December 13 in History

Anne Neville marries Edward of Westminster, the Lancastrian heir to the throne of Englandm, making her Princess of Wales

Anne Neville marries Edward of Westminster, the Lancastrian heir to the throne of Englandm, making her Princess of Wales

Opening day of the Council of Trent, without Protestants

After the arrests of Norfolk & Surrey Henry ousts them from the Regency Council

Sets sail in the Golden Hind

Charles I advanced Wentworth to the rank of viscount.

1st European to see New Zealand

Waller defeats the Royalist garrison at Alton and takes numerous prisoners during the winter campaign in Hampshire.

The "Rump Parliament" of 60 members votes that Charles be brought to trial

Begins the next stage of his continental journey toward Antwerp before travelling through Maastricht to Aix-la-Chapelle.

Begins the first Italian journey with Leopold Mozart.

Martial law is proclaimed in New Orleans as the British forces embark on an attack

The rescue of 2 Fenians in Clerkenwell gaol causes 12 deaths

The rescue of 2 Fenians in Clerkenwell gaol causes 12 deaths

Kruger, Joubert & Pretorious announce the restoration of republican Government

Kruger, Joubert & Pretorious announce the restoration of republican Government

Kruger, Joubert & Pretorious announce the restoration of republican Government

Kruger, Joubert & Pretorious announce the restoration of republican Government

Kruger, Joubert & Pretorious announce the restoration of republican Government

Kruger, Joubert & Pretorious announce the restoration of republican Government

Joins the triumvirate directing the Transvaal rising.

Boer leaders proclaim restoration of the republic.

Joins Kruger and Joubert in restoring Transvaal authority.

On 30 December 1902, without having left the Barrier, they reached their Furthest South at 82 degrees 17 mins S

Britain & France jointly oppose the German-Turkish military convention

Britain and France jointly oppose the German-Turkish military convention.

Greece is awarded some Aegean Islands for the loss of southern Albania to Albania

Southern Albania is divided between Albania and Greece

Greece gains territory in Macedonia

Greece gains territory in Thrace

Holbrook brings B11 back through the minefield despite currents, grounding and Ottoman pursuit.

Holbrook takes submarine B11 beneath the defended minefield in the Dardanelles.

Winn serves as first lieutenant during B11's successful attack on Mesudiye and hazardous return passage.

Holbrook torpedoes the Ottoman battleship Mesudiye after penetrating the Dardanelles mine barrier.

Kerensky addresses the Duma on conditions in Turkestan and the Steppe region, criticising official abuses and the government's handling of unrest.

Appointed Prime Minister of Poland

His government ends in Helsinki, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Finland.

Takes office as Prime Minister of Finland and forms a government in Helsinki.

Takahashi immediately restores the gold export embargo and frees the yen from its overvalued parity.

Japanese forces capture Nanjing; mass killing, sexual violence and other atrocities follow during the Nanjing Massacre.

20,000 Chinese men are marched out of the city & used for bayonet practice

20,000 women & girls are gang raped by the Japanese, male prisoners are shot. 20,000 Chinese men are marched out of the city & used for bayonet practice. 1st day of the rape of Nanking, orderred by Asaka

Helps oversee Japanese looting

Helps oversee Japanese looting

A near miss from Graf Spee damages Achilles and briefly disrupts the cruiser's course during the morning battle.

After Exeter is forced out of the fight, Parry keeps Achilles engaged alongside Ajax against the German raider.

Parry's cruiser helps shadow Graf Spee toward Montevideo after Harwood breaks off the close daylight engagement.

A heavy Graf Spee hit disables Ajax's X turret and jams Y turret, sharply reducing the flagship's available firepower.

Harwood presses the two light cruisers closer to bring their six-inch guns effectively into action against Graf Spee.

Ajax launches its Fairey Seafox aircraft to assist observation and spotting during the engagement.

Woodhouse's cruiser launches torpedoes during the close phase of the action, forcing Graf Spee to manoeuvre away.

Woodhouse brings HMS Ajax's six-inch guns into action as Harwood's flagship closes from a separate bearing.

Graf Spee sights British warships on the morning of 13 December while approaching the River Plate area.

Langsdorff initially mistakes Ajax and Achilles for destroyers accompanying a cruiser, underestimating the British force ahead.

Around 07:40 Harwood turns away, intending to shadow Graf Spee and renew the fight later under more favourable conditions.

Harwood separates Exeter from Ajax and Achilles so Graf Spee must divide its fire or leave one British group less engaged.

After communications are wrecked, Exeter uses improvised methods, including men relaying orders, to keep steering the damaged cruiser.

An 11-inch hit and splinters devastate Exeter's bridge, killing or wounding most personnel there and injuring Bell.

Bell's cruiser fires a starboard torpedo salvo at Graf Spee, but the German ship's manoeuvre causes the weapons to miss.

Bell's HMS Exeter opens fire with eight-inch guns soon after Graf Spee begins the engagement.

Harwood detaches Exeter to investigate smoke on the horizon before the contact is identified as Admiral Graf Spee.

With forward turrets disabled, flooding increasing and electrical systems failing, Bell withdraws Exeter from the main action.

The Graf Spee enters the neutral port of Montevideo

Believing he has found a vulnerable force, Langsdorff closes rapidly instead of exploiting Graf Spee's longer-range heavy guns.

Harwood keeps Ajax and Achilles in contact as the damaged German ship steams toward the River Plate estuary.

When Graf Spee turns toward the badly damaged Exeter, Harwood orders Ajax and Achilles to close and draw German fire away.

Graf Spee opens fire on HMS Exeter with 283-millimetre guns shortly after 06:17 as the Battle of the River Plate begins.

The Graf Spee enters the neutral port of Montevideo

Langsdorff alters course as British cruisers attempt torpedo attacks, repeatedly using manoeuvre and smoke to complicate their firing.

Laval is dismissed and arrested, pressure from German ambassador Otto Abetz secures his release, Laval leaves for Paris and the protection of his German patron

Laval is dismissed and arrested, pressure from German ambassador Otto Abetz secures his release, Laval leaves for Paris and the protection of his German patron

The Armed Forces High Command issued Directive No. 20 on December 13, 1940, the document outlines the Greek campaign under the code designation, "Operation Marita". Orders 24 divisions to assemble in Rumania & advance on Greece through Bulgaria

The Armed Forces High Command issued Directive No. 20 on December 13, 1940, the document outlines the Greek campaign under the code designation, "Operation Marita". Orders 24 divisions to assemble in Rumania & advance on Greece through Bulgaria. Hitler issues directive Operation Marita for the occupation of the Balkans

The Hong Kong Governor, Sir Mark Young, rejects a surrender demand. Reaches the waterfront of Kowloon

Captures Metz

Launches an offensive for the Schmidt Dam to stop the Germans flooding the Roer Valley

Marshall Aid to Britain ceases

Marshall Aid to Britain ceases

The Netherlands deposits its instrument of ratification with Italy while Drees remains prime minister.

The Dutch ratification instrument is deposited in Rome, completing the Netherlands' final step before entry into force.

The commission chaired by Warren received statutory authority to compel testimony and evidence when Congress enacted Public Law 88-202.

Johnson's Warren Commission received statutory authority to subpoena witnesses and obtain evidence when Congress enacted Public Law 88-202.

BBC Two screens an adaptation of the short story "Thirteen to Centaurus" directed by Peter Potter

Collects and documents lunar rocks and soil during the final Apollo surface EVA.

Explores Taurus-Littrow with Schmitt during the mission's second long rover traverse.

Conducts geological observations and sampling during the second Taurus-Littrow rover traverse.

Explores the North Massif area and Station 6 during the mission’s final surface excursion.

The North Vietnamese walk out of the Paris peace conference

Britain cuts the work week to three days to save energy supply

Faces the economic consequences of reduced working hours, inflation, industrial disruption and energy shortages.

Britain cuts the work week to three days to save energy supply

Announces emergency restrictions to reduce electricity demand during the miners dispute and energy crisis.

Works on government measures to restrict industrial electricity use and preserve fuel supplies.

Handles industrial relations pressure as the miners overtime ban pushes the government toward emergency energy controls.

Arrests 3/4 of the Solidarity leadership

The Council of National Salvation comes to power & declares martial law. The borders are sealed, a curfew imposed, broadcasting controlled. Strikes & assemblies are banned

The Government attempts to destroy the union with the martial law of 1981 and several years of repression, but in the end it had to start negotiating with the union. Jaruzelski declares martial law

Jaruzelski bans Solidarity. Arrests 3/4 of the Solidarity leadership

Strikes are banned

Appointed Prime Minister of Turkey

Arafat makes a speech in the United Nations recognising Israel & renouncing terrorism

The electoral college elects Ghulam Ishaq Khan President.

Addresses the United Nations after the PLO declares acceptance of resolutions 242 and 338.

Guides Sao Paulo to victory over Barcelona in Tokyo.

Wins the Intercontinental Cup after taking the Copa Libertadores.

Covey commands Endeavour's return to Earth after the successful first Hubble servicing mission.

Returns as prime minister after elections.

A Beijing court sentences Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng to 14 years in prison after a closed trial, he is charged with having conspired "to subvert the Government"

Hosts the European Council as leaders negotiate monetary rules and treaty reform.

Armstrongs last chemotherapy treatment

Chirac supported opening the enlargement process with Central and Eastern European applicant states.

Al Gore admits defeat to George Bush

Al Gore admits defeat to George Bush

Armed attackers assault the Indian Parliament complex in New Delhi, prompting a major security and diplomatic crisis.

Supports completion of accession negotiations with ten countries scheduled to join in 2004.

Supports the agreement completing accession negotiations with ten countries scheduled to join the Union in 2004.

Supports completion of accession negotiations with ten countries scheduled to join the Union in 2004.

Saddam Hussein is captured by US soldiers in a 6ft by 8ft hole

Saddam Hussein is captured by US soldiers in a 6ft by 8ft hole

Operation Red Dawn was launched after gaining actionable intelligence identifying two likely locations of Saddams whereabouts codenamed Objective Wolverine 1 and Wolverine 2, near the town of ad-Dawr.

Saddam Hussein was captured by the US Armys 4th Infantry Division and members of Task Force 121 during Operation Red Dawn.

The First Brigade Combat team of the 4th ID, in addition to Special Forces from Task Force 121 were assigned the mission to capture or kill Saddam Hussein.

Found hiding in a spider hole during Operation Red Dawn & captured

Saddam Hussein was captured by the US Armys 4th Infantry Division and members of Task Force 121 during Operation Red Dawn

James Hickey of the 4th Infantry Division, with joint operations Task Force 121 with an elite and covert joint special operations team.

Operation Red Dawn was an American military operation conducted on 13 December 2003 in the town of ad-Dawr, Iraq, near Tikrit, that led to the capture of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein was captured by the US Army's 4th Infantry Division and members of Task Force 121 during Operation Red Dawn.

The mission was assigned to the first Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division, commanded by Maj. Gen. Raymond Odierno and led by Col.

Found hiding in a spider hole during Operation Red Dawn & captured

The Treaty of Lisbon makes the Unions human rights charter, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, legally binding

Brown signs the European Union reform treaty at Lisbon.

The Treaty of Lisbon makes the Unions human rights charter, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, legally binding

Signs the Treaty of Lisbon on behalf of Ireland.

Signs the Treaty of Lisbon for Ireland as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Bakoyannis signs Lisbon alongside Karamanlis, representing Greek diplomacy at the treaty ceremony.

Karamanlis adds Greece's signature to the Lisbon reform treaty on behalf of the government.

Amends the Treaty on European Union (TEU, Maastricht; 1992) and the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC, Rome; 1957), renamed to Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)

Changes include more qualified majority voting in the Council of Minister's & increased involvement of the European Parliament in the legislative process through extended codecision with the Council of Minister's.

Signed by the European Union (EU) member states, and enters into force on 1 December 2009. Plays a central role in the negotiation of the Treaty of Lisbon and the Berlin Declaration.

The Treaty of Lisbon makes the Unions human rights charter, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, legally binding.

The aim of the Treaty is "to complete the process started by the Treaty of Amsterdam [1997] and by the Treaty of Nice [2001] with a view to enhancing the efficiency and democratic legitimacy of the EU and to improving the coherence of its action".

Signs the Treaty of Lisbon for Germany alongside Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Signs the Treaty of Lisbon for Italy as President of the Council of Ministers.

Representatives from the 27 EU member states were present, and signed the Treaty as plenipotentiaries, marking the end of Treaty negotiations.

The signing of the Treaty of Lisbon took place in Lisbon, Portugal on 13 December 2007. The Government of Portugal, by virtue of holding Presidency of the Council of the European Union at the time, arranged a ceremony inside the 15th century Jerónimos Monastery, the same place Portugal's treaty of accession to the European Union (EU) was signed in 1985

The signing of the Treaty of Lisbon, the Government of Portugal, by virtue of holding Presidency of the Council of the European Union at the time.

arranges a ceremony inside the 15th century Jeronimos Monastery, the same place Portugals Treaty of accession to the European Union (EU) was signed in 1985.

Brown signs the Treaty of Lisbon after becoming Prime Minister.

Sarkozy signed the Treaty of Lisbon for France as the European Union sought institutional reform after the failed constitutional treaty.

Signs the Treaty of Lisbon for Germany alongside Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Jeffery Nape again serves as acting Governor-General

The accord addresses Hodeidah, prisoners and Taiz.

His government signs the Stockholm Agreement with the Houthis.

Signs the Respect for Marriage Act.

Birth of Alfonso XI the Avenger, son of Ferdinand IV

Death of Frederick II

Birth of Sixtus V, Felice Peretti di Montalto, in the Papal States

Death of Smita Patil

Aethelwold died while leading East Anglian Danes against Edward’s forces.

Eohric was killed fighting beside Aethelwold against the Kentish army.

Leads the Northern army of 113,000 defended by Jackson with 75,000. Fails to capture Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg is defended by Jackson with a southern army of 75,000. Burnside leads a Northern army of 113,000 but fails to capture Fredericksburg

Supports Jackson at Fredericksburg

De la Rey combines with Beyers to attack Clements's camp at Nooitgedacht and inflict a severe defeat.

Parry's HMS Achilles opens fire with six-inch guns while operating with Ajax against Graf Spee.

The Graf Spee enters the neutral port of Montevideo. Allowed to stay for 24 hours under the terms of the Hague convention of 1907

After the engagement, Langsdorff heads for neutral Montevideo to land wounded men, release prisoners and assess battle damage.