December 15
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Bill of Rights Day(United States)
2nd Amendment Day(South Carolina)
In the United States, Bill of Rights Day commemorates the December 15, 1791 ratification of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. In South Carolina, the same date is observed as Second Amendment Day celebrating the right to bear arms.
Christianfeast day:
Drina Martyrs, Drostan(Aberdeen Breviary), John HordenandRobert McDonald(Episcopal Church (USA)), Maria Crocifissa di Rosa, Mesmin, Valerian of Abbenza, Virginia Centurione Bracelli, December 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
A collective observance of Christian feast days celebrating a range of saints and martyrs recognized on December 15 across various denominations.
Homecoming Day (Alderney)
Homecoming Day in Alderney commemorates the return of evacuated islanders after World War II.
Kingdom Day(Netherlands), moves to December 16 if the 15th is on a Sunday
Kingdom Day in the Netherlands commemorates the signing of the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands and is observed on December 15, shifting to the 16th if the 15th falls on a Sunday.
Zamenhof Day(International Esperanto Community)
Zamenhof Day celebrates the birthday of Dr. L. L. Zamenhof, the creator of Esperanto, on December 15.
2nd Amendment Day(South Carolina)
In South Carolina, December 15 is observed as Second Amendment Day, celebrating the constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
Drina Martyrs
A Catholic feast day honoring the Drina Martyrs, nuns martyred in Bosnia for their faith during World War II.
Drostan(Aberdeen Breviary)
A feast honoring Saint Drostan, a 6th-century Scottish missionary bishop featured in the Aberdeen Breviary.
John HordenandRobert McDonald(Episcopal Church (USA))
An Episcopal Church (USA) commemoration of Bishop John Horden and Reverend Robert McDonald, pioneers of missionary work in Canada.
Events
Vandalic War: Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Tricamarum.
Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals at Tricamarum, ending their rule in North Africa.
Pope Sergius I is elected as a compromise between antipopes Paschal and Theodore.
Pope Sergius I is elected in a settlement between rival papal claimants.
Constantine VIII becomes sole emperor of the Byzantine Empire, 63 years after being crowned co-emperor.
After six decades as co-emperor, Constantine VIII ascends as sole ruler of Byzantium.
Jin–Song wars: Military officers conspire against the emperor Wanyan Liang of the Jin dynasty after a military defeat at the Battle of Caishi, and assassinate the emperor at his camp.
Rebels assassinate Emperor Wanyan Liang after Jin forces lose at Caishi.
Sicilian Chancellor Stephen du Perche moves the royal court to Messina to prevent a rebellion.
Chancellor Stephen du Perche relocates the Sicilian court to Messina to quell unrest.
Mongol forces under Hulagu enter and dismantle the Nizari Ismaili (Assassin) stronghold at Alamut Castle (in present-day Iran) as part of their offensive on Islamic southwest Asia.
Hulagu’s Mongols capture and demolish the fabled Alamut Castle stronghold.
The Nizari Ismaili garrison of Gerdkuh, Persia surrender after 17 years to the Mongols.
After a 17-year siege, the Nizari Ismaili fortress of Gerdkuh capitulates to Mongol forces.
Stephen III of Moldavia defeats Matthias Corvinus of Hungary, with the latter being injured thrice, at the Battle of Baia.
Moldavian Voivode Stephen III ousts Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus at Baia.
The town of Ekenäs (Finnish: Tammisaari) is founded by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden.
King Gustav Vasa establishes the town of Ekenäs (Tammisaari) on the Finnish coast.
Births
Nero
The fifth Roman emperor from AD 54 to 68, known for his lavish patronage of the arts and controversial reign.
Lucius Verus
Co-emperor of Rome from AD 161 to 169, celebrated for the Parthian War victories and shared rule with Marcus Aurelius.
Prince Munetaka
The sixth shōgun of the Kamakura shogunate, serving as a figurehead under the Hōjō regents from 1252 to 1266.
Albert IV
Duke of Bavaria from 1503 to 1508, noted for introducing primogeniture to consolidate his family's lands.
Christoph Demantius
German Renaissance composer, poet, and theorist noted for his motets, madrigals, and music treatises.
David Teniers the Younger
Flemish Baroque painter renowned for his genre scenes depicting daily life and court festivities.
Michel Richard Delalande
French Baroque composer and organist, famed for his grand motets at the court of Louis XIV.
Jean-Joseph Fiocco
Flemish violinist and composer, recognized for his sacred choral works and instrumental sonatas.
Francesco Zahra
Maltese Baroque painter acclaimed for his vibrant frescoes and altarpieces in churches across Malta.
Deaths
Li Siyuan
Li Siyuan was the second emperor of the Later Tang dynasty in China, known for consolidating power during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
Basil II
Basil II was Byzantine emperor from 976 to 1025, renowned for his long reign and military successes against the Bulgarian Empire.
Alp Arslan
Alp Arslan was the second sultan of the Seljuk Empire, ruling from 1063 to 1072 and famous for his victory at the Battle of Manzikert.
Wanyan Liang
Wanyan Liang was the fourth emperor of the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty in China, ruling from 1150 until his assassination in 1161.
Ottokar I
Ottokar I was Duke of Bohemia who secured hereditary kingship for Bohemia under the Holy Roman Empire and ruled until 1230.
Philip I
Philip I was the Latin Emperor of Constantinople from 1273 to 1283, holding a nominal title in exile after the fall of the Latin Empire.
Hasan Kucek
Hasan Kucek was a prominent prince of the Chobanid dynasty who helped shape the political landscape of post-Ilkhanate Persia.
Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna
Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna was a Swedish archbishop of Uppsala and regent who challenged Danish dominance during the Kalmar Union.
Selim II
Selim II was Ottoman sultan from 1566 to 1574, known for a period of naval expansion and internal consolidation.