6 December in history

6 events that happened on 6 December, from 1240 to 1921.

  1. 1240 CE 786 years ago

    The Mongols sack Kiev

    Batu Khan's army stormed Kiev after a siege, massacring much of the population. A traveller passing a few years later reported barely 200 houses standing; the city's ruin ended Kievan Rus as a power.

  2. ✦ Anniversary of the day

    1534 CE 492 years ago

    Spanish conquistadors found San Francisco de Quito

    Sebastián de Benalcázar's men founded the Spanish city of Quito on the site of an Inca centre in the Andes. Its historic centre is today one of the best-preserved colonial cities in the Americas.

  3. 1745 CE 281 years ago

    The Jacobite army turns back at Derby

    Overruling Charles Edward Stuart, his commanders began a retreat from Derby, about 125 miles from London. The rising ended at Culloden in April 1746.

    London

  4. 1877 CE 149 years ago

    Edison records and plays back 'Mary Had a Little Lamb'

    Thomas Edison spoke the nursery rhyme into his tinfoil phonograph and heard his voice played back. It was the first time a machine had reproduced recorded human speech.

  5. 1917 CE 109 years ago

    Finland declares independence

    The Finnish parliament adopted a declaration of independence from Russia, a month after the Bolshevik seizure of power. Lenin's government recognised it at the end of the month.

    Finland

  6. 1921 CE 105 years ago

    The Anglo-Irish Treaty is signed

    Irish and British delegates signed a treaty in London creating the Irish Free State as a dominion, with Northern Ireland able to opt out. Divisions over it led to the Irish Civil War.

    London

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