December 31 in History

Is acclaimed emperor after Commodus is killed.

Godagisel, king of the Vandals, dies in battle. 80,000 Vandals attack the Rhine at Mainz

80,000 Vandals attack the Rhine at Mainz

Anne of Cleves arrives in Rochester

Anne of Cleves arrives in Rochester

Supports Guise family resistance to the Bourbon succession

Becomes the target of Catholic League opposition after becoming heir presumptive

Recognized by the Catholic League as a Catholic alternative to Henry of Navarre

Concludes alliance terms with Spain against the Protestant succession of Henry of Navarre

Backs the Catholic League through the Treaty of Joinville

Reaches the Orinoco

Forced to give up power as Janos Kemeny rises against him

Marlborough is dismissed from his commands amid political attacks and accusations over army finances.

Queen Anne dismisses Marlborough from his military commands after political conflict with the Tory ministry.

Baji Rao II signs the Treaty of Bassein with the British East India Company, accepting subsidiary protection to regain his position at Pune.

The Allied forces under Blucher cross the Rhine

Publishes an article contrasting newspaper positions with wider public opinion on the American crisis.

The Second Hall Government ends in Copenhagen, concluding this term as Council President of Denmark.

Begins the Monrad Government in Copenhagen and serves as Council President of Denmark.

Apppointed Prime Minister of Spain

A failed atempt to overthrow the Transvaal Government

A raid on Paul Krugers Transvaal Republic carried out by a British colonial statesman Leander Starr Jameson and his Rhodesian and Bechuanaland policemen over the New Year weekend of 1895-96. A failed atempt to overthrow the Transvaal Government

Intended to trigger an uprising by the primarily British expatriate workers (known as Uitlanders) in the Transvaal but fails to do so.

Sends a telegram to Rhodes warning him of his intentions, Jamesons force cross into the Transvaal and head for Johannesburg. Leads 800 men in an abortive attempt to begin a Uitlander uprising.

The plan is to make a 3 day dash to Johannesburg before the Boer commandos could mobilise, and once there, trigger an uprising by the primarily British expatriate workers (uitlanders) organised by the Reform Committee.

The Boer President calls on his countrymen to defend the state. Intended to trigger an uprising by the primarily British expatriate workers (known as Uitlanders) in the Transvaal but fails to do so. A raid on Paul Krugers Transvaal Republic carried out by a British colonial statesman Leander Starr Jameson and his Rhodesian and Bechuanaland policemen over the New Year weekend of 1895-96

Chamberlain orders Hercules Robinson, Governor of General of the Cape Colony, to repudiate the actions of Jameson and warns Rhodes that the Companys Charter would be in danger if it were discovered the Cape Prime Minister was involved in the Raid

Dines with Lloyd George to sound him out about joining the Liberal Party

The Jules de Trooz Government ends in Brussels, concluding this period as head of the Belgian government.

Appointed President of the Chinese Republic

Churchill proposes opening new strategic pressure against Germany and considers the requirements for Baltic operations.

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.

The Neutrality Laws are strengthened

The Neutrality Laws are strengthened

Makes a broadcast on BBC TV outlining plans for fire-fighting in London

Reviews a year in which Britain survived invasion threats and fought on.

Following Eisenhowers and Montgomerys revisions it is expanded to landings by 5 divisions and airborne descents by 3 divisions, in total, 47 divisions would be committed to the Battle of Normandy: 19 British, 5 Canadian, 21 US & 1 Free French

Following Eisenhowers and Montgomerys revisions it is expanded to landings by 5 divisions and airborne descents by 3 divisions, in total, 47 divisions would be committed to the Battle of Normandy: 19 British, 5 Canadian, 21 US & 1 Free French

Eisenhower & Montgomerry insist that the scale of the invasion be expanded, to prevent the invaders being restricted to a narrow beachhead, with insufficient room to land follow-up formations, delaying Overlord to June. Eisenhower & Montgomerry both first see the COSSAC plan on 31 December 1943 at Marrakech in Morroco, in a conference with Winston Churchill

In December 1943, Operation Postage Able used an X-craft to collect suitable data for all of the Normandy beaches. Following Eisenhowers and Montgomerys revisions it is expanded to landings by 5 divisions and airborne descents by 3 divisions, in total, 47 divisions would be committed to the Battle of Normandy: 19 British, 5 Canadian, 21 US & 1 Free French

47 divisions are committed to the Battle of Normandy: 19 British, 5 Canadian, 21 US & 1 Free French

In December 1943, Operation Postage Able used an X-craft to collect suitable data for all of the Normandy beaches

In December 1943, Operation Postage Able used an X-craft to collect suitable data for all of the Normandy beaches

Directs Ministry of Fear.

Launched in support of the offensive in the Ardennes, the Battle of the Bulge

Appointed President of Austria

Ends the year managing the diplomatic aftermath of the failed intervention

The defeat at Santa Clara convinces Batista to flee.

Radio Rebelde broadcast the first reports that Guevaras column had taken Santa Clara on New Years Eve 1958

Radio Rebelde broadcast the first reports that Guevaras column had taken Santa Clara on New Years Eve 1958

The Beatles are driven to London by their road manager, Neil Aspinall, and audition the next day for Decca Records, who reject them

Bombs are exploded at power stations & Government offices by Umkhonto we Sizwe

Fatah, a Palestinian movement for independence, makes the first terror attack on Israel and initiates the armed struggle for a state

Syrian-based al-Fatah guerrillas of Yasser Arafat launch their 1st raid on Israel with the aim of provoking a retaliation and sparking an Arab war against Israel. Fatah, a Palestinian movement for independence, makes the first terror attack on Israel and initiates the armed struggle for a state

The First Cernik Government ends in Prague, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia.

Paul McCartney files a suit to dissolve the Beatles

Helps lead congressional work on the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970

Signs the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970

Paul McCartney files a suit to dissolve the Beatles

Paul McCartney files a suit to dissolve the Beatles

Paul McCartney files a suit to dissolve the Beatles

Britain leaves EFTA in order to join the EU

Britain leaves EFTA in order to join the EU

Britain leaves EFTA in order to join the EU

The power-sharing Administration of the Northern Ireland Assembly is sworn in

Diouf leaves the prime ministership to succeed Senghor as President

Senghor resigns and transfers power constitutionally to Abdou Diouf

Appointed military Head of State of Nigeria after the overthrow of Shehu Shagari

Muzenda becomes Vice-President under the executive presidency.

Muzenda becomes Vice-President when the executive presidency is established.

Parliament elects Mugabe as Zimbabwe's executive President.

Mugabe is sworn in as executive President after the constitutional change.

Mugabe assumes the newly strengthened executive presidency.

Dennis Young serves as acting Governor-General after Ignatius Kilage dies

The Strasky Government ends in Prague, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia.

Leads Spain when it completes the formal notification required for Maastricht ratification.

Yeltsin unexpectedly resigns and, according to the constitution, Putin becomes (acting) President of the Russian Federation

Yeltsin unexpectedly resigns and, according to the constitution, Putin becomes (acting) President of the Russian Federation

Records a final televised address explaining his early resignation and asking Russians for forgiveness for unmet expectations.

Yeltsin announces his resignation and hands power over to Prime Minister Putin. Appointed President of Russia, acting

Announces his resignation in a televised address and transfers presidential powers to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Unitys electoral success gives Yeltsin the confidence to resign in favour of Prime Minister Putin (who becomes Acting President upon Yeltsins resignation)

Leaves the Kremlin after transferring acting presidential authority to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Appointed provisional President of Argentina after the resignation of Adolfo Rodriguez Saa

Parliament adopts the Seventeenth Amendment validating major Musharraf-era constitutional changes.

Wiggins is awarded an OBE for services to sport

Beji Caid Essebsi was sworn in as president of Tunisia.

Government and opposition representatives agree on elections and transitional power-sharing.

Chinese authorities report pneumonia cases of unknown cause in Wuhan to the World Health Organization.

Aureliu Ciocoi becomes acting Prime Minister after Chicu resigns

The Brexit transition period ends and new UK EU trading rules begin.

Birth of the "Young Pretender", son of James Edward "the Old Pretender", son of the exiled Stuart King James VII and II, and Maria Clementina Sobieska, the granddaughter of John III Sobieski

Birth of Alexander Chapman Ferguson

Birth of Kinks bassist Peter Quaife.

Is assassinated in a palace conspiracy.

Death of Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter

Metropolitan Macarius dies after shaping church and literary policy

Dies after decades of observations connected with Greenwich.

Death of Henry Maitland Wilson, 1st Baron Wilson

Wounded at the Battle of Ferozeshah while storming the Sikh camp

Repels the first Ottoman assault on his Russian detachment at Cetate.

Opens the fighting at Cetate with an attack on the Russian position in Wallachia.

Supports continued expansion of aircraft output after the Battle of Britain.

47 divisions are committed to the Battle of Normandy: 19 British, 5 Canadian, 21 US & 1 Free French

Captures Yaguajay during the final rebel offensive.

Fights with Cienfuegos during the final offensive.