November 02
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Christianfeast day:
Agapius and companions, Domninus of Vienne, Erc of Slane(Ireland), Justus of Trieste, Victorinus of Pettau, November 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
A Christian feast observed on November 2 to honor early saints including Agapius, Domninus, Erc, Justus, and Victorinus.
All Souls' Day(Roman Catholic ChurchandAnglican Communion)
A solemn day of prayer and remembrance on November 2 observed by the Roman Catholic Church and Anglican Communion to honor departed souls.
Coronation of Haile Selassie(Rastafari)
Celebrates the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia on November 2, 1930, venerated by the Rastafari movement as a sacred event.
Day of the Dead, the second day of Day of the Dead orEl Dia de los Muertoscelebration (Mexico)
The second day of Día de los Muertos on November 2 in Mexico honors deceased relatives with colorful altars, food offerings, and cemetery gatherings.
Dziady(Belarus)
Traditional Belarusian observance on November 2 honoring ancestral spirits through rituals, prayers, and offerings.
Arrival of Indentured Labourers(Mauritius)
Public holiday in Mauritius on November 2 commemorating the arrival of indentured laborers from India in 1834.
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists(United Nations)
UN observance on November 2 raising awareness about crimes against journalists and promoting accountability worldwide.
Statehood Day(North DakotaandSouth Dakota,United States)
Commemorates the admission of North Dakota and South Dakota into the United States on November 2, 1889.
Agapius and companions
Feast day commemorating Agapius and his companions, early Christian martyrs, observed in Eastern Orthodox traditions on November 2.
Events
A qaghan of the Western Turkic Khaganate is assassinated in a Chinese palace by Eastern Turkic rivals after the approval of Tang emperor Gaozu.
In 619, a Western Turkic qaghan was lured into a Chinese palace and assassinated by Eastern Turkic rivals with Emperor Gaozu's approval. This murder reshaped leadership among the Turkic tribes.
The Peace of Bicêtre suspends hostilities in the Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War.
In 1410, the Peace of Bicêtre brought a temporary ceasefire to the Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War. This fragile truce reflected the deep divisions within France's ruling elite.
Plymouth Colony governor Josiah Winslow leads a colonial militia against the Narragansett during King Philip's War.
In 1675, Plymouth Colony governor Josiah Winslow mobilized a militia against the Narragansett tribe during King Philip's War. This confrontation marked a significant escalation in New England's colonial conflicts.
Four British naval vessels run aground on the Isles of Scilly because of faulty navigation. In response, the first Longitude Act is enacted in 1714.
In 1707, a fleet of Royal Navy ships ran aground on the Isles of Scilly due to navigational errors. The tragedy spurred Parliament to pass the first Longitude Act in 1714.
The French Directory, a five-man revolutionary government, is created.
In 1795, the French Directory—a collective five-member government—was established during the volatile aftermath of the Revolution. It aimed to bring stability after years of upheaval.
Time zone: New Zealand officially adopts a standard time to be observed nationally.
In 1868, New Zealand became the first country to adopt a nationwide standard time. This innovation synchronized clocks across the islands and set a global precedent.
The great fire destroys a large part of Oulu's city center in Oulu Province, Finland.
In 1882, a massive fire engulfed Oulu's wooden city center, destroying hundreds of buildings. The blaze prompted a transformation in urban design and fire safety.
North Dakota and South Dakota are admitted as the 39th and 40th U.S. states.
On November 2nd, 1889, North Dakota and South Dakota were admitted as the 39th and 40th states of the United States. This dual statehood capped years of frontier settlement and political compromise.
The Boers begin their 118-day siege of British-held Ladysmith during the Second Boer War.
On November 2nd, 1899, Boer forces laid siege to the British garrison at Ladysmith, initiating a 118-day standoff. The siege became one of the most iconic episodes of the Second Boer War.
Births
Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire renowned for his military conquests into the Indian subcontinent and his patronage of arts and learning.
Gaspare Nadi
Italian Renaissance builder and diarist best known for his detailed notebooks documenting construction life.
Yolande
Duchess of Lorraine who navigated dynastic politics in 15th-century France.
Edward V was King of England and one of the Princes in the Tower whose fate remains one of history’s great mysteries.
Anne of York
Princess Anne of York was the seventh child of King Edward IV whose life reflected the tumult of Yorkist rule in England.
Anna of Austria
Anna of Austria was Queen consort of Spain and instrumental in strengthening Habsburg alliances through her marriage to Philip II.
Edward Colston
English merchant, politician, and philanthropist whose donations funded schools and hospitals in Bristol.
Esmé Stewart
Esmé Stewart was the 2nd Duke of Richmond whose brief life was shaped by dynastic titles and exile.
Conrad Weiser
German-born settler who bridged colonial Pennsylvania and Native American nations as a soldier, diplomat, and judge.
Deaths
Matilda of Flanders
Queen consort of William the Conqueror and Duchess of Normandy, Matilda of Flanders was a powerful medieval figure known for her diplomatic skill.
Saint Malachy
Irish saint and Archbishop of Armagh, known for church reforms and prophetic visions.
Bettisia Gozzadini
Italian jurist and the first woman to lecture at the University of Bologna.
John Sandale
English Bishop of Winchester and Lord High Treasurer under Edward I and Edward II.
Henry Stafford
English nobleman and political leader, executed for his rebellion against Richard III.
Margaret of Lorraine
Duchess of Alençon who renounced her title to live as a nun at Maubuisson Abbey.
Richard Bancroft
English Archbishop of Canterbury and key figure in the production of the King James Bible.
Pyotr Kotlyarevsky
Russian general famed for his victories in the Russo-Turkish Wars and Caucasian campaigns.
Theodore Judah
American engineer whose surveys paved the way for the Transcontinental Railroad.