Harald III of Denmark dies and is succeeded by Canute IV, who would later be the first Dane to be canonized.

Harald III of DenmarkCanute IV of DenmarkCanonization

The rule of the Bavand dynasty in Mazandaran is brought to an end by the murder of Hasan II.

Bavand dynastyMazandaranHasan II (Bavandid ruler)

Kaunas Castle falls to the Teutonic Order after a month-long siege.

Kaunas CastleTeutonic OrderSiege of Kaunas (1362)

Geoffrey Chaucer tells The Canterbury Tales for the first time at the court of Richard II. Chaucer scholars have also identified this date (in 1387) as the start of the book's pilgrimage to Canterbury.

Geoffrey ChaucerThe Canterbury TalesRichard II of EnglandPilgrimageCanterbury

Spain and Christopher Columbus sign the Capitulations of Santa Fe for his voyage to Asia to acquire spices.

Christopher ColumbusCapitulations of Santa FeSpice

Trial of Martin Luther over his teachings begins during the assembly of the Diet of Worms. Initially intimidated, he asks for time to reflect before answering and is given a stay of one day.

Martin LutherLutheranismDiet of Worms

Giovanni da Verrazzano reaches New York harbor.

Giovanni da Verrazzano

Sir Ralph Abercromby attacks San Juan, Puerto Rico, in what would be one of the largest invasions of the Spanish territories in the Americas.

Ralph AbercrombyBattle of San Juan (1797)San Juan, Puerto Rico

Citizens of Verona begin an unsuccessful eight-day rebellion against the French occupying forces.

VeronaVeronese EasterFrench First Republic

The state of Virginia's secession convention votes to secede from the United States, becoming the 8th state to join the Confederate States of America.

VirginiaVirginia in the American Civil WarConfederate States of America

American Civil War: Grierson's Raid begins: Troops under Union Army Colonel Benjamin Grierson attack central Mississippi.

American Civil WarGrierson's RaidUnion ArmyBenjamin GriersonMississippi

American Civil War: The Battle of Plymouth begins: Confederate forces attack Plymouth, North Carolina.

Battle of Plymouth (1864)Confederate States of AmericaPlymouth, North Carolina

The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed. This marks the end of the First Sino-Japanese War, and the defeated Qing Empire is forced to renounce its claims on Korea and to concede the southern portion of the Fengtien province, Taiwan and the Pescadores Islands to Japan.

Treaty of ShimonosekiFirst Sino-Japanese WarQing EmpireLiaoningHistory of the administrative divisions of China

The Supreme Court of the United States decides Lochner v. New York, which holds that the "right to free contract" is implicit in the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Supreme Court of the United StatesLochner v. New YorkFreedom of contractDue processFourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution

The Ellis Island immigration center processes 11,747 people, more than on any other day.

Ellis Island

Russian troops open fire on striking goldfield workers in northeast Siberia, killing at least 150.

Russian EmpireLena massacreSiberia

World War II: The Kingdom of Yugoslavia surrenders to Germany.

World War IIKingdom of YugoslaviaNazi Germany

French prisoner of war General Henri Giraud escapes from his castle prison in Königstein Fortress.

Prisoner of warHenri GiraudKönigstein Fortress

Forces of the Communist-controlled Greek People's Liberation Army attack the smaller National and Social Liberation resistance group, which surrenders. Its leader Dimitrios Psarros is murdered.

Greek People's Liberation ArmyNational and Social LiberationDimitrios Psarros

World War II: Montese, Italy, is liberated from Nazi forces.

World War IIMonteseNazi

The last French troops are withdrawn from Syria.

Syrian Republic (1930-58)

At midnight 26 Irish counties officially leave the British Commonwealth. A 21-gun salute on O'Connell Bridge, Dublin, ushers in the Republic of Ireland.

British CommonwealthDublinRepublic of Ireland

The Peak District becomes the United Kingdom's first National Park.

Peak DistrictNational parks of England and Wales

Bay of Pigs Invasion: A group of Cuban exiles financed and trained by the CIA lands at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba with the aim of ousting Fidel Castro.

Bay of Pigs InvasionCuban exileCentral Intelligence AgencyBay of PigsFidel Castro

Sirhan Sirhan is convicted of assassinating Robert F. Kennedy.

Sirhan SirhanRobert F. Kennedy

Communist Party of Czechoslovakia chairman Alexander Dubček is deposed.

Communist Party of CzechoslovakiaAlexander Dubček

Apollo program: The ill-fated Apollo 13 spacecraft returns to Earth safely.

Apollo programApollo 13Earth

The People's Republic of Bangladesh is formed.

Bangladesh

The Cambodian Civil War ends. The Khmer Rouge captures the capital Phnom Penh and Cambodian government forces surrender.

Cambodian Civil WarKhmer RougePhnom PenhKhmer National Armed Forces

Mir Akbar Khyber is assassinated, provoking a communist coup d'état in Afghanistan.

Mir Akbar KhyberSaur RevolutionAfghanistan