Historical events on January 11

JANUARY 11, 1923

Troops from France and Belgium invaded the Ruhr to force the Weimar Republic to pay reparations in the aftermath of World War I.

The occupation of the Ruhr was the period from 11 January 1923 to 25 August 1925 when French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr region of Weimar Republic Germany. (Image Credits)

JANUARY 11, 1055

Theodora Porphyrogenita (pictured) became the sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire after the death of her brother-in-law Constantine IX Monomachos.

Theodora Porphyrogenita was Byzantine Empress from 21 April 1042 to her death on 31 August 1056, and sole ruler from 11 January Read More

JANUARY 11, 1787

German-born British astronomer William Herschel discovered two Uranian moons, later named Oberon and Titania by his son John.

Frederick William Herschel was a German-British astronomer and composer. He frequently collaborated with his younger sister and fellow astronomer Caroline Herschel. Born Read More

JANUARY 11, 2013

French special forces failed in an attempted rescue of a DGSE agent, who had been taken hostage in 2009 by al-Shabaab, in Bulo Marer, Somalia.

On 11 January 2013, the French military launched an unsuccessful operation in Bulo Marer, Lower Shabelle, Somalia to rescue French hostage Denis Read More

JANUARY 11, 1863

American Civil War: The Battle of Arkansas Post concluded with the Union Army capturing a fort from Confederate forces near the mouth of the Arkansas River.

The American Civil War was a civil war in the United States between the Union and the Confederacy, which was formed in Read More

JANUARY 11, 1693

The most powerful earthquake recorded in Italy struck the island of Sicily, causing 60,000 deaths and prompting a period of architectural revival.

The 1693 Sicily earthquake was a natural disaster that struck parts of southern Italy near Sicily, then a territory part of the Read More

JANUARY 11, 1946

The People's Republic of Albania was proclaimed, with Enver Hoxha as the country's de facto head of state.

The People's Socialist Republic of Albania, was a communist state that self-designated as a people's democratic state from 1946 to 1976 and Read More

JANUARY 11, 1912

Immigrant textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, went on strike in response to a pay cut corresponding to a new state law shortening the working week.

Lawrence is a city located in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, on the Merrimack River. At the 2020 census, the city had Read More

JANUARY 11, 1654

Arauco War: The Mapuche-Huilliche of southern Chile defeated a slave-hunting Spanish army at the Battle of Río Bueno.

The Arauco War was a long-running conflict between colonial Spaniards and the Mapuche people, mostly fought in the Araucanía region of Chile. Read More

JANUARY 11, 1927

Louis B. Mayer, head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, hosted 36 people involved in the film industry at a banquet, where he announced the creation of what would become the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Louis Burt Mayer was a Canadian-American film producer and co-founder of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios (MGM) in 1924. Under Mayer's management, MGM became the Read More

JANUARY 11, 1986

The Gateway Bridge in Brisbane, Australia, opened as the largest prestressed-concrete, single-box bridge in the world.

The Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges, formerly and still collectively referred to as the Gateway Bridge, are a pair of twin road bridges Read More

JANUARY 11, 1820

A conflagration in Savannah, Georgia, destroyed over 400 buildings and caused millions of dollars in damages.

On January 11, 1820, a conflagration affected the city of Savannah, Georgia, United States, burning down almost 500 buildings and causing roughly Read More

JANUARY 11, 1943

Italian-American journalist and trade-union activist Carlo Tresca, a leading public opponent of the Mafia infiltration of unions, was assassinated in New York City.

A trade union or labor union, often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to Read More

JANUARY 11, 1914

The Karluk, the flagship of the Canadian Arctic Expedition, sank after being crushed by ice.

Karluk was an American-built brigantine which, after many years' service as a whaler, was acquired by the Canadian government in 1913 to Read More

JANUARY 11, 1964

In a landmark report (cover pictured), U.S. surgeon general Luther Terry issued a warning that tobacco smoking may be hazardous to health, concluding that it has a causative role in lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, and other illnesses.

Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service is a landmark report on Read More

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Historical events on January 11

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