January 04
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Christianfeast day:
Angela of Foligno, Elizabeth Ann Seton, Ferréol of Uzès, Mavilus, Pharaildis of Ghent, Rigobert, January 4 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
A day in the Christian liturgical calendar dedicated to commemorating several saints on January 4.
The eleventh of theTwelve Days of Christmas. (Western Christianity)
Marks the eleventh day of the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas celebration in Western Christianity.
Independence Day (Myanmar), celebrates the independence ofMyanmarfrom theUnited Kingdomin 1948.
Celebrates Myanmar’s independence from British colonial rule in 1948.
Colonial Martyrs Repression Day(Angola)
Commemorates the repression and martyrdom of Angolans during colonial rule.
Day of the Martyrs (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Honors the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Ogoni Day(Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People)
A day of remembrance and solidarity with the Ogoni people’s struggle against environmental and human rights abuses.
Tokyo Dome Show: The annualWrestle Kingdomevent run byNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
The premier annual professional wrestling event held by New Japan Pro-Wrestling at the Tokyo Dome.
World Braille Day
An international day promoting awareness of the importance of Braille in achieving literacy and inclusion for people with vision impairment.
Angela of Foligno
Celebrates the feast day of Saint Angela of Foligno, an Italian Franciscan mystic and writer.
Events
Julius Caesar fights Titus Labienus in the Battle of Ruspina.
In 46 BC, Julius Caesar faced Titus Labienus at the Battle of Ruspina in North Africa.
Battle of Reading: Æthelred of Wessex and his brother Alfred are defeated by a Danish invasion army.
In 871, King Æthelred of Wessex and his brother Alfred were defeated by a Danish army at the Battle of Reading.
English Civil War: King Charles I, accompanied by 400 soldiers, attempts to arrest five members of Parliament for treason, only to discover the men had been tipped off and fled.
In 1642, King Charles I led troops to arrest five members of Parliament, triggering a key flashpoint in the English Civil War.
English Civil War: The Rump Parliament votes to put Charles I on trial.
In 1649, the Rump Parliament voted to put King Charles I on trial for treason, leading to his eventual execution.
The Netherlands, Great Britain, and France sign the Triple Alliance.
In 1717, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and France formed the Triple Alliance to counter Spanish influence.
Great Britain declares war on Spain, which meant the entry of Spain into the Seven Years' War.
Great Britain declared war on Spain in 1762, bringing Spain into the global conflict of the Seven Years' War.
Constantine Hangerli arrives in Bucharest, Wallachia, as its new Prince, invested by the Ottoman Empire.
In 1798, Constantine Hangerli arrived in Bucharest to assume his role as Ottoman-invested Prince of Wallachia.
The first issue of the Swedish-languaged Saima newspaper founded by J. V. Snellman is published in Kuopio, Finland.
The first issue of the Swedish-language Saima newspaper was published in Kuopio, Finland, in 1844.
After having been kidnapped and sold into slavery in the American South, Solomon Northup regains his freedom; his memoir Twelve Years a Slave later becomes a national bestseller.
Solomon Northup regained his freedom in 1853 after twelve years of enslavement, later inspiring the memoir Twelve Years a Slave.
Births
Fourth Shia Imam known for his devotion and compilation of profound supplications.
Chinese emperor of the Song Dynasty who ruled from 1085 to 1100.
Amadeus VI
14th-century Count of Savoy who expanded his territories and led military expeditions.
Bodo VIII
Ruler of Stolberg-Wernigerode in the Holy Roman Empire during the early Reformation era.
James Ussher
Anglo-Irish archbishop and scholar best known for his biblical chronology in the "Annals of the World."
Isaac Newton
Renowned English mathematician and physicist who formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation.
Lars Roberg
Swedish physician and professor who advanced medical education at Uppsala University.
Hugh Boulter
Anglican Archbishop of Armagh known for his political influence in 18th-century Ireland.
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
Italian Baroque composer celebrated for his operas and sacred music despite his short life.
Deaths
Æthelwulf
Anglo-Saxon ealdorman who died fighting Viking invaders at the Battle of Reading.
Hasan al-Askari
The eleventh Imam in Twelver Shi'a Islam known for his scholarship and leadership under Abbasid rule.
King of Portugal from 1223 until his deposition by the church in 1248.
Robert de Lisle
English nobleman summoned to Parliament as the first Baron Lisle and military commander under King Edward II.
Nicholas Eymerich
Catalan theologian and inquisitor best known for authoring the Directorium Inquisitorum.
Muzio Sforza
Italian condottiero and the founder of the Sforza dynasty, renowned for his military leadership.
Frederick I
Elector of Saxony who strengthened his realm and supported the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund.
Tobias Stimmer
Swiss Renaissance painter and illustrator celebrated for his detailed frescoes and book illustrations.
Ferenc Nádasdy
Prominent Hungarian magnate and military leader known for his opposition to the Ottoman Empire.