162 years ago, on the 19th of November 1863, Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. The speech is only 271 words long yet is considered one of the most significant in American history. #otd #history 🗃️

162 years ago, on the 19th of November 1863, Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. The speech is only 271 words long yet is considered one of the most significant in American history. #otd #history 🗃️

399 years ago, on the 18th of November 1626, Saint Peter's Basilica was consecrated. The church was financed with indulgences. Among those tasked with facilitating this was Johann Tetzel, who prompted a scandal that contributed to the Protestant Reformation. #otd #history 🗃️

156 years ago, on the 17th of November 1869, the Suez canal was inaugurated in Egypt. The canal connects the Meditteranean to the Red Sea and by extension Europe to Asia. It is now of vital strategic and economic importance. #otd #history 🗃️

87 years ago, on the 16th of November 1938, LSD was first synthesized by Swiss chemist Albert Hoffman with the goal of obtaining a respiratory and circulatory stimulant with no effect on the uterus. Hoffman also discovered LSD's psychedelic effects in 1943 after accidentally ingesting it. #otd 🗃️

37 years ago, on the 15th of November 1988, an independent State of Palestine is proclaimed by the Palestinian National Council after the First Intifada in 1987. The declaration was written by poet Mahmoud Darwish and proclaimed by Yasser Arafat. #otd #history 🗃️

2356 years ago, on the 14th of November 332 BCE, Alexander the Great was crowned pharaoh of Egypt. He had previously been pronounced the son of Amun on a visit tot the oracle at the Siwa Oasis. Due to this supposed lineage, Alexander was sometimes depicted with the Horns of Ammon. #otd #history 🗃️

192 years ago, on the 13th of November 1833, the Leonid meteor storm appeared over north America. Together with Halley's Comet this greatly impacted the study of meteors. It was described by Native American nations, Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln among others. #otd 🗃️

166 years ago, on the 12th of November 1859, Jules Léotard performed the first flying trapeze routine. The one-piece garment he invented was named after him. Léotard had passed law exams at age 18 before becoming a professional gymnast and died at age 32, presumably due to smallpox. #otd #history 🗃️

102 years ago, on the 11th of November 1923, Adolf Hitler was arrested for high treason for his role in the Beer Hall Putsch days earlier. He was sentenced to five years but received friendly treatment by guards, was allowed to meet with party members and was released again in December 1924. #otd 🗃️

351 years ago, on the 10th of November 1674, the Netherlands ceded their colony of Nieuw Nederland to England, including the city of New Amsterdam which would permanently be renamed to New York after already having been under English control since 1664 and temporarily renamed. #otd #history 🗃️

36 years ago, on the 9th of November 1989, during a press conference Günter Schabowski announced East German citizens could travel abroad with less restrictions and even permanent emigration between east and west would become possible, leading to the Fall of the Berlin Wall. #otd #history 🗃️

506 years ago, on the 8th of November 1519, Moctezuma welcomed Cortés in Tenochtitlán in peace after the Spaniard had parts of the Aztec Empire. Moctezuma intended to learn the weaknesses of the Spaniards but found himself taken hostage, with Cortés ruling Tenochtitlán through him. #otd #history 🗃️

108 years ago, on the 7th of November 1917, an insurrection in Petrograd (Saint Petersburg) led to the October Revolution in which the Bolsheviks seized power from the Russian Provisional Government. It is named 'October' Revolutian as Russia was still using the Julian calendar at the time. #otd 🗃️

1578 years ago, on the 6th of November 447, an earthquake hit Constantinople destroying much op its walls and 57 towers. Another quake followed next January. The presence of Attila the Hun in the Balkans prompted repairs, supported by chariot-racing factions, to be finished in 60 days. #otd 🗃️

153 years ago, on the 5th of November 1872, Susan B. Anthony and fourteen other women voted in the American presidential election. Anthony was later fined 100 dollars and responded :"I shall never pay a dollar of your unjust penalty." She never did. #otd #history🗃️

103 years ago, on the 4th of November 1922, the tomb of Tutankhamun was rediscovered. Howard Carter spent nearly 10 years cataloguing the objects in the tomb. In 2022, a letter came to light revealing Carter had been stealing treasures from the tomb. #otd #history 🗃️

68 years ago, on the 3rd of November 1957, the Sputnik 2 satellite was launched into orbit by the Soviet Union. It was the second spacecraft launched into earth orbit (after Sputnik 1) and carried Laika, the first animal in earth orbit. Laika died, as planned, during this. #otd #history 🗃️

89 years ago, on the 2nd of November 1936, BBC Television Service (the world's first regular 240 line broadcast) began. After a 15 minute opening segment, time and weather followed,then Movietone News and half an hour of 'variety'. Between 9 and 10 P.M. pre-recorded films were shown. #otd 🗃️

270 years ago, on the 1st of November 1755, Lisbon was hit by an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7. In combination with a tsunami and fires, the city was almost entirely destroyed. The timing (All Saint's Day) and the destruction of many churches caused speculation of divine judgement. #otd 🗃️

508 years ago, on the 31st of October 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg (according to Melanchthon), marking the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. The church later became Lutheran and Luther himself was buried there in 1546. #otd #history 🗃️

87 years ago, on the 30th of October 1938, a radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells was broadcast in the United States. The first half was presented as faux breaking news, convincing a part of the audience that an alien invasion was actually happening. #otd #history 🗃️

102 years ago, on the 29th of October 1923, Mustafa Kemal declared Turkey to be a republic, again confirming the end of the Ottoman Empire. In practice, there had been a National Assembly since 1920. #otd #history 🗃️

103 years ago, on the 28th of October 1922, Mussolini marched on Rome and fascists took over the Italian government. Financial support came from companies looking to fight back against 'strikes, bolshevism and nationalization'. #otd #history 🗃️

1713 years ago, on the 27th of October 312, Constantine is said to have had a vision of a cross before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. According to Christian chroniclers, this marked the beginning of Constantine's conversion to Christianity. The Edict of Milan followed in 313. #otd #history 🗃️

144 years ago, on the 26th of October 1881, a gunfight between lawmen and the Cochise County Cowboys broke out in Tombstone Arizona after the local marshal prohibited the carrying of weapons into town. The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral has been depicted in numerous books and films since. #otd 🗃️

610 years ago, on the 25th of October 1415, the English, under Henry V, defeat the French at the Battle of Agincourt. The victory had come unexpected as the French outnumbered the English. The Battle still lives in English public memory, even though the war was won by France. #otd #history 🗃️

377 years ago, on the 24th of October 1648, the Peace of Westphalia was signed, ending the Thirty Years' War. 109 different parties were involved. There were actually two separate treaties: one between the Holy Roman Empire and France, and one between the HRE and Sweden. #otd #history 🗃️

730 years ago, on the 23rd of October 1295, the kingdoms of France and Scotland formed the Auld Alliance against England. If either country were attacked by England, the other would invade English territory in turn. It was renewed in 1326 by Robert the Bruce but never formally revoked. #otd 🗃️

63 years ago, on the 22nd of October 1962, American president Kennedy announced the discovery of nuclear missiles on Cuba by reconnaissance planes and the establishment of a naval ‘quarantine’ as a response. The Cuban Missile Crisis was eventually resolved through diplomatic means. #otd #history 🗃️

220 years ago, on the 21st of October 1805, a British fleet let by Lord Nelson defeated a combined French and Spanish fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar. The victory confirmed the start of an era of British naval supremacy. Nelson himself was shot and died before the battle ended. #otd #history 🗃️

Update on this feed where I attempt to get a nice overview of history content. I've been adding and removing people in hopes of making it better. Suggestions for additions (guidelines in thread) highly appreciated. Sharing the feed would be very kind if you think your followers may be able to help.

70 years ago, on the 20th of October 1955, the final volume of the Lord Of the Rings was published. It was titled ‘The Return of the King’ by publisher Rayner Unwin. Author J.R.R. Tolkien felt the title revealed too much of the story and preferred the title ‘The War of the Ring’. #otd #history 🗃️

38 years ago, on the 18th of October 1987, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell with 22.6 percent. This was, and still is, the largest single day drop ever. Accelerated by computer-based models, the stock market crash became global. The crash is now known as 'Black Monday'. #otd #history 🗃️

62 years ago, on the 18th of October 1963, Félicette became the first cat to be launched into space. Biological data was collected and although Félicette survived, she was euthanized two months later so her brain could be studied. She remains the only cat to have ever been to space. #otd #history 🗃️

211 years ago, on the 17th of October 1814, eight people died in the London Beer Flood. One vat of porter had burst at Horse Shoe Brewery, causing a chain reaction of destruction which eventually resulted in a ‘wave of beer’ destroying a wall and flooding St Giles Rookery. #otd #history 🗃️

1335 years ago, on the 16th of October 690, Wu Zetian became empress of the Zhou dynasty. She had held de facto power previously during the reigns of her late husband and two of her sons. She is the only female sovereign in the history of China who is widely regarded as legitimate. #otd #history 🗃️

443 years ago, on the 15th of October 1582, the Gregorian calendar was first adopted causing many Catholic European countries to jump from the 4th to the 15th. The calendar was decreed by Pope Gregory XIII to regain a correct calculation of the date of Easter. #otd #history 🗃️

959 years ago, on the 14th of October 1066, the Battle of Hastings took place. Harold Godwinson (king of England for 282 days) died in the battle that would turn William from Bastard to Conqueror. Battle Abbey's high altar is said to be in the exact location of Harold II's death. #otd #history 🗃️

718 years ago, on the 13th of October 1307, King Philip IV of France had hundreds of Knights Templar arrested on charges of heresy, to which most later confessed under torture. This event is one of the possible origins for the Friday the 13th superstition. #otd #history 🗃️

226 years ago, on the 12th of October 1799, Jeanne Geneviève Garnerin (née Labrosse) was the first woman to parachute. She was an apprentice (and later wife) of pioneer balloonist Jacques Garnerin. She first ascended to an altidude of 900 metres in a gondala attached to a balloon. #otd #history🗃️

63 years ago, on the 11th of October, the Second Vatican Council (often referred to as 'Vatican II') was opened by Pope John XIII. Important results of Vatican II include mass in the vernacular language instead of Latin and commitment to dialogue with other faiths. #otd 🗃️

1293 years ago, on the 10th of October 732, Frankish and Umayyad forces clashed in the battle of Tours, which would result in a Frankish victory. Some claim Europe would have been Muslim instead of Christian if things had turned out differently, although there are numerous counterarguments. #otd 🗃️

1257 years ago, on the 9th of October 768, Charlemagne and Carloman were crowned in separate ceremonies at different locations following the death of their father, Pepin the Short. They had separate palaces and spheres of influence yet were considered joined rulers of the Franks. #otd #history 🗃️

196 years ago, on the 8th of October 1829, Stephenson’s Rocket won the Rainhill Trails in which five locomotives competed. Stephenson’s Rocket was the only one to complete the rails. A light engine running speed of 30 mph (48 km/h) was reached. Prize money was £500. #otd #history 🗃️

81 years ago, on the 7th of October 1944, a group of Jewish prisoners at Auschwitz II-Birkenau rebelled against the Nazi guards of the camp. 452 prisoners and 3 guards were killed. About 80 prisoners managed to flee, of which, according to researchers, 27 escaped and survived the war. #otd #history🗃️

136 years ago, on the 6th of October 1889, the Jardin de Paris, now known as the Moulin Rouge, opened at the foot of Montmartre. The intention was to attract rich customers to the fashionable yet poor district. The Moulin Rouge is known, among other things, for the Can-can. #history #otd 🗃️

751 years ago, on the 4th October 1274, 1,000 Mongol soldiers landed on the island of Tsushima in Kublai Khan’s first attempted invasion of Japan. The Mongols later retreated, in part due to a storm damaging their fleet. A second attempt at invasion in 1281 would fail as well. #history #otd #japan 🗃️

89 years ago, on the 4th of October 1936, antifascist counter protesters stopped a British Union of Fascists march through London’s East End. The Metropolitan Police tried to clear the way for the fascists resulting in violent clashes known as the Battle of Cable Street. #otd #history 🗃️

2076 years ago, on the 3rd of October 52 BCE, Vercingetorix, the leader of an alliance of Gallic tribes, surrendered to Julius Caesar, ending the Siege of Alesia. It was the culmination of Caesar’s Gallic campaign and the last major confrontation between Romans and Gallic tribes. #otd #history 🗃️