Circa 641 CE, September
Arab forces led by Caliph Umar conquer the city of Alexandria, Egypt, ending Byzantine control and marking a significant moment in the Arab conquests.
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On This Day in History: September 20
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on September 20th. 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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Circa 1109 CE, September
During the Norwegian Crusade, the Crusaders, led by Sigurd I of Norway, arrive in Lisbon, Portugal, and establish a temporary alliance with King Afonso I against the Moors.
Clement VII is elected on September 20, 1378 as a rival pope in Avignon by a majority of the cardinals seceding from Rome. The events leading to the Western Schism began after Pope Gregory XI's death in March 1378, with the election of Urban VI on April 8, 1378,
The creation of two competing papal claimants divided the Catholic Church. The schism was finally resolved 40 years later at the Council of Constance in 1417-1418 , which led to the election of a single pope, Martin V.
Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, sets sail from Sanlucar de Barrameda in southern Spain with five ships and a crew of 270 men, on what become the first circumnavigation of the world and the first European explorer to reach the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic.
Magellan himself died during the tumultuous three year voyage, with Spaniard Juan Sebastian Elcano completing the journey from the Phillipines back to Spain with a final crew of only 18 men on September 6 1522. Despite Magellan’s tragic end, his legacy has become synonymous with exploration and geography—including the Strait in South America that still bears his name. More
Spanish King Charles II ratifies the Treaty of Ryswick, ending the Nine Years' War.between France and the Grand Alliance, (Spain, England, the Dutch Republic, and the Holy Roman Empire).
The treaty returned territories like Luxembourg and Kortrijk to Spain, securing peace, though issues like the Spanish succession remained unresolved, leading to future conflict.
The signing of the Treaties of Ryswick begins, bringing an end to the Nine Years' War between France and the Grand Alliance of European powers (which included England, Spain, the Dutch Republic, and the Holy Roman Empire). The last treaty was signed on October 30th 1697, with the Holy Roman Empire
These were some of the most significant agreements reflected on the treaties:
- Louis XIV officially recognized William III as the King of England and withdrew support for the Jacobite claimant, James II.
- Most territories captured since the 1679 Treaty of Nijmegen were returned to their pre-war status.
- France retained Strasbourg and Alsace.
- Spain formally ceded the western third of the island of Hispaniola (renamed Saint-Domingue, now Haiti) to France.
- The Dutch Republic gained favorable commercial concessions and the right to garrison "barrier fortresses" in the Spanish Netherlands to protect against future French aggression.
The treaty is often viewed as a temporary truce because it failed to resolve the critical issue of Spanish Succession—who would inherit the throne from the childless King Charles II. This unresolved tension led directly to the outbreak, five years later, to of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1702. More
Charles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, flees to France on September 20, 1746, following the final defeat of the Jacobite Rising in Scotland at the Battle of Culloden in April of that year. His exit marked the end of serious Stuart efforts to reclaim the British throne.
September 20 - After more than two years exploring the western wilderness, the returning Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery arrives at the frontier village of La Charette, in modern Missouri. More
Forces of the Royal Italian Army enter Rome and take control of the city; eliminating the last remnants of the Papal territories and marking the end of the temporal power of the Pope.
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Hurricane Maria devastates Puerto Rico, causing nearly 3,000 deaths and major damage estimated to be $90 billion according to official estimates.
Millions participate in a Global Climate Strike, led by Greta Thunberg.