December 17 in History

Pope Paul III excommunicates Henry VIII after the break with Rome and rejection of papal authority.

Excommunicated by Pope Paul III

Excommunicates Henry VIII

Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury

Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury

Consecrated after all the Marian Bishops had been removed from office

Consecrated after all the Marian Bishops had been removed from office

Writes verse for the baptism of the future James I

Marys son, James I, is baptized at Stirling Castle according to the Catholic rite

The French cut the Spanish Road linking Spain with The Netherlands. The French capture Breisach

France recognizes the Americas independence

France recognizes the Americas independence

Present at the successful siege of Ochakov

Napoleon helped direct the assault on the fortified position known as Fort Mulgrave during the final operations at Toulon.

Leads a force which recaptures Le Caire Peninsular from the British. Enables the recapture of Toulon

Raghoji II Bhonsle signs the Treaty of Deogaon and cedes substantial territory after military defeat.

The Congress of Angostura approved the Fundamental Law creating the Republic of Colombia, later called Gran Colombia.

Outlines the principles of Liberal conservatism

Another section of Brunel's Great Western main line opens between Wootton Bassett and Chippenham.

Introduces the Gagernsche Program, Austria is to be excluded from the new federal state, but bound to it by a Treaty of Union

Appointed Minister President of the German Provisional Government

Appointed Minister President of the German Provisional Government

Forced to resign after supporting the coup of Louis Napoleon in France

Forced to resign after supporting the coup of Louis Napoleon in France

Publishes an article reviewing political and military news from the United States.

Newspapers quote Herbert Gladstone about his fathers conversion to Irish home rule

Newspapers quote Herbert Gladstone about his fathers conversion to Irish home rule

Newspapers quote Herbert Gladstone about his fathers conversion to Irish home rule

At the controls during the 1st flight in a powered aircraft, 120ft in 12 seconds

Makes the 1st flight in a powered aircraftl, North Carolina, 120ft in 12 seconds

The government suppresses the Moscow uprising.

Battles of Limanowa, in which Austrian forces save their lines and prevent Russia attacking Vienna

Present at Allenbys entry into Jerusalem

NSDAP buys its first paper, the Voelkischer Beobachter

Establishes a political & economic alliance with Russia

Found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the good of the armed services

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.

Turkey renews its alliance with Russia but continues to suppress communism

Italy declares the 1935 pact with France invalid, because ratifications had not been exchanged

Finds barium among products of neutron-bombarded uranium.

Helps identify barium as a uranium fission product.

The armed forces are ordered to be ready for the occupation of the rest of Czech

Decides to scuttle his ship in the Plate Estuary to avoid unnecessary loss of life for no military advantage, against Hitler's will

Langsdorff evacuated most of his crew before scuttling Admiral Graf Spee with demolition charges outside Montevideo on 17 December 1939.

Appeals for American help as Britain's financial resources are strained.

Appointed Commander of the Pacific Fleet after the attack on Pearl Harbour

Appointed Commander of the Pacific Fleet after the attack on Pearl Harbour

The Hong Kong Governor, Sir Mark Young, rejects a surrender demand

Stalin announces the Russian capture of Bryansk

Hanford's D Reactor reaches criticality with sufficient excess reactivity to overcome fission-product poisoning.

The killing of 80 US GIs by the SS leads Roosevelt to demand an international trial

La Cruz is captured by armed supporters of Calderon Guardia

La Cruz is captured by armed supporters of Calderon Guardia

The North Atlantic Council approves MC 48 which states that NATO would have to use atomic weapons from the outset of a war with the Soviet Union whether or not the Soviets chose to use them first

The North Atlantic Council approves MC 48 which states that NATO would have to use atomic weapons from the outset of a war with the Soviet Union whether or not the Soviets chose to use them first

The Southern Rhodesia Petroleum Order comes into force as Britain tightens sanctions against Rhodesia.

Pakistan holds provincial assembly elections after the national poll.

The African National Council is formed to reject the Anglo-Rhodesia settlement

A ceasefire takes effect on the western front after Pakistan accepts the conflict's outcome.

Releases Hunky Dory, including Changes, Life on Mars?, Queen Bitch and Oh! You Pretty Things.

A cease fire begins between India and Pakistan in East Pakistan

Performs a transearth EVA to retrieve mapping and lunar sounder film from the service module.

"Christmas bombing" Dec. 17-30 - most intense bombing campaign of the war

Assumes the title President of the Republic while retaining command of the army.

Sentenced to life in prison for her attempted assassination of President Ford

Plays on Wind and Wuthering, his final Genesis studio album.

"Vandals in Ermine" while Livingstone maintained his belief that the judicial decision was politically motivated.

Livingstone got on board with a campaign known as "Keep Fares Fair" in order to bring about a change in the law that would make the Fares Fair policy legal; an alternate movement, "Cant Pay, Wont Pay", accused Livingstone of being a sell-out and insisted

The GLC appeal the "Fares Fair" court verdict, taking the case to the House of Lords but five Law Lords unanimously rule in favour of Bromley Borough Council, putting a permanent end to the Fares Fair policy, GLC transport chairman Dave Wetzel labelled the judges

that the GLC proceed with its policies regardless of their legality

"Vandals in Ermine" while Livingstone maintained his belief that the judicial decision was politically motivated.

Livingstone got on board with a campaign known as "Keep Fares Fair" in order to bring about a change in the law that would make the Fares Fair policy legal; an alternate movement, "Cant Pay, Wont Pay", accused Livingstone of being a sell-out and insisted

The GLC appeal the "Fares Fair" court verdict, taking the case to the House of Lords but five Law Lords unanimously rule in favour of Bromley Borough Council, putting a permanent end to the Fares Fair policy, GLC transport chairman Dave Wetzel labelled the judges

that the GLC proceed with its policies regardless of their legality

The GLC appeal the "Fares Fair" court verdict, taking the case to the House of Lords but five Law Lords unanimously rule in favour of Bromley Borough Council, putting a permanent end to the Fares Fair policy, GLC transport chairman Dave Wetzel labelled the judges "Vandals in Ermine" while Livingstone maintained his belief that the judicial decision was politically motivated

The Bill to privatize British Gas & BNOC is published

Announces Labour will not bring back the closed shop

Resigns after allegations that he worked for the Stasi

Yeltsin and Mikhail Gorbachev discuss the transfer of powers as the Soviet Union approaches dissolution.

Signs the North American Free Trade Treaty

Deported Hamas and Islamic Jihad members establish a protest camp after expulsion by Israel

Israel deports hundreds of Palestinian Islamist activists to southern Lebanon

Signs the North American Free Trade Treaty

Signs the North American Free Trade Treaty

Faces a strengthened Communist opposition after the party makes major gains in the State Duma election.

The constitution has prevented any President from having two consecutive terms, but more than three out of four eligible voters stay away from the polls (illiteracy and unemployment rates are both about 75 percent)

Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristides hand-picked successor Ren‚ Preval, 51, wins the election with about 80 percent of the vote in a 14-man race

The constitution has prevented any President from having two consecutive terms, but more than three out of four eligible voters stay away from the polls (illiteracy and unemployment rates are both about 75 percent). Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristides hand-picked successor Ren‚ Preval, 51, wins the election with about 80 percent of the vote in a 14-man race

Winnie Mandela rejects nomination, her political career ends as she announces she will not run for Deputy President of African National Congress following her questioning at Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which investigated her role in murder

Begins the Tosovsky Government in Prague and serves as Prime Minister of Czech Republic.

Clinton Extends Troops Bosnia Agreement, decides G.I.s should remain past scheduled departure in June as part of peacekeeping force

UNMOVIC was meant to replace the former United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) to carry on with the mandate to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), and to operate a system of ongoing monitoring and verification to check Iraq's compliance with its obligations not to reacquire the same weapons banned by the Security Council

UNMOVIC was meant to replace the former United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) to carry on with the mandate to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), and to operate a system of ongoing monitoring and verification to check Iraq's compliance with its obligations not to reacquire the same weapons banned by the Security Council

Appointed to serve as National Security Adviser, earns the nickname of "Warrior Princess," reflecting strong nerve and delicate manners, the first woman to occupy the post

Orders the construction by 2004 of a limited missile defense shield

Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire after a dispute with local officials, triggering nationwide protests.

The European Union Referendum Act receives royal assent.

The European Union Referendum Act receives royal assent.

The agreement establishes a Presidency Council and framework for a Government of National Accord.

Leaves Chelsea by mutual consent during his second spell at Stamford Bridge.

Forms a centre-right coalition government.

Tunisia held the first round of legislative elections under the 2022 Constitution.

Returns as Taoiseach under the coalition government's agreed rotation of the office.

Accepts the referendum result rejecting the second proposed constitutional text.

The Government introduces legislation covering child protection, school standards and breakfast clubs.

Birth of Dave Dee, born David John Harman

Death of Ecgfrith

Simon Bolivar dies at Santa Marta after resigning from political leadership in Gran Colombia.

Thubten Gyatso dies after decades of political leadership and attempted reform.

Juan Vicente Gomez died after twenty-seven years of dominant rule, opening a period of gradual political liberalization.

Death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

Conducts an offensive in Artois

The battle was the first offensive move on the Western Front by either side after the First Battle of Ypres ended in November 1914. The French assault failed to break the stalemate. Commander at the Battle of Artois

Battles of Limanowa, in which Austrian forces save their lines and prevent Russia attacking Vienna

The crew are evacuated & the Graf Speee is scuttled, Langsdorf then shoots himself. Decides to scuttle his ship in the Plate Estuary to avoid unnecessary loss of life for no military advantage, against Hitler's will

Hoshiar Singh leads his company during the Battle of Basantar and holds its position despite repeated Pakistani counterattacks.