1142day.year
A peace treaty ends the Jin–Song wars.
A treaty in 1142 formally ends the prolonged Jin–Song wars, reshaping the political landscape of medieval China.
After decades of intermittent conflict, the Jin dynasty and the Southern Song dynasty agreed to terms of peace in 1142. Negotiations resulted in territorial concessions and a tribute arrangement, stabilizing relations in the region. The treaty allowed the Song court to retreat and fortify its holdings south of the Huai River. Economically, the peace spurred a renaissance of trade and cultural exchange in southern China. However, tensions lingered as both sides prepared for potential future skirmishes. The 1142 treaty marked a significant moment in the era of divided Chinese dynasties.
1142
peace treaty
Jin–Song wars
1311day.year
The peerage and clergy restrict the authority of English kings with the Ordinances of 1311.
The Ordinances of 1311 curtail royal power in England, marking an early assertion of baronial and clerical influence over the monarchy.
In 1311, a coalition of English barons and high-ranking clergy forced King Edward II to accept the Ordinances of 1311. This series of legislative measures limited the king’s ability to make unilateral decisions on taxation, appointments, and military campaigns. The ordinances established a council of fifteen members to oversee royal governance and enforce compliance. Although Edward II later reneged on the terms, the ordinances set important precedents for parliamentary checks on the crown. The conflict highlighted growing tensions between monarchy and nobility in medieval England. Ultimately, these events laid groundwork for the development of constitutional governance.
1311
English
kings
Ordinances of 1311
1614day.year
The New Netherland Company applies to the States General of the Netherlands for exclusive trading rights in what is now the northeastern United States.
The New Netherland Company petitions for exclusive trade privileges in northeastern North America, paving the way for Dutch colonial expansion.
In 1614, the Dutch merchants of the New Netherland Company sought a monopoly from the States General to trade in fur, timber, and other commodities along the North American coast. The application targeted the area that would later become New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. The company's petition reflected fierce competition among European powers for colonial markets and resources. While initially granted limited permission, the Dutch crown later expanded these rights under the Dutch West India Company. These early charters laid the foundations for the thriving settlements of New Amsterdam. The move underscored the strategic importance of Atlantic trade in the 17th century.
1614
New Netherland Company
States General of the Netherlands
in what is now the northeastern United States
1840day.year
The Maronite leader Bashir Shihab II surrenders to the Ottoman Empire and later is sent to Malta in exile.
Lebanese Maronite emir Bashir Shihab II surrenders to Ottoman authorities and is exiled to Malta, ending his rule in 1840.
In 1840, Bashir Shihab II, a prominent Maronite leader in Mount Lebanon, capitulated to Ottoman forces after a series of conflicts. His surrender marked the end of his semi-autonomous rule and the beginning of direct Ottoman administration in the region. The Ottoman authorities transported him to Malta, where he spent the remainder of his life in exile. The events reflected the empire’s efforts to centralize control over its Levantine provinces. Bashir’s downfall impacted the balance of power among local religious and feudal groups. His exile symbolized the waning influence of traditional Lebanese emirates under Ottoman modernization drives.
1840
Bashir Shihab II
Ottoman Empire
1906day.year
San Francisco sparks a diplomatic crisis between the United States and Japan by ordering segregated schools for Japanese students.
San Francisco's order to segregate Japanese students sparks a US-Japan diplomatic crisis.
In 1906, the San Francisco School Board ordered the segregation of Japanese students into separate schools, stirring controversy.
The decision was driven by racial prejudice and concerns over overcrowding in urban schools.
The move drew immediate protest from Japan, which saw it as discriminatory treatment of its nationals.
The crisis strained US-Japan relations and threatened trade and diplomatic agreements.
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt intervened to broker a compromise, emphasizing mutual respect.
The resulting Gentlemen’s Agreement of 1907 improved conditions for Japanese immigrants and eased tensions.
This episode underscored the challenges of immigration, race relations, and diplomacy in the early 20th century.
1906
diplomatic crisis
1937day.year
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor tour Nazi Germany for 12 days and meet Adolf Hitler on 22 October.
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor embark on a controversial 12-day tour of Nazi Germany, meeting Adolf Hitler.
In October 1937, Edward VIII, then Duke of Windsor, and his wife, the Duchess of Windsor, undertook a 12-day tour of Nazi Germany.
The visit included stops in several German cities and an official reception in Berlin.
Their itinerary culminated in a private meeting with Adolf Hitler on October 22.
The couple's friendly interactions with the Nazi leadership sparked criticism back in Britain and abroad.
Critics questioned the political implications of sympathetic gestures towards the regime.
Supporters argued it was a social visit with no official sanction from the British government.
The tour remains a controversial episode in the Windsors' post-abdication lives, illustrating the complex politics of appeasement.
1937
Duke
Duchess
tour Nazi Germany
1944day.year
The Tuvan People's Republic is annexed by the Soviet Union.
On October 11, 1944, the Tuvan People's Republic was formally incorporated into the Soviet Union, ending its two-decade nominal independence.
Established in 1921 under Soviet and Mongolian sponsorship, the Tuvan People's Republic maintained autonomous governance for over twenty years. In the context of World War II, Soviet leaders moved to integrate Tuva directly into the USSR for strategic consolidation. The Supreme Soviet approved the annexation, transforming Tuva into an autonomous oblast within the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Soviet authorities implemented political and administrative reforms to align local governance with Moscow’s directives. The incorporation brought infrastructure investment and Soviet citizenship to Tuvans, while also introducing centralized control and repression of dissent. Tuva today remains a republic of the Russian Federation, preserving elements of its indigenous culture amid Soviet legacies.
1944
Tuvan People's Republic
1954day.year
In accord with the 1954 Geneva Conference, French troops complete their withdrawal from North Vietnam.
French forces completed their withdrawal from North Vietnam on October 11, 1954, following the Geneva Conference agreements.
After nearly a decade of colonial conflict, France honored the 1954 Geneva Conference terms by removing its military from North Vietnam on October 11. The conference had provisionally divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel, with Hanoi in the north under Hồ Chí Minh’s leadership. Withdrawal of French troops signaled the formal end of the First Indochina War and led to the establishment of separate governments in North and South Vietnam. The United States, wary of communist expansion, increased its support for South Vietnam in the aftermath. This pivotal moment deepened Cold War tensions in Southeast Asia and laid groundwork for the subsequent Vietnam War. The withdrawal remains a key chapter in Vietnam’s path to reunification and decolonization.
1954
1954 Geneva Conference
1976day.year
George Washington is posthumously promoted to the grade of General of the Armies.
On October 11, 1976, George Washington was posthumously promoted to General of the Armies, the highest rank in the U.S. Army.
President Gerald Ford signed a congressional resolution on October 11, 1976, elevating George Washington to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States, effective as of Washington’s death in 1799. This unprecedented honor ensured that no other U.S. military officer would outrank the first Commander-in-Chief. The rank was previously held only by John J. Pershing. The resolution commemorated Washington’s leadership during the American Revolutionary War and his service as the nation’s first president. Although largely ceremonial, the promotion reinforced Washington’s symbolic stature in American military tradition. Today, the designation remains a unique tribute to his foundational role in the United States.
1976
George Washington
posthumously promoted
1986day.year
Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev meet in Iceland to continue discussions about scaling back IRBM arsenals in Europe.
President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev met in Iceland to negotiate reductions in medium-range nuclear missiles stationed in Europe.
On October 11, 1986, U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev met in Reykjavik, Iceland, for what became known as the Reykjavik Summit.
The leaders aimed to find common ground on cutting back intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) deployments and easing Cold War tensions.
Discussions covered deep reductions in nuclear arsenals and potential limits on strategic offensive weapons.
Although the summit ended without a formal agreement, it paved the way for the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
The Reykjavik meeting broke decades of diplomatic stalemate and set the stage for the eventual end of the arms race.
1986
Ronald Reagan
Mikhail Gorbachev
meet in Iceland
IRBM
1991day.year
Prof. Anita Hill delivers her televised testimony concerning sexual harassment during the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination.
Anita Hill testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about alleged sexual harassment by nominee Clarence Thomas.
On October 11, 1991, law professor Anita Hill took the witness stand during Clarence Thomas’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings.
She detailed instances of sexual harassment she claimed to have experienced while working under Thomas at federal agencies.
Her televised testimony captivated the nation and sparked a widespread dialogue on workplace harassment and gender dynamics.
The hearings highlighted the challenges women faced in speaking out and led to changes in Senate hearing procedures.
Hill’s bravery is credited with igniting the modern movement to address sexual harassment and influence law and policy reforms.
1991
Prof. Anita Hill
Clarence Thomas