284day.year
Diocletian is chosen as Roman emperor.
In 284, Diocletian is proclaimed Roman emperor, beginning a reign marked by comprehensive administrative and military reforms.
Proclaimed by the legions amid political turmoil, Diocletian (r. 284–305) rose to power to restore stability to the fragmented Roman Empire. Facing challenges from usurpers and external threats, he reorganized the imperial government into the Tetrarchy, sharing power between two senior and two junior emperors. He implemented major reforms in taxation, military structure, and provincial administration, strengthening defenses along the frontiers. His reign ended the Crisis of the Third Century and set the stage for the late Roman Empire's new administrative order. Known for his persecution of Christians, Diocletian remains one of antiquity's most transformative rulers.
284
Diocletian
Roman emperor
762day.year
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.
In the midst of the devastating An Shi Rebellion (755–763), Tang dynasty troops, with crucial support from the allied Huihe (Uyghur) cavalry, mounted a successful campaign to reclaim the eastern capital of Luoyang. This victory weakened rebel strongholds and cut off vital supply lines, undermining An Shi’s power base. The recapture demonstrated the Tang court’s ability to forge strategic alliances with frontier tribes. It marked a major step toward suppressing one of China's most severe internal conflicts, which had threatened to fracture the dynasty. The action showcased the empire’s resilience and diplomatic skill in combining military force with coalition-building.
762
An Shi Rebellion
Tang dynasty
Huihe
Luoyang
1194day.year
Palermo is conquered by Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor.
In 1194, Emperor Henry VI captures Palermo, securing Hohenstaufen control over southern Italy and Sicily.
Henry VI of the Hohenstaufen dynasty launched a decisive campaign into southern Italy, culminating in the fall of Palermo, the capital of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily. His conquest brought the wealthy island and its revenues under imperial authority, fulfilling his late father Frederick Barbarossa’s ambitions. By marrying Constance of Sicily, Henry solidified his legitimate claim and extended the Holy Roman Empire’s influence into the Mediterranean. The victory reshaped the political landscape of Italy and heightened tensions between imperial and papal powers. Palermo’s capture underscored the strategic importance of Sicily in medieval geopolitics.
1194
Palermo
Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1407day.year
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.
Amid escalating tensions over the regency of the mentally ill King Charles VI, John the Fearless of Burgundy and his cousin Louis of Orléans negotiated a brief truce at Chartres. Despite this agreement, John orchestrated Louis’s assassination on November 23, plunging France into the Armagnac–Burgundian civil war. This betrayal deepened factional divides and weakened the monarchy during the Hundred Years’ War. The conflict between the Burgundians and Armagnacs would ravage northern France for decades. The event highlights the volatile nature of medieval French politics and the lethal stakes of dynastic rivalry.
1407
John the Fearless
Louis of Valois, Duke of Orléans
1441day.year
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.
After years of fierce rivalry over Lombardy, Venice employed an unprecedented military engineering feat known as the Galeas per montes, transporting galleys across land to bypass Milanese blockades. This bold maneuver allowed Venetian forces to relieve their besieged strongholds and seize strategic advantage. Faced with this unexpected threat, the Duchy of Milan agreed to negotiate, resulting in the Treaty of Cremona on November 20, 1441. The accord restored trade routes and established a fragile peace in northern Italy. Venice’s display of ingenuity bolstered its reputation as a maritime and military power.
1441
Peace of Cremona
Republic of Venice
Duchy of Milan
Galeas per montes
1695day.year
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.
Zumbi was the charismatic leader of Quilombo dos Palmares, a self-governing community of formerly enslaved Africans and Indigenous peoples in colonial Brazil. Under his leadership, Palmares grew into a stronghold resisting Portuguese colonial forces and bandeirante incursions. In late 1695, the bandeirante Domingos Jorge Velho led a decisive assault, capturing and executing Zumbi. His death marked the collapse of the largest maroon settlement in the Americas. Zumbi’s legacy endures as a powerful icon of Afro-Brazilian freedom, inspiring future generations in the fight against oppression.
1695
Zumbi
Quilombo dos Palmares
executed
Domingos Jorge Velho
1739day.year
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.
The British Royal Navy, commanded by Vice Admiral Edward Vernon, launched a surprise assault on the Spanish port of Porto Bello (now Portobelo, Panama). The town’s capture delivered a significant blow to Spain’s transatlantic trade routes and thrilled the British public, fueling popular support for the war. Vernon’s forces seized the fortress with minimal casualties, showcasing new amphibious tactics. The victory at Porto Bello became celebrated in Britain, prompting town namesakes and cultural references. Though strategically small, the battle demonstrated Britain’s growing naval prowess in the Caribbean.
1739
Battle of Porto Bello
War of Jenkins' Ear
1776day.year
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.
Following the loss of Fort Washington, British and Hessian forces crossed the Hudson River at the Palisades and besieged Fort Lee, a key defensive position for the Continental Army. Facing superior numbers and supply shortages, General George Washington ordered an organized retreat into New Jersey. The withdrawal preserved the core of the Continental forces but ceded control of New Jersey to the British. This setback underscored the challenges facing the revolutionary cause during its early stages. The retreat set the stage for Washington’s daring counterattacks later in the campaign.
1776
American Revolutionary War
the Palisades
Fort Lee
Continental Army
New Jersey
1789day.year
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.
Proposed by James Madison as a series of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights aimed to protect individual liberties and limit federal power. New Jersey’s swift ratification set a precedent for other states and ensured the amendments’ timely adoption. The first ten amendments guarantee freedoms such as speech, religion, assembly, and due process. New Jersey’s action reflected widespread public demand for explicit protections of civil rights. These amendments remain foundational to American democracy and legal principles.
1789
New Jersey
Bill of Rights
1805day.year
Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio, premieres in Vienna.
Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio, premieres in Vienna on November 20, 1805, celebrating themes of freedom and justice.
Composed over many years, Fidelio (originally titled Leonore) reflects Beethoven’s deep commitment to Enlightenment ideals. The opera tells the story of Leonore, who disguises herself as a prison guard to rescue her unjustly imprisoned husband. Its stirring overture and dramatic arias highlight themes of personal sacrifice and moral triumph. Premiering during the turmoil of the Napoleonic Wars, the work resonated with contemporary audiences seeking liberation and human rights. Though revised after its debut, Fidelio remains a cornerstone of operatic repertoire and a testament to Beethoven’s artistic vision.
1805
Beethoven
Fidelio
Vienna
1815day.year
The Second Treaty of Paris is signed, returning the French frontiers to their 1790 extent, imposing large indemnities, and prolonging the occupation by troops of Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia for several more years.
The Second Treaty of Paris restored French borders to their 1790 limits, imposed heavy indemnities on France, and extended Allied occupation.
Signed on November 20, 1815, the Second Treaty of Paris formally ended the War of the Seventh Coalition. It forced France to revert to its 1790 frontiers and pay substantial reparations. The accord prolonged the military occupation by Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia for three years. This settlement aimed to secure a lasting peace and prevent future French aggression. It shaped the post-Napoleonic order in Europe.
1815
Second Treaty of Paris
1820day.year
An 80-ton sperm whale attacks and sinks the Essex (a whaling ship from Nantucket, Massachusetts) 3,200 kilometres (2,000 mi) from the western coast of South America. (Herman Melville's 1851 novel Moby-Dick was in part inspired by this incident.)
An 80-ton sperm whale rammed and sank the Nantucket whaler Essex in the Pacific, inspiring Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick.
On November 20, 1820, the whaleship Essex was struck by a massive sperm whale about 2,000 miles off the coast of South America. The attack shattered the vessel’s bow, causing it to sink rapidly and leaving the crew adrift in whaleboats. Over the following weeks, survivors endured starvation, dehydration, and storms before rescue. The harrowing ordeal of the Essex became legendary in maritime history. Herman Melville drew on this true disaster when writing his 1851 classic Moby-Dick.
1820
sperm whale
Essex
whaling
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Herman Melville
Moby-Dick