This day in history: 9 september

Europa

• Battle of Teutoburg Forest (9 AD): Arminius led an alliance of six Germanic tribes to a decisive ambush and defeat of three Roman legions under Publius Quinctilius Varus. This battle, fought in what is now Germany, had a profound impact on the Roman Empire’s expansion into Northern Europe.
• Death of William the Conqueror (1087): William I, the Norman conqueror of England, died in Rouen, France. His death marked a significant transition in English and Norman leadership.
• Treaty of Neuberg (1379): This treaty split the Austrian Habsburg lands between Dukes Albert III and Leopold III, shaping the future of Central European politics.
• Battle of Krbava Field (1493): Croatian forces suffered a decisive defeat against the Ottoman Empire, a major event in the region’s struggle against Ottoman expansion.
• Mary Stuart Crowned Queen of Scots (1543): At just nine months old, Mary Stuart was officially crowned in Stirling, Scotland, a pivotal moment in Scottish and European royal history.
• Battle of Svolder (1000): A notable naval battle of the Viking Age, resulting in the death of King Olaf I of Norway.
• Battle of Flodden Field (1513): James IV of Scotland was defeated and killed by English forces, ending Scotland’s involvement in the War of the League of Cambrai.
• German Occupation of Łódź and Battles of Bzura and Hel (1939): During the invasion of Poland, the German Army occupied the city of Łódź, and major battles began at Bzura and Hel, marking critical early confrontations in World War II.
• Canadian Parliament Approves War Declaration (1939): Canada’s parliament approved joining the Allied war effort against Germany, reflecting the global scale of the conflict.
• Invasion of Salerno, Italy (1943): Allied forces under General Mark Clark launched amphibious landings at Salerno, marking the beginning of the Italian Campaign and a significant Allied push into continental Europe.

America

• 1739 – Stono Rebellion: The largest slave uprising in Britain’s mainland North American colonies before the American Revolution erupted near Charleston, South Carolina.
• 1776 – Naming of the United States: The Continental Congress officially adopted the name “United States” to replace “United Colonies,” marking a defining moment in American identity.
• 1791 – Naming of Washington, D.C.: The U.S. capital was officially named Washington, D.C., after President George Washington.
• 19th Century Milestones
• 1850 – California Statehood: California was admitted as the 31st state of the United States.
• 1861 – Sally Louisa Tompkins Commissioned: She became the only woman commissioned as an officer in the Confederate army during the Civil War.
• 1919 – Boston Police Strike: The majority of Boston’s police force went on strike after being denied the right to unionize, marking a major labor event.
• 1942 – Japanese Bombing in Oregon: A Japanese floatplane dropped incendiary bombs on Oregon in an attempt to start forest fires during World War II, the only time the continental U.S. was bombed from the air during the war.
• 1947 – First Computer Bug: The term “computer bug” originated when a moth was found in a relay of the Harvard Mark II computer at Harvard University.
• 1956 – Elvis Presley on The Ed Sullivan Show: Elvis made his iconic first appearance, watched by millions and marking a turning point in American pop culture.
• 1965 – Hurricane Betsy: The hurricane made landfall near New Orleans, causing 76 deaths and over $1 billion in damages, becoming the first hurricane to cause more than $1 billion in unadjusted damages in the U.S..
• 1965 – Establishment of HUD: The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development was established, expanding the federal role in urban affairs.
• 1971 – Attica Prison Uprising: Prisoners at Attica Correctional Facility in New York seized control of the prison, taking 42 staff members hostage, leading to a four-day standoff and eventual tragic loss of life.
• 1990 – Pete Sampras Wins U.S. Open: Sampras defeated Andre Agassi to win his first of 14 Grand Slam singles titles at the U.S. Open.
• 1843 – USS Princeton Commissioned: The first screw steam warship in the U.S. Navy, the USS Princeton, was commissioned in Philadelphia.
• 1904 – Mounted Police in NYC: Police on horseback were used for the first time in New York City.

Asia

• 1945 – End of World War II in Asia
  On September 9, 1945, Japanese forces in Korea surrendered at Seoul, and Japanese forces in China surrendered at Nanjing. This marked the formal end of Japanese occupation in these regions and a pivotal moment in the conclusion of World War II in Asia. The same day saw the dissolution of the Japanese puppet state of Mengjiang, which was replaced by the Inner Mongolian People’s Republic. American servicemen in Asia also began returning home on this date.
• 1948 – Founding of North Korea
  The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) was officially established on September 9, 1948, with Kim Il-sung as its leader. This event solidified the division of the Korean Peninsula and set the stage for decades of political and military tension in East Asia.
• 1976 – Death of Mao Zedong
  Mao Zedong, the longtime leader of Communist China and a central figure in the Chinese Revolution, died on September 9, 1976. Mao’s leadership shaped the course of 20th-century China, and his death marked the end of an era in Chinese history.
• 1991 – Tajikistan Declares Independence
  Amid the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan declared its independence on September 9, 1991. This marked a significant milestone in Central Asian history as Tajikistan began its journey as a sovereign nation.
• In 1920, Aligarh’s Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College was transformed into Aligarh Muslim University, an important development in Indian education.
• In 1971, India and the Soviet Union signed the Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation, strengthening their strategic partnership during the Cold War.
• On September 9, 2023, India hosted the G20 Summit under the theme “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” reflecting its growing role in global affairs.

Africa

• Founding of the African Union (1999)
  On September 9, 1999, the Sirte Declaration was issued at the Fourth Extraordinary Session of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Conference of African Heads of State and Government in Sirte, Libya, calling for the establishment of the African Union (AU). This marked a pivotal moment in Africa’s modern history, as the AU was created to accelerate the process of integration and address the continent’s multifaceted challenges, aiming for a united, prosperous, and influential Africa on the global stage. The AU officially launched in Durban, South Africa, in 2002, succeeding the OAU, which had been established in 1963.
• African Union Day
  September 9 is celebrated as African Union Day across the continent, commemorating the founding of the AU and recognizing its role in promoting unity, peace, and development in Africa.
• International Day to Protect Education from Attack
  September 9 is also observed as the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, highlighting the importance of safeguarding education in conflict zones, an issue of particular relevance in parts of Africa.
• World First Aid Day
  World First Aid Day, observed on the second Saturday of September, sometimes falls on September 9, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of first aid in saving lives, including in African communities.