Europa
- Deposition of the Last Western Roman Emperor (476 AD)
On September 4, 476, Romulus Augustulus, the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, was deposed by the Germanic leader Odoacer, who then proclaimed himself King of Italy. This event is widely regarded as marking the end of the Western Roman Empire and the beginning of the Middle Ages in Europe. - Battle of Montaperti (1260)
The Senese Ghibellines, supported by King Manfred of Sicily, defeated the Florentine Guelphs at the Battle of Montaperti in Italy. This was a significant conflict in the long-running power struggle between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, factions supporting the Papacy and the Holy Roman Emperor, respectively. - Proclamation of the French Third Republic (1870)
After France’s defeat at the Battle of Sedan during the Franco-Prussian War, Emperor Napoleon III was deposed on September 4, 1870. Republican deputies led a popular uprising in Paris, stormed the Palais Bourbon, and proclaimed the French Third Republic at City Hall. This marked the fall of the Second Empire and the establishment of a new republican regime, although the new government soon faced the siege of Paris and further turmoil. - 1842: Work on Cologne Cathedral in Germany recommenced after a 284-year hiatus.
- 1618: A devastating avalanche destroyed the town of Plurs, Switzerland, killing around 1,500 people.
- 1939: During World War II, the Polish ghetto of Mir was exterminated, and Japan declared neutrality in the European war.
- 1940: Amid World War II, Adolf Hitler delivered a speech in Berlin threatening massive bombing raids on British cities. In Romania, King Carol II summoned Ion Antonescu to form a government as the country was in a state of near-revolution following the Second Vienna Award.
America
- Founding of Los Angeles (1781)
On September 4, 1781, 44 Spanish settlers established El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora La Reina de los Ángeles, the settlement that would become Los Angeles, now the second-largest city in the United States and a global center for the entertainment industry. - Geronimo Surrenders (1886)
After nearly 30 years of resistance during the American Indian Wars, Apache leader Geronimo and his remaining warriors surrendered to General Nelson Miles in Arizona, marking the end of major Native American armed resistance in the United States. - Siege of Fort Harrison Begins (1812)
During the War of 1812, the Siege of Fort Harrison commenced when Native American forces set the fort on fire, leading to a desperate defense by Captain Zachary Taylor and his small, outnumbered garrison. - First Electric Power Plant for Paying Customers (1882)
Thomas Edison’s Pearl Street Station in New York City became the first power plant to supply electricity to paying customers, lighting up a square mile of Manhattan and ushering in the electric age. - USS Greer Incident (1941)
A German submarine attacked the USS Greer, marking the first time in World War II that a United States warship was fired upon by Germany. This incident contributed to escalating tensions and the U.S. moving closer to active involvement in the war. - Peekskill Riots (1949)
After a concert by singer Paul Robeson in Peekskill, New York, an anti-Communist mob attacked attendees, resulting in over 140 injuries. The event highlighted the intense anti-Communist sentiment of the era. - First Live Transcontinental TV Broadcast (1951)
The United States witnessed its first live transcontinental television broadcast, a milestone in mass media and communications. - George Eastman patents Kodak camera (1888): Eastman received a patent for his roll-film camera and registered the Kodak trademark, revolutionizing photography.
- Robert Fulton’s Steamboat (1807): Fulton began operating his steamboat, a key development in American transportation.
Asia
- Battle of Lingbi Begins (1945, China)
On September 4, 1945, the Battle of Lingbi began as part of the Chinese Civil War. This conflict was one of many that erupted across China as the power struggle between the Nationalists and Communists intensified following the end of World War II. - Japan’s Emperor Hirohito Addresses the Diet (1945, Japan)
On the same day, Emperor Hirohito personally opened a new session of the Japanese Diet (parliament). In his address, he appealed to the Japanese people to “win the confidence of the world” and to “establish firmly a peaceful state,” reflecting Japan’s efforts to rebuild and redefine itself after its surrender and the devastation of World War II. - Recent Event: China’s Classified Spacecraft Launch (2020, China)
On September 4, 2020, China’s space agency launched a classified spacecraft into orbit atop a Long March 2F rocket. While details remain secret, experts believe the mission involved a reusable spaceplane, marking a significant development in China’s space capabilities. - In early September 1945, Asia was undergoing major transformations: Japan had just formally surrendered on September 2, ending World War II in the Pacific. In the days following, various surrenders and transitions of power occurred across the region, including the surrender of Japanese forces in the Philippines and Korea.
- The broader context of September 1945 saw the start of new conflicts and the reshaping of Asian nations, with civil wars in China and Vietnam and the beginning of postwar recovery and political realignment.
Africa
- Clinton, Mississippi Massacre (1875)
On September 4, 1875, a white mob attacked a peaceful gathering of Black citizens in Clinton, Mississippi, resulting in the massacre of dozens of Black men, women, and children. This act of racial violence was part of a broader campaign of white supremacist terror aimed at suppressing Black political participation during the Reconstruction era. Contemporary reports described the event as a “general slaughter of Negroes,” with local authorities largely powerless to stop the violence. - South Africa Enters World War II (1939)
On September 4, 1939, the South African parliament voted to join the Allied side in World War II, defeating Prime Minister J.B.M. Hertzog’s motion for neutrality. This decision marked a significant moment in South African and African involvement in the global conflict. - Little Rock Nine Barred from School (1957, U.S. Civil Rights Movement)
While not an event that occurred in Africa, September 4, 1957, is notable in the African diaspora: the “Little Rock Nine,” a group of African American students, were prevented from entering Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas by the National Guard, under orders from the governor. This event became a symbol of the struggle for civil rights and the fight against segregation in the United States. It is often commemorated in African and Pan-African history as part of the broader narrative of Black resistance and the global movement for racial equality. - September 4, 1962: New Orleans Catholic schools were integrated, marking another step in the American civil rights movement.
- September 5, 1960: Léopold Sédar Senghor was elected president of Senegal, a major milestone in African post-colonial leadership (event occurred the following day).
This day in history: 4 september