On This Day in History – December 15

Major Events

• 533 – Battle of Tricamarum Byzantine forces under Belisarius defeat the Vandals near modern-day Tunisia, leading to the collapse of the Vandal Kingdom. This victory helps restore parts of the former Western Roman Empire under Emperor Justinian.
• 1256 – Hulagu Khan captures and destroys the Assassins’ stronghold at Alamut The Mongol invasion crushes the Nizari Ismaili state in Persia. The fall of Alamut ends centuries of influence by the “Order of Assassins.”
• 1791 – The United States Bill of Rights is ratified Virginia becomes the last necessary state to ratify the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. These amendments protect fundamental freedoms including speech, religion, press, and due process.
• 1890 – Sitting Bull is killed at Standing Rock The Lakota leader and spiritual figure is shot during an attempted arrest by Indian Agency police. His death intensifies tensions leading to the Wounded Knee Massacre later that month.
• 1939 – Gone with the Wind premieres in Atlanta The film debuts to enormous publicity and becomes one of the most commercially successful movies of all time. Its cultural impact and controversies endure for decades.
• 1961 – Adolf Eichmann sentenced to death After being captured by Israel and tried in Jerusalem, Eichmann is convicted for his role in organizing the Holocaust. His trial becomes a landmark in international justice.
• 1970 – The Soviet Union launches Venera 7 Venera 7 becomes the first spacecraft to successfully transmit data from the surface of Venus. It marks a major achievement in planetary exploration.
• 1973 – American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from the DSM This decision becomes a major milestone in LGBTQ+ history, shifting medical and social attitudes worldwide.
• 2001 – The Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens after 11 years Extensive stabilization work brings the tower back to safe public access. Engineers correct the tilt by about 17 inches while preserving its iconic lean.
• 2011 – The end of the U.S. Iraq War mission declared The United States formally ends its military mission in Iraq, marking the conclusion of nearly nine years of conflict.

Famous Birthdays

• Nero (37–68) – Roman emperor remembered for tyranny, extravagance, and the Great Fire of Rome.
• Alexandre Eiffel (1832–1923) – French engineer best known for the Eiffel Tower and contributions to the Statue of Liberty.
• Henri Becquerel (1852–1908) – French physicist and Nobel laureate who discovered radioactivity.
• J. Paul Getty (1892–1976) – American industrialist and founder of the Getty Oil Company.
• Alan Freed (1921–1965) – American disc jockey credited with popularizing the term “rock and roll.”
• Tim Conway (1933–2019) – American actor and comedian known for The Carol Burnett Show.
• Don Johnson (1949) – American actor known for Miami Vice.
• Stuart Townsend (1972) – Irish actor known for Queen of the Damned.
• Adam Brody (1979) – American actor known for The O.C..

Notable Deaths

• Sitting Bull (1831–1890) – Lakota chief and spiritual leader central to resistance against U.S. expansion.
• Zoltán Kodály (1882–1967) – Hungarian composer and music educator known for the Kodály Method.
• Walt Disney’s colleague Bill Melendez (1916–2008) – Animator and producer known for Peanuts specials.
• Ferdinand Marcos’ rival Jovito Salonga (1920–2016) – Filipino politician and statesman.
• Gaston Glock’s business partner Karl Walter (dates vary by record) – Industry figure associated with weapons development.
• Kasey Rogers (1922–2006) – American actress known for Bewitched.
• Joan Fontaine (1917–2013) – British-American actress and Academy Award winner.
• Ferdinand de Saussure’s student Roman Jakobson (1896–1982) – Linguist and literary theorist.
• Larry Henley (1937–2014) – American singer and songwriter, co-writer of “Wind Beneath My Wings.”

Holidays

• Bill of Rights Day (United States) – Commemorates the ratification of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
• Zamenhof Day (Esperanto community) – Honors L. L. Zamenhof, creator of the Esperanto language, born on this day.
• National Cupcake Day (United States and Canada) – Celebrated informally across North America.
• Remembrance Day (Northern Ireland) – Commemorated regionally in some communities in mid-December.

Fun Facts

• Venera 7 transmitted data from Venus for 53 minutes, providing humanity’s first direct look at conditions on another planet’s surface.
• Gone with the Wind held the record for the highest-grossing film for decades when adjusted for inflation.
• Sitting Bull had performed with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show for several months in the 1880s, boosting global interest in Indigenous culture.
• The APA’s 1973 decision on homosexuality became a defining moment in the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.