461day.year
Libius Severus is declared emperor of the Western Roman Empire. The real power is in the hands of the magister militum Ricimer.
Libius Severus was proclaimed Western Roman Emperor, though true authority lay with the powerful military commander Ricimer.
Libius Severus, a Roman senator, ascended to the imperial throne in Ravenna on November 19, 461. However, the magister militum Ricimer held the real power, having deposed previous emperors to assert his dominance. Under Severus's nominal reign, Ricimer controlled military and political decisions across the Western Empire. This event highlights the decline of the imperial office and the rise of military strongmen. The situation underscored the fragmentation and internal strife that plagued the late Western Roman Empire.
461
Libius Severus
Western Roman Empire
Ricimer
636day.year
The Rashidun Caliphate defeats the Sasanian Empire at the Battle of al-Qādisiyyah in Iraq.
The Rashidun Caliphate achieved a decisive victory over the Sasanian Empire at the Battle of al-Qādisiyyah in Iraq.
The Battle of al-Qādisiyyah occurred on November 19, 636, near modern-day Al-Qadisiyah in southern Iraq. In a decisive engagement, the Rashidun Caliphate's forces defeated the larger army of the Sasanian Empire. Commanded by Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqās, the Muslim troops used superior tactics and morale to overcome their opponents. This victory opened the path to Ctesiphon, the Sasanian capital, hastening the empire's collapse. The battle secured Muslim control of Mesopotamia and reshaped the political landscape of the region. Al-Qādisiyyah remains a landmark event in the history of early Islamic expansion.
636
Rashidun Caliphate
Sasanian Empire
Battle of al-Qādisiyyah
Iraq
1493day.year
Christopher Columbus goes ashore on an island called Borinquen he first saw the day before. He names it San Juan Bautista (later renamed again Puerto Rico).
On his second voyage, Christopher Columbus landed on Borinquen, naming it San Juan Bautista, later known as Puerto Rico.
During his second voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus went ashore on an island called Borinquen on November 19, 1493. He named it San Juan Bautista in honor of Saint John the Baptist. This marked Spain's first formal claim to the island, which would later be renamed Puerto Rico. Columbus and his crew mapped the coastline and noted fertile lands and abundant resources. The landing paved the way for European colonization and profound cultural changes for the indigenous Taíno people. It also exemplified the broader age of exploration that reshaped global history.
1493
Christopher Columbus
Puerto Rico
1794day.year
The United States and the Kingdom of Great Britain sign Jay's Treaty, which attempts to resolve some of the lingering problems left over from the American Revolutionary War.
The United States and Great Britain signed Jay's Treaty, aiming to resolve lingering issues from the Revolutionary War.
Jay's Treaty was signed on November 19, 1794, by U.S. envoy John Jay and Great Britain in London. The agreement aimed to resolve lingering disputes from the American Revolutionary War, including British military posts in the Northwest Territory and pre-war debts. It facilitated ten years of peaceful trade between the two nations and averted further military conflicts. The treaty required British withdrawal from frontier forts and granted limited American access to British markets in the West Indies. Domestically, the accord became a flashpoint for partisan debate, strengthening the Federalist Party's influence in foreign policy. Jay's Treaty set a precedent for diplomatic negotiation with European powers and shaped early U.S. international relations.
1794
Jay's Treaty
American Revolutionary War
1802day.year
The Garinagu arrive at British Honduras (present-day Belize).
Members of the Garinagu community arrived in British Honduras, laying the foundations for modern Garifuna culture.
In November 1802, the Garinagu people, descendants of West African slaves and indigenous Caribs, arrived on the coast of British Honduras. They had been forcibly relocated from the island of St. Vincent by British colonial authorities. Upon landing, the Garinagu established settlements and adapted their traditions to a new environment. Their presence introduced a vibrant blend of language, music, and food that still characterizes Garifuna culture today. Despite initial hardships, they secured land grants and built communities along the Caribbean coast. The Garinagu arrival marked the beginning of a lasting cultural legacy in present-day Belize, commemorated each year in Garifuna Settlement Day.
1802
Garinagu
Belize
1808day.year
Finnish War: The Convention of Olkijoki in Raahe ends hostilities in Finland.
The Convention of Olkijoki ended hostilities in Finland during the Finnish War.
On November 19, 1808, Sweden and Russia signed the Convention of Olkijoki in Raahe, Finland. This armistice halted active combat in the Finnish War while peace terms were negotiated. It allowed Swedish troops to withdraw honorably and marked a shift toward Russian control of Finland. The agreement provided temporary relief for civilians and military alike amidst prolonged hostilities since February. Ultimately, the convention paved the way for the 1809 Treaty of Fredrikshamn, which ceded Finnish territory to Russia. The event played a crucial role in the geopolitical realignment of Northern Europe during the Napoleonic era.
1808
Finnish War
Raahe
Finland
1816day.year
Warsaw University is established.
Warsaw University was founded, becoming a key center for higher learning in Poland.
Established on November 19, 1816, under the Kingdom of Poland, Warsaw University opened with faculties of law, medicine, and philosophy. It aimed to educate Polish elites and nurture national identity during a period of foreign partition. Early faculty members included prominent scholars who fostered a revival of Polish science and culture. Despite political upheavals, the university expanded its curriculum to include humanities, natural sciences, and engineering. Over time, it became instrumental in intellectual resistance and the preservation of Polish language and traditions. Today, the University of Warsaw stands as Poland's largest institution of higher education, renowned for academic excellence.
1816
Warsaw University
1847day.year
The second Canadian railway line, the Montreal and Lachine Railroad, is opened.
Canada's second railway line, the Montreal and Lachine Railroad, began operations.
On November 19, 1847, the Montreal and Lachine Railroad commenced service, linking Montreal to the town of Lachine in Canada East. As the country's second railway, it bypassed the hazardous Lachine Rapids and streamlined the transport of goods and passengers. The introduction of steam locomotives reduced travel time significantly compared to river navigation. This railway spurred economic growth, encouraging further investment in Canadian infrastructure. Its success inspired the expansion of rail networks across British North America. The Montreal and Lachine Railroad stands as a landmark in North America's transportation history.
1847
Montreal and Lachine Railroad
1863day.year
American Civil War: U.S. President Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address at the dedication ceremony for the military cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, a defining moment in American history.
At the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. In just around two minutes and 272 words, Lincoln honored fallen Union soldiers and reaffirmed the ideals of liberty and equality. He redefined the Civil War as a struggle "that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." The speech's brevity, eloquence, and moral clarity elevated it to a timeless expression of American democracy. Delivered on the battlefield where thousands had died days earlier, it helped heal a divided nation. The Gettysburg Address remains one of the most influential speeches in U.S. history, shaping national identity and political rhetoric.
1863
American Civil War
Abraham Lincoln
Gettysburg Address
military cemetery
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
1881day.year
A meteorite lands near the village of Grossliebenthal, southwest of Odesa, Ukraine.
A meteorite fell near Grossliebenthal in present-day Ukraine, attracting scientific attention.
On November 19, 1881, fragments of a meteorite shower fell near the village of Grossliebenthal southwest of Odesa, Ukraine. Local residents recovered several stones, sparking interest from scientists and collectors. Analysis of the meteorite provided insights into the composition of early solar system materials. Reports of the event appeared in contemporary scientific journals and meteorological records. Some specimens were later deposited in European museums for further study. The Grossliebenthal meteorite remains a notable case in the history of meteoritics, contributing to planetary science research.
1881
lands
Odesa
1885day.year
Serbo-Bulgarian War: Bulgarian victory in the Battle of Slivnitsa solidifies the unification between the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia.
At the Battle of Slivnitsa in November 1885, Bulgarian forces defeated Serbia, cementing the unification of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia.
The Serbo-Bulgarian War erupted over the annexation of Eastern Rumelia by Bulgaria.
Bulgarian troops launched a surprise attack at Slivnitsa and repelled the Serbian invasion.
Their victory secured the de facto union of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia.
European powers subsequently recognized this unification, bolstering Bulgarian national identity.
The battle remains a celebrated moment in Bulgaria’s struggle for independence and statehood.
1885
Serbo-Bulgarian War
Battle of Slivnitsa
Principality of Bulgaria
Eastern Rumelia
1911day.year
The Doom Bar in Cornwall claims two ships, Island Maid and Angele, the latter killing the entire crew except the captain.
In 1911, treacherous sands at the Doom Bar in Cornwall wrecked the vessels Island Maid and Angele, leaving only one survivor.
The notorious Doom Bar sandbank off Cornwall’s coast has long been a hazard to shipping.
In November 1911, storms drove two ships, Island Maid and Angele, onto its shifting sands.
Island Maid was lost with all hands, while only the captain of Angele survived.
The disaster underscored the perils of early 20th-century maritime navigation.
Local lore and rescue efforts highlight the community’s response to such tragedies.
1911
Doom Bar
Cornwall