Today in Francophone History

Learn about important dates in French and francophone history: famous birthdays, holidays and celebrations, and other milestones. If the above does not match today's date or you wish to choose a specific date, please click here

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Birthdays

1689 - Alexis Piron (French writer)

1786 - Sophie Hélène Béatrix, Princess of France

1929 - King Hassan II of Morocco


Deaths

1880 - Paul Broca (French physician and anatomist)

1985 - Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

1999 - Robert de Cotret (Canadian politician)


Milestones/Events

1357 - Prague: Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor assisted laying the foundation stone of Charles Bridge

1755 - French and Indian War: Braddock Expedition - British troops and colonial militiamen were ambushed and suffered a devastating defeat by French and Native American forces

1789 - France: In Versailles, National Assembly reconstituted itself as the National Constituent Assembly and began preparations for a French constitution

1793 - Act Against Slavery passed in Upper Canada and importation of slaves into Lower Canada was prohibited

1810 - Napoleon officially made Holland part of his empire

1815 - Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, Prince de Benevente became Prime Minister of France

1944 - World War II: Battle of Normandy - British and Canadian forces captured Caen, France

1975 - Sénégal passed a law allowing a multi-party system

1979 - France: A car bomb destroyed a car owned by famed "Nazi hunters" Serge and Beate Klarsfeld; ODESSA claimed responsibility

1981 - Sénégal : Party of Independence and Work (PIT) and Democratic League - Movement for the Labour Party (LD-MPT) were legally recognized

1991 - International Federation of Human Rights cited human rights violations committed by police and military personnel during Oka crisis in Québec, Canada

2002 - The African Union was established in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2006 - World Cup: Zinedine Zidane headbutted Marco Materazzi and got sent off in the final


Errors and Omissions

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