According to tradition, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ takes place on Good Friday.
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On This Day in History: April 14
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on April 14th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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Seljuk Turks capture Baghdad, leading to the decline of the Abbasid Caliphate.
Baldwin of Bourcq, was crowned King of Jerusalem, Baldwin II of Jerusalem, on Easter Sunday, April 14, 1118, succeeding his cousin Baldwin I. Known as a warrior-king, he focused on expanding the kingdom while defending against Seljuk and Fatimid invasions. He also established the military order of the Knights Templar.
He died on August 21, 1131, passing the throne to his daughter, Queen Melisende.
The Battle of Lincoln sees King Stephen of England captured by forces loyal to Empress Matilda.
The Battle of Myriokephalon: The Byzantine Empire suffers a decisive defeat by the Seljuk Turks.
St. Louis IX of France is canonized as a saint by Pope Boniface VIII.
Rebellion in Wales led by Owain Glyndŵr against English rule begins with a surprise attack on the English-held town of Ruthin.
King Edward IV of England defeats the Lancastrian forces at the Battle of Barnet during the Wars of the Roses.
Battle of Gelves: Spanish forces defeat a fleet of English privateers off the coast of Portugal.
Daniel Defoe publishes "Robinson Crusoe."
U.S. President Abraham Lincoln is shot at point-blank range on the back of the head as he watched a play at Ford’s Theater in Washington DC. The President was carried across the street to the Petersen House a private home, where he died early the following morning.
The assassin, American actor. John Wilkes Booth escaped but was pursued by Union soldiers for twelve days through southern Maryland and Virginia, and died of a gunshot wound on April 26 after refusing to surrender to Federal troops. The murder of President Abraham Lincoln was part of a pre-planned, coordinated attack on the president, Vice President Andrew Johnson and the Secretary of State. More
“The Dust Bowl”, in what came to be known as “Black Sunday,” a mountain of blackness swept across the High Plains and instantly turned a warm, sunny afternoon into a horrible blackness that was darker than the darkest night. High winds kicked up clouds of millions of tons of dirt and dust so dense and dark that some eyewitnesses believed the world was coming to an end. More
The Uniform Time Act of 1966 is signed by President Lyndon Johnson on April 14, 1966. The act mandated standard time within the established time zones and provided for Day Light Savings time (DST).
Clocks would be advanced one hour beginning at 2:00 a.m. on the last Sunday in April (Currently the second Sunday of March) and turned back one hour at 2:00 a.m. on the last Sunday in October (currently the first Sunday in November). States were allowed to exempt themselves from DST as long as the entire state did so. If a state chose to observe DST, the time changes were required to begin and end on the established dates. As of 2026, DST is not observed in the U.S. States of Hawaii, most of Arizona and the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands,
The Geneva Accords to settle the situation relating in Afghanistan, were signed at the Geneva headquarters of the United Nations, between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with the United States and the Soviet Union serving as guarantors.
The Afghan resistance, or mujahideen, were neither party to the negotiations nor to the Geneva accords and so refused to accept the terms of the agreement. After the signing of the Geneva accords, the 40th Soviet Army conducted a well-planned and executed nine-month withdrawal. The last Soviet soldier crossed the Freedom Bridge on 15 February 1989. More
The extremist group Boko Haram abducts 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Nigeria, leading to international outrage and the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.