This day in history: 5 december

Europa

• Witchcraft Condemned by Pope Innocent VIII (1484)
  On December 5, 1484, Pope Innocent VIII issued the papal bull Summis desiderantes affectibus, formally condemning witchcraft. This decree empowered inquisitors, notably Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger, to root out alleged witchcraft in Germany, marking a significant escalation in the European witch hunts of the late Middle Ages.
• Expulsion of Jews from Portugal (1496)
  King Manuel I of Portugal issued a decree on December 5, 1496, ordering the expulsion of Jews from the country. This was part of a broader pattern of religious intolerance and forced conversions in late 15th-century Europe.
• Battle of Leuthen (1757)
  On December 5, 1757, during the Seven Years’ War, Frederick II of Prussia led his forces to a decisive victory over the Austrian army at the Battle of Leuthen. This battle is considered one of Frederick the Great’s most brilliant tactical achievements and had a major impact on the balance of power in Central Europe.
• Death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1791)
  The renowned composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died in Vienna, Austria, on December 5, 1791, at the age of 35. His death has long been surrounded by speculation, but it is now generally accepted that he died of natural causes. Mozart’s legacy remains central to European classical music.
• Krampusnacht in Central Europe
  In Austria and parts of southern Germany, the night of December 5 is known as Krampusnacht. On this night, the folkloric figure Krampus—a horned, demonic companion to St. Nicholas—visits children. While St. Nicholas rewards the well-behaved, Krampus punishes the naughty, making this a unique and enduring tradition in European holiday culture.
• Assassination of Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona (1082): He was likely killed by his brother, Berenguer Ramon II, in a notorious dynastic feud.
• First Major Earthquake in Italy (1456): An earthquake of magnitude ~7.2 struck Italy, causing massive destruction and tens of thousands of deaths.
• Founding of Raahe, Finland (1649): The town of Raahe (Brahestad) was founded by Count Per Brahe the Younger.

America

• Repeal of Prohibition (1933)
  On December 5, 1933, the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, officially ending Prohibition. This amendment repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, which had established a nationwide ban on the sale, production, and transportation of alcoholic beverages since 1920. The end of Prohibition marked a major shift in American social and legal policy.
• Montgomery Bus Boycott Begins (1955)
  The historic Montgomery Bus Boycott began on December 5, 1955, in response to Rosa Parks’ arrest for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. This boycott was a pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement and brought Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to national prominence as a leader for racial justice.
• Phi Beta Kappa Founded (1776)
  Phi Beta Kappa, America’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society, was founded on December 5, 1776, at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. The society played a foundational role in shaping the tradition of academic honor societies in the United States.
• 1775: Henry Knox began his historic transport of artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, Massachusetts, a crucial operation during the American Revolution.
• 1848: U.S. President James K. Polk confirmed to Congress the discovery of large amounts of gold in California, accelerating the California Gold Rush.
• 1831: Former U.S. President John Quincy Adams took his seat in the House of Representatives, becoming the only former president to do so.
• 1935: Mary McLeod Bethune founded the National Council of Negro Women in New York City, advancing the rights and opportunities for Black women in America.

Asia

• 1657: Murad Baksh, the youngest son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, declared himself ruler, marking a pivotal moment in the Mughal succession struggles in India.
• 1905: Birth of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, known as “Sher-e-Kashmir,” a prominent political leader in Kashmir.
• 1943: During World War II, Japanese aircraft bombed the port of Kolkata (then Calcutta), India, highlighting the region’s strategic importance and the reach of the conflict in Asia.
• 1950: Renowned Indian philosopher and freedom fighter Sri Aurobindo passed away in Pondicherry, India. Sikkim became a protectorate under Indian administration, a step that eventually led to its full integration into India.
• 1951: Death of Abanindranath Tagore, a distinguished Indian painter and a key figure in the Bengal School of Art.
• 1957: The Indonesian government ordered the expulsion of all Dutch citizens, reflecting the post-colonial realignment in Southeast Asia.
• 1971: India formally recognized Bangladesh as an independent country, supporting its liberation from Pakistan and marking a turning point in South Asian geopolitics.
• 1971: The Battle of Gazipur occurred, where Pakistani forces were defeated as India ceded Gazipur to Bangladesh during the Bangladesh Liberation War.
• 2005: The 23rd Southeast Asian Games closed in the Philippines, with the host country topping the medal tally for the first time.

Africa

• Death of Nelson Mandela (2013)
  On December 5, 2013, Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid revolutionary and the first Black president of South Africa, died at the age of 95. Mandela’s passing marked the end of an era and prompted a global outpouring of tributes, reflecting his role as a symbol of peace, justice, and reconciliation in Africa and around the world.
• Arrest of Nelson Mandela and Others (1956)
  On December 5, 1956, Nelson Mandela and 156 others were arrested in South Africa for their political activities against apartheid. This mass arrest was a significant moment in the struggle against racial segregation and oppression in South Africa.
• Lake Tanganyika Earthquake (2005)
  On December 5, 2005, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 struck the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo near Lake Tanganyika, causing significant destruction and killing at least six people.
• Ghana–Belgium Diplomatic Tensions (1960)
  On December 5, 1960, Ghana severed diplomatic ties with Belgium, reflecting the shifting political landscape in post-colonial Africa and the broader context of decolonization.
• All-African People’s Conference (1958)
  In early December 1958, the All-African People’s Conference convened in Accra, Ghana, with a resolution on imperialism and colonialism. While the conference ran from December 5–13, it marked a pivotal moment in pan-African solidarity and the movement toward independence across the continent.
• 1983: A bomb blast shattered the Johannesburg office of the Department of Internal Affairs, reflecting the ongoing tensions and violence during the apartheid era in South Africa.
• 1977: Egypt broke diplomatic relations with Syria, Libya, Algeria, Iraq, and South Yemen due to their opposition to Egypt’s peace process with Israel, highlighting Africa’s role in Middle Eastern geopolitics.