November 16

Events

951day.year

Emperor Li Jing sends a Southern Tang expeditionary force of 10,000 men under Bian Hao to conquer Chu. Li Jing removes the ruling family to his own capital in Nanjing, ending the Chu Kingdom.

In 951, Emperor Li Jing of Southern Tang dispatched 10,000 troops under Bian Hao to conquer the Chu Kingdom, relocating its royal family to Nanjing and bringing an end to Chu state.
In 951, Emperor Li Jing of Southern Tang launched a major campaign against the neighboring Chu Kingdom. He sent a 10,000-strong expeditionary force commanded by General Bian Hao to invade Chu territory. The Southern Tang army swiftly overcame Chu defenses and entered the capital. Following the victory, Li Jing uprooted the deposed Chu royal family to his court in Nanjing, consolidating his authority. The fall of the Chu Kingdom marked the end of one of the last independent states of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. This conquest further expanded Southern Tang influence in the region and reshaped the political landscape of southern China. The absorption of Chu's territories contributed to a brief era of stability before the eventual rise of the Song dynasty.
951 Li Jing Southern Tang Bian Hao Chu Nanjing
1272day.year

While travelling during the Ninth Crusade, Prince Edward becomes King of England upon Henry III of England's death, but he will not return to England for nearly two years to assume the throne.

In 1272, while on the Ninth Crusade, Prince Edward succeeded his father Henry III as King of England but delayed returning home to claim his throne for nearly two years.
On November 16, 1272, news reached the crusading camp that King Henry III of England had died, making Prince Edward the new monarch in absentia. At the time, Edward was on the Ninth Crusade fighting in the Levant and could not immediately return to England. Despite his accession, the new king's coronation was postponed until his arrival at home. He spent the intervening period negotiating treaties in the Eastern Mediterranean, including agreements with the Mamluk Sultanate. Edward finally left Acre in September 1274 and returned to England the following year. His delayed assumption of power led to a regency council governing in his stead, managing both domestic affairs and ongoing crusade financing. Edward's eventual return and formal coronation in Westminster Abbey solidified his authority and allowed him to focus on pressing issues such as baronial discontent and royal finances.
1272 Ninth Crusade Prince Edward Henry III of England
1491day.year

An auto-da-fé, held in the Brasero de la Dehesa outside of Ávila, concludes the case of the Holy Child of La Guardia with the public execution of several Jewish and converso suspects.

In 1491, an auto-da-fé outside Ávila concluded the Holy Child of La Guardia case with the public execution of several Jewish and converso suspects by the Spanish Inquisition.
On this day in 1491, the Spanish Inquisition held a notorious auto-da-fé on the Brasero de la Dehesa outside Ávila. The ritual marked the culmination of the trial concerning the alleged ritual murder of the Holy Child of La Guardia. Several Jews and conversos were convicted on charges widely regarded as fabricated. They were paraded through the city and solemnly condemned before a gathered crowd. Public executions were carried out, serving as both punishment and a stark warning to others. The event illustrated the intense religious fervor and anti-Semitic atmosphere of late medieval Spain. Historians view the case as a dark episode that exacerbated fear and persecution of Jewish communities just before the 1492 expulsion decree.
1491 auto-da-fé Ávila Holy Child of La Guardia converso
1532day.year

Francisco Pizarro and his men capture Inca Emperor Atahualpa at the Battle of Cajamarca.

In 1532, Francisco Pizarro captured the Inca emperor Atahualpa at Cajamarca, a decisive moment in Spain's conquest of the Inca Empire.
On November 16, 1532, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro and his men ambushed the Inca emperor Atahualpa at the town of Cajamarca. Using cavalry and firearms, the vastly outnumbered Spaniards seized the Inca ruler in a surprise attack. Atahualpa offered a massive ransom of gold and silver for his release, which his subjects delivered in full to fill a large chamber. Despite this, the Spaniards executed him the following year, eliminating the central authority of the Inca state. This dramatic event signaled the rapid collapse of Inca resistance and allowed the Spanish to advance unopposed through the Andes. The fall of Atahualpa paved the way for the establishment of Spanish colonial rule in Peru. Cajamarca remains a symbol of the collision between European and Indigenous American civilizations.
1532 Francisco Pizarro Inca Atahualpa Battle of Cajamarca
1632day.year

King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden was killed at the Battle of Lützen during the Thirty Years' War.

In 1632, King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden was killed at the Battle of Lützen, a pivotal engagement in the Thirty Years' War.
King Gustavus Adolphus, renowned as a military innovator, led Swedish forces in support of Protestant causes during the Thirty Years' War. On November 16, 1632, he commanded his troops at the Battle of Lützen against the Holy Roman Empire's army. Despite securing a tactical victory, the king pressed forward in dense fog and was struck by enemy fire. His death on the battlefield shocked his army and the Protestant alliance. Gustavus Adolphus's leadership had previously turned the tide in favor of the Protestants, earning him the title The Lion of the North. His demise introduced uncertainty into the Swedish war effort and altered the balance of power in Europe. The Battle of Lützen is remembered for both its strategic impact and the dramatic loss of a charismatic ruler.
1632 King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden Battle of Lützen Thirty Years' War
1776day.year

American Revolutionary War: British and Hessian units capture Fort Washington from the Patriots.

In 1776, British and Hessian forces captured Fort Washington from American Patriots, marking a significant British victory in the Revolutionary War.
During the American Revolutionary War, Fort Washington overlooked the Hudson River north of Manhattan, serving as a crucial defensive position. On November 16, 1776, General William Howe's British army, aided by Hessian mercenaries, launched a coordinated attack on the fort. The outnumbered and outgunned American garrison, commanded by Colonel Robert Magaw, was forced into a rapid surrender. Nearly 3,000 Continental soldiers were taken prisoner, delivering a heavy blow to General George Washington's forces. The British gain secured control of northern Manhattan and opened access to the Hudson River corridor. This defeat prompted Washington to consolidate his troops south of the Harlem River, leading to the subsequent Battle of White Plains. The fall of Fort Washington demonstrated British military superiority and tested Patriot resolve in the war's early stages.
1776 American Revolutionary War Hessian capture Fort Washington
1793day.year

French Revolution: Ninety dissident Roman Catholic priests are executed by drowning at Nantes.

In 1793, amid the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, ninety detained Roman Catholic priests were drowned at Nantes for refusing to swear allegiance to the revolutionary government.
As the French Revolution intensified, the Committee of Public Safety sought to eradicate opposition in western France. On November 16, 1793, ninety refractory priests who declined to take the Civil Constitution oath were executed by drowning in the Loire River at Nantes. This grim practice, dubbed the national bathtub, was carried out under the direction of revolutionary leader Jean-Baptiste Carrier. Men, women, and even children labeled as counter-revolutionaries suffered this fate in makeshift prison barges. The mass executions exemplified the brutal extremes of the Reign of Terror and fueled horror across France and Europe. Thousands more perished in similar drownings during the Terror in Vendée campaign. The drownings at Nantes remain one of the Revolution's darkest chapters and a stark reminder of ideological fanaticism.
1793 French Revolution executed by drowning Nantes
1797day.year

The Prussian heir apparent, Frederick William, becomes King of Prussia as Frederick William III.

In 1797, Frederick William III ascended to the Prussian throne upon the death of his father, marking the beginning of his long reign during the Napoleonic era.
Upon the death of King Frederick William II, his son succeeded as Frederick William III of Prussia on November 16, 1797. The new monarch inherited a kingdom facing internal unrest and external threats from revolutionary France. Early in his reign, he maintained alliances with Austria and Russia against Napoleon Bonaparte's expansion. Despite initial defeats, Frederick William III introduced military reforms and later participated in the Wars of Liberation. His conservative policies and caution shaped Prussian politics for over four decades. The king's marriage to Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz proved popular, and she became a symbol of Prussian resilience. Frederick William III's reign set the stage for Prussia's emergence as a major European power in the 19th century.
1797 Frederick William III
1805day.year

Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Schöngrabern: Russian forces under Pyotr Bagration delay the pursuit by French troops under Joachim Murat.

In 1805, at the Battle of Schöngrabern, Russian troops under Pyotr Bagration successfully delayed Marshal Murat's French forces during the Napoleonic Wars.
On November 16, 1805, Russian troops under General Pyotr Bagration fought a fierce rear-guard action at Schöngrabern near Hollabrunn against French cavalry led by Marshal Joachim Murat. The engagement occurred during Napoleon's rapid advance following the Ulm Campaign. Bagration's skilful deployment of infantry squares and artillery enabled his forces to hold strategic positions under heavy attack. His delaying tactics bought critical time for Russian and Austrian armies to regroup and avoid complete encirclement. Although the Russians eventually withdrew, their resistance disrupted French timetables and contributed to the coalition's ability to mount a defense. The Battle of Schöngrabern is remembered as a testament to Bagration's leadership and the effectiveness of disciplined infantry against cavalry charges. This stand influenced the dynamics leading up to the decisive Battle of Austerlitz later that month.
1805 Napoleonic Wars Battle of Schöngrabern Pyotr Bagration Joachim Murat
1822day.year

American Old West: Missouri trader William Becknell arrives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, over a route that became known as the Santa Fe Trail.

In 1822, trader William Becknell completed the first commercial journey along what became the Santa Fe Trail, forging a vital trade route between Missouri and New Mexico.
William Becknell set out from Franklin, Missouri, in 1821 seeking new markets for American goods. On November 16, 1822, he arrived in Santa Fe, then part of newly independent Mexico, successfully trading cloth, trinkets, and hardware. His expedition followed Indigenous trails across the plains, gradually formalizing the route later known as the Santa Fe Trail. The trail spanning over 900 miles became a major artery for trade, migration, and cultural exchange in the American West. Becknell's journey opened the door to commerce that linked the United States interior with Mexican territories. In subsequent years, wagons laden with manufactured goods traveled east while silver, furs, and mules journeyed west. The Santa Fe Trail remained vital until the arrival of the railroad in the late 19th century, shaping the economic development of the region.
1822 American Old West Missouri William Becknell Santa Fe, New Mexico Santa Fe Trail
1828day.year

Greek War of Independence: The London Protocol entails the creation of an autonomous Greek state under Ottoman suzerainty, encompassing the Morea and the Cyclades.

The London Protocol of 1828 established an autonomous Greek state under Ottoman suzerainty, defining the Morea and the Cyclades as its territory.
In 1828, representatives from Britain, France, and Russia convened to draft the London Protocol, redefining the political landscape of the Ionian region. The agreement recognized Greece as an autonomous state under nominal Ottoman suzerainty, marking a pivotal step towards full independence. It specified the territories of the Morea peninsula and the Cyclades islands as part of this new polity. By formalizing boundaries, the protocol laid the foundation for the modern Greek state. Although still under Ottoman influence, the accord boosted Greek national identity and international recognition. It also influenced subsequent treaties that expanded Greek territory. The London Protocol remains a significant milestone in the Greek struggle for independence.
1828 Greek War of Independence London Protocol Morea Cyclades
1849day.year

A Russian court sentences writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky to death for anti-government activities linked to a radical intellectual group; his sentence is later commuted to hard labor.

In 1849, Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky was condemned to death for involvement in a radical intellectual circle, only to have his sentence commuted to hard labor in Siberia.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, who would later become famed for novels such as Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov, was arrested for alleged involvement in the Petrashevsky Circle, a group advocating political reform. On November 16, 1849, a military tribunal in St. Petersburg sentenced him to death by firing squad. In a dramatic twist, the execution was commuted at the very last moment to a term of hard labor and compulsory military service in Siberia. This brush with death profoundly influenced Dostoyevsky's perceptions of suffering, redemption, and faith. His Siberian exile lasted four years, during which he performed manual labor and later served as a clerk. The experience shaped his philosophical and literary outlook, directly informing works such as Notes from the House of the Dead. Dostoyevsky's survival and reflections on morality and adversity became defining themes of his later masterpieces.
1849 Fyodor Dostoyevsky