November 20
Overview
Holidays & Observances
20-N(Spain)
An informal commemoration in Spain marking the death anniversaries of José Antonio Primo de Rivera and Francisco Franco.
Africa Industrialization Day(international)
An annual UN observance promoting the importance of industrial development in Africa.
Black Awareness Day(Brazil)
A Brazilian observance celebrating Afro-Brazilian culture and promoting racial equality.
Children's Day(World Children's Day)
A United Nations observance dedicated to promoting children’s rights and welfare worldwide.
Christianfeast day:
Agapius, Ambrose Traversari, Ampelus and Caius, BlessedAnacleto González Flores,José Sánchez del Río, and companions (MartyrsofCristero War), Bernward of Hildesheim, Dasius of Durostorum, Edmund the Martyr, Felec (or Felix) of Cornwall, Gregory of Dekapolis, BlessedJosaphata Hordashevska(Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church), Solutor, Octavius, and Adventor, Theonestus of Vercelli, November 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
A liturgical celebration honoring multiple saints and martyrs in Christian traditions.
Earliest day on which theFeast of Christ the Kingcan fall, while November 26 is the latest; celebrated on the last Sunday beforeAdvent. (Roman Catholic Church)
A movable Roman Catholic feast celebrating the sovereignty of Christ.
National Sovereignty Day(Argentina)
An Argentine national holiday commemorating the anniversary of the Battle of Vuelta de Obligado.
Day of the Mexican Revolution(Mexico)
A Mexican public holiday marking the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution in 1910.
Royal Thai Navy Day(Thailand)
A commemorative day celebrating the founding of the Royal Thai Navy.
Events
Diocletian is chosen as Roman emperor.
In 284, Diocletian is proclaimed Roman emperor, beginning a reign marked by comprehensive administrative and military reforms.
During the An Shi Rebellion, the Tang dynasty, with the help of Huihe tribe, recaptures Luoyang from the rebels.
Tang forces, aided by the Huihe tribe, retake Luoyang in 762, turning the tide against the An Shi Rebellion.
Palermo is conquered by Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor.
In 1194, Emperor Henry VI captures Palermo, securing Hohenstaufen control over southern Italy and Sicily.
John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, and Louis of Valois, Duke of Orléans, agree to a truce, but Burgundy would kill Orléans three days later.
A temporary truce on November 20, 1407, ends in the assassination of Duke Louis of Orléans by his cousin John the Fearless.
The Peace of Cremona ends the war between the Republic of Venice and the Duchy of Milan, after the victorious Venetian enterprise of military engineering of the Galeas per montes.
The 1441 Peace of Cremona concludes Venice’s war with Milan following Venice’s ingenious ‘Galeas per montes’ operation.
Zumbi, the last of the leaders of Quilombo dos Palmares in early Brazil, is executed by the forces of Portuguese bandeirante Domingos Jorge Velho.
Zumbi, a symbol of resistance for escaped enslaved Africans, is captured and executed on November 20, 1695.
Start of the Battle of Porto Bello between British and Spanish forces during the War of Jenkins' Ear.
On November 20, 1739, British forces attack Porto Bello, marking the opening engagement of the War of Jenkins’ Ear.
American Revolutionary War: British forces land at the Palisades and then attack Fort Lee. The Continental Army starts to retreat across New Jersey.
British troops assault Fort Lee on November 20, 1776, forcing Washington’s Continental Army to retreat across New Jersey.
New Jersey becomes the first U.S. state to ratify the Bill of Rights.
On November 20, 1789, New Jersey ratifies the U.S. Bill of Rights, becoming the first state to do so.
Births
Maximinus II
Roman emperor who ruled the eastern half of the Roman Empire from 310 to 313 during the Tetrarchy era.
Second emperor of China's Song dynasty who consolidated its rule and promoted cultural flourishing.
Ernst Ludwig
German duke who ruled Pomerania in the late 16th century, overseeing territorial and religious affairs.
Otto von Guericke
German scientist and inventor best known for pioneering experiments with vacuums and inventing the Magdeburg hemispheres demonstration.
Fasilides
Ethiopian emperor who founded the city of Gondar and restored Ethiopian autonomy by expelling foreign clergy in the mid-17th century.
Avvakum
Prominent Russian Orthodox archpriest and leader of the Old Believers movement who resisted liturgical reforms in the 17th century.
Paulus Potter
Dutch Golden Age painter renowned for his detailed and lifelike animal paintings, bridging pastoral scenes with human presence.
Ernest Augustus
Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg who strengthened his duchy's position through strategic alliances and military reforms in the 17th century.
Daniel Ernst Jablonski
Protestant theologian and church reformer who sought to unify Protestant denominations and advance religious tolerance.
Deaths
Numerian
Roman emperor who ruled briefly in 284–285 AD.
Domnall Midi
High King of Ireland and influential member of the Clann Cholmáin dynasty.
Li Fan
Chancellor of the Tang dynasty known for his administrative reforms.
Theoktistos
Byzantine court official and regent who dominated imperial government in the mid-9th century.
Edmund the Martyr
King of East Anglia, venerated as a martyr and saint after his death fighting Viking invaders.
Xu Wen
General and regent of the Yang Wu state during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
Richard I
Duke of Normandy from 942 to 996, consolidating and expanding ducal power.
Geoffrey I
Duke of Brittany who strengthened Breton autonomy in the late 10th century.
Bernward of Hildesheim
Bishop of Hildesheim known for his patronage of art and architecture.