This Day In History, October 10th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on October 10th
732 - Battle of Tours: In a key battle at Poitiers, France, the Frankish army commanded by Charles Martel defeated the Muslim army led by Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi, halting the Muslim march into Western Europe.
In 1845, the United States Naval Academy was established in Annapolis, Maryland. The institution was founded to train officers for the US Navy and Marine Corps.
The Panama Canal was formally inaugurated in 1913. The canal, which links the Atlantic and Pacific seas, was a tremendous technical marvel that cut ship travel time between the two oceans in half.
The United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom sign the Outer Space Treaty in 1967. The convention established the principles that govern space exploration and utilization, notably the ban of nuclear weapons in space.
1985 - The Achille Lauro hijacking occurred when the Italian cruise ship was hijacked by four Palestinian terrorists. The hijacking resulted in the murder of an American passenger, Leon Klinghoffer, who was wheelchair-bound. The hijackers were eventually captured and sentenced to prison.
732 - Battle of Tours: The Frankish army led by Charles Martel defeated the Muslim army led by Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi in a decisive battle near Poitiers, France, which halted the Muslim advance into Western Europe.
On October 10, 732, the Battle of Tours, also known as the Battle of Poitiers, took place between the Frankish army, headed by Charles Martel, and the Muslim army, led by Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi. The fight is notable because it halted the Muslim invasion of Western Europe and is regarded as a watershed moment in European history. The triumph of the Franks against the Muslims also served to strengthen the dominance of the Carolingian dynasty, which went on to become one of Europe's most powerful dynasties.
1845 - The United States Naval Academy opened in Annapolis, Maryland. The academy was established to train officers for the United States Navy and Marine Corps.
The United States Naval Academy (USNA) was founded on October 10, 1845, at Annapolis, Maryland. It is a four-year university that prepares officers for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The academy provides a strong academic curriculum as well as a diverse choice of extracurricular activities such as sports and clubs. Graduates get a Bachelor of Science degree and are commissioned as officers in the United States Navy or Marine Corps. The institution has produced numerous prominent graduates who have held positions of leadership in the military and government throughout the years.
1913 - The Panama Canal was officially opened. The canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, was a major engineering feat and reduced the travel time for ships between the two oceans.
On October 10, 1913, the Panama Canal, a man-made canal that links the Atlantic and Pacific seas across the Isthmus of Panama, was formally inaugurated. The canal's construction was a huge technical marvel that took over ten years and lost the lives of hundreds of laborers. The canal cut the distance between the two oceans by thousands of kilometres, making it a vital economic and geopolitical waterway. The Panama Canal is a vital worldwide commercial route and one of the most significant architectural feats in contemporary history.
1967 - The Outer Space Treaty was signed by the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom. The treaty established the principles governing the exploration and use of outer space, including the prohibition of nuclear weapons in space.
The United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom signed the Outer Space Treaty, also known as the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, on October 10, 1967. The treaty established the principles governing the exploration and use of outer space, including the prohibition of deploying nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in outer space, as well as the responsibility of states for the activities of their national entities in outer space. The Outer Space Treaty, which has been ratified by over 100 nations, is regarded as a cornerstone of international space law.
1985 - The Achille Lauro hijacking occurred when the Italian cruise ship was hijacked by four Palestinian terrorists. The hijacking resulted in the murder of an American passenger, Leon Klinghoffer, who was wheelchair-bound. The hijackers were eventually captured and sentenced to prison.
The hijacking of the Achille Lauro took place on October 10, 1985, when four Palestinian terrorists boarded the Italian cruise liner Achille Lauro, which was carrying approximately 400 guests and crew members. The hijacking culminated in the death of a wheelchair-bound American traveler, Leon Klinghoffer. The hijackers sought the liberation of Palestinian detainees detained in Israel, and the hijacking lasted several days before the hijackers were apprehended by Egyptian police. The hijackers were finally apprehended, prosecuted, and imprisoned. The hijacking of Achille Lauro was one of the most high-profile hijackings of the 1980s, and it had a significant influence on international aviation security.