This day in history: 7 september

Europa

• 878: Louis the Stammerer was crowned king of West Francia by Pope John VIII, a significant event in early French history.
• 1159: Cardinal Rolando Bandinelli was elected Pope Alexander III, leading to the election of Antipope Victor IV the same day, a major moment in the medieval papacy.
• 1191: During the Third Crusade, Richard I of England defeated Saladin at the Battle of Arsuf, a pivotal battle in the Crusader campaigns.
• 1228: Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II landed in Acre, starting the Sixth Crusade, which led to the peaceful restoration of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
• 1303: Guillaume de Nogaret, acting for Philip IV of France, took Pope Boniface VIII prisoner, an episode that highlighted the struggle between secular and papal power.
• 1571: Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, was arrested for his role in the Ridolfi plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots.
• 1764: Stanisław August Poniatowski was elected as the last ruler of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
• 1812: The Battle of Borodino, the bloodiest battle of the Napoleonic Wars, was fought near Moscow, resulting in a French victory under Napoleon.
• 1818: Carl III of Sweden–Norway was crowned king of Norway in Trondheim.
• 1940: The German Luftwaffe began the Blitz, launching its first massive air raid on London, marking the start of an eight-month bombing campaign against Britain.
• 1994: The U.S. Army closed its headquarters in Berlin, ending nearly half a century of American military presence in the city after World War II.
• 1999: Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, returned to Berlin for the first time since World War II, reestablishing Berlin as the seat of government.

America

• 1630: The city of Boston, Massachusetts, is founded, becoming one of the oldest and most significant cities in the United States.
• 1776: The first recorded submarine attack in history is attempted by Ezra Lee in the American Turtle, targeting the British HMS Eagle in New York Harbor during the American Revolution.
• 1797: The frigate USS Constellation is launched in Baltimore, Maryland, becoming the U.S. Navy’s second frigate and earning the nickname “Yankee Race Horse” for its speed.
• 1813: The nickname “Uncle Sam” is first attributed to Samuel Wilson, a meat packer who supplied barrels of beef to the U.S. Army during the War of 1812. The barrels were stamped “U.S.” for United States, but soldiers began referring to the food as coming from “Uncle Sam”.
• 1863: During the Civil War, Union troops under Quincy A. Gillmore capture Fort Wagner on Morris Island, South Carolina, after a seven-week siege, marking a significant victory for Union forces.
• 1907: The ocean liner RMS Lusitania begins her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York City, a ship that would later become infamous during World War I.
• 1916: U.S. federal employees are granted the right to workers’ compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act.
• 1921: The first Miss America Pageant is held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, marking the beginning of a long-standing American tradition.
• 1936: Birth of Buddy Holly, a pioneering figure in American rock and roll music.
• 1943: Hollywood icons Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth are married.
• 2008: The United States government takes control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two largest mortgage financing companies in the U.S., during the financial crisis.
• 2003: Farm Aid 16, a benefit concert for American farmers, is held in Columbus, Ohio.

Asia

• End of the Boxer Rebellion (1901)
  On September 7, 1901, the Boxer Rebellion in China officially ended with the signing of the Boxer Protocol. This agreement forced China to make significant concessions to foreign powers, including allowing foreign troops to be stationed in Beijing and imposing heavy indemnities, profoundly affecting China’s sovereignty and international relations.
• Taiwanese Uprising Against Dutch Rule (1652)
  Around 15,000 Han farmers and militia rebelled against Dutch colonial rule in Taiwan on this day, marking a significant moment of resistance in East Asian colonial history.
• 1965: During the Indo-Pakistani War, China announced it would reinforce its troops on the Indian border, escalating regional tensions.
• 1970: Fighting began between Arab guerrillas and government forces in Jordan, a precursor to the Black September conflict that reshaped Middle Eastern politics.
• 1970: Vietnam Television was established, marking a milestone in Vietnamese media and communication.
• 2010: On September 7, a Chinese fishing boat clashed with the Japanese Coast Guard near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, intensifying long-standing maritime and territorial disputes between China and Japan.
• In Pakistan, September 7 is remembered as a turning point when religion was formally inducted as a basis for state affairs, shaping the country’s subsequent legal and political landscape.

Africa

• Desmond Tutu Becomes Archbishop of Cape Town (1986)
  On September 7, 1986, Bishop Desmond Tutu was installed as the Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, becoming the first Black person to lead the Anglican Church in South Africa. This was a landmark moment in the struggle against apartheid and for racial equality in the country.
• Lusaka Peace Agreement Day / Victory Day in Mozambique
  September 7 is celebrated as Lusaka Peace Agreement Day, also known as Victory Day, in Mozambique. This public holiday commemorates the signing of the Lusaka Accord in 1974, which paved the way for Mozambique’s independence from Portuguese colonial rule in 1975.
• International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
  The United Nations marks September 7 as the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, observed in various African countries to promote awareness and actions for cleaner air.
• Death of Mobutu Sese Seko (1997)
  Mobutu Sese Seko, the long-time ruler of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), died on September 7, 1997. His regime was marked by authoritarianism, corruption, and the eventual collapse of his government.