AD 69day.year
Antonius Primus enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor for Nero's former general Vespasian.
General Antonius Primus marched into Rome in AD 69 to secure the imperial throne for Vespasian following Nero's downfall.
In the tumultuous Year of the Four Emperors, General Antonius Primus led his legions into Rome to depose Vitellius and install Vespasian as emperor on December 20, AD 69. After defeating rival forces at the Battle of Bedriacum, Antonius entered the capital where the senate and Praetorian Guard quickly recognized Vespasian's claim. This decisive move ended months of civil strife and laid the foundation for the Flavian dynasty. Under Vespasian's rule, Rome began a period of political consolidation and economic recovery following years of unrest.
AD 69
Antonius Primus
Rome
Emperor
Nero
Vespasian
1192day.year
Richard I of England is captured and imprisoned by Leopold V of Austria on his way home to England after the Third Crusade.
King Richard I of England was ambushed and taken prisoner by Leopold V of Austria on December 20, 1192, as he traveled home from the Third Crusade.
Returning from the Third Crusade, Richard I passed through the Holy Roman Empire in late 1192. In a dispute over a banner display at Acre, Duke Leopold V of Austria captured the king near Vienna. Richard was imprisoned at Dürnstein Castle and ultimately handed over to Emperor Henry VI. His detention lasted over a year and secured a hefty ransom from England. The event weakened royal authority and had lasting diplomatic repercussions across Europe.
1192
Richard I of England
Leopold V
Third Crusade
1334day.year
Cardinal Jacques Fournier, a Cistercian monk, is elected Pope Benedict XII.
Cardinal Jacques Fournier was elected Pope Benedict XII on December 20, 1334, marking his ascent to the Avignon papacy.
A Cistercian monk renowned for his inquisitorial efforts against the Cathars, Jacques Fournier became Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina in 1331. On December 20, 1334, he was chosen as Pope Benedict XII to succeed John XXII. His pontificate focused on monastic reform, clerical discipline, and theological scholarship. Benedict XII initiated construction of the Palais des Papes in Avignon and strove to curb papal extravagance. His tenure helped to stabilize the papal court and reinforce ecclesiastical reform until his death in 1342.
1334
Cardinal
Cistercian
Pope Benedict XII
1803day.year
The Louisiana Purchase is completed at a ceremony in New Orleans.
The United States formally took possession of the vast Louisiana Territory from France in a ceremony held in New Orleans on December 20, 1803.
The Louisiana Purchase, negotiated earlier that year, doubled the size of the United States for $15 million. On December 20, 1803, American and French officials met at the Cabildo in New Orleans to transfer sovereignty. William C.C. Claiborne accepted the territory on behalf of President Thomas Jefferson. This acquisition opened vast tracts for exploration, settlement, and trade along the Mississippi River. It set the stage for Lewis and Clark's expedition and transformed the geopolitical landscape of North America.
1803
Louisiana Purchase
New Orleans
1808day.year
Peninsular War: The Siege of Zaragoza begins.
On December 20, 1808, French forces commenced the brutal Siege of Zaragoza during the Peninsular War against Napoleon's occupation.
Early in the Peninsular War, the Spanish city of Zaragoza became a focal point of resistance against the French Empire. Marshal Jean Lannes's troops surrounded the city on December 20, 1808, beginning a prolonged and bloody siege. Spanish defenders under General José de Palafox repelled multiple assaults and inflicted heavy casualties. Civilians endured starvation, bombardment, and urban combat in a display of fierce patriotism. The first siege lasted until February 1809 and symbolized the broader struggle for Spanish independence.
1808
Peninsular War
Siege of Zaragoza
1832day.year
HMS Clio under the command of Captain Onslow arrives at Port Egmont under orders to take possession of the Falkland Islands.
HMS Clio arrived at Port Egmont on December 20, 1832, to reassert British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
With competing claims emerging in the South Atlantic, Britain dispatched HMS Clio under Captain Onslow to Port Egmont. On December 20, 1832, the vessel reached the islands and expelled the small Argentine administration that had occupied the site since 1829. The raising of the Union Jack reaffirmed British possession, leading to a settlement that would endure despite later disputes. This act laid the foundation for continuous British governance of the Falklands and sparked diplomatic tensions with Argentina that persist to this day.
1832
HMS Clio
Port Egmont
take possession
Falkland Islands
1848day.year
French presidential election: Having won the popular vote in a landslide, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte is inaugurated in the chamber of the National Assembly as the first (and only) president of the French Second Republic.
Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was inaugurated as the first President of the French Second Republic on December 20, 1848.
After the February 1848 Revolution, France established the Second Republic and held its first presidential election. Charles-Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, nephew of Napoleon I, won a decisive victory with support from conservatives and rural voters. His inauguration took place in the chamber of the National Assembly, emphasizing republican order and social stability. As president, he faced political divisions but promoted ambitious public works and social programs. His four-year term paved the way for his eventual coup d'etat and proclamation as Emperor Napoleon III.
1848
French presidential election
Louis Napoleon Bonaparte
National Assembly
French Second Republic
1860day.year
South Carolina becomes the first state to attempt to secede from the United States with the South Carolina Declaration of Secession.
South Carolina became the first state to secede from the United States on December 20, 1860, issuing its Declaration of Secession.
In reaction to Abraham Lincoln's election, South Carolina convened a secession convention in Columbia. Delegates cited perceived threats to slavery and states' rights in their Declaration of Secession. By a unanimous vote, they declared the state's departure from the Union and assumed control of federal arsenals within their borders. This unprecedented act triggered a cascade of secessions by other Southern states. The crisis culminated in the outbreak of the American Civil War at Fort Sumter in April 1861.
1860
South Carolina
secede
South Carolina Declaration of Secession
1915day.year
World War I: The last Australian troops are evacuated from Gallipoli.
The last Australian troops evacuated from Gallipoli on December 20, 1915, culminating their campaign in World War I.
Allied forces launched the Gallipoli Campaign in April 1915 aiming to secure the Dardanelles and open a supply route to Russia. Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) soldiers landed at Anzac Cove and endured steep terrain and fierce Ottoman defense. After months of stalemate, high casualties, and harsh conditions, Allied commanders decided to withdraw. On December 20, 1915, the final Australian units were successfully evacuated under cover of darkness. The campaign left a lasting legacy in national consciousness, commemorated annually on ANZAC Day.
1915
World War I
Gallipoli
1917day.year
Cheka, the first Soviet secret police force, is founded.
Cheka, the Bolshevik government's first secret police, was founded on December 20, 1917.
Shortly after the October Revolution, Lenin's regime established the Cheka under Felix Dzerzhinsky to suppress counter-revolutionary activity. The agency wielded broad powers of arrest, interrogation, and execution, initiating what became known as the Red Terror. It targeted political opponents, suspected spies, and dissenters throughout the nascent Soviet state. Cheka's operations laid the groundwork for future Soviet security services, including the GPU, NKVD, and ultimately the KGB. Its reputation for ruthlessness became synonymous with early Soviet repression.
1917
Cheka
Soviet
1924day.year
Adolf Hitler is released from Landsberg Prison.
Adolf Hitler was released from Landsberg Prison in Bavaria after serving a sentence for the failed Beer Hall Putsch.
After the failed Beer Hall Putsch of 1923, Adolf Hitler was imprisoned at Landsberg Prison for treason. On his release, he was hailed by Nazi supporters and spent his time writing Mein Kampf. His early release on December 20, 1924, allowed him to rebuild the Nazi Party. The event marked a crucial turning point in his political strategy, shifting from violent revolt to electoral participation. The book he completed in prison laid ideological foundations for the party’s future. His freedom reignited his political career and led to the eventual rise of National Socialism in Germany.
1924
Adolf Hitler
Landsberg Prison
1940day.year
Captain America Comics #1, containing the first appearance of the superhero Captain America, is published.
Captain America Comics #1 was published, introducing Steve Rogers, the patriotic superhero created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.
In December 1940, Timely Comics released Captain America Comics #1, featuring the debut of Steve Rogers as Captain America. The cover famously depicts him punching Adolf Hitler, reflecting the era’s wartime sentiment. Created by artist Jack Kirby and writer Joe Simon, the character quickly became an icon of American patriotism. The issue presented tales of heroism against Axis villains and showcased the Brooklyn-born super-soldier. Its popularity led to a long-lasting franchise spanning comics, films, and merchandise. Captain America Comics #1 is now a highly prized collectible symbolizing golden age comic artistry.
1940
Captain America Comics
Captain America