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Explore the historical events that shaped our world on September 17th. 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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The Battle of Brunanburh takes place in England, where King Athelstan of England secures a decisive victory against a coalition of forces led by Olaf Guthfrithson, King of Dublin; Constantine II, King of Scotland; and Owain, King of Strathclyde.
Emperor Frederick I (Barbarossa) issues the "Privilegium Minus," which grants Austria special privileges within the Holy Roman Empire.
Marco Polo sets off on his journey to the East, embarking in Venice on a 24-year exploration of Asia and becoming one of the most famous European explorers. The journey followed the Silk Road, traveling through what are now Iran and Afghanistan, and involved crossing deserts, mountains, and hostile territories. Marco Polo returned to Venice in 1295 to find their family and neighbors believed them to be dead.
King Charles VI of France ordered that all Jewish people be expelled from the kingdom. More
The U.S. Constitution is finally accepted and signed The document consisted of a Preamble and seven Articles. Some pointed to the missing bill of rights as a fatal flaw in the new document. A compromised was reached assuring that amendments would be immediately proposed to addressed the need for a bill of rights and the Constitution was signed by 39 of the 42 delegates still present at the convention when it was finished (Governor Edmund Randolph and George Mason, both from Virginia, and Elbridge Gerry from Massachusetts, declined to sign It).
On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the document, and it was subsequently agreed that government under the U.S. Constitution would begin on March 4, 1789 thus replacing the existing Articles of Confederation which had been adopted by the Continental Congress on 11/15/1777.
The Battle of Antietam takes place during the American Civil War, resulting in the bloodiest single day of battle in U.S. history. It showed that the Union could stand against the Confederate army in the Eastern theater. It also gave President Abraham Lincoln the confidence to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. More
The Soviet Union invades Poland which was already in a state of war with Nazi Germany and occupies the Eastern part of Poland. At the end of September the division of Poland was confirmed by German–Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Demarcation.
The treaty included a correction of the borders first drawn in the secret clause of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact. It was the beginning of a 2-year long occupation of Central Europe by two totalitarian regimes. More
Operation Market Garden, a major Allied airborne operation, commences in the Netherlands with the goal of securing key bridges and opening a path into Germany. The operation ultimately falls short of its objectives.
The Organization of American States (OAS) is founded in Bogota, Colombia, with the goal of promoting democracy, peace, and cooperation among the countries of the Americas.
Swedish Diplomat, Folke Bernadotte, Count of Wisborg, is assassinated while serving as the United Nations (UN) mediator between the Arabs and the Israelis, by the militant Zionist group Lehi, while fulfilling his duties. He is also known for negotiating the release of thousands of prisoners from German concentration camps during World War II, including a large number of Jewish prisoners. More
The Nuremberg Trials of Nazi war criminals begin in Nuremberg, Germany.
NASA Space Shuttle Enterprise makes its Public Debut as it rolls out from its manufacturing plant in Palmdale, California. Enterprise was a test vehicle, built without engines or heat shields, specifically for atmospheric and landing tests. The program collected valuable data to prepare for future space flights for other operational shuttle vehicles. More
The Camp David Accords are signed by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, leading to a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. More
The Occupy Wall Street movement begins in New York City. Inspired by the Arab Spring, the protest was initiated by the anti-consumerist magazine Adbusters and targeted economic inequality and corporate greed in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. More
