Europa
- Roman Emperor Nero’s Death (68 AD)
On June 9, 68 AD, Roman Emperor Nero committed suicide after being declared an enemy of the state by the Roman Senate. His death ended the Julio-Claudian dynasty and led to a brief period of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors. Nero remains infamous for his cruelty, including the alleged murders of his mother, wife, and stepbrother, as well as his persecution of Christians and his role in the Great Fire of Rome. - World War II: Atrocities in Tulle, France (1944)
On June 9, 1944, during World War II, German troops hanged 99 civilians from lampposts and balconies in Tulle, France, as a reprisal for attacks by the French Resistance (maquisards). This massacre occurred just days after the D-Day landings and is one of the most notorious Nazi reprisals against civilians in Western Europe. - World War II: Norway Surrenders to Germany (1940)
On June 9, 1940, Norway officially surrendered to Germany after two months of resistance, marking a significant moment in the German occupation of Scandinavia. On the same day, as German forces advanced, the French government began evacuating Paris for Tours. - Suffragette Protest in Birmingham (1914)
On June 9, 1914, militant suffragette Bertha Ryland slashed a painting in Birmingham Art Gallery, England, to draw attention to the cause of women’s suffrage. This act was part of a broader campaign of civil disobedience by British suffragettes in the early 20th century. - UEFA EURO Football History
On June 9, 2012, Denmark defeated the Netherlands for the first time in 45 years during the UEFA European Football Championship, marking a significant sporting upset in European football. - Treaty of Tientsin Signed (1885): Although not directly European, the Treaty of Tientsin between China and France on June 9, 1885, ended hostilities in the Sino-French War and had implications for European colonial influence in Asia.
America
- The Gaspee Affair (1772)
On June 9, 1772, Rhode Island colonists attacked and burned the British revenue schooner Gaspee in Narragansett Bay. This event, known as the Gaspee Affair, is considered one of the first acts of rebellion leading up to the American Revolution. The inability of British authorities to prosecute those responsible further fueled colonial resistance and inspired the formation of the Committees of Correspondence, which played a crucial role in uniting the colonies against British rule. - William Jennings Bryan Resigns as Secretary of State (1915)
On June 9, 1915, U.S. Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan resigned over disagreements with President Woodrow Wilson’s handling of the Lusitania crisis during World War I. Bryan, a staunch pacifist, objected to Wilson’s strong response to Germany after the sinking of the British ship Lusitania, which resulted in American casualties and heightened tensions between the U.S. and Germany. - Secretariat Wins the Triple Crown (1973)
On June 9, 1973, Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes, becoming the first horse since 1948 to win the American Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes). Secretariat’s performance in the Belmont Stakes, finishing the race in a record-setting 2 minutes and 24 seconds, is widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements in horse racing history. - 1953: The Flint–Worcester tornado outbreak sequence killed 94 people in Massachusetts.
- 1954: During the Army–McCarthy hearings, U.S. Army counsel Joseph N. Welch famously rebuked Senator Joseph McCarthy with the words, “Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?” This moment marked a turning point in the decline of McCarthy’s influence during the Red Scare.
- 1959: The USS George Washington, the first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, was launched.
- 1968: President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a national day of mourning following the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
Asia
- Israel Captures the Golan Heights (1967)
On June 9, 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel launched a major offensive and captured the Golan Heights from Syria. This territorial change has remained a central issue in Middle Eastern geopolitics, with ongoing disputes and its occupation continuing to impact peace negotiations in the region. - First Ascent of Broad Peak (1957)
Austrian climbers Fritz Wintersteller, Marcus Schmuck, Kurt Diemberger, and Hermann Buhl became the first to reach the summit of Broad Peak, an 8,051-meter mountain on the border of Pakistan and China. This achievement is a landmark in the history of Himalayan mountaineering. - Treaty of Tientsin Signed (1885)
On June 9, 1885, the Treaty of Tientsin was signed between China and France, ending the Sino-French War. As a result, China ceded control of the Tonkin region (northern Vietnam) to France, which had significant implications for the colonial history of Southeast Asia and the decline of Qing influence in the region. - Abu Muslim’s Revolt Against the Umayyad Caliphate (747)
On June 9, 747, Abu Muslim al-Khorasani initiated a revolt against the Umayyad Caliphate in Khorasan (in present-day Iran and Central Asia). This uprising played a pivotal role in the eventual establishment of the Abbasid Caliphate, which profoundly shaped Islamic and Asian history. - Bhumibol Adulyadej Crowned King of Thailand (1946)
Bhumibol Adulyadej was crowned King of Thailand on June 9, 1946. He went on to become the world’s longest-reigning head of state by the time of his death in 2016, and his reign had a lasting impact on Thai society and politics.
Africa
- Algiers Bombings (2008)
On June 9, 2008, two bombs exploded at a train station near Algiers, Algeria, killing at least 13 people. This attack was part of a wave of violence attributed to Islamist militants in Algeria during the 2000s, reflecting ongoing security challenges in North Africa. - Notable Deaths: Nigerian Pastor TB Joshua (2021)
While not directly tied to June 9 every year, June 2021 saw the passing of influential Nigerian televangelist TB Joshua. His death was widely mourned across Africa and globally, highlighting his impact as a religious leader. - Broader Context: Significant African Events Around June 9
While there are no globally recognized continent-wide events in African history specifically tied to June 9, the day has seen impactful local and national events, such as the Algiers bombings. Additionally, broader historical milestones in Africa—such as independence movements, anti-colonial uprisings, and moments of social change—are commemorated on other dates throughout the year.
This day in history: 9 june