887day.year
Berengar I is elected as king of Italy by the lords of Lombardy. He is crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy at Pavia.
In 887, Berengar I was chosen as King of Italy by the Lombard lords and crowned with the famed Iron Crown at Pavia.
Amid the power struggles of early medieval Italy, Berengar I secured the support of Lombard nobles to ascend the throne. He was ceremonially crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy in Pavia, a symbol of ancient royal authority. Berengar's reign marked the continuation of Carolingian influence while navigating challenges from neighboring realms. His election reflected the decentralized nature of Italian politics, relying on noble alliances. This event set the stage for Berengar's later conflicts with rival claimants and external threats.
887
Berengar I
Italy
Lombardy
Iron Crown of Lombardy
Pavia
1790day.year
Louis XVI of France gives his public assent to Civil Constitution of the Clergy during the French Revolution.
King Louis XVI accorded royal approval to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy during France’s Revolution in 1790.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy aimed to restructure the Catholic Church under state control, requiring clergy to swear allegiance to the nation. Louis XVI's assent forced bishops and priests into a position of political loyalty or exile. The law deepened divisions between revolutionary reformers and traditional believers. Many clergy refused the oath, leading to a schism and undermining the monarchy's stability. This pivotal moment intensified the revolutionary fervor that would culminate in the Republic's formation.
1790
Louis XVI
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
French Revolution
1799day.year
Henry Lee III's eulogy to George Washington in congress declares him as "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen".
Henry Lee III delivered a stirring congressional eulogy for George Washington in 1799, praising his unmatched leadership.
Known as the 'First in War, First in Peace' eulogy, Lee's address immortalized Washington's legacy. Delivered to the U.S. Congress shortly after Washington's death, it celebrated his integrity, courage, and unifying vision. Lee's words shaped public memory, reinforcing Washington's status as a national symbol. The phrase 'first in the hearts of his countrymen' endured as a testament to his impact. This tribute influenced how future generations commemorated the nation's founding father.
1799
Henry Lee III
George Washington
1805day.year
Austria and France sign the Treaty of Pressburg.
Austria and France signed the Treaty of Pressburg in 1805, reshaping Europe after Napoleon’s victories.
Concluded on December 26, the Treaty of Pressburg formalized Austrian concessions following Napoleon's triumph at Austerlitz. Austria ceded territories in Italy and recognized French influence over German states. The agreement accelerated the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and allowed the creation of the Confederation of the Rhine. Its terms strengthened Napoleon's control in Central Europe and isolated Britain and Russia. The treaty marked a pivotal reordering of continental politics under French hegemony.
1805
Treaty of Pressburg
1825day.year
Advocates of liberalism in Russia rise up against Czar Nicholas I in the Decembrist revolt, but are later suppressed.
In 1825, Russian military officers and nobles led the Decembrist Revolt against Tsar Nicholas I, seeking constitutional reform but ultimately facing brutal suppression.
The Decembrist Revolt erupted on December 26, 1825, when Russian army officers and aristocrats refused to swear allegiance to the newly crowned Tsar Nicholas I. Influenced by liberal ideas from Western Europe and experiences in the Napoleonic Wars, the rebels sought constitutional reform and the abolition of serfdom. They rallied in Senate Square in St. Petersburg, briefly halting Nicholas's accession. However, the revolt lacked unified leadership and clear objectives, leading to its swift suppression by loyalist troops. In the aftermath, five leaders were executed and hundreds were sent to Siberian exile. Though a failure, the Decembrist Revolt ignited the Russian revolutionary movement, inspiring future generations to challenge autocratic rule.
1825
liberalism
Czar Nicholas I
Decembrist revolt
1861day.year
American Civil War: The Trent Affair: Confederate diplomatic envoys James Murray Mason and John Slidell are freed by the United States government, thus easing tensions between the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
In 1861, the U.S. government released Confederate envoys James Mason and John Slidell following the Trent Affair, averting war with Britain.
During the American Civil War on December 26, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln ordered the release of Confederate diplomats James Murray Mason and John Slidell, who had been intercepted by the U.S. Navy aboard the British mail ship RMS Trent. The seizure had sparked outrage in the United Kingdom, threatening to draw Britain into the conflict on the side of the Confederacy. Facing diplomatic pressure and the risk of war, the Lincoln administration chose to free the envoys and return them to Europe. This resolution averted a potential international crisis and maintained neutrality among European powers. The Trent Affair highlighted the delicate balance of diplomacy and military action during wartime. It remains a key example of crisis management in U.S.-British relations.
1861
American Civil War
Trent Affair
Confederate
James Murray Mason
John Slidell
1941day.year
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs a bill establishing the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day in the United States.
President Roosevelt signs legislation establishing Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November, standardizing a national holiday tradition.
Until 1941, Thanksgiving dates fluctuated between states and presidential proclamations.
To boost the economy and unify the nation, FDR signed a bill fixing the holiday on the fourth Thursday.
This act formalized a consistent date for family gatherings and holiday commerce.
The legislation was passed by Congress and signed on December 26, 1941.
Thanksgiving has since become one of America's most enduring national celebrations.
Merchants welcomed the rule as it extended the lucrative holiday shopping season.
1941
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Thanksgiving Day
1941day.year
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill addresses a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress.
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivers a historic address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress, strengthening the Allied alliance.
Invited by President Roosevelt, Churchill spoke before Congress on December 26, 1941.
He praised American courage and commitment following Pearl Harbor.
The speech reinforced Anglo-American solidarity in the face of World War II's darkest days.
Churchill's eloquence and resolve inspired lawmakers and the public alike.
His words helped cement diplomatic ties and galvanized support for the Allied cause.
addresses a joint meeting
1948day.year
Cardinal József Mindszenty is arrested in Hungary and accused of treason and conspiracy.
Hungarian Cardinal József Mindszenty is arrested by Communist authorities and accused of treason, marking a crackdown on religious freedom.
On December 26, 1948, Cardinal Mindszenty, a vocal critic of Hungary's Communist regime, was seized in Budapest.
He faced charges of plotting against the state and conspiring with foreign powers.
The arrest triggered international protest and became a symbol of the regime's oppressive tactics.
Mindszenty endured show trials and harsh imprisonment until his release in 1956.
His case highlighted the struggle between church independence and authoritarian government in postwar Eastern Europe.
He remained an enduring figure for anti-communist movements worldwide.
1948
József Mindszenty
treason
1948day.year
The last Soviet troops withdraw from North Korea.
The final Soviet occupation forces leave North Korea, ending the post-World War II Soviet military presence in the north.
After Japan’s defeat in World War II, Soviet troops occupied northern Korea beginning in 1945.
On December 26, 1948, the last Soviet units completed their withdrawal from the region.
Their departure paved the way for the establishment of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 1948.
The removal of Soviet forces intensified divisions on the peninsula and set the stage for the Korean War.
This moment marked a critical shift in Cold War geopolitics in East Asia.
It underscored the deepening rivalry between Soviet and American spheres of influence.
Soviet
North Korea
1968day.year
The Communist Party of the Philippines is established by Jose Maria Sison, breaking away from the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas-1930.
Jose Maria Sison establishes the Communist Party of the Philippines, breaking away from the 1930 party to launch a new revolutionary movement.
On December 26, 1968, Jose Maria Sison and fellow activists founded the new Communist Party of the Philippines.
They broke away from the older Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas-1930 due to ideological differences and strategic disagreements.
The party adopted a Maoist-inspired approach and called for a people's war to overthrow perceived feudal and imperialist structures.
Shortly after its formation, the CPP created the New People's Army as its armed wing, initiating one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies.
The movement aimed to mobilize peasant and working-class support across rural Philippines.
Over the following decades, the CPP-NPA shaped Philippine politics and provoked extensive military and counterinsurgency campaigns.
1968
Communist Party of the Philippines
Jose Maria Sison
Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas-1930
1991day.year
The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union meets and formally dissolves the Soviet Union, ending the Cold War.
The Supreme Soviet formally dissolves the USSR, bringing the Cold War to an end.
On December 26, 1991, the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union convened to ratify the dissolution of the USSR.
This formal act followed the Belavezha Accords in which key republics declared their independence.
The Soviet flag was lowered, and the Russian tricolor was raised over the Kremlin for the first time in decades.
Mikhail Gorbachev's resignation as President earlier that month had signaled the end of centralized Soviet power.
The dissolution marked the conclusion of the Cold War and a dramatic shift in global geopolitics.
Fifteen newly independent states emerged across Eurasia, reshaping economic and political systems worldwide.
The event's repercussions continue to influence international relations to this day.
1991
Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union
dissolves the Soviet Union
Cold War