1398day.year
In the Treaty of Salynas, Lithuania cedes Samogitia to the Teutonic Knights.
In 1398, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania ceded Samogitia to the Teutonic Knights under the terms of the Treaty of Salynas.
The Treaty of Salynas was signed in 1398 between Vytautas the Great of Lithuania and the Teutonic Knights to end ongoing territorial disputes. Under its terms, Lithuania relinquished control of the strategically vital Samogitia region, granting it to the Knights. This concession aimed to secure peace along the volatile border and allow Vytautas to focus on internal consolidation. Despite the treaty, tensions persisted as Samogitians resisted Teutonic rule, leading to future conflicts. The accord reflects the complex diplomacy and power struggles of medieval Eastern Europe and shaped the region’s history.
1398
Treaty of Salynas
Lithuania
Samogitia
Teutonic Knights
1692day.year
The Salem witch trials are ended by a letter from Province of Massachusetts Bay Governor William Phips.
In 1692, Governor William Phips of Massachusetts Bay issued a decree that brought the Salem witch trials to an end.
After months of hysteria and numerous executions for alleged witchcraft, Governor William Phips arrived in Salem and assessed the turmoil. On October 12, 1692, he issued a letter dissolving the special court responsible for the trials and ordering the release of many accused individuals. The governor’s intervention effectively halted the proceedings and spared further lives from the gallows. Survivors and bereaved families struggled to rebuild their reputations and communities in the aftermath. The Salem witch trials remain a cautionary tale about mass panic, flawed legal processes, and the dangers of religious extremism in colonial America.
1692
Salem witch trials
Province of Massachusetts Bay
Governor
William Phips
1822day.year
Pedro I of Brazil is proclaimed the emperor.
Pedro I is proclaimed Emperor of Brazil in 1822, establishing the Empire of Brazil.
On October 12, 1822, Dom Pedro I was officially proclaimed Emperor of Brazil, months after declaring the country’s independence from Portugal. His ascent followed the famous 'Cry of Ipiranga' and a successful campaign to separate Brazil from colonial rule. As emperor, Pedro I oversaw the drafting of Brazil’s first constitution in 1824, establishing a constitutional monarchy. His reign set the framework for Brazil’s political institutions and national identity. Despite facing internal conflicts and eventually abdicating in 1831, Pedro I’s leadership laid the foundation for the nation’s future development.
1822
Pedro I of Brazil
1849day.year
The city of Manizales, Colombia, is founded by 'The Expedition of the 20'.
Manizales, Colombia is founded in 1849 by a group of settlers known as 'The Expedition of the 20'.
In 1849, a band of pioneers called 'The Expedition of the 20' established the city of Manizales in the mountainous region of central Colombia. Chosen for its fertile highland valleys, the site quickly became a center for coffee cultivation and trade. The founders laid out the initial streets and public squares, setting a pattern for the city’s future growth. Over time, Manizales expanded into a vibrant urban hub known for its cultural festivals and universities. Today, it remains an important economic and educational center in the Colombian Andes.
1849
Manizales
1871day.year
The British in India enact the Criminal Tribes Act, naming many local communities "Criminal Tribes".
The British colonial government in India passes the Criminal Tribes Act in 1871, branding entire communities as criminal by birth.
In 1871, the British Raj enacted the Criminal Tribes Act, legally categorizing numerous indigenous and nomadic communities as criminal tribes subject to constant surveillance and control. The legislation mandated fingerprinting, registration, and forced settlements, disrupting traditional livelihoods. Stigmatized groups faced social isolation and harsh penalties for minor offenses. The act reflected colonial anxieties about mobility and order, underpinning discriminatory governance practices. Although repealed in 1949, its legacy persisted in the form of systemic prejudice against affected communities in post-independence India.
1871
Criminal Tribes Act
1901day.year
President Theodore Roosevelt officially renames the "Executive Mansion" to the White House.
President Theodore Roosevelt officially renamed the Executive Mansion as the White House on October 12, 1901, establishing its enduring title.
The building at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has served as the residence and office of every U.S. president since John Adams.
Initially known as the President's Palace and later the Executive Mansion, its common name varied over time.
On October 12, 1901, Roosevelt issued an order officially renaming it the White House.
The designation reflected the building's distinctive white-painted sandstone exterior and widespread popular usage.
Since then, the White House has become an enduring symbol of the U.S. presidency and American leadership.
1901
Theodore Roosevelt
White House
1933day.year
The military Alcatraz Citadel becomes the civilian Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary.
On October 12, 1933, the military Alcatraz Citadel transitioned into the civilian Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary.
Located on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, the facility had served as a military fortification since the 1850s.
In October 1933, the U.S. Department of Justice converted the former military citadel into a federal penitentiary.
The move was intended to isolate and securely detain the nation's most dangerous criminals.
Its remote island setting and strict discipline quickly earned it the nickname 'The Rock'.
Over the years, infamous inmates like Al Capone and George 'Machine Gun' Kelly were housed within its walls.
1933
Alcatraz Citadel
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary
1945day.year
The Lao Issara took control of Laos' government and reaffirmed the country's independence.
Lao Issara seizes control of Laos' government and declares full independence from colonial rule.
The Lao Issara, a nationalist movement formed during Japanese occupation, seized control of the Laotian government in 1945. They declared full independence from French colonial rule and established a provisional administration in Luang Prabang. This decisive takeover marked the first assertion of Laotian sovereignty after centuries of foreign domination. Despite facing diplomatic isolation and limited resources, the Issara government sought international recognition and aid. Its actions ignited both popular support at home and tensions with neighboring powers. The period set the stage for later conflicts and the eventual formation of the modern Laotian state.
Lao Issara
1959day.year
At the national congress of the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance in Peru, a group of leftist radicals are expelled from the party who later form APRA Rebelde.
Radical members expelled from Peru's APRA form the APRA Rebelde faction.
At the 1959 national congress of the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA) in Lima, ideological divisions erupted between moderate and leftist elements. A group of young radicals, dissatisfied with the party's direction, were formally expelled after challenging party orthodoxy. These exiled members went on to establish APRA Rebelde, positioning themselves as a more militant, socialist alternative. The split highlighted deep tensions within Peru's leading political movement over strategies for social reform. APRA Rebelde briefly influenced labor and student movements before fading amid government crackdowns. The schism had lasting implications for Peru's leftist politics in the 1960s.
1959
APRA Rebelde
1960day.year
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev pounds his shoe on a desk at the United Nations to protest a Philippine assertion.
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev pounds his shoe on a UN desk in a dramatic protest.
During a heated session of the United Nations General Assembly on October 12, 1960, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev reacted angrily to a criticism by Philippine delegate Lorenzo Sumulong. In a famous display, Khrushchev removed his shoe and pounded it on the desk to emphasize his outrage. The incident shocked delegates and became one of the Cold War's most enduring symbols of Soviet defiance. Western media and cartoons quickly picked up the dramatic moment, cementing Khrushchev's image as confrontational. The shoe-banging episode underscored the intense ideological clashes defining UN debates at the height of East-West tension.
1960
Nikita Khrushchev
pounds his shoe on a desk
1963day.year
After nearly 23 years of imprisonment, Reverend Walter Ciszek, a Jesuit missionary, was released from the Soviet Union.
Jesuit missionary Walter Ciszek is freed after 23 years in Soviet prisons and labor camps.
Father Walter Ciszek, an American Jesuit priest, was arrested by Soviet authorities in 1941 on charges of espionage. He endured nearly 23 years in harsh imprisonment, including time in the notorious Lubyanka prison and Gulag labor camps. Throughout his ordeal, Ciszek maintained a secret diary detailing daily survival, spiritual reflections, and the brutal conditions he faced. His release on October 12, 1963, was secured through a prisoner exchange amid Cold War tensions. Upon returning to the United States, he shared his experiences in writings that offered rare insight into life under Stalinist repression. Ciszek's dedication to faith and endurance in adversity inspired many and contributed to historical understanding of Soviet-era human rights abuses.
1963
Walter Ciszek
1968day.year
Equatorial Guinea becomes independent from Spain.
Equatorial Guinea declares independence from Spain, becoming the first Spanish colony in Sub-Saharan Africa to do so.
On October 12, 1968, the former Spanish territory of Río Muni and the island of Bioko officially gained sovereignty as the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. The move ended over 150 years of Spanish colonial rule in the region. Francisco Macías Nguema was elected as the country's first president in the lead-up to the handover. International observers noted both celebrations and concerns over the speed of departure by Spanish administrators. The new nation faced challenges including limited economic infrastructure, ethnic tensions, and the need to build governmental institutions. Equatorial Guinea's independence set a precedent for decolonization in Africa and reshaped geopolitical relationships in the Gulf of Guinea.
1968
Equatorial Guinea