December 25 in History

Revives the title of Holy Roman Emperor in Western Europe after more than three centuries

Succeeds as King of France

Assassinated by the followers of Michael the Amorian

After London surrenders to Sweyn Canute rules over all of England

London surrenders to Sweyn I

Ethelred II the Unready escapes to Normandy

London surrenders to Sweyn I

London submits to Sweyn Forkbeard after most of England has accepted him as king.

London submits to Sweyn Forkbeard near the end of his conquest of England.

Ferdinand receives communion on Christmas Day as his final illness advances.

William becomes King of England after his coronation at Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day.

A disturbance outside Williams coronation causes Norman guards to set nearby buildings on fire

William receives the crown from Ealdred, Archbishop of York, because Archbishop Stigand does not perform the ceremony.

William I begins his reign over England after the conquest

Names Richard II as his successor

Edward III names Richard II as his successor, then aged 10

Peace is agreed between England & France

A peace Treaty is signed between England & France

Dismissed from power by the Queen & Edmund Beaufort the 2nd Duke of Somerset

While in Brittany, Henry Tudor pledges to marry Elizabeth of York, attracting Yorkist opponents of Richard III.

At Rennes, Henry Tudor publicly promises to marry Elizabeth of York if he secures the English crown.

The Privy Council instructs Norfolk to assist the Scots against the French

The Privy Council instructs Norfolk to assist the Scots against the French

Giovanni Angelo Medici is elected Pope Pius IV

Elizabeth's council moves toward aiding Scottish Protestants against French influence

Created Earl of Warwick during Elizabeth I's reign

Charles XII crosses the Vistula during the eastward march against Russia.

Crosses the Vistula during the eastward march.

Prussia recognizes Francis, the Duke of Lorraine, as the Holy Roman Emperor. At the peace of Dresden Frederick is rewarded with the County of Glatz. At the peace of Dresden Frederick gains the Duchies of Upper & Lower Silesia

At the peace of Dresden Frederick is rewarded with the County of Glatz

At the peace of Dresden Frederick is rewarded with Upper & Lower Silesia

Ends Prussian involvement in the Bohemian War on favourable term

Ends Prussian involvement in the War of Austrian Succession on favourable term

Halley's predicted comet is observed again, confirming his orbital calculation after his death and strengthening Newtonian celestial mechanics.

Calculates perturbations that help predict the return of Halley's Comet under Newtonian gravity.

Observes the predicted return of Halley's Comet, confirming Newtonian celestial mechanics.

Halleys prediction of the comets return proved to be correct, although it was not seen until 25 December 1758, by Johann Georg Palitzsch, a German farmer and amateur astronome

Halleys prediction of the comets return proved to be correct, although it was not seen until as late as 25 December 1758 by Johann Georg Palitzsch, a German farmer and amateur astronomer

Peter succeeds to the throne as Peter III of Russia and moves into the new Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Catherine thus becomes Empress Consort of Russia

Crosses the Delaware River to attack the British garrison at Trenton, New Jersey

Appointed Lieutenant

Napoleon was elected to the Institut de France in the class of physical and mathematical sciences.

The Constitution of Year VIII comes into force

Claims victory despite heavy losses during difficult fighting near Lake Okeechobee.

Publishes an article examining changing British public opinion toward the American Civil War.

The Fisher-Selborne scheme proposes common early training for executive, engineering and marine officer entrants.

Returns to China to participate in the nationalist rebellion

Returns from 14 years of exile to lead the republican revolution

Royal Naval Air Service seaplanes launched from converted ships raid German naval and Zeppelin facilities around Cuxhaven.

Prepared, if necessary, to sign a separate peace Treaty if the armistice breaksdown. Offers to give up all land occupied by Austria if the Allies join peace negotiations. Offers to give up all land occupied by Austria if the Allies join in negotiations

Succeeds as Emperor of Japan, ascends the chrysanthemum throne as a god. Succeeds as Emperor of Japan, 124th Emperor of Japan

Begins the practice of Royal Christmas broadcasts

Is released from Xi’an after negotiations that help create conditions for a renewed Nationalist-Communist united front against Japan.

Sakai accepts the collapse of organized British resistance as Hong Kong surrenders on Christmas Day.

Leads the principal assault in the Japanese capture of Hong Kong

Surrenders Hong Kong to the Japanese

Speaks with assurance of, "our coming victory"

Russians captue Roslavl

Russians captue Smolensk

Russians captue Smolensk

Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1st term

Leads attack on Khai Phat soon after forming the armed propaganda unit

The National Assembly adopts the Constitution of the Republic of China after prolonged political negotiations.

Zhang Junmai is associated with constitutional debate as the National Assembly adopts the constitution

The National Assembly adopts the Constitution of the Republic of China

The Constitution of the Republic of China takes effect, formally ending the Nationalist period of political tutelage.

On December 25, 1961, Marina was informed that Soviet exit visas would be granted to her and Oswald.

Papandreou calls for international opposition to the Greek military regime.

The military regime releases Andreas Papandreou following international pressure.

Commands the engine burn that sends Apollo 8 out of lunar orbit toward Earth.

Serves as command module pilot during the burn that sends Apollo 8 from lunar orbit toward Earth.

Premier Chiang Ching-kuo announces major national construction projects intended to strengthen transport, industry and infrastructure during Chiang Kai-shek’s presidency.

Performs at the Ivanhoes benefit shows, the band's final British performances of the original era.

The Sex Pistols final UK performance takes place at Ivanhoes, where the band play a matinee and evening show as part of a benefit for the families of striking firemen

Venera 11 reaches Venus and returns atmospheric and surface measurements after a successful descent.

Vietnam invades Cambodia to remove Khmer Rouge rule

Release Eminence Front from It's Hard.

Executed along with his wife Elena

Nicolae Ceausescu is executed after a summary trial.

Is tried and executed with Elena Ceausescu.

The USSR ends after republics declare independence. The USSR ceases to exist

Gorbachev resigns his position as President of the USSR, signifying the demise of the Soviet Union, 14 former Soviet republics (including Russia) become independent states

Gorbachev resigns his position as President of the USSR, signifying the demise of the Soviet Union, 14 former Soviet republics (including Russia) become independent states

Resigns as leader of the Communist Party

Gorbachev resigns his position as President of the USSR, signifying the demise of the Soviet Union, 14 former Soviet republics (including Russia) become independent states

Assumes Russia's central responsibility for the former Soviet strategic nuclear arsenal after Gorbachev leaves office.

A Palestinian suicide bomber blows himself up on a bus in Jerusalem and wounds 12 Israelis, Hamas takes responsibility

A Palestinian suicide bomber blows himself up on a bus in Jerusalem and wounds 12 Israelis, Hamas takes responsibility

A Palestinian suicide bomber blows himself up on a bus in Jerusalem and wounds 12 Israelis, Hamas takes responsibility

Directs Comedian Harmonists.

Police seize Kenneth Kaunda in a crackdown on opposition leaders believed to be involved in attempted coup in the autumn

Police seize Kenneth Kaunda in a crackdown on opposition leaders believed to be involved in attempted coup in the autumn

Clervoy uses Discovery's robotic arm to release Hubble after repairs restore the observatory to science operations.

Delivers a Last Minute Warning in an interview with the Arabic language satellite channel al-Arabiya. "I am telling them now, it may be the last minute, Im telling them stop it. We are stronger"

US security attention increasingly focuses on Al-Qaeda in Yemen.

Responds after the attempted bombing is linked to Yemen-based AQAP.

Directs Soul Kitchen.

Birth of Margaret of Austria, later queen consort of Spain

Brth of Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Brth of Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Birth of Gotthard Heinrici

Birth of Jairzinho

Birth of Nawaz Sharif

Birth of Nawaz Sharif

Death of Leo V

Dies age 47, his son was acting as Regent for 5 years during his illness

Death of W C Fields

Death of Charlie Chaplin

Death of Nicolae Ceausescu

Death of Dean Martin

Death of Vera Rubin

Commands United States troops in a major battle against Seminole resistance.

De Wet launches a surprise Christmas attack on the British camp at Groenkop and captures much of the position.

Williams commands the Imperial Yeomanry camp at Groenkop when De Wet launches a surprise Christmas attack.

Zhukov drives Hoths army back across Kotelnikov

Zhukov drives the Germans back from the north & sth. Supply lines can no longer reach Paulus on land

Zhukov drives the German forces in the north beyond the Chir & Aksay. Zhukov drives Hoths army back across Kotelnikov

The defences are breached but the Germans are later repulsed the following day

The Germans breach the defences of Bastogne

Charlamagne is acclaimed as "Casear" & "Augustus"

The Pope kneels in homage before Charlamagne I the Great. Charlamagne is acclaimed as "Casear" & "Augustus"

Crowns Charlemagne as Roman emperor of the Holy Roman Empire

Coronation of Edmund

Crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope John VIII

Crowned King of Hungary, Hungarys 1st King, by Pope sylvester II

Crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Bishop of Bamberg, Pope Clement II

Crowns William I the Conqueror as the King of England

William is crowned king of England at Westminster Abbey

Crowned King of England on Christmas day, the 1st coronation in the Abbey

Ealdred of York performs the coronation of William as king of England

William is acclaimed in both English and French during his Christmas Day coronation at Westminster Abbey.

William and the clergy complete the coronation service while smoke and disorder drive many people from the abbey.

Norman guards mistake the coronation acclamation for an attack and set nearby buildings on fire outside Westminster Abbey.

At his coronation William promises to uphold the laws and customs of his new kingdom.

Crowns William I the Conqueror as the King of England

Crowned King of England on Christmas day, the 1st coronation in the Abbey

William is crowned king of England at Westminster Abbey

Ealdred of York performs the coronation of William as king of England

William is crowned according to the established English coronation rite, reinforcing the legitimacy of his new kingship.

Ealdred presents William to the congregation and conducts the English part of the Christmas Day coronation ceremony.

Crowned for a 2nd time with Stephen by Archbishop Theobald

Again crowned King of England in Canterbury Cathedral by Archbishop Theobald