Major Events

• 536 – Belisarius enters Rome The Byzantine general Belisarius captures Rome from the Ostrogoths during Justinian I’s campaign to reconquer the former Western Roman territories. The victory marks a key turning point in the Gothic War.
• 1531 – Juan Diego reports the first apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe According to Roman Catholic tradition, the Virgin Mary appears to the Indigenous peasant Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill near modern Mexico City. The event becomes foundational to Mexican religious and cultural identity.
• 1824 – Battle of Ayacucho South American forces under Antonio José de Sucre defeat the Spanish royalists in Peru. The battle effectively ends Spanish colonial rule in South America.
• 1905 – The “Bloody Sunday” inquiry begins in Russia Following the massacre of peaceful protestors earlier that year, investigations begin into Tsarist government actions, fueling revolutionary momentum.
• 1946 – The “Nuremberg Doctors’ Trial” begins The medical trial phase of the Nuremberg proceedings begins, prosecuting Nazi doctors for unethical experimentation on prisoners. The trial leads to the creation of the Nuremberg Code, a cornerstone of modern medical ethics.
• 1961 – Tanganyika gains independence from Britain Tanganyika (modern-day mainland Tanzania) becomes a sovereign state under Julius Nyerere. It later unites with Zanzibar to form Tanzania.
• 1965 – A Charlie Brown Christmas premieres The animated special airs on CBS for the first time. Its unconventional tone, jazz music, and message of simplicity turn it into a holiday classic.
• 1990 – Lech Wałęsa elected President of Poland The Solidarity leader becomes Poland’s first freely elected president following the fall of communism.
• 2014 – CIA torture report released The U.S. Senate publishes a detailed report on CIA interrogation practices after 9/11, sparking global debate and calls for reform.

Famous Birthdays

• John Milton (1608–1674) – English poet and author of Paradise Lost.
• Adolphus Busch (1839–1913) – German-American businessman and co-founder of Anheuser-Busch.
• Clarence Birdseye (1886–1956) – American inventor whose innovations revolutionized the frozen food industry.
• Douglas Fairbanks Jr. (1909–2000) – American actor and naval officer.
• Kirk Douglas (1916–2020) – American actor and Hollywood icon known for Spartacus.
• Judi Dench (1934) – English actress and Academy Award winner known for Shakespeare in Love and Skyfall.
• John Malkovich (1953) – American actor and producer known for Being John Malkovich.
• Felicity Huffman (1962) – American actress known for Desperate Housewives.
• Simon Helberg (1980) – American actor and comedian known for The Big Bang Theory.

Notable Deaths

• Emperor Yahya IV of Ethiopia (?-1832) – Early 19th-century Ethiopian ruler.
• Vincent Van Gogh’s brother Theo van Gogh (1857–1891) – Dutch art dealer who championed Vincent’s work.
• Niels Bohr’s colleague and physicist Julius Edgar Lilienfeld (1882–1963) – Pioneer of transistor theory.
• Red Foxx (1922–1991) – American comedian and actor known for Sanford and Son.
• Danny Aiello (1933–2019) – American actor known for Do the Right Thing.
• John Glenn (1921–2016) – American astronaut, first U.S. man to orbit Earth, and long-serving senator.
• Alfred E. Smith IV (1951–2019) – American businessman and philanthropist.
• Rev. James Lawson Sr. (1928–2024) – American civil rights leader noted for organizing nonviolent protests.
• Pierre Cardin (1922–2020) – French fashion designer known for futuristic styles.

Holidays

• International Anti-Corruption Day – Established by the United Nations to promote transparency and accountability.
• World Techno Day – Celebrated by electronic music fans to honor the genre’s pioneers.
• Independence Day (Tanzania — Tanganyika) – Marks the independence of the mainland territory in 1961.
• Fête de l’Immaculée Conception (France, regional) – Associated with Catholic celebrations surrounding early December.

Fun Facts

• A Charlie Brown Christmas was expected to fail because of its slow pacing and jazz score—but it became one of the most beloved holiday specials of all time.
• John Milton, born today, wrote most of Paradise Lost after losing his eyesight, dictating it entirely.
• The Battle of Ayacucho is considered the last major military engagement of the Spanish Empire in the Americas.