December 17
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Christianfeast day:
Danielthe Prophet, Josep Manyanet i Vives, Lazarus of Bethany(local commemoration inCuba), O Sapientia, Olympias the Deaconess, Wivina, Sturm, December 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
An annual series of feast days on December 17 in the Christian calendar, commemorating saints such as Daniel the Prophet, Lazarus of Bethany, and others.
Accession Day (Bahrain)
Accession Day in Bahrain marks the anniversary of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's accession to the throne, celebrated annually on December 17.
International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
An international observance to raise awareness and end violence against sex workers worldwide on December 17.
Kurdish Flag Day(GlobalKurdish population)
Kurdish Flag Day celebrates the adoption of the Kurdish national flag by Kurdish communities worldwide on December 17.
National Day (Bhutan)
Bhutan’s National Day commemorates the coronation of the country’s first king, Ugyen Wangchuck, on December 17, 1907.
Pan American Aviation Day(United States)
Pan American Aviation Day in the United States honors the importance of aviation in fostering goodwill and commerce across the Americas on December 17.
Wright Brothers Day, aUnited States federal observancebyPresidential proclamation
Wright Brothers Day commemorates the pioneering flight of the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903.
Danielthe Prophet
A feast day honoring Daniel the Prophet, celebrated in various Christian traditions on December 17.
Josep Manyanet i Vives
A feast day commemorating Josep Manyanet i Vives, Spanish priest and founder of the Congregation of the Holy Family, on December 17.
Events
The first Saturnalia festival was celebrated in ancient Rome.
Ancient Rome held its first Saturnalia in 497 BC, inaugurating a week-long festival of feasting and role reversals.
Siege of Rome: The Ostrogoths under king Totila plunder the city, by bribing the Eastern Roman garrison.
In 546, Totila's Ostrogoths besieged and plundered Rome after bribing the Eastern Roman garrison.
Romanos I Lekapenos is crowned co-emperor of the underage Constantine VII.
In 920, Romanos I Lekapenos seized power by crowning himself co-emperor alongside the young Constantine VII.
Assassination of William I of Normandy.
In 942, William I of Normandy, known as 'Longsword', was assassinated, plunging the duchy into turmoil.
King Kyawswa of Pagan is overthrown by the three Myinsaing brothers, marking the de facto end of the Pagan Kingdom.
In 1297, King Kyawswa of Pagan was deposed by the Myinsaing brothers, ending the Pagan Kingdom's dominance.
Margaret II, Countess of Hainaut and Holy Roman Empress and her son William I, Duke of Bavaria, sign a peace treaty ending the Hook and Cod wars.
In 1354, Margaret II and her son William I signed a treaty to end the Hook and Cod wars in the Low Countries.
Sultan Nasir-u Din Mehmud's armies in Delhi are defeated by Timur.
In 1398, Timur defeated Sultan Nasir al-Din Mahmud's forces in Delhi, consolidating his control over northern India.
Pope Paul III excommunicates Henry VIII of England.
In 1538, Pope Paul III formally excommunicated Henry VIII, deepening England's split from the Catholic Church.
Cologne War: Forces under Ernest of Bavaria defeat troops under Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg at the Siege of Godesberg.
In 1583, Ernest of Bavaria's forces captured Godesberg and defeated Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg during the Cologne War.
Births
Kujō Yoritsugu
Japanese shōgun who became the fifth ruler of the Kamakura shogunate at a young age.
The 91st emperor of Japan, reigning during a period of shogunate rule and political intrigue.
Ernest of Bavaria
German prince and Roman Catholic bishop who played a role in the Counter-Reformation.
Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana
Renowned Mughal court poet and statesman famed for his Hindi couplets and Persian translations.
Pedro Téllez-Girón
Spanish nobleman and statesman who served in high political and military positions in the early 17th century.
Roger L'Estrange
Royalist pamphleteer and author known for his political tracts and translations in Restoration England.
German-born cavalry commander and naval officer who served as a royalist leader during the English Civil War.
Anthony Wood
Antiquarian scholar best known for his comprehensive histories of Oxford University.
Thomas Tickell
English poet and translator celebrated for his pastoral verses and classical translations.
Deaths
Sturm
Sturm was a Frankish missionary and the first abbot of Fulda, playing a crucial role in establishing one of the most influential monasteries of the Carolingian era.
al-Abbas ibn al-Hasan al-Jarjara'i
Al-Abbas ibn al-Hasan al-Jarjara'i was an influential Abbasid vizier who served at the court of the Caliphate during the early 10th century.
Abdallah ibn al-Mu'tazz
Abdallah ibn al-Mu'tazz was an Abbasid prince celebrated for his classical Arabic poetry and briefly seized the caliphate in a one-day coup.
William I
William I was the Duke of Normandy from 927 to 942, noted for consolidating Norman power and defending his territories against rival lords.
Pope Gregory VIII led the Catholic Church for two months in 1187, issuing calls for the Third Crusade after the fall of Jerusalem.
Baldwin V
Baldwin V was the Count of Hainaut from 1171 until 1195, known for strengthening his domain through strategic alliances and governance.
Rumi
Rumi was a 13th-century Persian jurist, theologian, and Sufi mystic whose lyrical poetry has captivated readers for centuries.
Juan Fernández
Juan Fernández was chosen as bishop of León in the early 14th century but died before his consecration.
William Gascoigne
William Gascoigne served as Chief Justice of England in the early 15th century, remembered for his steadfastness in upholding the law.