December 13 Events in History

December 13 has witnessed numerous significant events throughout history, spanning various eras and impacting diverse regions of the world.

From pivotal battles and political shifts to groundbreaking explorations and cultural milestones, this date holds a remarkable place in the annals of time.

This article explores 20 notable occurrences that took place on December 13, arranged in chronological order, to provide a comprehensive look at how this day has shaped history.

From the resignation of a pope in the 13th century to the capture of a dictator in the 21st, these events highlight the rich tapestry of human experience and the ongoing story of our world.

December 13th – On this Day in History

1294 – Saint Celestine V Resigned the Papacy

On December 13, 1294, Saint Celestine V, one of the few popes to ever resign, stepped down from the papacy after only five months in office. Celestine V, born Pietro Angelerio, was an elderly hermit who had reluctantly accepted the papal crown.

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His ascetic lifestyle and lack of political experience made it difficult for him to manage the complexities of the Church and the pressures of the papal office. His resignation paved the way for his successor, Boniface VIII, and marked a rare instance of papal abdication, an act that was not repeated until Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation in 2013.

1545 – The Council of Trent Began

Council of Trent

On December 13, 1545, the Council of Trent commenced in Trent (modern Trento, Italy). This ecumenical council was one of the Roman Catholic Church’s most important responses to the Protestant Reformation. Convened by Pope Paul III, the council aimed to address doctrinal issues and reform the Church’s practices.

Also Read: December 14th – On this Day in History

Over the course of 18 years, in three distinct sessions, the Council of Trent clarified Catholic doctrine on salvation, the sacraments, and the authority of the Pope. It also implemented significant church reforms, such as the improvement of clerical education and the enforcement of discipline among the clergy, profoundly shaping the future of the Catholic Church.

1577 – Francis Drake Set Out from Plymouth

On December 13, 1577, the English explorer Sir Francis Drake embarked on his epic circumnavigation of the globe, departing from Plymouth, England. Commissioned by Queen Elizabeth I, Drake’s mission was to raid Spanish holdings along the Pacific coast of the Americas. His fleet of five ships faced numerous challenges, including storms, mutinies, and confrontations with Spanish forces.

Despite these obstacles, Drake successfully navigated the Strait of Magellan, plundered Spanish settlements, and sailed across the Pacific Ocean. He returned to England in 1580, becoming the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world and bringing back valuable treasures that enriched England’s coffers.

1636 – Massachusetts Bay Colony Organized Militia Regiments

On December 13, 1636, the Massachusetts Bay Colony organized three militia regiments to defend against potential threats from the Pequot Indians. This act is considered the founding of the National Guard in the United States.

The regiments, composed of able-bodied men from the colony, were established to provide a structured and ready military force for the colony’s defense. This early form of citizen-soldiery laid the groundwork for the modern National Guard, highlighting the tradition of local militias contributing to community and national defense, a concept that has persisted in various forms throughout American history.

1642 – Abel Tasman Reached New Zealand

Abel Tasman

On December 13, 1642, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European known to reach New Zealand. Sailing under the commission of the Dutch East India Company, Tasman’s expedition aimed to explore the unknown southern continent.

After navigating the treacherous waters of the Southern Ocean, he sighted the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Mistaking it for part of the southern continent, he named it Staten Landt.

Tasman’s encounter with the indigenous Māori people resulted in a violent clash, leading him to depart the area. Although his expedition did not achieve all its objectives, Tasman’s voyages provided valuable information about the region and paved the way for future explorations.

1769 – Dartmouth College Received Its Charter

On December 13, 1769, Dartmouth College was officially chartered by King George III of England. Founded by Eleazar Wheelock, a Congregational minister, Dartmouth was established to provide education for Native Americans as well as English youth.

The charter, granted by New Hampshire’s Royal Governor John Wentworth, laid the foundation for what would become one of the prestigious Ivy League institutions. Located in Hanover, New Hampshire, Dartmouth started with a single log cabin and a handful of students but grew significantly over the centuries. Today, Dartmouth College is renowned for its strong liberal arts curriculum, research contributions, and vibrant campus life.

1862 – Battle of Fredericksburg

On December 13, 1862, during the American Civil War, General Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army achieved a decisive victory over General Ambrose Burnside’s Union Army at the Battle of Fredericksburg in Virginia. The battle was marked by its brutal combat and significant casualties, particularly on the Union side.

Battle of Fredericksburg

Burnside’s ill-fated frontal assaults against entrenched Confederate positions on Marye’s Heights resulted in devastating losses. The defeat severely damaged Union morale and highlighted the challenges faced by Union forces in penetrating Confederate defenses.

The Battle of Fredericksburg underscored the strategic and tactical difficulties of the war, contributing to a prolonged and bloody conflict.

1937 – The Nanjing Massacre Began

On December 13, 1937, Japanese troops captured the city of Nanjing (Nanking), then the capital of China, initiating a six-week period of horrific atrocities known as the Nanjing Massacre. During this time, hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians and disarmed soldiers were murdered, and tens of thousands of women were raped.

The brutality of the Japanese forces left a lasting scar on Sino-Japanese relations and remains a deeply sensitive and controversial topic. The massacre was part of the larger Second Sino-Japanese War and exemplified the extreme violence and suffering that characterized much of World War II in Asia.

1939 – The Battle of the River Plate

On December 13, 1939, the Battle of the River Plate, the first major naval engagement of World War II, began off the coast of South America near Uruguay. The battle involved the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee and three British cruisers: HMS Exeter, HMS Ajax, and HMS Achilles.

The engagement ended with the Graf Spee being damaged and seeking refuge in the neutral port of Montevideo, Uruguay. Facing limited options and under pressure from diplomatic and military threats, the captain of the Graf Spee, Hans Langsdorff, scuttled the ship on December 17, 1939, to avoid its capture. The battle was a significant early naval conflict and demonstrated the reach and impact of naval warfare in the war.

1949 – Knesset Voted to Move the Capital to Jerusalem

On December 13, 1949, the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, voted to move the capital of the newly established state of Israel to Jerusalem. This decision came amid the complex and contentious aftermath of Israel’s War of Independence and the broader Arab-Israeli conflict.

At the time, Jerusalem was a divided city, with West Jerusalem under Israeli control and East Jerusalem under Jordanian control. The Knesset’s vote reflected the deep historical and religious significance of Jerusalem to the Jewish people. The move was met with international controversy and remains a central issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and broader Middle Eastern geopolitics.

1950 – James Dean Began His Career with a Pepsi Commercial

On December 13, 1950, James Dean made his first significant appearance on screen in a Pepsi commercial. This marked the beginning of a brief but iconic career that would see Dean become a cultural icon and a symbol of youthful rebellion in America. Although his role in the commercial was minor, it opened the doors for Dean to pursue acting seriously.

He soon moved to New York City, where he studied method acting and began securing roles in television and theater. Dean’s breakout role came with the film “East of Eden” in 1955, followed by “Rebel Without a Cause” and “Giant,” which solidified his status as a Hollywood legend.

Tragically, his life and career were cut short when he died in a car accident in 1955, but his impact on cinema and popular culture endures.

1960 – U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Gomillion v. Lightfoot

On December 13, 1960, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered its decision in the landmark case Gomillion v. Lightfoot. The case addressed the issue of racial gerrymandering in Tuskegee, Alabama, where city boundaries were redrawn to exclude almost all Black voters, effectively disenfranchising them.

The Supreme Court ruled that this redrawing of boundaries violated the Fifteenth Amendment, which prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race. This decision was a significant victory for the Civil Rights Movement, affirming that electoral district boundaries could not be manipulated to disenfranchise voters based on race.

The ruling paved the way for further legal challenges to discriminatory practices in voting and contributed to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

1967 – King Constantine II of Greece Fled the Country

King Constantine II of Greece

On December 13, 1967, King Constantine II of Greece fled the country following a failed counter-coup against the ruling military junta. The young king had attempted to overthrow the junta, which had seized power in a coup d’état in April 1967.

The plan, however, was poorly executed and failed to garner sufficient support from the military. Faced with the junta’s consolidation of power and fearing for his safety, Constantine and his family fled to Rome, Italy.

This marked the beginning of an extended period of exile for the Greek royal family. Constantine’s departure solidified the junta’s control, and Greece remained under military rule until 1974, when the junta fell and the monarchy was subsequently abolished through a national referendum.

1972 – Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt Began Apollo 17’s Final Moonwalk

On December 13, 1972, astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt of Apollo 17 began their third and final moonwalk, which would also be the last manned moonwalk of the Apollo program. Apollo 17 was the sixth and final Apollo mission to land on the moon, and Cernan and Schmitt spent a total of about 22 hours exploring the lunar surface over three days.

Their activities included geological surveys, sample collection, and deploying scientific instruments. The mission provided valuable scientific data and brought back 243 pounds (110 kg) of lunar samples.

Cernan, the last person to leave the lunar surface, famously remarked, “We leave as we came, and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind.” Apollo 17 marked the end of an era of human exploration of the moon, and no humans have returned to the lunar surface since.

1974 – Malta Became a Republic within the Commonwealth of Nations

On December 13, 1974, Malta declared itself a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations, transitioning from a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state to a republic with a president as the head of state. The change was formalized by amendments to the Maltese Constitution, which came into effect on this day.

Anthony Mamo became the first President of Malta. This shift marked a significant step in Malta’s political development, following its independence from British rule in 1964. The move to a republic was driven by a desire for full sovereignty and self-determination.

Since then, Malta has continued to develop as a democratic nation, becoming a member of the European Union in 2004 and playing an active role in regional and international affairs.

1981 – Martial Law Declared in Poland

On December 13, 1981, General Wojciech Jaruzelski, the Prime Minister of Poland, declared martial law in an attempt to crush the growing Solidarity movement. Solidarity, a trade union founded in 1980 at the Gdańsk Shipyard under the leadership of Lech Wałęsa, had rapidly gained support across Poland, posing a significant challenge to the Communist government’s authority.

Martial law imposed severe restrictions on civil liberties, including curfews, the suspension of independent organizations, and the arrest of thousands of Solidarity members and activists. The move was justified by the government as necessary to maintain order and prevent foreign intervention, particularly from the Soviet Union.

Despite the repression, the Solidarity movement continued to operate underground, and martial law was lifted in July 1983. The period of martial law left a lasting impact on Polish society and contributed to the eventual fall of Communism in Poland in 1989.

1989 – Birth of Taylor Swift

On December 13, 1989, Taylor Swift was born in Reading, Pennsylvania. Swift would go on to become one of the most successful and influential singer-songwriters of her generation. She started her music career at a young age, moving to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue country music.

Swift’s debut album, released in 2006, was a commercial success, and she quickly rose to fame with subsequent albums such as “Fearless” (2008) and “Speak Now” (2010). Known for her narrative songwriting and ability to connect with her audience, Swift transitioned from country to pop with the release of her album “1989” in 2014.

Her work has earned numerous awards, including multiple Grammy Awards, and she has become an advocate for artists’ rights and social causes. Taylor Swift’s influence extends beyond music, impacting culture, fashion, and social media.

2000 – Al Gore Conceded the Presidential Election to George W. Bush

On December 13, 2000, Vice President Al Gore conceded the presidential election to Texas Governor George W. Bush following a prolonged and contentious legal battle over the results in Florida. The election was one of the closest and most disputed in American history, ultimately decided by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Bush v. Gore.

The Court’s decision halted a manual recount of ballots in Florida, effectively awarding the state’s electoral votes, and thus the presidency, to Bush. In his concession speech, Gore emphasized the importance of national unity and the peaceful transition of power, stating, “For the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession.”

The 2000 election highlighted issues with the U.S. electoral process and led to subsequent reforms aimed at improving the accuracy and fairness of elections.

2001 – Indian Parliament Attack

On December 13, 2001, the Indian Parliament in New Delhi was attacked by five armed terrorists. The attackers, who were later identified as members of the Pakistan-based militant groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, breached the parliament complex, resulting in a fierce gun battle with security forces.

The attack left 12 people dead, including five terrorists, six police officers, and one civilian. The assault was intended to inflict mass casualties and destabilize the Indian government. It prompted a severe crisis in India-Pakistan relations, leading to heightened military tensions and a massive mobilization of troops along the border.

The Indian government responded with stringent anti-terrorism measures and intensified its efforts to combat terrorism. The attack on the Indian Parliament remains a significant event in the history of India’s fight against terrorism and its relations with Pakistan.

2003 – Capture of Saddam Hussein

On December 13, 2003, former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. forces near his hometown of Tikrit. Operation Red Dawn, conducted by the 4th Infantry Division and Task Force 121, located Hussein hiding in a small underground bunker, or “spider hole,” on a farm.

The capture marked a significant milestone in the Iraq War, which had begun earlier that year with the U.S.-led invasion to overthrow Hussein’s regime.

Following his capture, Hussein was held by U.S. forces and later handed over to the Iraqi interim government. He was tried and convicted of crimes against humanity, including the massacre of 148 Iraqi Shi’ites in 1982, and was executed on December 30, 2006. The capture and subsequent execution of Saddam Hussein were pivotal events in Iraq’s history, symbolizing the end of his brutal dictatorship but also ushering in a period of ongoing conflict and instability in the region.