502day.year
Chinese emperor Xiao Yan names Xiao Tong his heir designate.
In 502, Emperor Xiao Yan of the Liang dynasty names his son Xiao Tong as heir apparent, solidifying the imperial succession.
Emperor Xiao Yan, later known as Emperor Wu of Liang, appointed his eldest son Xiao Tong as heir designate in 502.
This decision reinforced the line of succession during a period of political consolidation.
Xiao Tong, celebrated for his later literary anthology "Wen Xuan", became the first crown prince of the Liang dynasty.
The appointment reflected Xiao Yan’s strategic efforts to stabilize his rule and ensure dynastic continuity.
This moment marked a defining step in the governance and cultural development of early medieval southern China.
502
Chinese emperor
Xiao Yan
Xiao Tong
640day.year
Pope John IV is elected, several months after his predecessor's death.
In 640, John IV is elected pope, restoring leadership to the Catholic Church after a period of vacancy.
Following the death of Pope Severinus and a six-month interregnum, John IV was chosen as pope in December 640.
A native of Dalmatia, he faced the challenge of uniting the church amid political tensions with the Byzantine Empire.
John IV is remembered for his efforts to liberate Dalmatian captives and strengthen ecclesiastical ties with the eastern Christian communities.
His papacy, though brief, brought renewed stability to Rome and set the stage for later reforms.
He passed away just a year later, leaving a legacy of compassion and diplomatic outreach.
640
Pope John IV
after his predecessor's death
1294day.year
Pope Boniface VIII is elected, replacing St. Celestine V, who had resigned.
In 1294, Cardinal Benedetto Caetani is elected Pope Boniface VIII, succeeding the hermit-pope Celestine V.
After the resignation of Celestine V, who abdicated to return to monastic life, the papal throne was vacant for just days.
The conclave convened in Perugia and chose Benedetto Caetani, who took the name Boniface VIII on December 24th.
His election marked the rise of a formidable pontiff known for asserting papal supremacy and legal reforms.
Boniface VIII later issued the influential bull Unam Sanctam, leading to conflicts with secular monarchs, notably Philip IV of France.
His papacy represents a peak of medieval papal power and enduring tensions between church and state.
1294
Pope Boniface VIII
St. Celestine V
resigned
1800day.year
The Plot of the rue Saint-Nicaise fails to kill Napoleon Bonaparte.
In 1800, a bomb-laden carriage attempt known as the Plot of the rue Saint-Nicaise fails to assassinate Napoleon Bonaparte.
On the night of December 24th, royalist conspirators planted an explosive device on rue Saint-Nicaise in Paris.
The blast, intended for First Consul Napoleon, instead killed innocent bystanders and damaged nearby buildings.
Napoleon emerged unharmed and leveraged the incident to tighten security and suppress opposition.
Dubbed the "Machine Infernale", the failed plot enhanced his image as the savior of the Republic.
This event underscored the volatility of post-revolutionary France and the lengths of political intrigue.
1800
Plot of the rue Saint-Nicaise
Napoleon Bonaparte
1814day.year
Representatives of the United Kingdom and the United States sign the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812.
On December 24, 1814, the United Kingdom and the United States sign the Treaty of Ghent, officially ending the War of 1812.
After years of conflict over maritime rights and territorial control, delegates from Britain and the United States met in Ghent (modern-day Belgium) to negotiate peace. The treaty restored prewar boundaries without major territorial concessions and resolved lingering issues over borders and commerce. Although news traveled slowly, the agreement ultimately halted hostilities and fostered diplomatic relations between the two nations. Ratified in early 1815, the Treaty of Ghent set a precedent for resolving international conflicts through negotiation. The end of the War of 1812 ushered in an era of improved Anglo-American cooperation and trade.
1814
United Kingdom
United States
Treaty of Ghent
War of 1812
1846day.year
British acquired Labuan from the Sultanate of Brunei for Great Britain.
On December 24, 1846, Britain formally acquires the island of Labuan from Brunei.
Seeking a strategic port for naval and commercial interests in Borneo, Britain negotiated with the Sultan of Brunei to cede Labuan. The treaty granted the British Crown control of the island, which offered a deep-water harbor and coal resources. Labuan became a vital coaling station and naval base in the region, bolstering British influence in Southeast Asia. The acquisition reflected imperial competition and set the stage for further colonial expansion. Today, the island forms part of Malaysia but its colonial past remains a point of historical interest.
1846
Labuan
Sultanate of Brunei
Great Britain
1868day.year
The Greek Presidential Guard is established as the royal escort by King George I.
Greece establishes its Presidential Guard as the royal escort on December 24, 1868.
King George I created the Presidential Guard, known as the Evzones, to serve as an elite royal escort and ceremonial unit. Dressed in distinct uniforms featuring the traditional foustanella skirt, the guard was tasked with protecting the monarchy and performing public ceremonies. Over time, the Evzones became a symbol of Greek national identity and military tradition. After the monarchy was abolished, they continued to serve as the ceremonial honor guard of the Hellenic Republic. Today, they stand watch at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens and participate in state events.
1868
Presidential Guard
King George I
1920day.year
Gabriele D'Annunzio surrendered the Italian Regency of Carnaro in the city of Fiume to Italian Armed Forces.
In December 1920, Italian nationalist poet Gabriele D'Annunzio relinquished control of his self-proclaimed Regency of Carnaro in Fiume, ending his bold challenge to post-World War I order.
After seizing the Adriatic port of Fiume in 1919, Gabriele D'Annunzio established the Italian Regency of Carnaro and drafted its revolutionary charter. His rule blended radical social policies with nationalist fervor, inspiring later totalitarian movements. Italian government forces surrounded Fiume in late 1920 to enforce diplomatic agreements with Yugoslavia. On December 24, D'Annunzio surrendered to the regular Italian army, concluding his brief experiment in direct action politics. The event restored formal Italian sovereignty and shaped Italy’s interwar political landscape. Historians regard this episode as a precursor to the rise of Fascism.
1920
Gabriele D'Annunzio
Italian Regency of Carnaro
Fiume
Italian Armed Forces
1924day.year
Albania becomes a republic.
Albania was declared a republic on December 24, 1924, replacing its previous monarchical system and signaling a period of political transformation.
Following its 1912 independence from the Ottoman Empire, Albania experienced years of internal instability and shifting leadership. On December 24, 1924, after a brief revolutionary government, the country officially became a republic. Ahmed Zogu emerged as a central figure, later becoming its first president. The republic sought to modernize state institutions and stabilize the economy. However, political rivalries and foreign pressures continued to challenge the new government. This foundational change set the stage for Albania’s subsequent shifts between monarchy, occupation, and communist rule.
1924
Albania
1929day.year
Assassination attempt on Argentine President Hipólito Yrigoyen.
An assassination attempt was made on Argentine President Hipólito Yrigoyen on December 24, 1929, highlighting the intense political tensions of the era.
Hipólito Yrigoyen was serving his second term as Argentina’s democratically elected president when he became the target of a violent attack. On December 24, 1929, an unknown assailant opened fire in front of the president’s residence. Yrigoyen was wounded but survived, shocking the nation and revealing deep divisions within Argentine society. The incident intensified debates over security and the stability of democratic institutions. It foreshadowed the growing unrest that would culminate in a military coup the following year. The attempt remains a notable episode in Argentina’s turbulent political history.
1929
Argentine
Hipólito Yrigoyen
1951day.year
Libya becomes independent. Idris I is proclaimed King of Libya.
On December 24, 1951, Libya gained independence from British and French administration, and Idris I was crowned its first king.
After decades under Italian colonization and subsequent Allied administration, Libya achieved full sovereignty on December 24, 1951.
The United Nations facilitated the transition to independence under a constitutional monarchy.
Senussi tribal leader Idris al-Mahdi al-Senussi was unanimously chosen as King Idris I.
The new kingdom united the regions of Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, and Fezzan under a federal system.
Libya became the first Arab state to emerge from European colonial rule after World War II.
King Idris’s reign set the stage for the nation’s oil-driven economic transformation in later decades.
1951
Libya
Idris I
1973day.year
District of Columbia Home Rule Act is passed, allowing residents of Washington, D.C. to elect their own local government.
The District of Columbia Home Rule Act granted Washington, D.C. residents the right to elect their own local government.
Prior to 1973, Washington, D.C.'s municipal government was appointed by the U.S. Congress.
On December 24, 1973, Congress passed the District of Columbia Home Rule Act.
The law allowed D.C. residents to elect a mayor and city council for the first time.
It marked a significant step toward self-governance for the nation's capital.
The act also established a local budget process subject to congressional review.
Despite limited autonomy, it empowered citizens to shape local policies.
1973
District of Columbia Home Rule Act
local government