4 January in history
8 events that happened on 4 January, from 46 BCE to 1959.
46 BCE 2,071 years ago
Caesar narrowly escapes defeat at the Battle of Ruspina
In North Africa, Julius Caesar's outnumbered army was surrounded by Republican forces under Titus Labienus. Caesar fought his way back to camp, surviving to defeat his enemies at Thapsus three months later.
1878 CE 148 years ago
Russian troops take Sofia from the Ottomans
During the Russo-Turkish War, Russian forces under General Gurko entered Sofia, ending nearly five centuries of Ottoman rule. The city became the capital of the new Bulgarian state the following year.
1884 CE 142 years ago
Fabian Society founded in London
A group of middle-class reformers founded the Fabian Society to promote socialism through gradual reform rather than revolution. Members such as the Webbs and George Bernard Shaw later helped shape the Labour Party.
✦ Anniversary of the day
1951 CE 75 years ago
Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul
United Nations troops abandoned Seoul as Chinese and North Korean armies advanced, the third time the city had changed hands in the Korean War. UN forces retook it in March.
1958 CE 68 years ago
Sputnik 1 falls from orbit
The first artificial satellite burned up in the atmosphere after three months and some 1,400 orbits. Its launch the previous October had shocked the United States and started the space race.
1959 CE 67 years ago
Luna 1 becomes the first spacecraft to pass the Moon
The Soviet probe flew within about 6,000 km of the Moon's surface before heading into orbit around the Sun. Its instruments made the first direct measurements of the solar wind.
Born on 4 January 1
Died on 4 January 5
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.