1317day.year
The Nyköping Banquet: King Birger of Sweden treacherously seizes his two brothers, dukes Valdemar and Erik, who are subsequently starved to death in the dungeon of Nyköping Castle.
In 1317, King Birger of Sweden lured his brothers to a banquet at Nyköping Castle and imprisoned them, where they died of starvation.
The Nyköping Banquet took place on December 10, 1317, when King Birger of Sweden invited his brothers, dukes Valdemar and Erik, to dine at Nyköping Castle before turning them over to his guards. The dukes were held in the castle dungeon and denied food, ultimately leading to their death by starvation. This ruthless act was the culmination of a long-running power struggle among the royal siblings. It sparked outrage among the Swedish nobility and ignited a civil war that reshaped the kingdom's leadership. Birger's extreme measures tarnished his reputation and weakened the monarchy's stability for years. The Nyköping Banquet remains a chilling example of medieval court treachery.
1317
Nyköping Banquet
Birger of Sweden
Valdemar
Erik
1508day.year
The League of Cambrai is formed by Pope Julius II, Louis XII of France, Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor and Ferdinand II of Aragon as an alliance against Venice.
In 1508, Pope Julius II, Louis XII of France, Maximilian I, and Ferdinand II of Aragon formed the League of Cambrai to challenge Venetian power in Italy.
The League of Cambrai was signed on December 10, 1508, representing a major alliance against the Venetian Republic. Under Pope Julius II's leadership, rulers of France, the Holy Roman Empire, and Aragon united to curb Venice's territorial and commercial dominance. The coalition aimed to seize strategic Venetian holdings in Northern Italy. Although initially successful, internal rivalries soon led members to pursue separate ambitions. These shifting alliances triggered a series of conflicts that defined the Italian Wars. Historians regard the League of Cambrai as a turning point in Renaissance diplomacy and warfare.
1508
League of Cambrai
Pope Julius II
Louis XII of France
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Venice
1541day.year
Thomas Culpeper and Francis Dereham are executed for having affairs with Catherine Howard, Queen of England and wife of Henry VIII.
In 1541, Thomas Culpeper and Francis Dereham were executed for their secret affairs with Queen Catherine Howard, wife of King Henry VIII.
The executions of Thomas Culpeper and Francis Dereham occurred on December 10, 1541, amid the scandal surrounding Queen Catherine Howard's infidelities. Both men confessed to relationships with the young queen, actions deemed treason against the crown. They were arrested, tried, and sentenced to death, reflecting the severe moral and political standards of Tudor England. Their beheadings, carried out at Tyburn, foreshadowed Catherine Howard's own execution weeks later. The affair brought disgrace upon the Howard family and intensified courtly intrigue. This incident highlights the lethal risks of royal scandal in the reign of Henry VIII.
1541
Thomas Culpeper
Francis Dereham
Catherine Howard
Henry VIII
1817day.year
Mississippi becomes the 20th U.S. state.
Mississippi was admitted as the 20th state of the United States on December 10, 1817, expanding American territory in the Gulf South.
Following the formation of the Mississippi Territory in 1798 and treaties with Native American tribes, the region advanced toward statehood. Congress approved Mississippi's petition, and President James Monroe signed the enabling act in late 1817. On December 10, the state officially joined the Union as the 20th state. Its new constitution established a government structure and reaffirmed early American political principles. Statehood spurred settlement, agricultural development, and the growth of cotton plantations. Mississippi's entry into the Union reflected the nation's westward expansion and frontier dynamics.
1817
Mississippi
U.S. state
1898day.year
Spanish–American War: The Treaty of Paris is signed, officially ending the conflict. Spain cedes administration of Cuba to the United States, and the United States agrees to pay Spain $20 million for the Philippines.
The Treaty of Paris ended the Spanish–American War, with Spain ceding Cuba and the Philippines in exchange for financial compensation.
In 1898, the Treaty of Paris officially ended the Spanish–American War, reshaping colonial power in the Caribbean and Pacific. Spain relinquished control of Cuba and ceded Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States. In return, the U.S. paid Spain twenty million dollars for the Philippines. The agreement marked America’s emergence as a global power. It also ignited debates over imperialism and the nation’s role abroad. The treaty laid the foundation for U.S. influence in Southeast Asia and the Caribbean for decades to come.
1898
Spanish–American War
Treaty of Paris
Cuba
Philippines
1906day.year
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the mediation of the Russo-Japanese War, becoming the first American to win a Nobel Prize in any field.
Theodore Roosevelt became the first American Nobel laureate, winning the Peace Prize for mediating the Russo-Japanese War settlement.
President Theodore Roosevelt was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for mediating peace negotiations between Russia and Japan. His diplomatic efforts culminated in the Treaty of Portsmouth, ending the Russo-Japanese War. Roosevelt became the first American to receive a Nobel Prize, elevating the United States’ international standing. The award highlighted the growing importance of global mediation in conflict resolution. Roosevelt’s recognition inspired future American engagement in diplomatic initiatives. His achievement underscored the potential of negotiation over armed confrontation.
1906
Theodore Roosevelt
Nobel Peace Prize
Russo-Japanese War
1932day.year
Thailand becomes a constitutional monarchy.
In 1932, Thailand transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy following a peaceful revolution spearheaded by the Khana Ratsadon.
Prior to 1932, Siam was governed by an absolute monarchy under King Prajadhipok. On June 24, the People's Party (Khana Ratsadon) carried out a bloodless coup demanding a constitution and a parliamentary system. King Prajadhipok ultimately agreed to their terms, marking the end of centuries of absolute royal rule. On December 10, the first constitution was promulgated, establishing Thailand as a constitutional monarchy with a legislative assembly. This shift introduced modern political institutions, civil rights, and the principle of popular sovereignty. The revolution laid the foundation for Thailand's evolving democratic processes and set a precedent for future political developments in the country.
1932
Thailand
constitutional monarchy
1936day.year
Abdication Crisis: Edward VIII signs the Instrument of Abdication.
On December 10, 1936, King Edward VIII signed the Instrument of Abdication, resolving the constitutional crisis over his intention to marry Wallis Simpson.
Edward VIII ascended the British throne in January 1936 and caused controversy by expressing his intention to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. The British government and the Dominions opposed the match on constitutional and religious grounds. Faced with a choice between his throne and the woman he loved, Edward chose to abdicate. On December 10, he formally signed the Instrument of Abdication at Fort Belvedere in England. His younger brother then ascended the throne as King George VI, altering the course of the British royal family. The dramatic events influenced perceptions of monarchy, duty, and personal freedom in the 20th century.
1936
Abdication Crisis
Edward VIII
Instrument of Abdication
1942day.year
World War II: Government of Poland in exile send Raczyński's Note (the first official report on the Holocaust) to 26 governments who signed the Declaration by United Nations.
On December 10, 1942, the Polish government-in-exile delivered Raczyński's Note, the first official Allied report detailing Nazi atrocities against Jews during the Holocaust.
Amid World War II, the Polish government-in-exile in London compiled detailed eyewitness accounts of mass exterminations carried out by Nazi Germany. Count Edward Raczyński, Poland's foreign minister, authored a comprehensive note outlining the systematic genocide of Jews in occupied territories. On December 10, 1942, Raczyński's Note was distributed to the 26 governments that had signed the Declaration by United Nations. The document provided some of the earliest formal evidence of the Holocaust, urging international intervention and condemnation. Its publication intensified Allied awareness of the unfolding horrors and laid groundwork for postwar accountability. Despite the urgency, concrete rescue efforts remained limited by wartime constraints and political considerations.
1942
Government of Poland in exile
Raczyński's Note
Holocaust
Declaration by United Nations
1948day.year
The Human Rights Convention is signed by the United Nations.
On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, laying the foundation for modern international human rights law.
In the aftermath of World War II, global leaders sought to prevent future atrocities by establishing universal principles of human dignity. Under the guidance of Eleanor Roosevelt and a diverse drafting committee, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was produced. On December 10, 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the declaration at its Palais de Chaillot session in Paris. The document articulated fundamental civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights applicable to all people. It became the cornerstone for numerous national constitutions and international treaties. The date of its adoption is now celebrated annually as International Human Rights Day, honoring its enduring legacy.
1948
The Human Rights Convention
United Nations
1963day.year
Zanzibar gains independence from the United Kingdom as a constitutional monarchy, under Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah.
On December 10, 1963, Zanzibar gained independence from the United Kingdom as a constitutional monarchy under Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah.
After nearly six decades as a British protectorate, Zanzibar negotiated its transition to self-rule, culminating in independence on December 10, 1963. The newly sovereign state maintained a constitutional monarchy, with Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah serving as head of state. Political tensions between the Arab elite and African majority simmered beneath the surface, reflecting the archipelago's complex social fabric. Within months, a revolution led by the Afro-Shirazi Party overthrew the Sultan and established a republic. Zanzibar later merged with Tanganyika on April 26, 1964, to form the United Republic of Tanzania. The brief period of monarchical independence remains a pivotal moment in East African decolonization history.
1963
Zanzibar
constitutional monarchy
Jamshid bin Abdullah
1963day.year
An assassination attempt on the British High Commissioner in Aden kills two people and wounds dozens more.
A failed assassination attempt on the British High Commissioner in Aden results in two deaths and dozens of injuries.
On December 10, 1963, a bomb exploded near the British High Commissioner's convoy in Aden.
The attack killed two civilians and injured dozens of passersby.
This assault was part of a rising insurgency against British rule in the Crown colony.
Investigators linked the bombing to nationalist militants seeking to end colonial administration.
Security protocols were tightened across Aden and neighboring regions.
The incident intensified debates in London over Britain's future in the Gulf.
It marked a turning point in the Aden Emergency that would lead to the colony's eventual withdrawal.
assassination attempt