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
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
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
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
1861day.year
American Civil War: A secession ordinance is filed by Kentucky's Confederate government.
Kentucky’s Confederate government filed an ordinance to secede from the Union amid the American Civil War.
On November 20, 1861, a pro-Confederate legislature convened in Russellville, Kentucky, and passed an ordinance of secession. This shadow government claimed to represent Kentucky in the Confederate States of America. Kentucky’s official stance remained neutral, but the rival authority deepened divisions within the border state. The ordinance allowed Kentucky units to fight alongside Confederate armies. The move underscored the complex loyalties and political turmoil of the Civil War era.
1861
American Civil War
Kentucky
1910day.year
Mexican Revolution: Francisco I. Madero issues the Plan de San Luis Potosí, denouncing Mexican President Porfirio Díaz, calling for a revolution to overthrow the government of Mexico, effectively starting the Mexican Revolution.
Francisco I. Madero issued the Plan de San Luis Potosí, denouncing Porfirio Díaz and calling for revolution.
On November 20, 1910, Francisco I. Madero proclaimed the Plan de San Luis Potosí from exile in Texas, rejecting the fraudulent reelection of Porfirio Díaz. The plan called on Mexicans to rise in arms on November 20 to restore democracy. It marked the official start of the Mexican Revolution. Madero’s call resonated across the country, inspiring peasants, workers, and regional leaders. The ensuing decade of conflict reshaped Mexico’s political and social landscape.
1910
Mexican Revolution
Francisco I. Madero
Plan de San Luis Potosí
Porfirio Díaz
revolution
government of Mexico
1940day.year
World War II: Hungary becomes a signatory of the Tripartite Pact, officially joining the Axis powers.
Hungary joined the Axis powers by signing the Tripartite Pact, aligning with Germany and Italy in World War II.
On November 20, 1940, the Hungarian government formally signed the Tripartite Pact in Budapest, committing to military cooperation with Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan. Prime Minister Pál Teleki sought to regain lost territories by aligning with Axis ambitions. This treaty secured Hungary’s position within the Axis alliance but also limited its foreign policy autonomy. Hungarian troops later participated in the invasion of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union. The decision shaped Hungary’s wartime fate and postwar repercussions.
1940
World War II
Hungary
Tripartite Pact
Axis powers
1945day.year
Nuremberg trials: Trials against 24 Nazi war criminals start at the Palace of Justice at Nuremberg.
The first Nuremberg Trials begin in Germany, holding Nazi leaders accountable for wartime atrocities.
On November 20, 1945, the International Military Tribunal convened at the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg, Germany. Twenty-four high-ranking Nazi officials faced charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression. The trials marked the first time national leaders were held legally responsible on an international stage. Defendants included prominent figures like Hermann Göring and Rudolf Hess. The proceedings established precedents for international law and the concept of genocide. The trials were heavily publicized and symbolized a moral reckoning after the horrors of World War II. Their legacy endures in modern international justice mechanisms.
1945
Nuremberg trials
Nazi
war criminals
Palace of Justice
Nuremberg
1959day.year
The Declaration of the Rights of the Child is adopted by the United Nations.
The United Nations adopts the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, outlining fundamental protections for children worldwide.
On November 20, 1959, the United Nations General Assembly formally adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. This landmark document articulated ten principles to safeguard children's welfare, education, and health. It emphasized that children require special care and assistance for wholesome development. The declaration was a milestone in international human rights, influencing later treaties like the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It garnered support from member states and non-governmental organizations. The document helped raise global awareness about child welfare issues and set standards for national policies. Over time, it provided a framework for improving the lives of millions of children around the world.
1959
Declaration of the Rights of the Child
United Nations
1962day.year
Cuban Missile Crisis ends: In response to the Soviet Union agreeing to remove its missiles from Cuba, U.S. President John F. Kennedy ends the quarantine of the Caribbean nation.
President Kennedy ends the Cuban quarantine after the Soviet Union agrees to withdraw missiles from Cuba, de-escalating a global crisis.
On November 20, 1962, U.S. President John F. Kennedy lifted the naval quarantine of Cuba, signaling the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Two weeks earlier, the discovery of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba had brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. Behind the scenes, intense negotiations between Washington and Moscow led Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to agree to remove the missiles. Kennedy’s decision to end the quarantine eased tensions and prevented further military escalation. The crisis became a defining moment in Cold War history, illustrating the power of diplomacy under threat. It also prompted both superpowers to establish direct communication lines, known as the Moscow–Washington hotline. The resolution underscored the importance of crisis management in avoiding nuclear conflict.
1962
Cuban Missile Crisis
Soviet Union
Cuba
John F. Kennedy
1977day.year
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat becomes the first Arab leader to officially visit Israel, when he meets Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin and speaks before the Knesset in Jerusalem, seeking a permanent peace settlement.
On November 20, 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat became the first Arab leader to officially visit Israel, meeting Prime Minister Menachem Begin and addressing the Knesset in Jerusalem.
In a historic state visit, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat crossed into Israel and was welcomed by Prime Minister Menachem Begin in Jerusalem. Sadat's arrival marked the first time an Arab head of state set foot in Israel, breaking decades of hostility. Before a session of the Knesset, he called for a lasting peace settlement between Egypt and Israel. His bold initiative surprised the international community and faced opposition at home. The visit laid the groundwork for the Camp David Accords and the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty of 1979. Sadat's journey to Jerusalem is remembered as a courageous step toward Middle East diplomacy.
1977
Egyptian
Anwar Sadat
Arab
Israel
Menachem Begin
Knesset
Jerusalem