November 18
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Christianfeast day:
Abhai of Hach(Syriac Orthodox Church), Alphaeus and Zacchaeus, Barulas, Constant, Dedication of Saints Peter and Paul, Elizabeth of Hungary(Church of England), Juthwara, Mabyn(Roman Catholic ChurchandAnglicanism), The main day of theFeast of the Virgen de Chiquinquiráor Chinita's Fair (Maracaibo,Venezuela), Maudez (Mawes), Nazarius (Nazaire), Odo of Cluny, Romanus of Caesarea, Rose Philippine Duchesne, November 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
A Christian feast day commemorating a diverse group of saints and martyrs observed across various denominations on November 18.
Day of Army and Victory(Haiti)
A public holiday in Haiti commemorating the Haitian army’s decisive victory at the Battle of Vertières in 1803, leading to the country's independence.
Independence Day (Morocco), celebrates the independence ofMoroccofrom France and Spain in 1956.
Morocco's national holiday marking the end of French and Spanish protectorates and the restoration of sovereignty in 1956.
National Day (Oman)
Oman's National Day commemorating the birthday of Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the country's period of modernization and national unity.
Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latviacelebrates the independence ofLatviafrom Russia in 1918.
Latvia's national holiday marking the proclamation of its independence from Russia on November 18, 1918.
Remembrance Day of the Sacrifice of Vukovar in 1991(Croatia)
A Croatian observance honoring the defenders and victims of the 1991 siege of Vukovar during the Homeland War.
Abhai of Hach(Syriac Orthodox Church)
A feast day in the Syriac Orthodox Church honoring Saint Abhai of Hach, celebrated for his monastic devotion and spiritual teachings.
Alphaeus and Zacchaeus
A Christian feast commemorating Saints Alphaeus and Zacchaeus for their examples of faith and transformation.
Barulas
A feast day honoring Saint Barulas, venerated as a young martyr of the early Christian Church.
Events
The old St. Peter's Basilica is consecrated by Pope Sylvester I.
The original St. Peter's Basilica in Rome was solemnly consecrated by Pope Sylvester I, marking a milestone in early Christian architecture.
The Visigoths, led by king Alaric I, cross the Alps and invade northern Italy.
In 401, King Alaric I led the Visigoths across the Alps into northern Italy, signaling a major movement of tribes during the decline of the Western Roman Empire.
The Council of Clermont begins: called by Pope Urban II, it led to the First Crusade to the Holy Land.
Pope Urban II convened the Council of Clermont, where he called Western knights to liberate the Holy Land, sparking the First Crusade.
Maginulfo is elected Antipope Sylvester IV in opposition to Pope Paschal II.
Maginulfo, taking the name Sylvester IV, was elected antipope in opposition to Pope Paschal II amid a fierce papal schism.
Pope Innocent III excommunicates Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV for invading the Kingdom of Sicily after promising to recognize papal control over it.
Pope Innocent III excommunicated Emperor Otto IV for breaking his promise and invading the Kingdom of Sicily, igniting a major church–state conflict.
Pope Boniface VIII issues the Papal bull Unam sanctam, claiming spiritual supremacy for the papacy.
Pope Boniface VIII promulgated Unam sanctam, a decree asserting that submission to the papal authority was necessary for salvation.
St Elizabeth's flood: A dike in the Grote Hollandse Waard in the Netherlands breaks, killing about 10,000 people.
A catastrophic dike failure in the Grote Hollandse Waard unleashed St Elizabeth’s flood, drowning thousands and reshaping the Dutch landscape.
Christopher Columbus first sights the island now known as Puerto Rico.
On his second voyage, Christopher Columbus became the first European to sight the island that would later be named Puerto Rico.
Tiryaki Hasan Pasha, an Ottoman provincial governor, routs the Habsburg forces commanded by Archduke Ferdinand II of Austria who were besieging Nagykanizsa.
Ottoman governor Tiryaki Hasan Pasha decisively defeated Archduke Ferdinand II’s Habsburg forces at Nagykanizsa, lifting the siege.
Births
Itzam K'an Ahk II
A ruler of the Maya city of Piedras Negras in present-day Guatemala during the 8th century.
The 49th emperor of Japan who reigned from 770 to 781 and implemented important administrative reforms.
Lamoral
A Flemish nobleman, military commander, and statesman whose execution helped spark the Dutch Revolt.
Hippolytus Guarinonius
An Italian physician, alchemist, and polymath known for his contributions to early modern medicine and occult studies.
Philipp Ludwig II
A German count who promoted Calvinist practices and oversaw economic and cultural growth in his territories.
Eleonora Gonzaga
Holy Roman Empress who fostered Baroque culture and patronized the arts in 17th-century Vienna.
Pierre Bayle
A French philosopher and writer renowned for his critical writings and advocacy of religious tolerance.
Philibert Commerson
A French naturalist and explorer who collected numerous plant specimens during Bougainville’s circumnavigation.
Carl Friedrich Christian Fasch
A German harpsichordist and composer who founded the Sing-Akademie zu Berlin and advanced choral music in Prussia.
Deaths
Odo of Cluny
Medieval Frankish abbot who transformed Cluny Abbey into a model of Benedictine reform and was later canonized.
Liutgard of Saxony
Duchess of Lorraine and daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Otto I, noted for her political influence in 10th-century Europe.
Thomas of Bayeux
11th-century Archbishop of York who shaped church-state relations in Norman England.
Adelaide of Maurienne
French queen consort renowned for her piety and patronage of religious institutions during the reign of Louis VI.
Albert the Bear
Margrave of Brandenburg who established the Ascanian dynasty's power and expanded German settlement eastward.
Adam Marsh
13th-century English Franciscan scholar and theologian, renowned for his correspondence and counsel to church and state figures.
John II
Duke of Brittany who strengthened his duchy's autonomy and fostered commerce in the late 13th century.
Constance of Portugal
Portuguese princess who became Queen consort of Castile and played a part in 14th-century Iberian diplomacy.
Frederick II
Margrave of Meissen and Landgrave of Thuringia who expanded his territories and patronized the arts in 14th-century Germany.