14 December in history
8 events that happened on 14 December, from 557 to 1911.
557 CE 1,469 years ago
An earthquake shakes Constantinople and weakens Hagia Sophia
A powerful earthquake damaged much of Constantinople and cracked the great dome of Hagia Sophia, which collapsed the following May. It was rebuilt higher and rededicated in 562.
835 CE 1,191 years ago
Emperor Wenzong's plot against the palace eunuchs fails
Emperor Wenzong of Tang and the chancellor Li Xun planned to lure the palace eunuchs to view sweet dew, an auspicious omen, and kill them. The eunuchs discovered the ambush, and their troops killed the chancellors and many officials.
1503 CE 523 years ago
Nostradamus is born in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Michel de Nostredame, physician and astrologer, was born in Provence. His Prophecies of 1555, written in vague rhymed quatrains, have been claimed as predictions of countless later events.
✦ Anniversary of the day
1751 CE 275 years ago
The Theresian Military Academy is founded at Wiener Neustadt
The Theresian Military Academy was founded in the castle of Wiener Neustadt in Lower Austria, once a residence of Emperor Frederick III. The Austrian Armed Forces still train their officers there.
1780 CE 246 years ago
Alexander Hamilton marries Elizabeth Schuyler in Albany
Alexander Hamilton, who served as George Washington's aide in the Revolutionary War, married Elizabeth Schuyler at the Schuyler Mansion in Albany, New York. From 1789 he was the first secretary of the treasury.
1799 CE 227 years ago
George Washington dies at Mount Vernon
George Washington died aged 67 after a throat infection, worsened by heavy bloodletting. Having twice given up power, as commander and as president, he was mourned as the father of his country.
1911 CE 115 years ago
Roald Amundsen's party reaches the South Pole
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and four companions became the first people to reach the South Pole. Robert Falcon Scott's British party arrived 34 days later to find the Norwegian tent and flag.
Born on 14 December 7
Died on 14 December 10
Al-Ashraf Khalilc. 1262–1293
Sten Sture the Elderc. 1440–1503
John of the Cross1542–1591
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach1714–1788
Charles III of Spain1716–1788
George Washington1732–1799
Princess Alice of the United Kingdom1843–1878
Anton Korošec1872–1940
Juho Kusti Paasikivi1870–1956
Friedrich Dürrenmatt1921–1990
Dates as the sources give them: in the Julian calendar before 1582, and in some countries for longer (Britain until 1752, Russia until 1918). Only people whose day of birth or death the records agree on are listed.