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Explore the historical events that shaped our world on January 12th. 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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Roman General Drusus, alongside with his brother Tiberius, complete the conquest of Raetia c.15 BCE (BC), getting control of the trade routes and expanding the Empire's northern borders and paveing the way for further Roman expansion into Germania.
Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I dies on Jan 12, 1519 and his grandson Charles V becomes the new Holy Roman Emperor on June 28, 1519.
Charles had to secure the support of the seven electors and defeated rivals like Francis I of France through extensive bribery, funded by the Fugger banking family. Charles's election united his inherited Spanish, Burgundian, and Austrian territories and marked a new era of Habsburg dominance in Europe.
The Royalist stronghold of Bolesworth Castle surrenders to the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War in late February or early March 1646. By May 1646, the war effectively concluded when King Charles I surrendered to a Scottish army at Southwell, Nottinghamshire.
The Aeronautical Society of Great Britain, the precursor to the modern-day Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) is formed in London on January 12, 1866, making it the world's oldest aeronautical society.
One of the deadliest winter storms hits the upper Midwest on January 12, 1888. The blizzard with an epicenter in present-day South Dakota caused the deaths of hundreds of people, including 213 children who never made it home from their one-room schoolhouses and became known as the “Children’s Blizzard”.
The frigid temperatures were a nationwide phenomenon. Sub-zero temperatures reached all the way to Texas and Georgia, people could ice skate in San Francisco, and water mains froze in Los Angeles. More
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty is founded in England on January 12, 1895, by Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter, and Hardwicke Rawnsley, with the mission to preserve beautiful and historic places for the public's enjoyment and future generations. It became a registered charity and was incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1907.
Hattie Ophelia Wyatt Caraway becomes first woman elected to U.S. Senate on January 12, 1932, when she defeated two male opponents in a special race in Arkansas. More
Amelia Earhart lands her Lockheed 5C Vega at Oakland Airport, California on January 12,1935 becoming the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California. She had departed from Wheeler Field, Honolulu, Hawaii the day before on her record setting 18 hour solo flight. More
A 7.0-magnitude earthquake strikes Haiti on January 12, 2010, causing widespread devastation and loss of life. More than 300,000 people were killed or went missing with approximately 1.5 million people left homeless by the 35-second tremor. Thousands of buildings collapsed, including the National Palace, the Port-au-Prince Cathedral, major hospitals and schools.
