Europa
- Treaty of Paris (1259)
Kings Louis IX of France and Henry III of England signed the Treaty of Paris. In this agreement, Henry III renounced his claims to French-controlled territories on continental Europe, such as Normandy, in exchange for Louis IX withdrawing support for English rebels. This treaty marked the end of a century of conflict between the Capetian dynasty of France and the Plantagenets of England. - Death of William I “the Lion”, King of Scots (1214)
William I, known as “the Lion,” King of Scots, died at Stirling Castle in Scotland. He had one of the longest reigns in Scottish history before the Act of Union, ruling from 1165 to 1214. His reign was significant for consolidating Scottish independence and identity, and his red lion rampant standard remains a symbol of Scotland today. - Birth of King Karl XI of Sweden (1655)
Karl XI, who would become King of Sweden, was born at Tre Kronor Castle in Stockholm. He became king at a young age and his reign was notable for strengthening royal power and reforming the Swedish military and administration. - Council of Trent Final Session (1563)
The Council of Trent, a major event in the Counter-Reformation, held its final session after nearly 18 years of deliberations. The council was crucial in defining Catholic doctrine and reforming church practices in response to the Protestant Reformation. - Battle of Lund (1676)
The Battle of Lund, fought in Sweden, became the bloodiest battle in Scandinavian history. It was a pivotal engagement during the Scanian War between Sweden and Denmark-Norway. - Proclamation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (1918)
On December 4, 1918, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was proclaimed, marking a significant step in the formation of what would later become Yugoslavia. - In 1154, Nicholas Breakspear became Adrian IV, the only Englishman to become pope.
- In 1791, The Observer, Britain’s oldest Sunday newspaper, was first published.
- In 1829, the British banned the practice of “suttee” in India, though this is not a European event, it reflects British colonial influence.
America
- 1619 – First Thanksgiving in Virginia
Thirty-eight English colonists arrived at Berkeley Hundred, Virginia. Their charter required that the day be “yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God,” making this one of the earliest recorded Thanksgiving observances in what would become the United States. - 1783 – George Washington’s Farewell to His Officers
General George Washington bid farewell to the officers of the Continental Army at Fraunces Tavern in New York City. This emotional event marked the end of the American Revolutionary War and Washington’s transition from military to civilian life. - 1804 – Impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase
The U.S. House of Representatives adopted articles of impeachment against Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase, marking a significant moment in the history of judicial independence in America. - 1861 – Confederate Presidential Election
During the American Civil War, the electors of the Confederate States unanimously elected Jefferson Davis as President and Alexander H. Stephens as Vice President. - 1863 – End of the Siege of Knoxville
Confederate General James Longstreet lifted his unsuccessful siege of Knoxville, Tennessee, after failing to capture the city during the Civil War. - 1978 – Dianne Feinstein Becomes First Female Mayor of San Francisco
Dianne Feinstein became the first female mayor of San Francisco following the assassination of Mayor George Moscone. - 1991 – Pan Am Ceases Operations
Pan American World Airways, once the largest airline in the United States, ceased operations after decades of service. - 1992 – U.S. Troops Sent to Somalia
President George H. W. Bush ordered 28,000 American troops to Somalia as part of a humanitarian mission during the Somali Civil War.
Asia
- China: Adoption of the Current Constitution (1982)
On December 4, 1982, the People’s Republic of China adopted its current constitution. This document, approved by the 5th National People’s Congress, established the legal and political framework that continues to govern China today. It was the fourth constitution in the country’s history, replacing previous versions from 1954, 1975, and 1978. - India: Key Historical Events
Ban on Sati (1829): On December 4, 1829, the British colonial administration in India officially banned the practice of Sati, in which widows were compelled or expected to immolate themselves on their husbands’ funeral pyres. This was a landmark reform in Indian social history. - Gandak Irrigation and Power Project (1959): India and Nepal signed the Gandak Irrigation and Power Project agreement on this day, marking a significant step in regional cooperation and water management.
- Indian Navy Day: December 4 is celebrated as Indian Navy Day, commemorating the Indian Navy’s attack on the Pakistan Navy and Karachi harbor during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
- Southeast Asia: Political and Social Unrest
Thailand (2021): Early December has seen surges in violence and clashes between state forces and Malay Muslim separatists in southern Thailand, with December 4 marking a period of heightened security operations in recent years. - Indonesia (2021): Ongoing armed clashes between Indonesian state forces and Papuan separatists have also been reported in early December, including around December 4.
- Philippines: Martial Law in Maguindanao (2009)
On December 4, 2009, the province of Maguindanao in the Philippines was placed under martial law following the Maguindanao massacre, a major event in the country’s contemporary political history. - World War II Diplomacy: On December 4, 1943, the Second Cairo Conference took place, attended by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Turkish President İsmet İnönü. While the conference was held in Egypt, its outcomes had a significant impact on the Asian theater of World War II.
Africa
- 1977 – Bokassa Crowns Himself Emperor of Central Africa
Jean-Bédel Bokassa, then president of the Central African Republic, crowned himself Emperor Bokassa I in an extravagant ceremony. The event, inspired by Napoleon’s coronation, cost an estimated $20 million—about one-third of the country’s annual budget—and was widely criticized for its extravagance and for being funded by foreign aid, notably from France. - 1981 – South Africa Grants ‘Independence’ to Ciskei
The South African government declared the Ciskei homeland “independent” on this day. However, this status was not recognized by any country outside South Africa and was part of the apartheid regime’s policy of creating nominally independent homelands for Black South Africans. - 1893 – Shangani Patrol Annihilated
In what is now Zimbabwe, a patrol of 34 British South Africa Company soldiers was ambushed and annihilated by more than 3,000 Matabele warriors on the Shangani River. This event is a significant episode in the colonial history of southern Africa. - 1992 – U.S. Troops Deployed to Somalia
As part of Operation Restore Hope, U.S. President George H. W. Bush ordered the deployment of 28,000 American troops to Somalia to help alleviate famine during the Somali Civil War. The intervention, while initially humanitarian, became increasingly complex and controversial. - December 4 is marked by the celebration of International Cheetah Day, highlighting the importance of cheetah conservation, a species native to Africa.
- The day also falls within the period of the All-African People’s Conference (Accra, 5–13 December 1958), a pivotal event in the anti-colonial movement, although the main sessions began the following day.
This day in history: 4 december