Europa
- 1477: Battle of Nancy
Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, was defeated and killed by René II, Duke of Lorraine, and his Swiss allies. This battle ended the Burgundian Wars and led to Burgundy being absorbed into France, which shifted the balance of power in Western Europe. - 1675: Battle of Colmar
The French army defeated the forces of Brandenburg during the Franco-Dutch War, demonstrating France’s military strength under King Louis XIV. - 1757: Assassination Attempt on Louis XV
Louis XV of France survived an assassination attempt by Robert-François Damiens. Damiens was later executed by drawing and quartering, marking the last use of this form of capital punishment in France. - 1875: Inauguration of the Palais Garnier
The Palais Garnier, one of the world’s most famous opera houses, was inaugurated in Paris, becoming a symbol of French culture and architecture. - 1919: Foundation of the German Workers’ Party (DAP)
The German Workers’ Party was founded in Munich. This party would later evolve into the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP), known as the Nazi Party. - 1919: Start of the Spartacus Uprising
The Spartacus Uprising, a leftist revolt in Berlin aiming to overthrow the government and prevent elections to the National Assembly, began. Its suppression led to a significant split in the German labor movement. - 1554: A major fire in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
- 1527: Execution by drowning of Felix Manz, an Anabaptist leader, in Zürich, Switzerland.
- 1531: Pope Clement VII forbade King Henry VIII of England from remarrying, influencing the English Reformation.
America
- 1781: Richmond, Virginia burned by British forces
During the American Revolutionary War, British troops led by former American general Benedict Arnold attacked and burned Richmond, Virginia. This raid was one of Arnold’s most significant actions as a British commander and was a major blow to the American war effort at the time. - 1861: The “Star of the West” sails for Fort Sumter
The merchant vessel Star of the West departed New York carrying supplies and 250 troops to reinforce Fort Sumter, South Carolina, following the state’s secession. This event heightened tensions leading up to the Civil War. - 1861: Alabama troops seize Forts Morgan and Gaines
As the Southern states began to secede, Alabama state troops took control of these strategic forts at the entrance to Mobile Bay, further escalating the crisis that would soon erupt into the Civil War. - 1925: Nellie Tayloe Ross becomes first woman governor in the U.S.
Nellie Tayloe Ross was sworn in as governor of Wyoming, making her the first female governor in U.S. history. - 1933: Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge begins
Work began on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, which would become one of the most iconic landmarks in the United States. - 1914: Henry Ford announces $5-a-day minimum wage
Industrialist Henry Ford stunned the world by announcing a minimum wage of $5 per day for his workers, revolutionizing labor practices and industrial pay standards. - 1972: President Nixon signs Space Shuttle development bill
President Richard Nixon authorized $5.5 million for the development of the U.S. Space Shuttle program, marking a significant step in American space exploration.
Asia
- 1587: Birth of Xu Xiake
Xu Xiake, a renowned Chinese geographer and explorer, was born on this day. - 1588: Death of Qi Jiguang
Qi Jiguang, a highly respected Ming dynasty general known for his campaigns against Japanese pirates, died on January 5. - 2007: Death of Chih Ree Sun
Chih Ree Sun, a Chinese-American physicist and poet, passed away. - 2022: January Events (Qantar) Unrest
The most severe unrest in Kazakhstan’s recent history reached a critical point on January 4–5, 2022, when initially peaceful protests over fuel prices escalated into violent riots and an attempted coup. By January 5, administrative buildings, media outlets, and the airport were targeted. The unrest resulted in 238 deaths and thousands of criminal cases. - 1970: Tonghai Earthquake in China
On January 5, 1970, a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck Tonghai County, Yunnan province, China, killing between 10,000 and 15,000 people and injuring about 26,000.
Africa
- The post-colonial independence era, when many African countries gained independence from European colonial powers, primarily during the 1950s and 1960s. For example, Ghana became the first independent black African state in 1957 under Kwame Nkrumah, marking a major milestone in African liberation movements.
- The formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on May 25, 1963, which was a key step in African political unity and decolonization efforts; though not on January 5, it contextualizes the era around this date.
- The struggles against apartheid and colonial rule in Southern Africa, including the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela in 1964 and the eventual independence of countries like Zimbabwe in 1980.
- The Berlin Conference of 1884, which led to the “Scramble for Africa,” partitioning the continent among European powers. While the conference itself did not occur on January 5, it marks a critical turning point in African history that shaped the continent’s modern borders and colonial experience.
- In the early 1990s, conflicts such as the Somali Civil War led to significant events including the evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu on January 5, 1991, highlighting ongoing instability in parts of Africa.
This day in history: 5 january