AD 69day.year
The Roman Senate declares Vespasian emperor of Rome, the last in the Year of the Four Emperors.
The Roman Senate proclaims Vespasian as emperor in AD 69, concluding the Year of the Four Emperors and ushering in the Flavian dynasty.
In AD 69, Rome experienced a year of political chaos known as the Year of the Four Emperors.
After the deaths of Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, the Senate turned to Vespasian.
On December 21, Vespasian was formally declared emperor by the Senate.
His rise marked the end of rapid imperial turnover and the start of the Flavian dynasty.
Under Vespasian, Rome saw relative stability and significant building projects.
This event laid the groundwork for decades of Flavian rule.
AD 69
Roman Senate
Vespasian
emperor of Rome
Year of the Four Emperors
1124day.year
Pope Honorius II is consecrated, having been elected after the controversial dethroning of Pope Celestine II.
Pope Honorius II is consecrated in 1124, following the contentious removal of Pope Celestine II.
The papal election of 1124 was marked by intense factional disputes within the College of Cardinals.
After Pope Celestine II was deposed, Lamberto Scannabecchi secured enough support to become Honorius II.
His consecration on December 21 solidified his position amid accusations of political maneuvering.
Honorius II would later navigate conflicts between the papacy, the Holy Roman Emperor, and the Norman kingdom of Sicily.
His reign saw important church reforms and the continuance of Gregorian policies.
This moment reflects the close intertwining of religion and politics in medieval Europe.
1124
Pope Honorius II
1861day.year
Medal of Honor: Public Resolution 82, containing a provision for a Navy Medal of Valor, is signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln.
President Abraham Lincoln signs Public Resolution 82, establishing a Navy Medal of Valor alongside the Army Medal of Honor.
On December 21, 1861, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln enacted Public Resolution 82 in response to calls for recognizing naval heroism.
This resolution authorized the creation of a Navy Medal of Valor alongside the existing Army Medal of Honor.
Although initially overshadowed by its army counterpart, the naval decoration laid the groundwork for future naval honors.
The law marked the first statutory recognition of extraordinary bravery by sailors during the American Civil War.
Over time, the Navy Medal of Valor would be integrated into the modern Medal of Honor system.
Lincoln's decision underscored the importance of valor and sacrifice in the young nation's armed forces.
1861
Medal of Honor
President
Abraham Lincoln
1883day.year
The Royal Canadian Dragoons and The Royal Canadian Regiment, the first Permanent Force cavalry and infantry regiments of the Canadian Army, are formed.
Canada establishes its first Permanent Force cavalry and infantry regiments, forming the Royal Canadian Dragoons and the Royal Canadian Regiment.
On December 21, 1883, Canada formed the Royal Canadian Dragoons and the Royal Canadian Regiment.
These units became the nation's first Permanent Force cavalry and infantry regiments, respectively.
Their creation marked a shift from a militia-based defense to a standing professional army.
Both regiments went on to serve in conflicts such as the Boer War and both World Wars.
Their traditions and battle honors laid the foundation for modern Canadian military identity.
Today, the Royal Canadian Dragoons and the Royal Canadian Regiment remain active components of the Canadian Armed Forces.
1883
The Royal Canadian Dragoons
The Royal Canadian Regiment
Canadian Army
1919day.year
American anarchist Emma Goldman is deported to Russia.
Anarchist activist Emma Goldman is deported from the United States to Soviet Russia during the Red Scare.
On December 21, 1919, U.S. authorities deported political activist Emma Goldman to Russia under the Anarchist Exclusion Act.
Goldman, a vocal critic of capitalism and government policies, had been arrested multiple times for her political speeches.
Her deportation reflected the post-World War I Red Scare and a broader crackdown on radical movements.
She arrived in Soviet Russia hoping to witness the socialist revolution firsthand.
Soon disillusioned by Bolshevik repression, Goldman wrote critically about her experiences abroad.
Her legacy endures through her writings on individual freedom, women's rights, and social justice.
1919
anarchist
Emma Goldman
1923day.year
United Kingdom and Nepal formally sign an agreement of friendship, called the Nepal–Britain Treaty of 1923, which superseded the Treaty of Sugauli signed in 1816.
The United Kingdom and Nepal sign the 1923 Treaty of Friendship, recognizing Nepal's sovereignty and establishing modern diplomatic ties.
On December 21, 1923, representatives of the United Kingdom and Nepal signed a formal Treaty of Friendship in Kathmandu.
The Nepal–Britain Treaty of 1923 replaced the earlier Treaty of Sugauli of 1816 and recognized Nepal's full sovereignty.
It established diplomatic relations and set the framework for trade, immigration, and mutual assistance.
The treaty affirmed Nepal's right to conduct its own foreign policy independently of British India.
For Britain, it secured a stable relationship with the Himalayan kingdom and access to strategic trade routes.
The 1923 treaty remains the foundation of modern Nepal–UK relations and is celebrated in diplomatic commemorations.
1923
Nepal
Nepal–Britain Treaty of 1923
Treaty of Sugauli
1965day.year
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination is adopted.
The UN adopts the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in 1965, advancing global human rights.
The United Nations General Assembly adopts the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
The treaty obliges signatory states to prohibit and eliminate racial discrimination in all its forms.
ICERD provides mechanisms for monitoring implementation, including reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Adopted during the civil rights movement era, it reflected growing global commitment to human rights and equality.
To date, hundreds of countries have ratified the convention, shaping domestic anti-discrimination laws.
ICERD remains a cornerstone of international human rights law and a benchmark for legal reforms.
1965
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
1973day.year
The Geneva Conference on the Arab–Israeli conflict opens.
In December 1973, the Geneva Conference on the Arab–Israeli conflict begins in Switzerland as a major diplomatic effort to address tensions following the Yom Kippur War.
Representatives from Israel, Egypt, Syria, the United States, and the Soviet Union gathered under United Nations auspices to seek a peaceful resolution to hostilities. Key figures included US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko. Negotiators discussed border security, troop withdrawals, and the plight of refugees displaced by recent fighting. While deep mistrust and conflicting demands hindered rapid progress, the talks laid groundwork for future Middle East peace initiatives. The opening session highlighted the Cold War powers’ competing interests in the region and underscored global urgency to stabilize one of the world’s most volatile hotspots.
1973
Geneva Conference
Arab–Israeli conflict
1979day.year
Lancaster House Agreement: An independence agreement for Rhodesia is signed in London by Lord Carrington, Sir Ian Gilmour, Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo, Bishop Abel Muzorewa and S.C. Mundawarara.
The Lancaster House Agreement is signed in December 1979, charting Rhodesia’s transition from white-minority rule to the independent nation of Zimbabwe.
After years of guerrilla war and UN sanctions, British Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington convened talks at Lancaster House in London. Delegates included Rhodesian Prime Minister Abel Muzorewa and nationalist leaders Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo. The agreement set terms for a ceasefire, a new constitution, and internationally supervised elections. It paved the way for majority rule and the official creation of Zimbabwe on April 18, 1980. This landmark treaty demonstrated the power of diplomacy to resolve entrenched colonial conflicts and reshaped southern Africa’s political landscape.
1979
Lancaster House Agreement
Rhodesia
Lord Carrington
Ian Gilmour
Robert Mugabe
Joshua Nkomo
Abel Muzorewa
1991day.year
Dissolution of the Soviet Union: The leaders of 11 now effectively autonomous Soviet republics sign the Alma-Ata Protocol establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States in place of the collapsing Soviet Union.
Eleven Soviet republics sign the Alma-Ata Protocol, founding the Commonwealth of Independent States and formalizing the end of the USSR.
On December 21, 1991, leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and eight other republics met in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to dissolve the Soviet Union peacefully. The Alma-Ata Protocol replaced the USSR with the Commonwealth of Independent States, granting each country sovereignty and laying a framework for economic and security cooperation. The agreement followed failed coup attempts in Moscow and rising nationalist movements across the union. It marked the culmination of decades-long political transformation and ended one of the 20th century’s most powerful empires. The new CIS faced challenges in managing shared assets, border disputes, and diverse political interests.
1991
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
Alma-Ata Protocol
Commonwealth of Independent States
Soviet Union
1995day.year
The city of Bethlehem passes from Israeli to Palestinian control.
Bethlehem is officially transferred from Israeli administration to the Palestinian Authority as part of the Oslo peace process.
In December 1995, under the Oslo II Agreement framework, Bethlehem became the first West Bank city to move under Palestinian self-rule. The handover included security coordination between Israeli forces and the newly empowered Palestinian Authority. Local officials took charge of municipal services, tourism management, and preservation of religious sites. The transfer symbolized a milestone in the fragile peace negotiations after decades of conflict. It also raised hopes for expanded autonomy in other occupied territories. Though progress stalled in subsequent years, Bethlehem’s transition remains a pivotal moment in Israeli-Palestinian relations.
1995
Bethlehem
Israeli
Palestinian