November 17
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Athens Polytechnic Uprising Remembrance Day(Greece)
Remembers the 1973 student-led uprising at Greece’s National Technical University against the military junta.
Christianfeast days:
Acisclus, Aignan of Orleans, Elizabeth of Hungary, Gennadius of Constantinople(Greek Orthodox Church), Gregory of Tours(Roman Catholic Church), Gregory Thaumaturgus, Hilda of Whitby, Hugh of Lincoln, November 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Commemorates multiple saints, including Acisclus, Aignan of Orleans, Elizabeth of Hungary, and others in Christian liturgical traditions.
International Students' Day
A global observance highlighting student activism and the power of youth in shaping society.
Martyrs' Day(Odisha, India)
Honors the sacrifice of Odisha’s freedom fighters in India’s struggle against British rule.
Presidents Day(Marshall Islands)
Celebrates the contributions of the presidents of the Marshall Islands since its independence in 1979.
World Prematurity Day
Raises awareness of preterm birth and advocates for the health of premature infants and their families.
Acisclus
Commemorates Saint Acisclus, a 4th-century martyr from Córdoba revered in the Catholic tradition.
Aignan of Orleans
Honors Saint Aignan, bishop of Orléans, celebrated for his role in defending the city against Attila the Hun.
Elizabeth of Hungary
Celebrates Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, renowned for her extraordinary charity and care for the poor.
Events
Emperor Charles the Fat is deposed by the Frankish magnates in an assembly at Frankfurt, leading his nephew, Arnulf of Carinthia, to declare himself king of the East Frankish Kingdom in late November.
Emperor Charles the Fat was deposed by Frankish nobles in Frankfurt, and Arnulf of Carinthia claimed the East Frankish throne.
Genpei War: The Battle of Mizushima takes place off the Japanese coast, where Minamoto no Yoshinaka's invasion force is intercepted and defeated by the Taira clan.
In 1183, during the Genpei War, the Taira clan intercepted and defeated Minamoto no Yoshinaka's invasion fleet at the Battle of Mizushima.
John Balliol becomes King of Scotland.
In 1292, John Balliol was chosen as King of Scotland after a succession dispute known as the Great Cause.
Sharif ul-Hāshim establishes the Sultanate of Sulu.
In 1405, Sharif ul-Hāshim founded the Sultanate of Sulu in the southern Philippines, establishing a new Islamic polity.
French King Charles VIII occupies Florence, Italy.
In 1494, King Charles VIII of France occupied Florence as part of his Italian campaign, signaling the start of the Italian Wars.
Henry VIII of England concludes the Treaty of Westminster, a pledge of mutual aid against the French, with Ferdinand II of Aragon.
In 1511, Henry VIII of England and Ferdinand II of Aragon signed the Treaty of Westminster, aligning against France.
Elizabethan era begins: Queen Mary I of England dies and is succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth I of England.
In 1558, Queen Mary I died and was succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth I, ushering in the Elizabethan era.
English explorer, writer and courtier Sir Walter Raleigh goes on trial for treason.
In 1603, Sir Walter Raleigh faced trial for treason before the Star Chamber under King James I.
The city of Kuopio, Finland (belonging to Sweden at this time) is founded by King Gustav III of Sweden.
In 1775, King Gustav III of Sweden founded the city of Kuopio in Finland as a new regional center.
Births
Vespasian
Roman emperor who founded the Flavian dynasty and restored stability to the Roman Empire after a period of civil war.
Sima Guang
Song dynasty chancellor and historian who compiled the influential historical work "Zizhi Tongjian."
Zanobi Strozzi
Early Renaissance Italian painter known for his delicate religious scenes and manuscript illuminations.
Alfonso
Heir apparent to the Castilian throne whose early death altered the succession during the Wars of the Castilian Civil War.
John Neville
English nobleman and Tudor courtier who served as the 3rd Baron Latimer during the reign of Henry VIII.
Bronzino
Leading Mannerist painter of Florence, celebrated for his elegant portraits and allegorical works.
Roque González de Santa Cruz
Jesuit missionary and martyr who evangelized indigenous peoples in South America and was later canonized.
Joost van den Vondel
The most celebrated Dutch Baroque poet and playwright, often called the "Dutch Shakespeare."
Agnes of Jesus
Canoness known for her mystical visions and spiritual guidance in early 17th-century France.
Deaths
Valentinian I
Valentinian I was Roman Emperor from 364 to 375, known for fortifying the empire's frontiers and reforming its military and legal systems.
Gregory of Tours
Gregory of Tours was a Gallo-Roman bishop whose 'History of the Franks' remains a cornerstone of medieval historiography.
Emperor Jomei was the 34th sovereign of Japan, presiding from 629 to 641 during a pivotal era of court consolidation and Buddhist influence.
Liutgard of Saxony was Queen consort of East Francia, wielding influence as daughter of Emperor Louis the German and wife of King Louis the Younger.
Chen Jinfeng
Chen Jinfeng was Empress of the Min Kingdom during China's Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, noted for her political and cultural patronage.
Wang Yanjun
Wang Yanjun was ruler of the Min Kingdom from 928 until his assassination in 935, the first among the Ten Kingdoms to claim the imperial title.
Nikephoros Melissenos
Nikephoros Melissenos was a Byzantine general and aristocrat who rebelled against Alexios I before becoming governor of Nicaea.
Usama ibn Munqidh
Usama ibn Munqidh was an Arab poet, diplomat, and chronicler famed for his memoirs offering rare insights into the Crusader era.
Elizabeth of Hungary was a 13th-century princess revered for her charitable devotion to the poor and sick.