Defender of the Faith
Pope Paul III excommunicates Henry VIII after the break with Rome and rejection of papal authority.
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On this date in world history
December 17 in History
This permanent archive page contains 118 World History Database records for December 17, spanning 796 to 2024. Recorded topics include Death of Ecgfrith; Defender of the Faith; Excommunication.
Total: 118Events: 107Births: 1Deaths: 5Battles: 5Countries: 32
Events on December 17
Excommunication
Excommunicated by Pope Paul III
Excommunication
Excommunicates Henry VIII
Archbishop
Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
Consecrated after all the Marian Bishops had been removed from office
Consecration
Consecrated after all the Marian Bishops had been removed from office
Baptism
Writes verse for the baptism of the future James I
Baptism
Marys son, James I, is baptized at Stirling Castle according to the Catholic rite
Capture of Breisach
The French cut the Spanish Road linking Spain with The Netherlands. The French capture Breisach
Independence of France
France recognizes the Americas independence
Independence of United States of America
France recognizes the Americas independence
Siege of Ochakov
Present at the successful siege of Ochakov
Assault on Fort Mulgrave
Napoleon helped direct the assault on the fortified position known as Fort Mulgrave during the final operations at Toulon.
Capture of Le Caire
Leads a force which recaptures Le Caire Peninsular from the British. Enables the recapture of Toulon
Treaty of Deogaon
Raghoji II Bhonsle signs the Treaty of Deogaon and cedes substantial territory after military defeat.
Fundamental Law of Colombia
The Congress of Angostura approved the Fundamental Law creating the Republic of Colombia, later called Gran Colombia.
Manifesto
Outlines the principles of Liberal conservatism
Wootton Bassett-Chippenham Section Opens
Another section of Brunel's Great Western main line opens between Wootton Bassett and Chippenham.
Gagernsche Program
Introduces the Gagernsche Program, Austria is to be excluded from the new federal state, but bound to it by a Treaty of Union
Minister President
Appointed Minister President of the German Provisional Government
Provisional Government
Appointed Minister President of the German Provisional Government
Coup
Forced to resign after supporting the coup of Louis Napoleon in France
Resignation of Henry John Temple
Forced to resign after supporting the coup of Louis Napoleon in France
News from America
Publishes an article reviewing political and military news from the United States.
Independence of Great Britain
Newspapers quote Herbert Gladstone about his fathers conversion to Irish home rule
Independence of Ireland
Newspapers quote Herbert Gladstone about his fathers conversion to Irish home rule
Irish Home Rule
Newspapers quote Herbert Gladstone about his fathers conversion to Irish home rule
1st Flight
At the controls during the 1st flight in a powered aircraft, 120ft in 12 seconds
1st Flight
Makes the 1st flight in a powered aircraftl, North Carolina, 120ft in 12 seconds
Moscow Repression
The government suppresses the Moscow uprising.
Siege of Vienna
Battles of Limanowa, in which Austrian forces save their lines and prevent Russia attacking Vienna
Siege of Jerusalem
Present at Allenbys entry into Jerusalem
Voelkischer Beobachter
NSDAP buys its first paper, the Voelkischer Beobachter
Alliance Maustafa Kemal Ataturk and Russia
Establishes a political & economic alliance with Russia
Trial
Found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the good of the armed services
Government Ends
His government ends in Helsinki, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Finland.
Prime Minister
Takes office as Prime Minister of Finland and forms a government in Helsinki.
Alliance Turkey and Russia
Turkey renews its alliance with Russia but continues to suppress communism
Foreign Policy Statement at Rome
Italy declares the 1935 pact with France invalid, because ratifications had not been exchanged
Nuclear Fission
Finds barium among products of neutron-bombarded uranium.
Nuclear Fission
Helps identify barium as a uranium fission product.
Mobilization
The armed forces are ordered to be ready for the occupation of the rest of Czech
Sinking of Admiral Graf Spee
Decides to scuttle his ship in the Plate Estuary to avoid unnecessary loss of life for no military advantage, against Hitler's will
Sinking of Admiral Graf Spee - Scuttling Charges
Langsdorff evacuated most of his crew before scuttling Admiral Graf Spee with demolition charges outside Montevideo on 17 December 1939.
Lend Lease Appeal
Appeals for American help as Britain's financial resources are strained.
Commander of Pacific Fleet
Appointed Commander of the Pacific Fleet after the attack on Pearl Harbour
Commander of Pacific Fleet
Appointed Commander of the Pacific Fleet after the attack on Pearl Harbour
Invasion of Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Governor, Sir Mark Young, rejects a surrender demand
Capture of Bryansk
Stalin announces the Russian capture of Bryansk
Hanford D Reactor Criticality
Hanford's D Reactor reaches criticality with sufficient excess reactivity to overcome fission-product poisoning.
Massacre
The killing of 80 US GIs by the SS leads Roosevelt to demand an international trial
Capture of La Cruz
La Cruz is captured by armed supporters of Calderon Guardia
Capture of La Cruz
La Cruz is captured by armed supporters of Calderon Guardia
NATO Nuclear Arms
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
NATO Nuclear Arms
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
Departure for African Tour
After his United Nations visit, Guevara leaves New York for a multi-country diplomatic tour in Africa.
Oil Sanctions
The Southern Rhodesia Petroleum Order comes into force as Britain tightens sanctions against Rhodesia.
Provincial Elections
Pakistan holds provincial assembly elections after the national poll.
ANC
The African National Council is formed to reject the Anglo-Rhodesia settlement
Ceasefire
A ceasefire takes effect on the western front after Pakistan accepts the conflict's outcome.
Hunky Dory
Releases Hunky Dory, including Changes, Life on Mars?, Queen Bitch and Oh! You Pretty Things.
Peace
A cease fire begins between India and Pakistan in East Pakistan
Apollo 17 Deep-Space EVA
Performs a transearth EVA to retrieve mapping and lunar sounder film from the service module.
Linebacker II
"Christmas bombing" Dec. 17-30 - most intense bombing campaign of the war
President of Chile
Assumes the title President of the Republic while retaining command of the army.
Trial
Sentenced to life in prison for her attempted assassination of President Ford
Wind and Wuthering
Plays on Wind and Wuthering, his final Genesis studio album.
Fares Fair
"Vandals in Ermine" while Livingstone maintained his belief that the judicial decision was politically motivated.
Fares Fair
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
Fares Fair
that the GLC proceed with its policies regardless of their legality
Fares Fair
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
GLC
"Vandals in Ermine" while Livingstone maintained his belief that the judicial decision was politically motivated.
GLC
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
GLC
that the GLC proceed with its policies regardless of their legality
GLC
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
GLC
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
Privatization
The Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Bill is published on 17 December 1981, providing for the transfer of BNOC's oil-producing business and wider private-sector participation in oil and gas.
Closed Shop
Announces Labour will not bring back the closed shop
Resignation of Lothar de Maiziere
Resigns after allegations that he worked for the Stasi
Agreement on Soviet Dissolution
Yeltsin and Mikhail Gorbachev discuss the transfer of powers as the Soviet Union approaches dissolution.
Economy of USA
Signs the North American Free Trade Treaty
Infifada
Deported Hamas and Islamic Jihad members establish a protest camp after expulsion by Israel
Infifada
Israel deports hundreds of Palestinian Islamist activists to southern Lebanon
North American Free Trade Treaty
Signs the North American Free Trade Treaty
Treaty of Free Trade
Signs the North American Free Trade Treaty
Communist Gains in Duma Election
Faces a strengthened Communist opposition after the party makes major gains in the State Duma election.
Constitution of Haiti
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)
Election
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
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
Commission
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
Tosovsky Government
Begins the Tosovsky Government in Prague and serves as Prime Minister of Czech Republic.
Treaty of Bosnia Agreement
Clinton Extends Troops Bosnia Agreement, decides G.I.s should remain past scheduled departure in June as part of peacekeeping force
UNMOVIC
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
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
National Security Adviser
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
Nuclear Power
Orders the construction by 2004 of a limited missile defense shield
Self-Immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi
Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire after a dispute with local officials, triggering nationwide protests.
Brexit
The European Union Referendum Act receives royal assent.
EU Referendum Act
The European Union Referendum Act receives royal assent.
Libyan Political Agreement Signed
The agreement establishes a Presidency Council and framework for a Government of National Accord.
Second Chelsea Departure
Leaves Chelsea by mutual consent during his second spell at Stamford Bridge.
Fiala Government
Forms a centre-right coalition government.
Legislative Election, First Round
Tunisia held the first round of legislative elections under the 2022 Constitution.
Second Taoiseach Term
Returns as Taoiseach under the coalition government's agreed rotation of the office.
Second Constitutional Referendum
Accepts the referendum result rejecting the second proposed constitutional text.
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill
The Government introduces legislation covering child protection, school standards and breakfast clubs.
Births on December 17
Birth of Dave Dee
Birth of Dave Dee, born David John Harman
Deaths on December 17
Death of Ecgfrith
Death of Ecgfrith
Death of Simon Bolivar
Simon Bolivar dies at Santa Marta after resigning from political leadership in Gran Colombia.
Death of Thirteenth Dalai Lama
Thubten Gyatso dies after decades of political leadership and attempted reform.
Death of Juan Vicente Gomez
Juan Vicente Gomez died after twenty-seven years of dominant rule, opening a period of gradual political liberalization.
Death of Kim Jong Il
Death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
Battles on December 17
Battle of Artois, 1st
Conducts an offensive in Artois
Battle of Artois, 1st
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
Battle of Limanowa
Battles of Limanowa, in which Austrian forces save their lines and prevent Russia attacking Vienna
Battle of River Plate
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
Battle of Basantar
Hoshiar Singh leads his company during the Battle of Basantar and holds its position despite repeated Pakistani counterattacks.