Europa
- 69 AD: Supporters of Vespasian, a Roman general, enter Rome to claim the title of Emperor for Vespasian. Vitellius, the reigning emperor, is discovered in hiding and is brutally murdered, marking a pivotal moment in the Year of the Four Emperors.
- 1192: Richard I of England (Richard the Lionheart) is captured and imprisoned by Leopold V of Austria while returning from the Third Crusade, an event with significant diplomatic repercussions for England and continental Europe.
- 1334: Cardinal Jacques Fournier, a Cistercian monk, is elected Pope Benedict XII, becoming a notable figure in the Avignon Papacy.
- 1808: The Peninsular War intensifies as the Siege of Zaragoza begins in Spain, a key episode in the struggle against Napoleonic France.
- 1848: In France, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte is inaugurated as the first president of the French Second Republic after a landslide victory in the presidential election, shaping French and European politics.
- 1915: The last Australian troops are evacuated from Gallipoli, marking the end of the failed Allied campaign in the Ottoman Empire during World War I—a campaign with major European involvement.
- 1917: The Cheka, the first Soviet secret police force, is founded in Russia, signaling the rise of state security apparatus in post-revolutionary Europe.
- 1955: Cardiff is officially named the capital of Wales by the British government, a significant event in the modern history of the United Kingdom.
- 1973: Spanish Prime Minister Luis Carrero Blanco is assassinated in Madrid by the Basque separatist group ETA, a pivotal event in Spain’s transition away from Francoist dictatorship.
- 1995: NATO begins its peacekeeping operation in Bosnia, marking a major European and international effort to stabilize the Balkans after years of conflict.
- 2007: Queen Elizabeth II becomes the oldest monarch in British history, surpassing Queen Victoria.
America
- 1606: The Virginia Company Sets Sail
On December 20, 1606, the Virginia Company expedition departed London with three ships—the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery—under Captain Christopher Newport. This journey led to the founding of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America. - 1803: Completion of the Louisiana Purchase
The United States formally took possession of the Louisiana Territory from France in a ceremony in New Orleans, completing the Louisiana Purchase and doubling the size of the young nation. - 1860: South Carolina Secedes from the Union
South Carolina became the first state to secede from the United States, issuing the South Carolina Declaration of Secession. This action marked a critical step toward the outbreak of the American Civil War. - 1951: First Nuclear Power Generated
The Experimental Breeder Reactor I (EBR-I) in Arco, Idaho, became the first nuclear power plant to generate electricity, lighting four light bulbs and marking a milestone in energy history. - 1956: End of the Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery bus boycott officially ended after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling integrating the Montgomery bus system was implemented. This was a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement. - 1957: Elvis Presley Drafted
Elvis Presley, the “King of Rock and Roll,” received his draft notice to join the U.S. Army, a significant event in American pop culture. - 1968: Death of John Steinbeck
Nobel Prize-winning American author John Steinbeck died on this day. - 1989: U.S. Invasion of Panama
The United States launched Operation Just Cause, invading Panama to depose leader Manuel Noriega, who was later captured and brought to the U.S. for trial on drug trafficking charges.
Asia
- 1999: Macau Returns to China
After more than four centuries of Portuguese rule, Macau was officially handed over to China, becoming a Special Administrative Region (SAR). This marked the end of European colonialism in Asia and established Macau’s current status with a high degree of autonomy under Chinese sovereignty. - 1941: First Battle of the Flying Tigers in China
During World War II, the American Volunteer Group, famously known as the “Flying Tigers,” engaged in their first combat against Japanese forces in Kunming, China. This marked a significant moment in Sino-American cooperation during the war. - 1942: Japanese Bombing of Calcutta, India
Japanese air forces bombed Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, during World War II. This attack was part of the broader Japanese campaign in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. - 1946: Nankaidō Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan
A devastating earthquake struck the Nankaidō region of Japan, causing a tsunami that killed at least 1,000 people and destroyed 36,000 homes. This disaster remains one of the most significant natural calamities in modern Japanese history. - 1948: Dutch Capture Yogyakarta in Indonesia
During the Indonesian National Revolution, Dutch military forces captured Yogyakarta, the temporary capital of the Republic of Indonesia, in a major offensive against Indonesian independence fighters.
Africa
- On December 20, 2024, Sudan continued to experience the devastating effects of its civil war. Reports surfaced of a militia aligned with the Sudanese army, specifically the Al-Bara’ ibn Malik brigade, being accused of executing dozens of young men in Khartoum on suspicion of collaborating with the Rapid Support Forces. These killings are part of the ongoing violence that has plagued Sudan since the outbreak of civil war, reflecting the persistent instability and humanitarian crisis in the region.
- In Liberia, the aftermath of a major fire at the national legislature in Monrovia led to police questioning several high-ranking officials, including the embattled speaker of the House of Representatives. This incident occurred amid a power struggle and political unrest within the Liberian government.
- Nigeria mourned the recent tragic loss of at least 35 children in a stampede at a Christmas fun fair in Ibadan, underscoring the country’s ongoing challenges with poverty and the cost-of-living crisis.
- Rwanda and the World Health Organization declared the end of a Marburg virus outbreak, marking a positive development in public health for the region.
- December 20, 1956: The end of the Montgomery Bus Boycott in the United States had a profound impact on the African diaspora, inspiring civil rights movements across Africa and the world.
- December 20 is commemorated in various African countries for events related to anti-colonial struggles, civil rights activism, and cultural milestones, though specific landmark events on this date within the continent itself are less commonly cited in major historical records.
This day in history: 20 december