904day.year
The warlord Zhu Quanzhong kills Emperor Zhaozong, the penultimate emperor of the Tang dynasty, after seizing control of the imperial government.
In 904, warlord Zhu Quanzhong seized control of the Tang imperial court and assassinated Emperor Zhaozong, marking the dynasty's final decline.
By the early 10th century, the Tang dynasty was weakened by internal strife and regional warlords. Zhu Quanzhong, a powerful general, had gradually consolidated military control over the imperial court. On September 22, 904, he seized the palace and executed Emperor Zhaozong, the dynasty's penultimate ruler. This assassination marked a decisive end to central Tang authority and paved the way for the Later Liang dynasty. Zhu later deposed Zhaozong's son and established his own rule. The event symbolized the collapse of one of China's greatest dynasties and ushered in the chaotic Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. It remains a pivotal moment illustrating the volatility of late imperial politics.
904
Zhu Quanzhong
Emperor Zhaozong
1499day.year
The Treaty of Basel concludes the Swabian War.
In 1499, the Treaty of Basel ended the Swabian War, securing Swiss autonomy within the Holy Roman Empire.
The Treaty of Basel was signed on September 22, 1499, bringing the Swabian War to a close between the Old Swiss Confederacy and the Swabian League. Negotiations at Basel confirmed the de facto independence of the Swiss cantons by lifting imperial bans. The agreement halted decades of border skirmishes and regional unrest. It laid the groundwork for the Swiss Confederacy’s growth in trade and political influence. The treaty is regarded as a milestone in the emergence of Switzerland as a distinct entity within Central Europe. Its resolution reshaped power balances at the dawn of the 16th century.
1499
Treaty of Basel
Swabian War
1761day.year
George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz are crowned King and Queen, respectively, of the Kingdom of Great Britain.
On September 22, 1761, George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz were crowned King and Queen of Great Britain at Westminster Abbey.
The coronation of George III took place on September 22, 1761, at Westminster Abbey in London. Ascending to the throne at age 22, George’s reign would become one of the longest in British history. His bride, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, joined him in elaborate ceremony, symbolizing dynastic continuity. The event followed Britain’s successes in the Seven Years’ War, heightening national pride. Pageantry, music, and lavish public celebrations set a new standard for royal ceremonies. The coronation reinforced the monarchy’s central role in British politics and culture. It also marked the beginning of a partnership whose patronage would shape the arts and sciences.
1761
George III
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
crowned King and Queen
1789day.year
The office of United States Postmaster General is established.
In 1789, the United States established the office of Postmaster General, laying the foundation for a national postal system.
On September 22, 1789, the first Act of Congress under the new U.S. Constitution created the United States Post Office Department and the position of Postmaster General. This legislation organized mail delivery across the young nation, linking distant states and territories. The establishment of the office facilitated communication, commerce, and governance in the post-Revolutionary period. It set a precedent for federal involvement in infrastructure and public services. Over time, the Post Office became a critical institution for American daily life. The date is remembered as a milestone in the country's civic and administrative development.
1789
United States Postmaster General
1792day.year
Primidi Vendémiaire of year one of the French Republican Calendar as the French First Republic comes into being.
On September 22, 1792, France inaugurated Primidi Vendémiaire of Year I, officially establishing the French First Republic.
Primidi Vendémiaire marked the first day of the French Revolutionary Calendar and symbolized the break from the Ancien Régime.
On this day, the National Convention abolished the monarchy and formed the French First Republic.
Royalist symbols were suppressed in favor of new republican calendars and civic traditions.
The revolutionary government introduced decimal time and new month names to reflect Enlightenment ideals.
This radical calendar reform aimed to secularize and rationalize French society after the Revolution.
Although later abandoned, the Revolutionary Calendar exemplified the era's fervent desire for political and cultural transformation.
1792
Vendémiaire
1862day.year
A preliminary version of the Emancipation Proclamation is released by Abraham Lincoln.
Abraham Lincoln released a preliminary draft of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, signaling a turning point in the American Civil War and the fight against slavery.
On September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln unveiled the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation after the Union victory at Antietam.
The document declared that slaves in rebelling states would be freed as of January 1, 1863.
Lincoln framed emancipation as a war measure to weaken the Confederacy and uphold the Union.
The announcement shifted the focus of the Civil War toward moral and humanitarian goals.
It discouraged European powers from siding with the Confederacy and galvanized abolitionist support.
Though initially limited in scope, the Proclamation paved the way for the Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery nationwide.
1862
Emancipation Proclamation
1885day.year
Lord Randolph Churchill makes a speech in Ulster in opposition to the Irish Home Rule movement.
In 1885, Lord Randolph Churchill delivered a forceful speech in Ulster condemning the Irish Home Rule movement and rallying unionist opposition.
On September 22, 1885, British politician Lord Randolph Churchill spoke in Belfast, Ulster, denouncing proposals for Irish self-government.
He argued that Home Rule threatened the integrity of the United Kingdom and Protestant interests in Ireland.
Churchill's fiery rhetoric galvanized Ulster unionists and foreshadowed the formation of the Ulster Loyalist movement.
His stance influenced Conservative Party policy and deepened divisions in Irish politics.
The speech marked a key moment in the struggle over Ireland's constitutional future.
It set the stage for decades of unionist-nationalist conflict leading up to Irish independence.
1885
Lord Randolph Churchill
Irish Home Rule movement
1896day.year
Queen Victoria surpasses her grandfather King George III as the longest reigning monarch in British history (later surpassed by her great-great-granddaughter Elizabeth II on 9 September 2015).
In 1896, Queen Victoria became the longest reigning British monarch, surpassing her grandfather King George III and setting a record that stood for over a century.
On September 22, 1896, Queen Victoria marked her 63rd year on the throne, overtaking her grandfather King George III's 59-year reign.
Her tenure had witnessed the expansion of the British Empire and sweeping industrial and social changes at home.
The milestone was celebrated with public honours, commemorative medals, and newspaper tributes.
Victoria's record as the longest-serving monarch remained unmatched until Queen Elizabeth II in 2015.
Her extraordinary reign left a lasting impact on global politics, culture, and the perception of monarchy.
The event underscored the enduring stability and adaptability of the British constitutional system.
1896
Queen Victoria
Elizabeth II
1948day.year
Gail Halvorsen officially starts parachuting candy to children as part of the Berlin Airlift.
On September 22, 1948, pilot Gail Halvorsen began dropping candy parcels to German children during the Berlin Airlift.
Gail Halvorsen, known as the 'Candy Bomber', initiated Operation Little Vittles on this day in 1948.
Flying over blockaded West Berlin, he dropped candy attached to tiny parachutes for ration-deprived children below.
His acts of kindness quickly inspired fellow airmen, boosting morale amid Cold War tensions.
Local children awaited his flights with homemade signals, creating a heartwarming bond between occupiers and residents.
The makeshift candy drops evolved into an official U.S. Air Force initiative, delivering tons of sweets.
Halvorsen's gesture transcended politics, symbolizing hope and humanity during a time of division.
1948
Gail Halvorsen
officially starts
parachuting candy
1948day.year
Israeli-Palestine conflict: The All-Palestine Government is established by the Arab League.
The Arab League proclaimed the All-Palestine Government in Gaza in 1948, aiming to unify Palestinian leadership.
On September 22, 1948, Arab League leaders convened to establish the All-Palestine Government under Egyptian patronage.
Headquartered in Gaza, it sought to assert Palestinian self-rule following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
Leaders appointed Amin al-Husayni as president, but the government lacked full sovereignty and international recognition.
Its creation deepened regional divisions and complicated efforts toward a lasting peace.
Although short-lived, the All-Palestine Government marked an early attempt at formal Palestinian governance.
Its legacy influenced subsequent political developments and the ongoing discourse on Palestinian statehood.
Israeli-Palestine conflict
All-Palestine Government
Arab League
1957day.year
In Haiti, François Duvalier is elected president.
François 'Papa Doc' Duvalier was elected president of Haiti in 1957, beginning his decades-long authoritarian rule.
In the Haitian general election of September 22, 1957, François Duvalier secured the presidency with populist promises.
His law-and-order campaign resonated with rural voters, earning him the nickname 'Papa Doc'.
Shortly after taking office, Duvalier consolidated power by appointing loyalists and suppressing opponents.
He established the Tonton Macoute militia, which enforced his rule through intimidation and violence.
Duvalier's regime stifled dissent and embellished his image with cult-like propaganda.
His election marked the beginning of a dark era in Haitian history, lasting until his death in 1971.
1957
François Duvalier
1960day.year
The Sudanese Republic is renamed Mali after the withdrawal of Senegal from the Mali Federation.
The Sudanese Republic adopts the name Mali after Senegal withdraws from the brief Mali Federation.
On September 22, 1960, the Sudanese Republic officially changed its name to Mali following Senegal's withdrawal from the Mali Federation.
The Mali Federation had been established to unite the two territories into a single nation but quickly dissolved due to political differences.
The new name honored the ancient Mali Empire, recalling a period of medieval West African prominence.
This historic rebranding marked the country's full emergence as an independent republic free from colonial influence.
The name Mali would become synonymous with the nation's rich cultural heritage and post-colonial identity.
1960
Mali Federation