455day.year
Emperor Avitus enters Italy with a Gallic army and consolidates his power.
In 455 AD, Emperor Avitus crossed the Alps with a Gallic force to enter Italy and assert his authority over the Western Roman Empire.
By 455, the Western Roman Empire was weakened by internal strife and external pressures. Avitus, previously a Roman general with strong ties to the Gallic aristocracy, secured support from local Gallic tribes. On September 21, he led a Gallic army across the Alps into Italy, aiming to fill the power vacuum left by deposed emperors. His march marked a rare alliance between Roman and Gallic elements, reflecting shifting power dynamics in late antiquity. Upon entering Italy, Avitus consolidated his position by securing key cities and gaining recognition from Roman elites. Though his rule would be short-lived, his accession highlighted the fragmentation and regionalization of imperial authority. The event underscored the complexity of identities and loyalties as the Western Empire neared its decline.
455
Avitus
Italy
1435day.year
The Treaty of Arras is promulgated, causing Burgundy to switch sides in the Hundred Years' War.
The Treaty of Arras of 1435 realigned alliances in the Hundred Years' War, as Burgundy abandoned England and reconciled with France.
Signed on September 21, 1435, the Treaty of Arras ended decades of rivalry between Charles VII of France and Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. Under its terms, Burgundy recognized the French king's legitimacy in exchange for territorial and financial concessions. This diplomatic breakthrough deprived England of its powerful Burgundian ally, shifting the balance in the Hundred Years' War. The treaty followed the earlier Treaty of Troyes, which had disinherited the Dauphin in favor of an English heir. Philip the Good's decision reflected his desire to secure his duchy's borders and trade interests, particularly with the economically vital Burgundian Netherlands. The realignment accelerated French military successes, contributing to the eventual expulsion of the English from most of France. The Treaty of Arras remains a landmark in medieval diplomacy, illustrating the fluidity of loyalties in feudal politics.
1435
Treaty of Arras
Burgundy
Hundred Years' War
1792day.year
French Revolution: The National Convention abolishes the monarchy.
On September 21, 1792, the French National Convention officially abolished the monarchy, declaring the First French Republic.
Amidst the radical phase of the French Revolution, the newly elected National Convention convened in Paris in September 1792. Facing internal unrest and foreign invasion, delegates voted on September 21 to end centuries of hereditary rule. The abolition of the monarchy led to the imprisonment of King Louis XVI and the proclamation of the Republic the following day. This momentous decision cut ties with traditional symbols of power and paved the way for revolutionary reforms. Republican leaders like Robespierre and Danton soon emerged as central figures in the new government. The move intensified the Revolutionary Wars and ushered in the Reign of Terror. The establishment of the First French Republic on September 22 cemented France's radical political transformation.
1792
French Revolution
National Convention
abolishes the monarchy
1809day.year
British Secretary of War Lord Castlereagh and Foreign Secretary George Canning meet in a duel on Putney Heath, with Castlereagh wounding Canning in the thigh.
On September 21, 1809, British statesmen Lord Castlereagh and George Canning fought a duel on Putney Heath after a heated Cabinet dispute.
In early 1809, heated political tensions arose within the Ministry regarding Britain's war strategy against Napoleon. Lord Castlereagh, serving as Secretary of War, accused Foreign Secretary George Canning of undermining government unity. Unable to resolve their differences, the two men agreed to a formal duel on September 21 at Putney Heath. Each fired a single shot; Castlereagh's bullet grazed Canning's thigh, ending the affair without fatalities. Though illegal, the duel was tacitly condoned by their peers as a means of defending personal honor. The incident shocked the public and underscored the passionate nature of early 19th-century politics. Both men later entered Parliament as Prime Minister, with their friendship and rivalry shaping Britain's post-war era.
1809
Secretary of War
Lord Castlereagh
Foreign Secretary
George Canning
duel
Putney Heath
1843day.year
The crew of schooner Ancud, led by John Williams Wilson, takes possession of the Strait of Magellan on behalf of the Chilean government.
On September 21, 1843, the schooner Ancud claimed sovereignty over the Strait of Magellan for Chile under the leadership of John Williams Wilson.
Chile sought to secure control of the strategic sea route at the southern tip of South America, coveted by global powers. Captain John Williams Wilson was tasked with leading the schooner Ancud to formally occupy the strait. On September 21, 1843, Wilson and his crew landed on Tierra del Fuego and raised the Chilean flag. The act established Chilean jurisdiction over the waterway, ensuring safe passage for national and international vessels. This expedition bolstered Chile's claim to Patagonia and strengthened its maritime presence. The occupation preempted potential claims by European nations and laid groundwork for future settlement and trade. Today, the Strait of Magellan remains a vital channel linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, a testament to Chile's early naval ambition.
1843
schooner Ancud
John Williams Wilson
takes possession
Strait of Magellan
1898day.year
Empress Dowager Cixi seizes power and ends the Hundred Days' Reform in China.
Empress Dowager Cixi seizes control of China’s imperial court, ending the reformist Hundred Days' Reform.
In a sudden palace coup on September 21, 1898, Empress Dowager Cixi overthrew the Guangxu Emperor’s reformist government. She placed the Emperor under house arrest and reinstated conservative officials who opposed rapid modernization. The brief Hundred Days’ Reform, aimed at overhauling China’s education, military, and bureaucratic systems, was abruptly halted. Reformers faced persecution; some were executed or exiled. Cixi’s actions reaffirmed traditional power structures within the Qing court. The aborted reforms delayed China’s development and contributed to growing internal unrest.
1898
Empress Dowager Cixi
Hundred Days' Reform
China
1939day.year
Romanian Prime Minister Armand Călinescu is assassinated by the Iron Guard.
Romanian Prime Minister Armand Călinescu is assassinated by the fascist Iron Guard in Bucharest.
On September 21, 1939, gunmen from the Iron Guard ambushed Prime Minister Armand Călinescu’s motorcade in central Bucharest. Călinescu had earned the regime’s ire by banning the ultranationalist movement earlier that year. His assassination shocked Romania and prompted a severe government crackdown on Iron Guard members. Thousands were arrested, and public executions were carried out in retaliation. The event deepened political instability on the eve of World War II. Călinescu’s death marked a turning point in Romania’s tumultuous interwar politics.
1939
Armand Călinescu
Iron Guard
1953day.year
Lieutenant No Kum-sok, a North Korean pilot, defects to South Korea with his jet fighter.
North Korean pilot No Kum-sok defected to South Korea in a jet fighter, providing valuable intelligence.
On September 21, 1953, Lieutenant No Kum-sok, flying a MiG-15 aircraft, landed at Kimpo Air Base in South Korea, defecting from the North.
His bold act came shortly after the Korean War armistice, surprising both allies and adversaries.
No delivered the aircraft intact, offering U.S. forces unprecedented insight into Soviet-built fighter technology.
He was awarded citizenship and a monetary prize, later authoring a memoir about his defection and new life.
The incident highlighted vulnerabilities in North Korean and Soviet air defenses during the Cold War.
No’s defection remains one of the most famous individual flights in aviation and intelligence history.
1953
No Kum-sok
North Korean
pilot
South Korea
1964day.year
Malta gains independence from the United Kingdom, but remains in the Commonwealth.
Malta attained independence from the United Kingdom while retaining membership in the Commonwealth.
On September 21, 1964, Malta officially became an independent nation after over 150 years of British rule.
The new Constitution established a parliamentary government while recognizing the British monarch as head of state.
Malta’s departure from colonial status happened peacefully through negotiations and legal frameworks.
Although independent, Malta chose to remain in the Commonwealth, maintaining ties with former colonies.
Independence allowed Malta to craft its foreign policy, join international organizations, and foster economic development.
The date is now celebrated annually as Malta’s National Day, commemorating its sovereignty and cultural identity.
1964
Malta
United Kingdom
Commonwealth
1965day.year
The Gambia, Maldives and Singapore are admitted as members of the United Nations.
The Gambia, the Maldives, and Singapore were admitted as new member states of the United Nations.
On September 21, 1965, three countries—The Gambia, the Maldives, and Singapore—joined the United Nations.
Their admission reflected the ongoing wave of decolonization across Africa and Asia during the 1960s.
The Gambia had recently gained independence from Britain earlier that year, while the Maldives established its sovereignty in 1965.
Singapore’s UN membership followed its separation from Malaysia, marking its emergence as an independent city-state.
Their inclusion expanded the UN’s global representation and underscored its role in fostering international cooperation.
Each nation brought unique perspectives to the General Assembly, shaping discussions on development, security, and human rights.
1965
The Gambia
Maldives
Singapore
United Nations
1971day.year
Bahrain, Bhutan and Qatar join the United Nations.
On September 21, 1971, Bahrain, Bhutan, and Qatar joined the United Nations, marking their official entry into the global stage. Their accession expanded the UN's membership during a wave of decolonization.
On this day, three newly sovereign states—Bahrain, Bhutan, and Qatar—were officially admitted to the United Nations, culminating their diplomatic efforts. Their memberships reflected the shifting global order in the early 1970s. Admission followed recognition of their independence and governance structures. The move underscored the UN's role in promoting international peace and cooperation. It also highlighted the broader process of decolonization across Asia and the Middle East. Their entry added new voices to the General Assembly, influencing future UN deliberations and resolutions.
1971
Bahrain
Bhutan
Qatar
1972day.year
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos begins authoritarian rule by declaring martial law.
On September 21, 1972, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, ushering in an authoritarian regime that lasted over a decade.
President Ferdinand Marcos used alleged threats of communist insurgency and social unrest to justify imposing martial law across the Philippines. Civil liberties were suspended, the legislature was dissolved, and political opponents were arrested en masse. The declaration granted Marcos near-absolute power, enabling widespread human rights abuses. Media outlets were censored and mass demonstrations were banned. Martial law profoundly altered Filipino society, economy, and governance until its formal lifting in 1981. The period remains deeply controversial in the country's history.
1972
Ferdinand Marcos
declaring martial law