This Day In History, September 20th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on September 20th
Ferdinand Magellan sets out on his epic trip to cross the globe in 1519. He set off from Spain with five ships and a crew of approximately 270 men.
1870: Italian forces led by General Raffaele Cadorna take Rome, completing Italy's unification and terminating the papacy's temporal sovereignty.
Billie Jean King overcomes Bobby Riggs in a high-profile "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match in 1973. The match was won in straight sets by King, a feminist hero and trailblazer in women's sports.
President George W. Bush announces the foundation of the Office of Homeland Security, a cabinet-level department tasked with preventing terrorist attacks on American territory, in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
A large explosion at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, kills at least 54 people and injures more than 260 others in 2008. The Pakistani Taliban later claimed responsibility for the explosion.s.
1519: Ferdinand Magellan sets sail on his historic voyage to circumnavigate the world. He departed from Spain with five ships and a crew of around 270 men.
Ferdinand Magellan's trip was a watershed moment in history since it was the first attempt at a globe circumnavigation. On September 20, 1519, Magellan's voyage set out from Spain with a fleet of five ships: the Trinidad, San Antonio, Concepción, Victoria, and Santiago. The mission faced several problems, including terrible weather, mutinies, and indigenous peoples attacks, but the remaining ship, the Victoria, finally returned to Spain in 1522, becoming the first ship to circle the globe. Unfortunately, Magellan was slain in a battle in the Philippines in 1521, therefore he did not finish the expedition.
1870: Italian forces under the command of General Raffaele Cadorna capture Rome, completing the unification of Italy and ending the temporal power of the papacy.
On September 20, 1870, Italian soldiers led by General Raffaele Cadorna reached Rome, completing Italy's unification and abolishing the papacy's temporal sovereignty. The seizure of Rome was a watershed moment in Italian history since it ended the Papal States, a political unit in central Italy since the early Middle Ages. The seizure of Rome was a major milestone in the country's fight for unity and independence.
1973: Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in a highly publicized "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match. King, a feminist icon and trailblazer for women's sports, won in straight sets.
Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in a widely publicized tennis match on September 20, 1973, which became known as the "Battle of the Sexes." The event was a watershed moment in women's sports history, highlighting the continued battle for gender equality in athletics. Riggs, a former men's tennis champion, has been ridiculing and daring female tennis players, stating that he could still beat any lady player at the age of 55. King, a prominent women's tennis player and outspoken campaigner for gender equality, decided to face Riggs in a televised match that drew millions of people worldwide. King won the match in three sets, 6-4, 6-3, and her triumph was hailed as a watershed moment in the struggle for women's rights and equality in sports.
2001: In response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, President George W. Bush announces the formation of the Office of Homeland Security, a cabinet-level department tasked with preventing terrorist attacks on American soil.
Although President George W. Bush did announce the formation of the Office of Homeland Security in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, it did not occur on September 20, 2001. On September 20, 2001, the announcement was made. The Office of Homeland Security was eventually succeeded by the Department of Homeland Security, which was established by Congress in 2002 and signed into law by President Bush in November. The Department of Homeland Security is in charge of both preventing terrorist attacks on American territory and reacting to natural disasters and other catastrophes.
2008: A massive explosion at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan kills at least 54 people and injures over 260. The bombing was later claimed by the Pakistani Taliban.
A truck bomb exploded at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, on September 20, 2008, killing at least 54 people and wounding over 260 others. The blast was one of the deadliest terrorist acts in Pakistani history, and the Pakistani Taliban eventually claimed responsibility for it. The Marriott Hotel was a famous tourist attraction for foreigners and Pakistani elites, and the incident was interpreted as an attempt to destabilize the country and undermine the government's anti-terrorism operations. The blast underscored Pakistan's persistent security concerns, since the country has been the subject of countless terrorist assaults over the last two decades.