11 November 1188

A Friday in history

Weekday

Friday

Season

Autumn (N. Hemisphere)

Century

12th century

Records

415

  1. 2008

    After 30 years in power, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was succeeded by Mohamed Nasheed as president of the Maldives.

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  2. 1999

    The House of Lords Act was given royal assent, removing most hereditary peers from the British House of Lords.

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  3. 1975

    During a constitutional crisis, Governor-General Sir John Kerr (pictured) dismissed Prime Minister Gough Whitlam's government and dissolved the Parliament of Australia for a double-dissolution election.

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  4. 1965

    Rhodesia, led by Prime Minister Ian Smith (pictured), unilaterally declared independence from the United Kingdom.

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  5. 1960

    A coup attempt by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam against President Ngô Đình Diệm was crushed after he falsely promised reform, allowing loyalists to rescue him.

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  6. 1940

    Second World War: The Royal Navy launched the first all-aircraft ship-to-ship naval attack in history against the Italians in the Battle of Taranto.

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  7. 1934

    The Shrine of Remembrance (pictured), a memorial to all Australians who have served in war, opened in Melbourne.

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  8. 1926

    The plan for the United States Numbered Highway System was approved by the American Association of State Highway Officials.

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  9. 1920

    In London, the Cenotaph was unveiled and the Unknown Warrior was buried in Westminster Abbey in remembrance of the First World War.

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  10. 1918

    The armistice between the German Empire and the Allies was signed in a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiègne of France (signatories pictured).

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  11. 1918

    Józef Piłsudski, appointed the commander-in-chief of Polish forces by the Regency Council, was entrusted with the creation of a national government for the newly independent Poland.

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  12. 1880

    Australian bushranger and outlaw Ned Kelly was hanged in Melbourne, in spite of sympathizers holding rallies for his reprieve.

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  13. 1813

    War of 1812: British–Canadian forces repelled an American attack at the Battle of Crysler's Farm, forcing the United States to give up their attempt to capture Montreal.

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  14. 1805

    War of the Third Coalition: French, Austrian and Russian units suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Dürenstein.

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  15. 1778

    American Revolutionary War: British forces and their Iroquois allies attacked a fort and the village of Cherry Valley, New York, killing 14 soldiers and 30 civilians.

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Photo archive

24 historic images from this day — tap to open the gallery.

What was life like?

Prices, jobs, food, music and everyday routine — the world as it felt to live in.

Sources & fact check

Every claim is traced to primary sources, archives, universities and the press — with an explicit confidence rating. Dossiers are generated once and cached permanently.