Europa
- Battle of Stamford Bridge (1066, England)
King Harold II of England defeated King Harald Hardrada of Norway at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire. This battle marked the end of the Anglo-Saxon era and was a pivotal moment before the Norman conquest of England later that year. - Battle of Nicopolis (1396, Balkans)
The last great Christian crusade, led by John the Fearless of Nevers and King Sigismund of Hungary, ended in disaster at the hands of Sultan Bayezid I’s Ottoman army at Nicopolis. This defeat marked a significant shift in the balance of power in Eastern Europe. - Peace of Augsburg (1555, Germany)
The Peace of Augsburg was signed in Augsburg by Charles V and the princes of the Schmalkaldic League, establishing the principle of “cuius regio, eius religio” (the ruler determines the religion of the land) and bringing temporary religious peace to the Holy Roman Empire. - Operation Market Garden Ends (1944, Netherlands)
British 1st Airborne Division withdrew from Arnhem, ending Operation Market Garden. This marked the failure of the largest airborne operation of World War II, with two-thirds of British paratroopers killed or captured. - 1687: Sir Isaac Newton published his theories on gravitation in England.
- 1915: The Second Battle of Champagne, a major Allied offensive against the German Army, was launched in France during World War I.
- 1967: Britain, France, and West Germany signed an agreement to cooperate on the development of the Airbus airliner, a significant step in European aerospace collaboration.
America
- First Newspaper in the Americas (1690)
Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick, the first newspaper published in the Americas, appeared in Boston. It was suppressed after its first issue by colonial authorities. - American Revolution (1775, 1777)
Ethan Allen was captured by British forces during an attempted attack on Montreal at the Battle of Longue-Pointe. - Benedict Arnold’s expedition to Quebec set off.
- In 1777, British forces occupied Philadelphia, then the American capital, during the Revolutionary War.
- Bill of Rights Passed by Congress (1789)
The United States Congress passed twelve constitutional amendments, ten of which would become the Bill of Rights, a cornerstone of American civil liberties. - Sequoia National Park Established (1890)
The U.S. Congress established Sequoia National Park in California, protecting the famous giant sequoia trees. - Little Rock Nine Integrated Central High School (1957)
Nine Black students, known as the Little Rock Nine, were escorted by U.S. Army troops into Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, enforcing school desegregation and marking a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement. - First Chicago Marathon (1977)
About 4,200 runners participated in the inaugural Chicago Marathon, now one of the world’s major marathons. - NASA Mars Observer Launched (1992)
NASA launched the Mars Observer probe, which lost contact just before entering Mars orbit 11 months later.
Asia
- Battle of Pingxingguan (1937, China)
During the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese Eighth Route Army achieved a morale-boosting victory against Japanese forces at the Battle of Pingxingguan. This was one of the first major engagements where Chinese Communist forces successfully ambushed Japanese troops, providing a significant psychological lift for Chinese resistance. - Sino-Japanese Diplomatic Breakthrough (1972, China & Japan)
On September 25, 1972, Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka visited China, leading to the signing of the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement. This landmark diplomatic event normalized relations between China and Japan after decades of estrangement following World War II. - China’s Shenzhou 7 Space Mission (2008)
China launched the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft, carrying three astronauts into orbit. This mission was notable as it included China’s first spacewalk, marking a major milestone in the country’s rapidly advancing space program. - Antyodaya Diwas (India): Celebrated annually on September 25 to honor Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya’s birth anniversary, recognizing his contributions to Indian political thought and grassroots development.
- World Pharmacists Day: Observed globally, including across Asia, to highlight the vital role of pharmacists in healthcare.
Africa
- Mozambique’s Armed Forces Day / Revolution Day (Mozambique)
September 25 is celebrated as Armed Forces Day or Revolution Day in Mozambique. This marks the beginning of the Mozambican War of Independence against Portuguese colonial rule, which started on September 25, 1964. The day is a national holiday and commemorates the struggle for independence and the sacrifices made by Mozambicans in their fight for freedom. - Proclamation of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria (1962)
On September 25, 1962, the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria was formally proclaimed, with Ferhat Abbas elected as President of the provisional government. This event marked Algeria’s emergence as an independent state after a long war of liberation from French colonial rule. - Patent Awarded to Leonard C. Bailey (1883, African Diaspora)
On September 25, 1883, Leonard C. Bailey, an African American inventor, received a patent for his invention of the combined truss and bandage. This highlights the contributions of Africans and the African diaspora to science and technology. - World Dream Day (Observed Globally)
September 25 is also recognized as World Dream Day, a day to encourage people worldwide, including in Africa, to pursue their dreams and aspirations. - 1901: British troops in Fort Itala, Zululand, were attacked during the Second Anglo-Boer War, with heavy losses on both sides.
- 1658: Elisabeth van Riebeeck, daughter of Jan van Riebeeck (founder of Cape Town), was born at the Cape.
This day in history: 25 september