20 June in history
8 events that happened on 20 June, from 451 to 1991.
International day
World Refugee Day
Designated by the UN General Assembly in 2001 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, World Refugee Day honours the courage and resilience of the more than 100 million forcibly displaced people worldwide.
✦ Anniversary of the day
1180 CE 846 years ago
The First Battle of Uji begins the Genpei War
The First Battle of Uji followed Prince Mochihito and Minamoto no Yorimasa's plan to raise an army to overthrow the Taira clan, and an edict urging the Minamoto clan, temples and shrines to revolt. It began the Genpei War.
1210 CE 816 years ago
Michael I Komnenos Doukas of Epirus becomes a vassal of Venice
A treaty negotiated by envoys of Michael I Komnenos Doukas, founder of the Despotate of Epirus, was confirmed by oath, making him a vassal of Venice. He granted the Venetians trading privileges and tax exemptions and promised an annual tribute.
1789 CE 237 years ago
Third Estate swears the Tennis Court Oath
Locked out of their hall, deputies of the National Assembly met in a royal tennis court at Versailles and vowed not to separate until France had a constitution.
1837 CE 189 years ago
Victoria becomes queen at the age of 18
Victoria was woken at Kensington Palace with news that William IV had died. Her 63-year reign saw industrial growth and the expansion of the British Empire.
1963 CE 63 years ago
US and Soviet Union agree to set up a hotline
Signed in Geneva after the Cuban Missile Crisis, the agreement created a direct teletype link between Washington and Moscow. Popularly called the 'red telephone', it was never a telephone.
Born on 20 June 7
Died on 20 June 4
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.