Europa
- Sack of Rome Ends (410 AD)
The Visigoths, led by Alaric, ended their three-day sack of Rome, a pivotal moment in the decline of the Western Roman Empire. - French Revolution: Declaration of Pillnitz (1791)
Frederick William II of Prussia and Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor, issued the Declaration of Pillnitz, expressing joint support for the French monarchy. This declaration agitated French revolutionaries and contributed to the outbreak of the War of the First Coalition. - French Revolutionary Wars: Siege of Toulon (1793)
The city of Toulon revolted against the French Republic and admitted British and Spanish fleets, leading to a significant siege by French Revolutionary forces. - Battle of Dresden (1813)
During the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon I defeated a larger coalition force of Austrians, Russians, and Prussians at the Battle of Dresden. - Death of Titian (1576)
Titian, the renowned Italian Renaissance painter and a central figure in Venetian art, died on this day. - Independence of Moldova (1991)
Moldova, formerly part of the Soviet Union, declared its independence, marking a significant moment in Eastern European history. - Recognition of Baltic States (1991)
The European Community recognized the independence of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, solidifying the end of Soviet control in the Baltic region. - Assassination of Lord Mountbatten (1979)
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, was assassinated by the IRA while on holiday in Ireland, a major event in British-Irish relations. - First Jet Aircraft Flight (1939)
German engineer Ernst Heinkel’s He 178 made the world’s first turbojet-powered flight, marking a milestone in aviation history. - 1593: Failed assassination attempt on Henry IV of France by Pierre Barrière.
- 1172: Henry the Young King and Margaret of France were crowned junior king and queen of England.
- 1798: The Battle of Castlebar during the Irish Rebellion led to the brief creation of the French-backed Republic of Connacht.
- 1928: The Kellogg–Briand Pact, aiming to outlaw war, was signed by France and other nations.
- 1975: The Governor of Portuguese Timor fled Dili, ending Portuguese colonial administration.
America
- Battle of Long Island (1776)
During the American Revolutionary War, the Battle of Long Island took place. Members of the 1st Maryland Regiment repeatedly charged a much larger British force, allowing General George Washington and the rest of the American troops to escape—a pivotal moment in the early years of the United States. - Black Hawk Surrenders (1832)
Black Hawk, the leader of the Sauk tribe, surrendered to U.S. authorities, effectively ending the Black Hawk War and marking a significant moment in Native American and U.S. relations. - First Successful Oil Well (1859)
Edwin Drake struck oil in Titusville, Pennsylvania, drilling the world’s first commercially successful oil well. This discovery launched the modern petroleum industry in the United States. - Battle of Ambos Nogales (1918)
During the Mexican Revolution, U.S. Army forces skirmished with Mexican Carrancistas in the Battle of Ambos Nogales. This event is notable as the only battle of World War I fought on American soil. - Harvey’s Resort Hotel Bombing (1980)
A massive bomb planted by extortionist John Birges exploded at Harvey’s Resort Hotel in Stateline, Nevada, after a failed FBI disarming attempt. The hotel was damaged, but no one was injured. - Comair Flight 5191 Crash (2006)
Comair Flight 5191 crashed on takeoff from Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, resulting in the deaths of 49 of the 50 people on board. - Barack Obama Nominated for President (2008)
Barack Obama became the first African American to be nominated for the presidency by a major U.S. political party at the Democratic National Convention. - Hurricane Irene Landfall (2011)
Hurricane Irene made landfall in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, causing extensive damage along the U.S. East Coast, with property damage exceeding $7 billion. - 1928: The Kellogg–Briand Pact, aiming to outlaw war, was signed between France and the United States.
- 1964: The musical film Mary Poppins premiered in Los Angeles.
Asia
- 1883: Catastrophic Eruption of Krakatoa (Indonesia)
On August 27, 1883, the volcano Krakatoa erupted with a series of devastating explosions. The eruption triggered massive tidal waves in Indonesia’s Sunda Strait, resulting in the deaths of approximately 36,000 people in Java and Sumatra. This event is one of the deadliest and most significant volcanic disasters in recorded history. - 1908: Qing Dynasty’s First Constitutional Document (China)
The Qing dynasty issued the Qinding Xianfa Dagang, the first constitutional document in Chinese history. This marked a pivotal step in transforming the Qing Empire from an absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy, reflecting the growing influence of reformist ideas in late imperial China. - 1914: Siege of Tsingtao Begins (China/Japan)
During World War I, a Japanese fleet under Vice Admiral Sadakichi Kato imposed a blockade on the German-controlled port of Tsingtao (Qingdao), initiating the Siege of Tsingtao. This marked Japan’s entry into World War I and demonstrated its growing military power in East Asia. - 1922: Turkish Army Captures Afyonkarahisar (Turkey)
In the context of the Greco-Turkish War, the Turkish army recaptured the city of Afyonkarahisar from Greek forces, a significant victory in the Turkish War of Independence. - 1945: The Battle of Yinji ended in communist victory as part of the Chinese Civil War.
- 1945: The Allied occupation of Japan began, marking the start of a new era in Japanese history after World War II.
- 1945: The Bảo Đại Emperor abdicated, ending the Empire of Vietnam and paving the way for the August Revolution and the rise of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Africa
- Anglo-Zanzibar War (1896)
On August 27, 1896, the Anglo-Zanzibar War took place between the United Kingdom and the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Lasting between 38 and 45 minutes, it is recognized as the shortest war in recorded history. The conflict resulted from a succession dispute and ended with a British victory, further consolidating British influence in East Africa. - Nigerian Military Coup (1985)
On August 27, 1985, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida seized power in Nigeria through a bloodless military coup, overthrowing then-leader Muhammadu Buhari. Babangida’s rule marked the beginning of a new era in Nigerian politics, characterized by promises of economic reform and political restructuring. - Death of W.E.B. Du Bois in Africa (1963)
On August 27, 1963, W.E.B. Du Bois, the influential African American scholar and civil rights activist, died in Accra, Ghana, at the age of 95. Du Bois had moved to Ghana late in life, where he became a symbol of Pan-Africanism and the global struggle for civil rights. - Gabon Presidential Election (2016)
On August 27, 2016, Gabon held a presidential election in which incumbent Ali Bongo Ondimba faced strong opposition from Jean Ping. The election was closely watched and followed by significant political tension and unrest.
This day in history: 27 august