first African American-owned insurance company, North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, was founded on this day. While this event occurred in the United States, it is a significant milestone in the history of the African diaspora and Black entrepreneurship. - 1899: Battle of Ladysmith Begins (Second Boer War)
The Boers defeated the British at the Battle of Ladysmith in South Africa, leading to the siege of the town. This was a pivotal early battle in the Second Boer War, reflecting the broader colonial struggles of the era.
This day in history: 20 october