On This Day in History for December 11
Events in History
- 359 Honoratus, first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office, after the Emperor Constantius creates a new senate for the East
- 384 St Damasus I dies and ends his reign as Catholic Pope. Began reign 366
- 1282 Llywelyn ab Gruffydd/Llywelyn the Last, last native Prince of Wales is killed at Cilmeri, near Builth Wells, south Wales. Reigned from 1259.
- 1395 John "Eleanor" Rykener, a male cross-dressing prostitute, is brought to court in London for "committing that detestable unmentionable and ignominious vice" in late medieval England's only recorded case on same-sex intercourse (verdict unknown)
- 1419 Heretic Nicolaas Serrurier exiled from Florence
- 1477 Duchess Maria of Burgundy ends the 'Great Privilege' in states of The Netherlands
- 1572 Spanish troops begin siege of Haarlem
- 1602 Surprise attack by forces of the Duke of Savoy and his brother-in-law, Philip III of Spain repelled by citizens of Geneva. Commemorated since as Fête de l'Escalade.
- More Events in History
Leo X
George Mason
Robert Koch
Annie Jump Cannon
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
John KerryWeddings in History
- 1924 Photographer Alfred Stieglitz (60) marries artist Georgia O'Keeffe (37) in Cliffside Park, New Jersey
- 1993 Canada's PM Stephen Harper (34) weds Laureen Teskey (30)
More Weddings in History
Anne RiceDecember in History
King Abdicates for Love of Wallis Simpson
On this day King Edward VIII gave up his throne so that he could marry the twice-divorced Wallis Simpson. It was the first time a British king had abdicated.
December 10, 1936
Marconi's Dream: Telegraphy Without Wires
Italian radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi's career received a big boost on this day with backing from the British Post Office.
December 11, 1896
The Mayflower
The Mayflower at Sea, Copyrighted and Published by A. S. Burbank
December 11, 1620
A King Salutes Remarkable Woman Soldier
Whether she went to war out of love or duty, Phoebe Hessel, who died on this day, led a remarkable life on and off the battlefield.
December 12, 1821