Europa
- 1066: Harold Godwinson was crowned King Harold II of England after the death of Edward the Confessor. His brief reign ended later that year at the Battle of Hastings, a pivotal moment leading to the Norman conquest of England.
- 1929: The “6 January Dictatorship” began in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia), when King Alexander I suspended the constitution, dissolved parliament, and assumed dictatorial powers. This move aimed to unify the country under a single Yugoslav identity but led to significant political repression and opposition, especially from Croatian leaders.
- 1355: Charles IV of Bohemia was crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy as King of Italy in Milan.
- 1492: The Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella entered Granada, marking the end of the Granada War and the completion of the Reconquista in Spain.
- 1870: The Musikverein, a world-renowned concert hall, was inaugurated in Vienna, Austria.
- 1907: Maria Montessori opened her first school and daycare center for working-class children in Rome, Italy, marking the beginning of the Montessori educational movement.
America
- On this day, a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., attempting to halt the certification of the 2020 presidential election results, which declared Joe Biden the winner. The attack resulted in widespread violence, the deaths of several individuals (including a rioter shot by police and others from medical emergencies), and the injury of at least 140 police officers. The event disrupted the peaceful transfer of power, leading to a historic second impeachment of Donald Trump for “incitement of insurrection”—though he was later acquitted by the Senate. The riot has had a lasting impact on American politics and remains a deeply divisive issue, with ongoing legal and political repercussions.
- 1781: The Continental Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris, officially ending the American Revolutionary War.
- 1838: Samuel Morse successfully demonstrated the telegraph system for the first time, a key milestone in communication technology.
- 1912: New Mexico was admitted as the 47th state of the United States.
- 1919: Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, died in Oyster Bay, New York.
- 1941: President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his famous “Four Freedoms” State of the Union address, outlining core democratic values: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.
- 1945: George H.W. Bush married Barbara Pierce in New York.
- 1994: Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked during practice, leading to the infamous Kerrigan-Harding scandal.
- 1838: Samuel Morse’s telegraph demonstration revolutionized long-distance communication.
Asia
- 1946: Vietnam’s First General Election
Vietnam held its first general election on January 6, 1946, a pivotal step in the country’s path toward independence and the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. - 1950: Diplomatic Shift in China
The United Kingdom recognized the People’s Republic of China on this day, prompting the Republic of China (Taiwan) to sever diplomatic relations with the UK. - 1951: Ganghwa Massacre in Korea
The Ganghwa massacre began on January 6, 1951, during the Korean War, with an estimated 200–1,300 South Korean communist sympathizers killed. - 1960: Iraq’s Associations Law
Iraq’s Associations Law, which allowed for the registration of political parties, came into force on January 6, 1960, marking a key development in the country’s political landscape. - 1967: Vietnam War – Operation Deckhouse Five
U.S. Marine Corps and ARVN troops launched “Operation Deckhouse Five” in the Mekong River delta, an important military action during the Vietnam War. - 1979: Vietnamese Forces Capture Phnom Penh
Vietnamese troops took control of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, ousting the Khmer Rouge and its leader, Pol Pot, on January 6, 1979, ending a brutal regime. - 1842: Retreat from Kabul
The tragic massacre of 4,500 British and Indian troops occurred during their retreat from Kabul, Afghanistan, failing to reach India. - 1885: Death of Bharatendu Harishchandra
Bharatendu Harishchandra, a pioneering figure in modern Hindi literature, passed away on this day. - 1929: Mother Teresa Arrives in Calcutta
Mother Teresa arrived in Calcutta (now Kolkata), beginning her humanitarian mission among India’s poorest. - 1967: Birth of A.R. Rahman
Renowned Indian composer and music producer A.R. Rahman was born on January 6, 1967. - 2014: Thaicom 6 Satellite Launch
The Thaicom 6 communications satellite was launched into orbit, enhancing telecommunications in Southeast Asia.
Africa
- 1874: Robert B. Elliot’s Civil Rights Speech (African Diaspora)
On January 6, 1874, Robert B. Elliot, a British-born American congressman of African descent, delivered a landmark speech advocating for the U.S. Civil Rights Act. His efforts contributed to the eventual passage of the Act and had global resonance, highlighting the ongoing struggle for civil rights and equality for people of African heritage. - 1995: Death of Joe Slovo (South Africa)
Joe Slovo, a key figure in South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement and a leader in the country’s transition to democracy, died on January 6, 1995. Slovo was instrumental in shaping post-apartheid reconciliation and national unity.
This day in history: 6 january