21 September in history
5 events that happened on 21 September, from 454 to 1981.
International day
International Day of Peace
Established by the United Nations in 1981 and observed with a global ceasefire since 2001, the International Day of Peace invites all nations and peoples to commit to peace above all differences and to contribute to building a culture of peace.
✦ Anniversary of the day
454 CE 1,572 years ago
Emperor Valentinian III murders his general Aetius
Valentinian III killed Flavius Aetius with his own hands during a meeting in Ravenna. The West lost the commander who had checked Attila; Valentinian was himself assassinated six months later.
1327 CE 699 years ago
Deposed Edward II dies at Berkeley Castle
Edward II was announced dead at Berkeley Castle, almost certainly murdered on the orders of Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer. The later tale of a red-hot poker is unsupported.
1745 CE 281 years ago
Jacobites rout a government army at Prestonpans
Bonnie Prince Charlie's Highlanders routed Sir John Cope's army in a few minutes near Edinburgh. The victory encouraged the Jacobite invasion of England, which turned back at Derby.
1866 CE 160 years ago
H. G. Wells is born in Bromley
Herbert George Wells was born in Kent to a shopkeeper's family. His novels The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds helped found modern science fiction.
1981 CE 45 years ago
Belize becomes independent
The former British Honduras became independent as Belize, with George Price as prime minister. British troops remained because Guatemala claimed the territory; it recognised Belize in 1991.
