Hundreds of the Knights Templar in France are arrested at dawn by King Philip the Fair, and later confess under torture to heresy.

The Knights Templar, officially known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, were a medieval Christian military order founded in 1119. Their mission was to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land during the Crusades, as well as to defend Jerusalem after its capture by Christian forces. Over time, they evolved into one of the most powerful and wealthy organizations in medieval Europe, with influence extending beyond military affairs to include financial and political power.

Founding and Early Mission

The Knights Templar were founded by Hugues de Payens, a French knight, alongside eight companions. They were given the task of safeguarding Christian pilgrims on dangerous routes leading to Jerusalem. Their name comes from their headquarters, located near the site of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem.

Military Role in the Crusades

The Knights Templar were a formidable military force, participating in many major battles of the Crusades. They were highly trained, disciplined, and wore distinctive white mantles with a red cross. The Templars became known for their courage and fighting skills, often serving as the front-line troops in battle. They established castles and fortresses across the Holy Land.

Wealth and Influence

Over time, the order gained immense wealth, largely through donations from European nobles and monarchs. The Templars developed a network of land holdings, businesses, and banking systems, which allowed them to finance military campaigns and offer financial services such as loans and letters of credit—making them one of the earliest forms of a multinational financial organization. They also controlled many key trade routes between Europe and the Middle East.

Banking and Financial Power

One of the most significant aspects of the Templar legacy was their role in banking. Pilgrims and nobles could deposit money in Templar houses in one location and withdraw funds at another, safeguarding wealth across regions. This system laid some of the groundwork for modern banking.

Downfall

The Knights Templar’s immense power eventually made them enemies. In particular, King Philip IV of France, deeply indebted to the Templars, sought to disband the order and seize its wealth. In 1307, Philip ordered the arrest of many Templar members on charges of heresy, witchcraft, and other accusations, though many of these were likely politically motivated and fabricated. Under torture, some confessed to these crimes.

The Pope, under pressure from Philip, issued an order to dissolve the Templar order in 1312. The last Grand Master of the Templars, Jacques de Molay, was burned at the stake in 1314, marking the official end of the order.

Legacy and Mystique

The end of the Knights Templar did not diminish their legacy. Over the centuries, they became the subject of many myths and legends, including claims of hidden treasure, secret knowledge, and a continuing influence in various secret societies like the Freemasons. They are often portrayed in popular culture as mysterious and powerful figures, despite their historical extinction as an official order.

Their combination of religious devotion, military prowess, and financial acumen, along with their dramatic downfall, has continued to fascinate historians and the public alike.

President Theodore Roosevelt officially renames the “Executive Mansion” to the White House.

The White House is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States. It’s one of the most iconic buildings in the country and serves as a symbol of the U.S. government.

Location
The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. It’s situated at the heart of the nation’s capital and is surrounded by other important government buildings and landmarks.

History
The White House was designed by James Hoban, an Irish-born architect, and its construction began in 1792. The building was completed in 1800, during the presidency of John Adams, who became the first president to live there.
The structure has gone through several renovations and restorations. Notably, it was set on fire by British forces during the War of 1812, and major reconstruction was required.

Architecture
The White House is built in the neoclassical architectural style, which was popular at the time. It has a prominent portico and is made of white-painted sandstone, giving it its characteristic look.
The building consists of six stories, including two basements. It houses both living quarters for the president’s family and rooms used for official business and ceremonial events.

Role and Functions
The White House is both a residential and working space. The West Wing of the White House is where the president’s offices are located, including the famous Oval Office.
The East Wing is primarily used for events and includes the offices of the First Lady and social events staff. It also contains the White House Visitor Center, where public tours are coordinated.

Public Access
While the White House is a working government building, parts of it are open to the public through scheduled tours. These tours allow people to visit historic rooms like the East Room, the State Dining Room, and the Blue Room.

Cultural Significance
Beyond its role as the residence of the sitting president, the White House is a symbol of the U.S. presidency and democracy. It is the backdrop for many important state functions, meetings with foreign leaders, and national addresses.

Hundreds of black men and women march in Jamaica, starting the Morant Bay rebellion.

The Morant Bay Rebellion was a pivotal event in Jamaican and British colonial history. It took place in October 1865 in the town of Morant Bay, located on the southeastern coast of Jamaica. The rebellion was a response to severe social, economic, and racial inequalities faced by the Jamaican population, particularly the Black peasants and freed slaves, who suffered under oppressive colonial rule.
The Morant Bay Rebellion is remembered as a critical moment in Jamaica’s history. It exposed the harsh realities of post-emancipation life for Black Jamaicans and contributed to changes in the way the British governed their colonies. It also laid the groundwork for future movements advocating for political and social justice in Jamaica.

Paul Bogle’s legacy, along with that of George William Gordon, resonates in Jamaica as figures who fought for justice and equality, and their memory continues to be celebrated, particularly in Jamaica’s National Heroes Day.

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson triggers the explosion of the Gamboa Dike, completing major construction on the Panama Canal.

The Panama Canal is a man-made waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean (via the Caribbean Sea) to the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the most important engineering projects in human history, significantly shortening the maritime route for ships that previously had to sail around the southern tip of South America, Cape Horn.

The Collegiate School of Connecticut (later renamed Yale University) is chartered in Old Saybrook.

The Collegiate School of Connecticut was the original name of Yale University when it was founded in 1701. It started as a small, Puritan institution established to train ministers and political leaders for the colony of Connecticut. The school’s early mission was to provide a place where young men could receive a religious education and classical training, especially in Latin, Greek, and theology.
Founding Year: 1701
Location: Initially, the Collegiate School did not have a permanent location and moved between various towns in Connecticut. In 1716, the school settled in New Haven, where it remains today.
Purpose: The school was created largely by Congregationalist ministers who wanted an institution that would preserve European (particularly Puritan) intellectual traditions and educate future religious and political leaders.
Name Change: In 1718, the school was renamed Yale College after Elihu Yale, a British merchant and philanthropist, made a large donation to the institution.

Stephenson’s Rocket wins the Rainhill Trials.

Stephenson’s Rocket was one of the most famous early steam locomotives, designed by George Stephenson and his son Robert Stephenson in 1829. It became iconic due to its groundbreaking performance in the Rainhill Trials, a competition held to determine the best locomotive design for the new Liverpool and Manchester Railway. The Rocket’s success marked a pivotal moment in the development of railway technology, contributing to the rapid expansion of rail transport during the Industrial Revolution.

The Rocket wasn’t the first locomotive, but its efficient and reliable design made it the most successful early model. It demonstrated that steam-powered locomotives could be a practical mode of transportation, leading to the rapid development of railroads worldwide. The Rocket is often credited with helping to ignite the railway revolution of the 19th century, which in turn contributed significantly to the Industrial Revolution and modern transportation.

While the Rocket itself quickly became outdated as more advanced locomotives were developed, it remains a symbol of the dawn of the railway age. Today, replicas and the original Rocket are displayed in museums as a testament to its historic role in transforming transportation.

Mother Teresa establishes the Missionaries of Charity.

Mother Teresa (born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, then part of the Ottoman Empire) was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary. She is most widely known for her profound humanitarian work, especially with the poor, sick, and dying in the slums of Calcutta (now Kolkata), India. Her work transcended religious, cultural, and national boundaries, making her one of the most admired and celebrated humanitarians of the 20th century.

The execution of the 13 Martyrs of Arad after the Hungarian war of independence.

The Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was part of a series of European uprisings advocating for national independence, liberal reforms, and civil rights. In Hungary, it was initially sparked by the desire for self-governance and a constitution separate from the Austrian Empire. The revolution soon turned into a war of independence, as Hungarian forces fought against Austrian and later Russian troops (called in by the Habsburgs) from March 1848 to August 1849.

When the Hungarian forces were ultimately defeated, largely due to Russian intervention, the Austrians sought to make an example of the leaders of the rebellion. The 13 military leaders who were executed in Arad were prominent figures in the Hungarian army, and their deaths became a symbol of martyrdom and Hungarian resistance to foreign rule.

The 13 men who were executed were:

Lajos Aulich (General)
János Damjanich (General)
Aristid Dessewffy (Colonel)
Ern? Kiss (General)
Károly Knezich (General)
György Lahner (General)
Vilmos Lázár (Colonel)
Károly Leiningen-Westerburg (General)
József Nagysándor (General)
Ern? Poeltenberg (General)
József Schweidel (General)
Ignác Török (General)
Péter Vecsey (General)

The first of the James Bond film series, based on the novels by Ian Fleming, Dr. No, is released in Britain.

James Bond is a fictional British secret agent created by author Ian Fleming in 1953. Bond, also known by his code number 007, works for MI6, the British Secret Intelligence Service. He became one of the most famous characters in literature and cinema due to his exciting adventures, sophisticated persona, and signature style.

WikiLeaks is launched.

WikiLeaks is a non-profit organization that publishes classified, censored, or otherwise restricted material from anonymous sources. It was founded in 2006 by Julian Assange, an Australian activist and journalist. The goal of WikiLeaks is to promote transparency by revealing information related to government, corporate, or institutional misconduct, believing that the public has a right to know these secrets.