# What happened on December 16 in history?

**Date:** December 16  
**Events recorded:** 45  
**Years spanned:** 533 – 2024  
**Full page:** https://thisday.info/events/december/16/

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## Featured Event

**2014** — Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan militants attack an Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan, killing 150 people, 132 of them schoolchildren.

[Read more on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistani_Taliban)

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## Events on this date

- **533** — The Digest, the great collection of all Roman jurists' law, is issued together with a new official law textbook for legal schools, The Institutes. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digest_(Roman_law)))
- **714** — Pepin of Herstal, mayor of the Merovingian palace, dies at Jupille (modern Belgium). He is succeeded by his infant grandson Theudoald, while his widow Plectrude holds actual power in the Frankish Kingdom. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepin_of_Herstal))
- **755** — An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Yanjing, initiating the An Lushan Rebellion during the Tang dynasty of China. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Lushan))
- **1431** — Hundred Years' War: Henry VI of England is crowned King of France at Notre Dame in Paris. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundred_Years'_War))
- **1497** — Vasco da Gama passes the Great Fish River at the southern tip of Africa, where Bartolomeu Dias had previously turned back to Portugal. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasco_da_Gama))
- **1575** — An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8.5Mw strikes Valdivia, Chile. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1575_Valdivia_earthquake))
- **1598** — Seven-Year War: Battle of Noryang: The final battle of the Seven-Year War is fought between the China and the Korean allied forces and Japanese navies, resulting in a decisive allied forces victory. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imjin_War))
- **1653** — English Interregnum: The Protectorate: Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interregnum_(England)))
- **1689** — Convention Parliament: The Declaration of Right is embodied in the Bill of Rights. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_Parliament_(1689)))
- **1707** — The most recent eruption of Mount Fuji. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C5%8Dei_eruption))
- **1761** — Seven Years' War: After a four-month siege, the Russians under Pyotr Rumyantsev take the Prussian fortress of Kołobrzeg. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Years'_War))
- **1773** — American Revolution: Boston Tea Party: Members of the Sons of Liberty disguised as Mohawk Indians dump hundreds of crates of tea into Boston harbor as a protest against the Tea Act. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolution))
- **1777** — Virginia becomes the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articles_of_Confederation))
- **1782** — British East India Company: Muharram Rebellion: Hada and Mada Miah lead the first anti-British uprising in the subcontinent against Robert Lindsay and his contingents in Sylhet Shahi Eidgah. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_India_Company))
- **1811** — The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes occur in the vicinity of New Madrid, Missouri. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1811%E2%80%931812_New_Madrid_earthquakes))
- **1826** — Benjamin W. Edwards rides into Mexican-controlled Nacogdoches, Texas, and declares himself ruler of the Republic of Fredonia. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_W._Edwards))
- **1838** — Great Trek: Battle of Blood River: Voortrekkers led by Andries Pretorius and Sarel Cilliers defeat Zulu impis, led by Dambuza (Nzobo) and Ndlela kaSompisi in what is today KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Trek))
- **1850** — The Charlotte Jane and the Randolph bring the first of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton, New Zealand. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Jane))
- **1863** — American Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis appoints General Joseph E. Johnston to replace General Braxton Bragg as commander of the Army of Tennessee. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War))
- **1864** — American Civil War: The Battle of Nashville ends as the Union Army of the Cumberland under General George H. Thomas routs and destroys the Confederate Army of Tennessee under General John Bell Hood, ending its effectiveness as a combat unit. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Nashville))
- **1880** — Outbreak of the First Boer War between the Boer South African Republic and the British Empire. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Boer_War))
- **1882** — Wales and England contest the first Home Nations (now Six Nations) rugby union match. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales_national_rugby_union_team))
- **1883** — Tonkin Campaign: French forces capture the Sơn Tây citadel. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonkin_campaign))
- **1905** — In rugby union, the "Match of the Century" is played between Wales and New Zealand at Cardiff Arms Park. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_union))
- **1912** — First Balkan War: The Royal Hellenic Navy defeats the Ottoman Navy at the Battle of Elli. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Balkan_War))
- **1914** — World War I: Admiral Franz von Hipper commands a raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I))
- **1920** — The Haiyuan earthquake of 8.5Mw rocks the Gansu province in China, killing an estimated 200,000. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1920_Haiyuan_earthquake))
- **1942** — The Holocaust: Schutzstaffel chief Heinrich Himmler orders that Roma candidates for extermination be deported to Auschwitz. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust))
- **1944** — World War II: The Battle of the Bulge begins with the surprise offensive of three German armies through the Ardennes forest. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II))
- **1951** — A Miami Airlines Curtiss C-46 Commando crashes in Elizabeth, New Jersey, killing all 58 aboard including dancer Doris Ruby. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_C-46_Commando))
- **1960** — A United Air Lines Douglas DC-8 and a TWA Lockheed Super Constellation collide over Staten Island, New York and crash, killing all 128 people aboard both aircraft and six more on the ground. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines))
- **1968** — Second Vatican Council: Official revocation of the Edict of Expulsion of Jews from Spain. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Vatican_Council))
- **1971** — Bangladesh Liberation War and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: The surrender of the Pakistan Army brings an end to both conflicts. This is commemorated annually as Victory Day in Bangladesh and Vijay Diwas in India respectively. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh_Liberation_War))
- **1971** — The United Kingdom recognizes Bahrain's independence, which is commemorated annually as Bahrain's National Day. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain))
- **1972** — The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is enacted. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Bangladesh))
- **1973** — Aeroflot Flight 2022 crashes in the Soviet Union's (now Russia) Volokolamsky District, killing all 51 aboard, including four Lithuanian doctors. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroflot_Flight_2022))
- **1986** — The Jeltoqsan riots erupt in Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR, in response to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's dismissal of ethnic Kazakh Dinmukhamed Kunaev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, and his replacement with Gennady Kolbin, an ethnic Russian from the Russian SFSR. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeltoqsan))
- **1989** — Romanian Revolution: Protests break out in Timișoara, Romania, in response to an attempt by the government to evict dissident Hungarian pastor László Tőkés. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_revolution))
- **1992** — Deportation of Hamas members: Israeli authorities began deporting hundreds of Palestinians suspected to be members of Hamas across the Lebanese border. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_deportation_of_Hamas_members))
- **1997** — Dennō Senshi Porygon: Over 600 kids in Japan suffer photosensitive epileptic seizures after watching an episode of the Pokémon anime. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denn%C5%8D_Senshi_Porygon))
- **2011** — The Zhanaozen massacre occurs when violent protests by oil workers take place in Zhanaozen, Kazakhstan, resulting in security forces killing at least 14 and injuring 100 more. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhanaozen_massacre))
- **2013** — A bus falls from an elevated highway in Manila, capital of the Philippines, killing at least 18 people with 20 injured. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Metro_Manila_Skyway_bus_accident))
- **2014** — Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan militants attack an Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan, killing 150 people, 132 of them schoolchildren. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistani_Taliban))
- **2022** — A landslide occurs at a camp at an organic farm near the town of Batang Kali in Selangor, Malaysia, trapping 92 people and killing 31. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Batang_Kali_landslide))
- **2024** — The Abundant Life Christian School shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, United States, takes place, resulting in the death of three people. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Abundant_Life_Christian_School_shooting))

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## Notable births on December 16

- **2001** — **Kai Cenat** — American streamer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai_Cenat))
- **1998** — **Mira Antonitsch** — Austrian tennis player ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mira_Antonitsch))
- **1998** — **Zhou Jieqiong** — Chinese singer and actress ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhou_Jieqiong))
- **1996** — **Wilfred Ndidi** — Nigerian footballer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_Ndidi))
- **1996** — **Sergio Reguilón** — Spanish footballer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergio_Reguil%C3%B3n))
- **1996** — **Henry Thornton** — Australian cricketer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Thornton_(cricketer)))
- **1994** — **Nigel Hayes** — American basketball player ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Hayes-Davis))
- **1994** — **Nicola Murru** — Italian footballer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicola_Murru))
- **1994** — **José Rodríguez** — Spanish footballer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Rodr%C3%ADguez_(footballer%2C_born_1994)))
- **1993** — **Jyoti Amge** — Indian actress ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jyoti_Amge))

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## Notable deaths on December 16

- **2025** — **Lusanda Dumke** — South African professional rugby union player who played as a flanker (born 1996) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lusanda_Dumke))
- **2024** — **Dick Van Arsdale** — American basketball player (born 1943) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Van_Arsdale))
- **2024** — **Tulsi Gowda** — Indian environmentalist (born 1937/1938) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsi_Gowda))
- **2023** — **Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah** — Emir of Kuwait (born 1937) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nawaf_Al-Ahmad_Al-Jaber_Al-Sabah))
- **2017** — **Keely Smith** — American singer and actress (born 1928) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keely_Smith))
- **2015** — **Peter Dickinson** — Rhodesian-English author and poet (born 1927) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Dickinson))
- **2015** — **Lizmark** — Mexican wrestler (born 1950) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizmark))
- **2015** — **George Earl Ortman** — American painter and sculptor (born 1926) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Earl_Ortman))
- **2014** — **Martin Brasier** — English paleontologist, biologist, and academic (born 1947) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Brasier))
- **2014** — **Tim Cochran** — American mathematician and academic (born 1955) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Cochran))

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## About this page

This is a machine-readable Markdown summary of [thisday.info/events/december/16/](https://thisday.info/events/december/16/).  
Historical data is sourced from [Wikipedia/Wikimedia](https://www.wikipedia.org) under [CC BY-SA](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/).  
Editorial framing and site content © thisday.info.