Europa
- Battle of Sapienza (1354)
The Genoese fleet, led by Paganino Doria, defeated and captured the entire Venetian fleet under Niccolò Pisani at the Battle of Sapienza, a significant naval conflict in the Mediterranean. - Liberation of Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier (1429)
Joan of Arc liberated the town of Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier during the Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War, continuing her campaign to restore Charles VII to the French throne. - Sack of Antwerp (1576)
During the Eighty Years’ War, Spanish forces captured Antwerp after a brutal three-day assault known as the “Spanish Fury.” The city was devastated, thousands were killed, and the event galvanized Dutch resistance, leading to the Pacification of Ghent. - Marriage of Mary II and William of Orange (1677)
Mary II of England married William, Prince of Orange, in a union that later led to their joint reign as William and Mary, pivotal figures in the Glorious Revolution and the establishment of constitutional monarchy in Britain. - Inauguration of Teatro di San Carlo (1737)
The Teatro di San Carlo, the oldest working opera house in Europe, was inaugurated in Naples, Italy, marking a milestone in European cultural history. - Mozart’s Symphony No. 36 Premiered (1783)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No. 36 was performed for the first time in Linz, Austria, highlighting a significant moment in classical music. - Newport Rising (1839)
The last large-scale armed rebellion against authority in mainland Britain occurred in Newport, Wales, led by Chartists demanding political reforms. The uprising was suppressed, but it underscored the era’s social tensions and influenced future democratic changes. - Discovery of Chloroform’s Anesthetic Properties (1847)
Sir James Young Simpson, a Scottish physician, discovered the anesthetic properties of chloroform, revolutionizing surgery and obstetrics in Europe and beyond. - Opening of London’s First Deep-Level Tube Railway (1890)
The City and South London Railway, the first deep-level tube railway in London, opened between King William Street and Stockwell, marking a milestone in urban transportation. - Armistice of Villa Giusti (1918)
The armistice between Italy and Austria-Hungary came into effect, ending fighting on the Italian Front in World War I. This is commemorated in Italy as National Unity and Armed Forces Day, marking the completion of Italian unification and honoring the military. - Soviet Invasion of Hungary (1956)
On November 4, 1956, Soviet tanks entered Budapest, crushing the Hungarian Revolution. The intervention marked a turning point in Cold War Europe and led to significant loss of life and repression in Hungary.
America
- Barack Obama Elected President (2008)
On November 4, 2008, Barack Obama was elected as the 44th President of the United States, making history as the first African American to hold the office. - Ronald Reagan Elected President (1980)
Ronald Reagan won the U.S. presidential election on this day in 1980, becoming the 40th President of the United States. - Iran Hostage Crisis Begins (1979)
The Iran Hostage Crisis began when Iranian militants seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. The crisis lasted 444 days and had a major impact on U.S. foreign policy. - First Female Governor Elected in the U.S. (1924)
Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming was elected, becoming the first woman governor in U.S. history. - National Security Agency Established (1952)
The United States government established the National Security Agency (NSA), a key institution in American intelligence and security. - First Uniform Election Day (1845)
The United States observed its first nationally uniform Election Day, establishing the tradition of holding federal elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. - Battle of the Wabash / St. Clair’s Defeat (1791)
In the Northwest Indian War, Native American forces won a major victory over the United States Army led by General Arthur St. Clair near present-day Fort Wayne, Indiana, in one of the worst defeats in U.S. military history. - Grover Cleveland Elected President (1884): Cleveland became the first Democrat elected U.S. president after the Civil War, narrowly defeating James G. Blaine.
- Carol Moseley Braun Elected to Senate (1992): She became the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
- Camagüey, Cuba, Revolts (1868): The city revolted against Spanish rule during the Ten Years’ War.
Asia
- Iran Hostage Crisis Begins (1979)
On November 4, 1979, Iranian students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. This crisis lasted 444 days and had a profound impact on U.S.-Iran relations and Middle Eastern geopolitics. - China Airlines Flight 605 Incident (1993)
China Airlines Flight 605, a Boeing 747-400, overran the runway at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport during a typhoon. All passengers and crew survived, but the aircraft was written off. - Japanese Culture Day Observance (2024)
In 2024, Japan observed Culture Day (Bunka no Hi) on November 4 instead of the usual November 3, due to the holiday falling on a Sunday. This national holiday celebrates freedom, peace, and the promotion of culture, commemorating the announcement of Japan’s post-war constitution. - Chinese Revolutionary Uprisings (1911)
On November 4, 1911, revolutionary uprisings occurred in Guizhou and Zhejiang, China, as part of the Xinhai Revolution that ultimately led to the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China. - Myanmar Civil War (2023)
On November 4, 2023, significant fighting occurred during the Myanmar civil war, with the Three Brotherhood Alliance capturing junta outposts and displacing thousands of people. - Pakistan: Mianwali Air Base Attack (2023)
On this day in 2023, militants attempted to storm a training air base in Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan, resulting in a deadly shootout. - India: Major Somnath Sharma’s Sacrifice (1947)
Major Somnath Sharma became the first recipient of India’s highest military honor, the Param Vir Chakra, for his bravery in the Battle of Badgam, Kashmir, on November 4, 1947. - India: Institute of Himalayan Mountaineering Established (1954)
The Institute of Himalayan Mountaineering was established in Darjeeling, India, on November 4, 1954, marking a milestone in Indian mountaineering history. - China Signs ASEAN Free Trade Zone Treaty (2002)
On November 4, 2002, China signed a free trade agreement with ASEAN countries, strengthening regional economic ties. - Sri Lanka: Political Crisis (2003)
On November 4, 2003, Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga suspended parliament and dismissed key ministers, escalating a political crisis.
Africa
- Discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb (1922, Egypt)
On November 4, 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter and his team discovered the entrance to the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings. This was a landmark moment in archaeology and global understanding of ancient Egypt, as the tomb was found largely intact and filled with treasures, providing unprecedented insights into Egyptian civilization. - Second Battle of El Alamein – Rommel’s Retreat (1942, North Africa)
On this day during World War II, German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel began a retreat of Axis forces from Egypt after a decisive defeat by Allied troops at the Second Battle of El Alamein. This marked a turning point in the North African campaign, leading to the eventual expulsion of Axis forces from Africa. - Plane Crash in South Sudan (2015)
On November 4, 2015, a cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Juba International Airport, South Sudan, resulting in the deaths of 31 people. Only two people survived the crash, a man and a small girl. - South Africa: The first recorded conflict between Black and white settlers in South Africa occurred on this date in 1779, marking the start of the First Frontier War, also known as the Xhosa Wars.
- Ongoing Conflicts and Independence Movements: While November 4 is not associated with a specific independence anniversary in Africa, the month of November is significant for several African countries in their struggles for independence and anti-colonial movements, such as Algeria’s Revolution anniversary on November 1.
This day in history: 4 november