Did you know
In 1816, Bussa, a slave in British-ruled Barbados, leads a slave rebellion, for which he is remembered as the country's first national hero. This featured entry focuses on the immediate decision and its direct historical impact.
April 14 in History
1816 — Bussa, a slave in British-ruled Barbados, leads a slave rebellion, for which he is remembered as the country's first national hero
April 14 spans 56 recorded events across recorded history, from 43 BC to 2024. Below is a curated digest of the most significant moments tied to this date.
By thisDay.info Editorial Team · — Wikipedia
Historical Events
56 events
43 BC – 2024
Today in history
More major events on April 14
The featured story and these ranked highlights form a quick summary. Every recorded event remains available in the chronology below.
- 1991 The Republic of Georgia introduces the post of President following its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. Source
- 1793 The French troops led by Léger-Félicité Sonthonax defeat the slaves settlers in the Siege of Port-au-Prince. Source
- 1958 The Soviet satellite Sputnik 2 falls from orbit after a mission duration of 162 days. This was the first spacecraft to carry a living animal, a female dog named Laika, who likely lived only a few hours. Source
Did you know
Bussa's rebellion was the largest slave revolt in Barbadian history. This helps explain why the event mattered beyond the initial announcement.
Did you know
The rebellion takes its name from the African-born slave, Bussa, who led the rebellion. This clarifies the institutional and public response around the event.
Did you know
The rebellion, which was eventually defeated by the colonial militia, was the first of three mass slave rebellions in the British West Indies that shook public faith in slavery in the years leading up to the abolition of slavery in the British Empire and emancipation of former slaves. This shows how the event shaped policy and public communication in the same period.
Did you know
It was followed by the Demerara rebellion of 1823 and by the Baptist War in Jamaica in 1831–1832; these are often referred to as the "late slave rebellions". This helps explain why the event mattered beyond the initial announcement.
-43
Legions loyal to the Roman Senate, commanded by Gaius Pansa, defeat the forces of Mark Antony in the Battle of Forum Gallorum.
Political institution in ancient Rome
69
Vitellius, commanding Rhine-based armies, defeats Roman emperor Otho in the First Battle of Bedriacum to take power over Rome.
Calendar year
966
Following his marriage to the Christian Doubravka of Bohemia, the pagan ruler of the Polans, Mieszko I, converts to Christianity, an event considered to be the founding of the Polish state.
10th-century Bohemian princess and Duchess consort of the Polans
972
Otto II, Co-Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, marries Byzantine princess Theophanu.
She is crowned empress by Pope John XIII in Rome the same day.
1205
Combined Bulgarian and Cuman army under Kalojan ambushes and defeats forces of the Latin Empire of Constantinople in the Battle of Adrianople.
Emperor of Bulgaria from 1196 to 1207
1395
Tokhtamysh–Timur war: At the Battle of the Terek River, Timur defeats the army of the Golden Horde, beginning the khanate's permanent military decline.
1386–1395 war between Tokhtamysh and Timur
1471
In England, the Yorkists under Edward IV defeat the Lancastrians under the Earl of Warwick at the Battle of Barnet; the Earl is killed and Edward resumes the throne.
Cadet branch of the House of Plantagenet
1561
A celestial phenomenon is reported over Nuremberg, described as an aerial battle.
Supposed celestial phenomenon in the Holy Roman Empire
1639
Thirty Years' War: Forces of the Holy Roman Empire and Electorate of Saxony are defeated by the Swedes at the Battle of Chemnitz, ending the military effectiveness of the Saxon army for the rest of the war and allowing the Swedes to advance into Bohemia.
Major war in Central Europe (1618–1648)
1775
The Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, the first abolition society in North America, is organized in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush.
First American abolitionist organization
1793
The French troops led by Léger-Félicité Sonthonax defeat the slaves settlers in the Siege of Port-au-Prince.
French politician and colonial administrator (1763–1813)
1849
Hungary declares itself independent of Austria with Lajos Kossuth as its leader.
1849 proclamation of Hungarian independence from the Habsburg Monarchy
1858
The 1858 Christiania fire severely destroys several city blocks near Stortorvet in Christiania, Norway, and about 1,000 people lose their homes.
1858 fire in Norway
1865
U.S.
President Abraham Lincoln is shot in Ford's Theatre by John Wilkes Booth; Lincoln dies the following day.
1865
William H.
Seward, the U.S. Secretary of State, and his family are attacked at home by Lewis Powell.
1881
The Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight occurs in El Paso, Texas.
1881 shootout in the streets of El Paso, Texas
1890
The Pan-American Union is founded by the First International Conference of American States in Washington, D.C.
International organization
1894
The first ever commercial motion picture house opens in New York City, United States.
It uses ten Kinetoscopes, devices for peep-show viewing of films.
1895
The 1895 Ljubljana earthquake, both the most and last destructive earthquake in the area, occurs.
Seismic event in Slovenia
1900
The world's fair Exposition Universelle opens in Paris.
World's Fair held in Paris, France
1906
The first meeting of the Azusa Street Revival, which will launch Pentecostalism as a worldwide movement, is held in Los Angeles.
Historic Pentecostal revival meeting
1908
Hauser Dam, a steel dam on the Missouri River in Montana, fails, sending a surge of water 25 to 30 feet (7.6 to 9.1 m) high downstream.
Dam in Montana, U.S.
1909
Muslims in the Ottoman Empire begin a massacre of Armenians in Adana.
Turkish Empire (c. 1299–1922)
1912
The British passenger liner RMS Titanic hits an iceberg in the North Atlantic and begins to sink.
British passenger liner that sank in 1912
1929
The inaugural Monaco Grand Prix takes place in the Principality of Monaco.
William Grover-Williams wins driving a Bugatti Type 35.
1931
The Second Spanish Republic is proclaimed and King Alfonso XIII goes into exile.
Meanwhile, in Barcelona, Francesc Macià proclaims the Catalan Republic.
1935
The Black Sunday dust storm, considered one of the worst storms of the Dust Bowl, sweeps across the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles and neighboring areas.
1935 dust storm in Oklahoma
1940
World War II: Royal Marines land in Namsos, Norway, preceding a larger force which will arrive two days later.
Global conflict (1939–1945)
1941
World War II: German and Italian forces attack Tobruk, Libya.
Military confrontation in North Africa during the Second World War
1945
World War II: In what becomes known as the Razing of Friesoythe, the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division deliberately destroys the German town of Friesoythe on the orders of Major General Christopher Vokes.
1945 World War II battle and war crime
1958
The Soviet satellite Sputnik 2 falls from orbit after a mission duration of 162 days.
This was the first spacecraft to carry a living animal, a female dog named Laika, who likely lived only a few hours.
1967
Gnassingbé Eyadéma overthrows Nicolas Grunitzky and installs himself as the new President of Togo, a title he will hold for the next 38 years.
President of Togo from 1967 to 2005
1978
Tbilisi demonstrations: Thousands of Georgians demonstrate against Soviet attempts to change the constitutional status of the Georgian language.
Protests in Tbilisi, Georgia
1979
The Progressive Alliance of Liberia stages a protest, without a permit, against an increase in rice prices proposed by the government, with clashes between protestors and the police resulting in over 70 deaths and over 500 injuries.
Political party in Liberia
1981
STS-1: The first operational Space Shuttle, Columbia, completes its first test flight.
First Space Shuttle mission, first orbital flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia
1986
The heaviest hailstones ever recorded, each weighing 1 kilogram (2.2 lb), fall on the Gopalganj district of Bangladesh, killing 92.
Form of solid precipitation
1988
The USS Samuel B.
Roberts strikes a mine in the Persian Gulf during Operation Earnest Will.
1988
In a United Nations ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, the Soviet Union signs an agreement pledging to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan.
Global intergovernmental organization
1991
The Republic of Georgia introduces the post of President following its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union.
Country in Eastern Europe and West Asia
1994
In a friendly fire incident during Operation Provide Comfort in northern Iraq, two U.S.
Air Force aircraft mistakenly shoot-down two U.S. Army helicopters, killing 26 people.
1997
Pai Hsiao-yen, daughter of Taiwanese artiste Pai Bing-bing, is kidnapped on her way to school, preceding her murder.
1997 murder in Taiwan
1999
NATO mistakenly bombs a convoy of ethnic Albanian refugees.
Yugoslav officials say 75 people were killed.
1999
A severe hailstorm strikes Sydney, Australia causing A$2.3 billion in insured damages, the most costly natural disaster in Australian history.
Natural disaster in Australia
2001
Series of bombings at Ramna Park in Dhaka during the Bengali New Year celebrations leave 10 people dead and dozens other injured.
Mass murder in Dhaka, Bangladesh
2002
Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez returns to office two days after being ousted and arrested by the country's military.
Country in South America
2003
The Human Genome Project is completed with 99% of the human genome sequenced to an accuracy of 99.99%.
International scientific research project (1990–2003)
2003
U.S.
troops in Baghdad capture Abu Abbas, leader of the Palestinian group that killed an American on the hijacked cruise liner MS Achille Lauro in 1985.
2005
The Oregon Supreme Court nullifies marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples a year earlier by Multnomah County.
Highest court in the U.S. state of Oregon
2006
Twin blasts triggered by crude bombs during Asr prayer in the Jama Masjid mosque in Delhi injure 13 people.
Terrorist incident in Old Delhi, India
2014
Two bombs detonate at a bus station in Nyanya, Nigeria, killing at least 88 people and injuring hundreds.
Boko Haram claims responsibility.
2014
Boko Haram abducts 276 girls from a school in Chibok, Nigeria.
2014 kidnapping by Boko Haram
2016
2022
Russian invasion of Ukraine: The Russian warship Moskva is struck by two anti-ship missiles and sinks into the Black Sea.
Campaign in ongoing war since 2014
2023
The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) is launched by the European Space Agency.
European mission to study Jupiter and its moons since 2023
