1058day.year
Agnes of Poitou and Andrew I of Hungary meet to negotiate about the border territory of Burgenland.
Empress Agnes of Poitou and King Andrew I of Hungary met in 1058 to negotiate the border of Burgenland. Their talks shaped the frontier between the Holy Roman Empire and Hungary.
In 1058, Empress Agnes, acting as regent for her son Henry IV, met King Andrew I to discuss the strategic territory of Burgenland. The borderlands between the Holy Roman Empire and Hungary were fluid and often contested, making these negotiations crucial. Agnes wielded significant diplomatic authority, seeking stability for the young emperor. Andrew aimed to secure his western frontier and expand Hungarian influence. Local nobles and clergy played key roles in advising both rulers during the talks. Although the exact treaty text has not fully survived, the meeting established a precedent for future border agreements. This encounter helped define medieval Central European boundaries and fostered more peaceful relations between the two realms.
1058
Agnes of Poitou
Andrew I of Hungary
Burgenland
1378day.year
Cardinal Robert of Geneva is elected as Pope Clement VII, beginning the Papal schism.
In 1378, Cardinal Robert of Geneva was elected as Pope Clement VII, igniting the Western Schism within the Catholic Church.
Following the death of Pope Gregory XI, the College of Cardinals faced intense pressure to elect a Roman pontiff. On September 20th, 1378, they chose Cardinal Robert of Geneva, who took the name Clement VII. His election was immediately contested by supporters of Pope Urban VI, leading to rival papal claims in Avignon and Rome. This Western Schism lasted nearly four decades, dividing European monarchs and undermining papal authority. The schism fueled calls for church reform and eventually contributed to the conciliar movement. It reshaped medieval Christendom and foreshadowed the religious upheavals of the Reformation era.
1378
Robert of Geneva
Papal schism
1586day.year
A number of conspirators in the Babington Plot are hanged, drawn and quartered.
In 1586, key conspirators of the Babington Plot against Queen Elizabeth I were executed by hanging, drawing, and quartering in a public spectacle.
The Babington Plot was a Catholic conspiracy aiming to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I and install Mary, Queen of Scots on the English throne. On September 20th, 1586, several plotters were convicted and subjected to the brutal Tudor punishment of hanging, drawing, and quartering at St. Giles's Fields in London. Their confessions, obtained under torture, provided the evidence that led to Mary's trial and execution the following year. The harsh sentences underscored the intense religious and political tensions of Elizabethan England. Public executions served as both retribution and a deterrent against future plots. This grim episode reinforced the authority of the Tudor monarchy and shaped the course of British history.
1586
Babington Plot
1697day.year
The Treaty of Ryswick is signed by France, England, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire and the Dutch Republic, ending the Nine Years' War.
In 1697, the Treaty of Ryswick was signed, ending the Nine Years' War between Louis XIV’s France and the Grand Alliance.
On September 20th, 1697, representatives of France, England, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Dutch Republic met at Ryswick in the Netherlands to negotiate peace. The treaty formally concluded the costly Nine Years' War, restoring much of the pre-war territorial status quo in Europe. Under its terms, France recognized William III as King of England and returned occupied lands to its adversaries. The agreement also settled disputes over colonial possessions, though some issues remained unresolved. The Treaty of Ryswick ushered in a brief period of stability and marked an early example of multilateral diplomacy. While not a permanent peace, it demonstrated the growing importance of balanced alliances and treaty-making in European politics.
1697
Treaty of Ryswick
1737day.year
The Walking Purchase concludes, which forces the cession of 1.2 million acres (4,900 km) of Lenape-Delaware tribal land to the Pennsylvania Colony.
In 1737, colonial authorities executed the Walking Purchase, coercing the Lenape-Delaware into surrendering over one million acres of their ancestral lands in Pennsylvania.
The Walking Purchase was justified by a disputed 1686 deed, claiming Penn family rights to land defined by distance walked in a day.
Colonial officials hired the fastest runners to maximize territory, outraging the Lenape-Delaware people.
This controversial tactic forced indigenous communities to relocate and weakened their claims to traditional lands.
The agreement set a precedent for exploiting unclear treaties to expand colonial control.
Its legacy remains a symbol of unfair negotiations and the displacement of Native American tribes.
1737
Walking Purchase
1857day.year
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 ends with the recapture of Delhi by troops loyal to the East India Company.
In 1857, British East India Company troops retook Delhi, ending the major phase of the Indian Rebellion and reshaping colonial rule.
The rebellion united Indian soldiers and civilians against Company policies threatening traditional rights.
A prolonged siege of Delhi pitted loyal troops against rebel sepoys within fortified walls.
After weeks of intense combat, engineers breached the city defenses and stormed the palace compound.
The fall of Delhi shattered organized resistance in northern India.
In its aftermath, the British Crown assumed direct control, dissolving the East India Company and reorganizing governance and the army.
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
1860day.year
The future King Edward VII of the United Kingdom begins the first visit to North America by a Prince of Wales.
In 1860, Edward, Prince of Wales and future King Edward VII, became the first British heir to tour North America.
Accompanied by an elaborate royal entourage, the prince traveled by ship and rail across Canada and the United States.
He visited major cities such as Quebec, Toronto, New York, and Washington, D.C.
Crowds lined the railways and harbors, eager to witness a living monarch and celebrate Anglo-American ties.
The tour showcased advancements in transportation and highlighted the popularity of royal tours.
The visit helped strengthen diplomatic relations and set a precedent for future royal journeys abroad.
1860
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
1870day.year
The Bersaglieri corps enter Rome through the Porta Pia, and complete the unification of Italy.
In 1870, Italian Bersaglieri stormed Rome at Porta Pia, completing the Risorgimento and finalizing Italy’s unification.
With French troops recalled for the Franco-Prussian War, Italian forces seized the moment to capture Rome.
Early on September 20, a brief artillery bombardment breached the Aurelian Walls at Porta Pia.
The fall of Rome dissolved the Papal States and ended centuries of Papal temporal rule.
Rome was declared the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, symbolizing national unity.
This decisive action marked the culmination of decades-long nationalist movements on the peninsula.
1870
enter Rome
1881day.year
U.S. President Chester A. Arthur is sworn in upon the death of James A. Garfield the previous day.
On 1881, Chester A. Arthur was sworn in as the 21st President of the United States following the death of President Garfield.
President James A. Garfield died after succumbing to injuries from an assassination attempt, elevating Vice President Arthur to the presidency.
Arthur took the oath at the White House in the early hours, faced with doubts about his qualifications.
In his inaugural address, he stressed the importance of preserving the Constitution and national unity.
His administration later advanced landmark civil service reforms, most notably the Pendleton Act.
Arthur’s presidency demonstrated the resilience of American institutions in the face of sudden leadership change.
1881
Chester A. Arthur
James A. Garfield
1946day.year
Six days after a referendum, King Christian X of Denmark annuls the declaration of independence of the Faroe Islands.
On September 20, 1946, King Christian X of Denmark revoked the Faroe Islands’ declaration of independence following a referendum.
In late August 1946, the people of the Faroe Islands voted in a referendum favoring full independence from Denmark. However, on September 20, King Christian X used his royal prerogative to annul the declaration, citing constitutional concerns and the need for further negotiation. The decision sparked heated political debate in both Copenhagen and Tórshavn, as Faroese leaders pressed for greater autonomy. Subsequent discussions led to the Home Rule Act of 1948, granting the islands substantial self-government while remaining under the Danish crown. This episode marked a pivotal moment in Faroese-Danish relations and the islands’ gradual path toward self-determination.
referendum
1955day.year
The Treaty on Relations between the USSR and the GDR is signed.
On September 20, 1955, the Soviet Union and East Germany signed the Treaty on Relations, formalizing their alliance during the Cold War.
Signed in Moscow on September 20, 1955, the Treaty on Relations between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the German Democratic Republic established a formal framework for diplomatic, economic, and military cooperation. The agreement underscored the GDR’s status as a key socialist ally within the Eastern Bloc at the height of the Cold War. It provided legal justification for a continued Soviet military presence and economic aid in East Germany, reinforcing its political alignment against the West. The treaty also facilitated cultural exchanges and trade across the Iron Curtain. By codifying Soviet support, it strengthened the GDR’s domestic position and its role within the Warsaw Pact. Historians view the treaty as a landmark in the consolidation of Soviet influence in Central Europe.
1955
Treaty on Relations between the USSR and the GDR
1961day.year
Greek general Konstantinos Dovas becomes Prime Minister of Greece.
On September 20, 1961, General Konstantinos Dovas was appointed Prime Minister of Greece, leading a caretaker government.
Following political turmoil and contentious elections, King Paul of Greece appointed General Konstantinos Dovas as Prime Minister on September 20, 1961. Dovas, a respected army officer, headed a non-partisan caretaker administration tasked with organizing fair and transparent elections. His brief tenure focused on maintaining public order and restoring confidence in the electoral process. The caretaker government ensured a smooth transition to a newly elected parliament, underscoring the monarchy’s stabilizing role in Greek politics. Despite its short duration, Dovas’s administration is remembered for its neutrality and procedural oversight during a pivotal moment. The subsequent elections shaped the parliamentary landscape in the lead-up to Greece’s political crises later in the decade.
1961
Konstantinos Dovas