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
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
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
1871day.year
The National Rifle Association of America receives its charter from New York State.
In 1871, the National Rifle Association of America was officially chartered by New York State to promote marksmanship and firearms training.
Founded in the aftermath of the American Civil War, the National Rifle Association (NRA) sought to improve military shooting skills among former soldiers. On November 16, 1871, New York State granted the NRA its corporate charter, enabling it to organize competitions and establish marksmanship programs. Early events at the Creedmoor Range set standards for excellence, safety, and fair competition. Under its charter, the NRA developed training manuals, instructor certifications, and local shooting clubs. Over subsequent decades, the association expanded its mission to include firearm safety education and legislative advocacy. The NRA’s evolution from a competitive sports organization to a major political lobby has been a subject of national debate. Its 1871 charter remains the foundation of one of the most influential groups in American gun culture.
1871
National Rifle Association of America
1885day.year
Canadian rebel leader of the Métis and "Father of Manitoba" Louis Riel is executed for treason.
Canadian Métis leader Louis Riel was executed for treason in 1885, ending the North-West Rebellion.
Louis Riel, a prominent Métis leader and political figure known as the Father of Manitoba, led two uprisings advocating for Métis rights against the Canadian government. After the Red River Rebellion, he formed a provisional government in 1885 during the North-West Rebellion. Captured by Canadian forces, Riel was tried in Regina for high treason. On November 16, 1885, he was hanged, a decision that deepened cultural and linguistic divides between English and French Canadians. Supporters viewed him as a defender of minority rights, while opponents labeled him a traitor to the Crown. His execution influenced Canadian politics for decades and sparked discussions about Indigenous sovereignty. Riel’s legacy endures as a symbol of resistance and the complex struggle for a unified Canada.
1885
Métis
Manitoba
Louis Riel
treason
1907day.year
Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory join to form Oklahoma, which is admitted as the 46th U.S. state.
In 1907, the merger of Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory brought statehood, making Oklahoma the 46th U.S. state.
After decades of territorial governance and settlement, the areas known as Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory were unified to form a single state. On November 16, 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Oklahoma’s admission as the 46th state of the United States. The new state encompassed a diverse population including Native American tribes, settlers, and immigrant pioneers drawn by land runs and economic opportunities. Statehood granted Oklahoma representation in Congress and self-governance under a state constitution. However, the transition also led to complex legal battles over tribal lands and sovereignty. Oklahoma’s creation marked a significant chapter in American westward expansion and the closing of the frontier era.
1907
Indian Territory
Oklahoma Territory
Oklahoma
1933day.year
The United States and the Soviet Union establish formal diplomatic relations.
The United States and the Soviet Union formally established diplomatic relations in 1933, ending years of diplomatic estrangement.
After the Russian Revolution, the U.S. had withheld recognition of the Soviet government for over a decade. On November 16, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration officially recognized the USSR, appointing diplomatic envoys to Moscow and Washington. This milestone opened avenues for political dialogue, trade negotiations, and cultural exchange. While ideological tensions remained, the new relationship laid groundwork for later cooperation during World War II. The recognition marked a strategic shift in U.S. foreign policy and reshaped international diplomatic alignments in the interwar period.
1933
Soviet Union
diplomatic relations
1945day.year
UNESCO is founded.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded to promote global collaboration in education, science, and culture.
Established on November 16, 1945, UNESCO emerged from the ashes of World War II to promote peace through intellectual exchange. Delegates from 37 nations adopted the UNESCO Constitution in Paris, defining goals to safeguard cultural heritage and advance educational and scientific cooperation. The new agency launched initiatives such as literacy programs, cultural preservation projects, and international research partnerships. UNESCO's World Heritage Convention, adopted in 1972, further cemented its role in protecting global landmarks. Today, UNESCO's work spans over 190 member states and encompasses programs in communication, social sciences, and human rights.
1945
UNESCO
1973day.year
U.S. President Richard Nixon signs the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act into law, authorizing the construction of the Alaska Pipeline.
President Richard Nixon signed the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act, approving construction of the Alaska Pipeline.
On November 16, 1973, U.S. President Richard Nixon enacted the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act into law, overcoming environmental and legal challenges to its passage. The legislation greenlit the construction of an 800-mile crude oil pipeline spanning Alaska's Arctic tundra and mountainous regions. This decision came in response to the 1973 oil crisis and the need to secure domestic energy resources. The pipeline would eventually transport oil from the Prudhoe Bay oil fields to the port of Valdez, transforming Alaska's economy. Supporters hailed the act as a strategic national asset, while opponents raised concerns about potential ecological damage in a fragile environment. The law set the stage for one of the largest and most complex engineering projects of its time, reshaping U.S. energy infrastructure.
Richard Nixon
Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act
Alaska Pipeline
1988day.year
The Supreme Soviet of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic declares that Estonia is "sovereign" but stops short of declaring independence.
The Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR declared Estonia sovereign, a historic step toward eventual independence.
On November 16, 1988, the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic adopted a declaration asserting Estonia's sovereignty within the USSR framework. This landmark decision proclaimed that Estonian laws took precedence over Soviet legislation on its territory. While it fell short of full independence, the move signaled a growing national awakening and push for greater autonomy. Estonian leaders leveraged the declaration to demand cultural and economic rights, fueling the Baltic independence movement. The event contributed to the eventual restoration of Estonia's full independence in 1991. It remains a pivotal moment in Estonia's path from Soviet republic to sovereign nation.
1988
Supreme Soviet
Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
declares
Estonia