This Day In History, November 13th.

Five Historical Events That Happened on November 13th

• 1002 – The English king Ethelred the Unready orders the killing of all Danes in England, an event known as the St. Brice's Day massacre.

• 1851 – The Denny Party lands at Alki Point, the site of what would eventually become Seattle, Washington.

• 1918 – World War I: Allied troops capture the Belgian town of Lessines from German forces.

• 1940 – World War II: The Battle of Gabon begins as Free French Forces and British troops launch an amphibious assault on the Vichy French-held port of Libreville in French Equatorial Africa.

• 1985 – The Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia erupts, killing more than 25,000 people in the town of Armero.

1002 – The English king Ethelred the Unready orders the killing of all Danes in England, an event known as the St. Brice's Day massacre.

On November 13, 1002, King Ethelred the Unready ordered the execution of all Danes residing in England in the St. Brice's Day massacre. The slaughter was the consequence of growing tensions in England between the English and Danish populations, as well as the continuous Viking invasions. Men, women, and children of Danish heritage were slaughtered in their houses, churches, and on the streets. The actual number of victims is unknown, however many thousand individuals are thought to have died. The slaughter strained ties between the English and the Danes, and it is seen as a watershed moment in Anglo-Saxon history.

1851 – The Denny Party lands at Alki Point, the site of what would eventually become Seattle, Washington.

The Denny Party, commanded by Arthur A. Denny, was a party of American pioneers that arrived at Alki Point on November 13, 1851. The group had journeyed from Illinois to Oregon on the Oregon Trail before deciding to settle in the Puget Sound region. When the Denny Party arrived, they faced numerous challenges, including harsh weather, limited resources, and conflicts with local Native American tribes. They eventually relocated to a more advantageous position on the east side of Elliott Bay, which became the city of Seattle, Washington. Alki Point is currently a renowned tourist site noted for its breathtaking views of the Seattle cityscape.

1918 – World War I: Allied troops capture the Belgian town of Lessines from German forces.

Allied soldiers, comprising British, French, and Belgian forces, liberated the Belgian town of Lessines from German forces on November 13, 1918, during World War I. Lessines was captured as part of the final Allied push of the war, known as the Hundred Days push, which culminated to Germany's defeat and the end of the war. Lessines was a major success for the Allies because it helped to push back German forces and open up fresh supply lines. Lessines is now a tranquil and scenic town, and its past as a location of considerable action during World War I is commemorated by a number of memorials and museums.

1940 – World War II: The Battle of Gabon begins as Free French Forces and British troops launch an amphibious assault on the Vichy French-held port of Libreville in French Equatorial Africa.

The Battle of Gabon started on November 13, 1940, when Free French Forces and British forces launched an amphibious attack on the Vichy French-held port of Libreville in French Equatorial Africa. The fight was part of a broader struggle to reclaim control of French Equatorial Africa, which had been under Vichy French rule since France's defeat by Nazi Germany in June 1940. The combat was bloody, with both sides suffering high fatalities, but the Allied troops eventually captured Libreville and secured the region. The battle in French Equatorial Africa was a crucial success for the Allies because it denied the Axis forces access to key resources and gave the Allies a foothold in Africa for future operations.

1985 – The Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia erupts, killing more than 25,000 people in the town of Armero.

The eruption of Colombia's Nevado del Ruiz volcano on November 13, 1985, caused a tremendous tragedy, however the number of casualties was fewer than originally believed. The eruption caused a large mudslide, known as a lahar, that buried the village of Armero, killing over 20,000 people. The lahars were generated by the melting of the volcano's glaciers, which combined with volcanic ash and debris to form a lethal mudflow that raced down the mountain slopes and across town. A lack of sufficient warning and evacuation measures, as well as inadequate communication between government authorities and the local populace, contributed to the catastrophe. The Armero catastrophe is regarded as one of the deadliest natural disasters in Colombian history, and it serves as a reminder of the significance of disaster preparedness and risk mitigation measures in volcanic areas.