This Day In History, January 4th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on January 4th.
During the Roman Civil War, Titus Labienus was defeated by Julius Caesar at the Battle of Ruspina in 46 BC.
The English Civil War begins in 1642 when King Charles I of England dispatches troops to detain lawmakers.
The New York Stock Exchange establishes its first permanent offices in New York City's Wall Street neighborhood at 10-12 Broad.
1959: Luna 1 is the first man-made object to be placed in a heliocentric orbit and the first spacecraft to approach the Moon.
2010: Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi burns to death after starting himself on fire, igniting the Arab Spring, a wave of demonstrations that sweeps the Arab world.
This Day In History, January 4th 46 BC: Julius Caesar defeats Titus Labienus in the Battle of Ruspina during the Roman Civil War.
Julius Caesar's forces and those of Titus Labienus, a former lieutenant of Caesar who had deserted to the side of Caesar's opponent, Pompey, engaged in combat in northern Africa during the Battle of Ruspina. Caesar's army won the conflict handily on January 4th, 46 BC, which helped solidify his grip over the area.
January 4th, 1642: King Charles I of England sends troops to arrest members of Parliament, which marks the start of the English Civil War.
King Charles I of England attempted to have five House of Commons members arrested on January 4th, 1642 because he thought they were his political adversaries. "Five Members' Case" is the name given to this incident. Charles attempted to arrest the members, but they escaped after getting word of it and Charles was eventually unsuccessful. This incident marked a significant turning point before the English Civil War, which raged from 1642 to 1651 and ended with Charles I's execution and the foundation of an Oliver Cromwell-led republic in England.
The New York Stock Exchange opens its first permanent headquarters at 10-12 Broad near Wall Street in New York City.
The New York Stock Exchange established its first permanent offices at 10-12 Broad Street in New York City on January 4th, 1865. The exchange had previously operated out of numerous locations across the city. The new structure had an elaborate façade with elegant columns and a sizable central entrance. It was created in the Italianate architectural style. The New York Stock Exchange is now situated in New York City at 11 Wall Street, but the structure at 10-12 Broad Street is still there and is a recognized monument.
Luna 1 becomes the first spacecraft to reach the Moon's vicinity and the first human-made object to be placed in heliocentric orbit.
On January 4, 1959, the Soviet Union launched Luna 1, an unmanned spacecraft. Its main objective was to pass close to the Moon while gathering information about its gravitational field, radiation, and other properties. The spacecraft, however, missed the Moon owing to a navigation system error and instead became the first artificial object to enter heliocentric orbit, orbiting the Sun between Earth and Mars. Despite failing to achieve its goal, Luna 1 still contributed important knowledge about the space environment between Earth and the Moon, opening the door for more lunar missions.
Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi dies after setting himself on fire, which sparks a wave of protests across the Arab world known as the Arab Spring.
Mohamed Bouazizi, a street seller from Tunisia, died on January 4th, 2010, after setting himself on fire in a fit of rage about government corruption and unfair treatment by the police. After Bouazizi was killed, there were demonstrations in Tunisia and throughout the Arab world that became known as the Arab Spring. Long-standing leaders were finally overthrown by the uprisings, which also triggered significant political and social change in Yemen, Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya.