Nero succeeds his adoptive father, Claudius as Roman Emperor
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What Happened Today in History on October 13
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on October 13th. 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 Emperor Claudius is poisoned, and Nero ascends to the throne.
King Philip IV of France orders the arrest of the Knights Templar, leading to their persecution.
King Philip IV of France orders the arrest of the Knights Templar on October 13, 1307, leading to their suppression and persecution. The actions were fueled by his financial debts to the order and a desire for their wealth and power.
The Templars were accused of heresy and other charges, and many were tortured to extract confessions. Pope Clement V eventually dissolved the order in 1312 at the Council of Vienne under pressure from Philip. Much of the order's assets were seized by Philip, despite being officially designated for the Knights Hospitaller.
Henry IV of England is crowned as King of England, after deposing his cousin Richard II on September 30, 1399, marking the beginning of the Lancastrian dynasty.
The Treaty of Oliva is signed, ending the Second Northern War and recognizing Swedish territorial losses.
The Second Continental Congress authorizes the Continental Navy on October 13, 1775. The initial authorization was to procure, fit out, and man two armed vessels to intercept British supply ships. The authorization was triggered by Rhode Island, instructing its Congress delegates on August 26, 1775 to propose the creation of a continental fleet.
The Corner Stone of the White House is laid. A culminating act which was initiated by George Washington's proclamation issued of January 24, 1791 announcing the permanent location of the new capital, that would eventually became the District of Columbia. Following the announcement, Washington appointed commissioners to plan the new city. In September 1791, the commissioners named the city "Washington" in honor of the president. More
American forces under General William Henry Harrison defeat the British and Native American forces at the Battle of the Thames during the War of 1812.
The Kingdom of Italy, which was now based outside of Mussolini's control declares war on Germany, its one-time ally. and is granted the status of a co-belligerent by the United Nations. The war declaration, came 35 days after Italy signed the armistice that removed her from the ranks of nations giving military assistance to Germany. The Italian forces fought alongside the Allies against the Germans for the rest of the war. More
Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, a chartered flight of a Fairchild FH-227D from Montevideo, Uruguay, to Santiago, Chile, crashes in the Andes mountains at an elevation of (12,020 ft (3,660 meters ). It was carrying 45 passengers and crew, Three crew members and nine passengers died immediately and several more died soon after due to the frigid temperatures and the severity of their injuries.
During the 72 days following the crash, the survivors suffered from extreme hardships, including sub-zero temperatures, exposure, starvation, and an avalanche, which led to the deaths of 13 more passengers. Only 16 survived the ordeal. The incident garnered international attention, especially after it was revealed that the survivors had resorted to cannibalism. More
Palestinian militants from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) hijacked Lufthansa Flight 181. Boeing 737 carrying 86 passengers and five crew members. They demanded the release of 11 imprisoned members of the German Red Army Faction (RAF), an allied West German far-left militant group.
The hijackers diverted the flight to several locations, including a refueling stop in Aden, Yemen, where the hijackers executed Captain Jürgen Schumann. The plane ended in Mogadishu, Somalia, where on October 18, 1977, the West German counter-terrorism unit GSG 9, stormed the plane, killing 3 of the hijackers, capturing the fourth one, and rescuing all 86 passengers and four crew members; ending the hijacking. In response to the raid's success and the deaths of their comrades, the German Red Army Faction (RAF), murdered the kidnapped German industrialist Hanns Martin Schleyer, whose abduction had preceded the hijacking.
The Copiapó mining accident in Chile ends with the successful rescue of 33 trapped miners. who had been trapped underground for 69 days. Rescuers used a specialized equipment to pull the men, one by one, through a 2,300-foot shaft to the surface after a massive excavation and drilling effort. The accident at the San José copper-gold mine near Copiapó took place on August 5, 2010. All contact was lost for the first 17 days and many feared there were no survivors.