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What Happened Today in History on September 14

Explore the historical events that shaped our world on September 14th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.

The Truce of Bergerac, also known as the Peace of Bergerac, is signed, temporarily halting the Sixth French War of Religion between the Catholic King Henry III and the Huguenot (Protestant) princes. The subsequent Edict of Poitiers, which confirmed the treaty, was issued just three days later, on September 17. 

Napoleon and his Grande Armée enter the city of Moscow and find it almost deserted with most of the 275,00 residents gone and lacking the supplies the French army needed. Then, the Russians started fires throughout the city. Three days later, more than two-thirds of the city was destroyed.

The poem "The Star-Spangled Banner" is written by Francis Scott Key during the bombardment of Fort McHenry, later becoming the national anthem of the United States. More

During the Mexican-American War, General Winfield Scott captures Mexico City after a successful attack on the port city of Veracruz and a series of victories. More

Theodore Roosevelt is inaugurated as the 26th President of the United States following the assassination of William McKinley.

The Soviet spacecraft Luna 2 reaches the moon and crashes on its surface, making it the first human-made object to contact another solar system body. More . Luna 2 was launched by the Soviet Union on September 12, 1959. 

Elizabeth Ann Seton is canonized by Pope Paul VI in St. Peter's Square in Rome, becoming the first native-born saint of the United States. More

United Farm Workers Vice President Dolores Huerta, 58 years old, is beaten by San Francisco Police, in front of the St. Francis Hotel in Union Square during a peaceful and lawful protest of the policies/platform of then candidate George H. W.  Bush, who was holding a fundraiser in the hotel. 

Widespread and violent protests erupt in Muslim-majority countries in response to the anti-Islamic video, Innocence of Muslims. The demonstrations were sparked by a crudely made 14-minute film produced in the United States and uploaded to YouTube that portrayed the Prophet Muhammad in a derogatory manner. 

A terrorist attack occurs at the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya.

Ahmed Mohamed a Muslim teenager takes a reassembled home made clock to his Irving, on the outskirts of Dallas, Texas school. Ahmed, a model student, showed the clock to his science teacher but later another teacher saw it and reported it to the School Administration and the police was called. Mohamed was taken to a juvenile detention facility for fingerprinting and photographing, under suspicion of bringing a hoax bomb.