This day in history: 6 november

Europa

• 447 CE – Earthquake in Constantinople: A powerful earthquake destroyed large portions of the Walls of Constantinople, including 57 towers. This event was significant for the Byzantine Empire, as the city’s defenses were crucial to its survival.
• 963 CE – Synod of Rome: Emperor Otto I called a council at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where Pope John XII was deposed on charges of armed rebellion against Otto. This was a notable episode in the ongoing power struggles between the Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy.
• 1217 CE – Charter of the Forest Sealed in London: King Henry III, under regency, sealed the Charter of the Forest at St Paul’s Cathedral. This document restored certain rights to free men regarding access to royal forests, countering restrictions imposed since William the Conqueror.
• 1429 CE – Coronation of Henry VI: Henry VI, of the House of Lancaster, was crowned King of England at just nine months old, marking the beginning of a turbulent reign that would see the Wars of the Roses.
• 1792 CE – Battle of Jemappes (French Revolutionary Wars): French revolutionary forces defeated the Austrians near Jemappes (in present-day Belgium), marking a major victory for the French and contributing to the spread of revolutionary ideas in Europe.
• Opera and Concert Seasons in Italy: Early November marks the opening of opera and concert seasons in major Italian cities such as Milan, Florence, and Rome, reflecting the region’s rich musical heritage.
• Art and Industry Exhibitions: November sees various art exhibitions across Europe, such as the Finnish Art Industry Exhibition in Helsinki and special showings by the Swedish Art Society in Stockholm.

America

• Abraham Lincoln Elected President (1860)
  On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States. His victory was a pivotal moment in American history, leading directly to the secession of Southern states and the start of the Civil War, which ultimately ended slavery in the U.S.
• Jefferson Davis Elected President of the Confederacy (1861)
  On November 6, 1861, Jefferson Davis was elected as the president of the Confederate States of America, formalizing his leadership role during the Civil War.
• First Intercollegiate American Football Game (1869)
  On this day in 1869, Rutgers College defeated Princeton University 6–4 in the first official intercollegiate American football game, marking the birth of college football in the United States.
• Women’s Suffrage in New York (1917)
  New York State granted women the right to vote on November 6, 1917, a landmark achievement in the women’s suffrage movement in the United States.
• Debut of “Meet the Press” (1947)
  NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the longest-running television news program in American history, made its debut on November 6, 1947.
• On November 6, 2012, Tammy Baldwin became the first openly gay person elected to the U.S. Senate.
• On November 6, 2020, Joe Biden was elected as the 46th President of the United States.

Asia

• 1988 – Lancang–Gengma Earthquakes (China–Myanmar Border)
  On November 6, 1988, two powerful earthquakes struck the border region between China’s Yunnan Province and Myanmar, resulting in at least 730 deaths and widespread destruction. These earthquakes are among the deadliest in the region’s recent history, severely impacting local communities and infrastructure.
• 2015 – Historic China–Taiwan Leaders’ Meeting
  On November 7, 2015 (noting the meeting was announced on November 6), Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou held a historic summit in Singapore. This was the first meeting between leaders of China and Taiwan since the Chinese Communist revolution of 1949, marking a significant moment in cross-strait relations.
• Birth Anniversaries: November 6 marks the birthdays of prominent Indian politicians Yashwant Sinha (1937, former Finance Minister) and Jitendra Singh (1956, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office).
• Death Anniversaries: Celebrated Indian chef and food writer Tarla Dalal passed away on this day in 2013.
• In 1943, the Japanese transferred control of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Subhas Chandra Bose’s Provisional Government of Free India.
• In 1913, Mahatma Gandhi was arrested in South Africa for leading a march of Indian miners, a pivotal moment in the global civil rights movement.
• 2016 – Delhi Air Pollution Emergency: On November 6, 2016, New Delhi declared a public health emergency due to hazardous air pollution, closing schools and construction sites as pollution levels soared far above safe limits.
• 2002 – Detention of Chinese Dissident: Chinese police detained Jiang Lijun on November 6, 2002, for signing an open letter to the Communist Party Congress, highlighting ongoing issues of political dissent in China.

Africa

• Morocco – Anniversary of the Green March (1975)
  November 6 is celebrated in Morocco as the anniversary of the Green March. On this day in 1975, more than 300,000 Moroccans marched peacefully into the Spanish-controlled Western Sahara to assert Morocco’s claim over the territory. The event was a turning point in the decolonization of Western Sahara and is regarded as a major milestone in Moroccan national history. The Green March eventually led to a prolonged conflict between Morocco and the Polisario Front, lasting 17 years, but it remains a symbol of national unity and peaceful protest in Morocco.
• South Africa – Anglo-Boer War Event (1900)
  On November 6, 1900, during the Anglo-Boer War (South African War), General Christiaan de Wet, a prominent Boer commander, was defeated by British forces at Bothaville. This battle was a significant event in the broader context of the war, which shaped the future of South Africa.
• South Africa – Gandhi’s Arrest (1913)
  On November 6, 1913, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was arrested in South Africa while leading a march of Indian miners protesting discriminatory laws. Gandhi’s leadership in South Africa was instrumental in developing his philosophy of nonviolent resistance, which would later influence global civil rights movements.
• United Nations Condemns Apartheid (1962)
  On November 6, 1962, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution condemning apartheid in South Africa. The resolution called on member states to break off relations with South Africa, marking a significant moment in the international campaign against racial segregation and discrimination.