18 January in history

8 events that happened on 18 January, from 1126 to 1958.

  1. ✦ Anniversary of the day

    1126 CE 900 years ago

    Emperor Huizong abdicates in favour of his son Qinzong

    With Jin troops across the Yellow River and in sight of the capital, Bianjing, Emperor Huizong of Song abdicated in favour of his eldest son, Zhao Huan. As Emperor Qinzong he was the last ruler of the Northern Song.

    Emperor Qinzong

  2. 1535 CE 491 years ago

    Francisco Pizarro founds Lima

    Pizarro founded the 'City of Kings' on the Rímac river near the Pacific coast. Lima became the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru, created in 1542, and the centre of Spanish rule in South America.

    Spanish EmpireViceroyalty of PeruFrancisco PizarroSouth America

  3. 1654 CE 372 years ago

    Pereiaslav Council places the Cossack Hetmanate under the Tsar

    Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky and his Cossack officers swore allegiance to Tsar Alexei in return for protection against Poland-Lithuania. The agreement's meaning remains disputed in Ukrainian and Russian history.

    Tsardom of RussiaBohdan KhmelnytskyLithuaniaHetman

  4. 1778 CE 248 years ago

    James Cook becomes the first European to sight Hawaii

    On his third voyage, Cook sighted Oahu and then Kauai, where he landed two days later. He named the archipelago the Sandwich Islands and was killed there in February 1779.

  5. 1871 CE 155 years ago

    Wilhelm I proclaimed German Emperor at Versailles

    In the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, with Paris still under siege, Prussia's king was proclaimed Emperor of a united Germany. Bismarck's creation dominated continental Europe until 1918.

    German EmpireHall of MirrorsVersaillesWilhelm I

  6. 1915 CE 111 years ago

    Japan presents its Twenty-One Demands to China

    Japan secretly pressed Yuan Shikai's government for extensive rights in Shandong, Manchuria and beyond. China accepted a reduced version under ultimatum, fuelling Chinese nationalism against Japan.

    Manchuria

  7. 1943 CE 83 years ago

    Soviet forces open a land corridor into besieged Leningrad

    In Operation Iskra, Soviet troops linked up south of Lake Ladoga, creating a narrow corridor into Leningrad after 16 months of siege. The blockade was finally lifted in January 1944.

  8. 1958 CE 68 years ago

    Willie O'Ree breaks the NHL colour barrier

    Playing for the Boston Bruins against the Montreal Canadiens, Willie O'Ree became the first Black player in the National Hockey League, despite being almost blind in one eye.

    Boston

Born on 18 January 7

Died on 18 January 8

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.

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