On This Day — 20 March
2000s
2021
La Plume noire, an anarchist bookstore in Lyon, is targeted by an attack of the far-right, provoking a shock in Lyon's far-left circles.
La Plume noire
2019
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is sworn in as acting president of Kazakhstan, following the resignation of long-time president Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
2015
A solar eclipse, equinox, and a supermoon all occur on the same day.
Solar eclipse of March 20, 2015
2015
Syrian civil war: The Siege of Kobanî is broken by the People's Protection Units (YPG) and Free Syrian Army (FSA), marking a turning point in the Rojava–Islamist conflict.
Syrian civil war
2014
Four suspected Taliban members attack the Kabul Serena Hotel, killing at least nine people.
Taliban
2012
At least 52 people are killed and more than 250 injured in a wave of terror attacks across ten cities in Iraq.
20 March 2012 Iraq attacks
2010
Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland begins eruptions that would last for three months, heavily disrupting air travel in Europe.
Eyjafjallajökull
2006
Over 150 Chadian soldiers are killed in eastern Chad by members of the rebel UFDC. The rebel movement sought to overthrow Chadian president Idriss Déby.
Chadian National Army
2003
Iraq War: The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland begin an invasion of Iraq.
Iraq War
2000
Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, a former Black Panther once known as H. Rap Brown, is captured after murdering Georgia sheriff's deputy Ricky Kinchen and critically wounding Deputy Aldranon English.
Black Panther Party
1900s
1999
Legoland California, the first Legoland outside of Europe, opens in Carlsbad, California, US.
Legoland California
1995
The Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo carries out a sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway, killing 14 and wounding over 6,200 people.
Aum Shinrikyo
1993
The Troubles: A Provisional IRA bomb kills two children in Warrington, England. It leads to mass protests in both Britain and Ireland.
The Troubles
1990
Ferdinand Marcos's widow, Imelda Marcos, goes on trial for bribery, embezzlement, and racketeering.
Ferdinand Marcos
1988
Eritrean War of Independence: Having defeated the Nadew Command, the Eritrean People's Liberation Front enters the town of Afabet, victoriously concluding the Battle of Afabet.
Eritrean War of Independence
1987
The Food and Drug Administration approves the anti-AIDS drug, AZT.
Food and Drug Administration
1985
Libby Riddles becomes the first woman to win the 1,135-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
Libby Riddles
1972
The Troubles: The first car bombing by the Provisional IRA in Belfast kills seven people and injures 148 others in Northern Ireland.
The Troubles
1969
A United Arab Airlines (now Egyptair) Ilyushin Il-18 crashes at Aswan International Airport, killing 100 people.
EgyptAir
1964
The precursor of the European Space Agency, ESRO (European Space Research Organisation) is established per an agreement signed on June 14, 1962.
European Space Agency
1956
Tunisia gains independence from France.
Tunisia
1952
The US Senate ratifies the Security Treaty between the United States and Japan.
Security Treaty between the United States and Japan
1951
Fujiyoshida, a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, in the center of the Japanese main island of Honshū is founded.
Fujiyoshida
1948
With a Musicians Union ban lifted, the first telecasts of classical music in the United States, under Eugene Ormandy and Arturo Toscanini, are given on CBS and NBC.
American Federation of Musicians
1942
World War II: General Douglas MacArthur, at Terowie, South Australia, makes his famous speech regarding the fall of the Philippines, in which he says: "I came out of Bataan and I shall return".
World War II
1933
Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler orders the creation of Dachau concentration camp as Chief of Police of Munich and appoints Theodor Eicke as the camp commandant.
Heinrich Himmler
1926
Chiang Kai-shek initiates a purge of communist elements within the National Revolutionary Army in Guangzhou.
Chiang Kai-shek
1923
The Arts Club of Chicago hosts the opening of Pablo Picasso's first United States showing, entitled Original Drawings by Pablo Picasso, becoming an early proponent of modern art in the United States.
Arts Club of Chicago
1922
The USS Langley is commissioned as the first United States Navy aircraft carrier.
USS Langley (CV-1)
1921
The Upper Silesia plebiscite, mandated by the Versailles Treaty to determine a section of the border between Weimar Germany and Poland, is held.
1921 Upper Silesia plebiscite
1916
Albert Einstein submits his paper, "The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity", which establishes his general theory of relativity, to the journal Annalen der Physik.
Albert Einstein
1914
In the Curragh incident, over 100 British Army officers threaten to resign if ordered to march against the Ulster Volunteers.
Curragh incident
1913
Sung Chiao-jen, a founder of the Chinese Nationalist Party, is wounded in an assassination attempt and dies 2 days later.
Song Jiaoren
1903
The first of a series of auctions of sheep farming land in southern Patagonia takes place impacting established settlers.
Patagonian sheep farming boom
1800s
1896
With the approval of Emperor Guangxu, the Qing dynasty post office is opened, marking the beginning of a postal service in China.
Guangxu Emperor
1890
Chancellor of the German Empire Otto von Bismarck is dismissed by Emperor Wilhelm II.
Otto von Bismarck
1888
The premiere of the very first Romani language operetta is staged in Moscow, Russia.
Romen Theatre
1883
The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property is signed.
Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property
1861
An earthquake destroys Mendoza, Argentina.
1861 Mendoza earthquake
1854
The Republican Party of the United States is organized in Ripon, Wisconsin, US.
Republican Party (United States)
1852
Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin is published.
Harriet Beecher Stowe
1848
German revolutions of 1848–49: King Ludwig I of Bavaria abdicates.
German revolutions of 1848–1849
1815
After escaping from Elba, Napoleon enters Paris with a regular army of 140,000 and a volunteer force of around 200,000, beginning his "Hundred Days" rule.
Elba
Before 1800
1760
The Great Boston Fire of 1760 destroys 349 buildings.
Great Boston Fire of 1760
1616
Sir Walter Raleigh is freed from the Tower of London after 13 years of imprisonment.
Walter Raleigh
1602
The Dutch East India Company is established.
Dutch East India Company
1600
The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden: five Swedish noblemen are publicly beheaded in the aftermath of the War against Sigismund (1598–1599).
Linköping Bloodbath
1206
Michael IV Autoreianos is appointed Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
Michael IV of Constantinople