27 October 1284

The Mocking of Christ (pictured) by Cimabue sold at auction in France for €19.5 million, a record for a pre-1500 artwork.

Michael D. Higgins (pictured) was elected President of Ireland with far more votes than any politician in the country's history.

The Boston Red Sox completed a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals to win the 2004 World Series, breaking the so-called "Curse of the Bambino".

Armed men led by Nairi Hunanyan carried out a mass shooting at the Armenian parliament, killing Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan (pictured), National Assembly speaker Karen Demirchyan, and six others.

Widerøe Flight 744 suffered a controlled flight into terrain while on approach to Namsos Airport, Norway, killing two crew members and four passengers.

The Chun Doo-hwan government arrested 153 people related to the Jogye Order, which is considered an abuse of state power.

American Catholic priest Philip Berrigan led a protest against the Vietnam War by pouring blood over Selective Service records in Baltimore, Maryland.

Actor Ronald Reagan delivered a speech on behalf of Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, launching his own political career, which culminated in him serving two full terms as U.S. president.

The Empire of Japan achieved a pyrrhic victory against the United States at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands.

World War I: The Royal Navy dreadnought HMS Audacious was sunk by a mine, but its loss was kept secret for four years.

The first underground segment of the New York City Subway opened, connecting New York City Hall (station pictured) with Harlem.

King George III expanded on his Proclamation of Rebellion in the Thirteen Colonies in his speech from the throne at the opening of Parliament.

J. S. Bach led the first performance of Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen, BWV 56, one of few works he called a cantata.

Franco-Dutch War: French forces surrender the fortress town of Grave to the Dutch army after a three month siege.

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant founder and leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi kills himself and three children by detonating a suicide vest during the U.S. military Barisha raid in northwestern Syria.

A gunman opens fire on a Pittsburgh synagogue killing eleven and injuring six, including four police officers.

Leicester City F.C. owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha dies in a helicopter crash along with four others after a Premier League match against West Ham United at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, England.

Catalonia declares independence from Spain.

Britain withdraws from Afghanistan at the end of Operation Herrick, after 12 years four months and seven days.

Gunmen open fire in the Armenian Parliament, killing the Prime Minister and seven others.

The 1997 Asian financial crisis causes a crash in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Widerøe Flight 744 crashes in Overhalla Municipality, Norway, killing six people.

United States Navy radioman Allen R. Schindler, Jr. is murdered by shipmate Terry M. Helvey for being gay, precipitating debate about gays in the military that results in the United States' "Don't ask, don't tell" military policy.

Turkmenistan achieves independence from the Soviet Union.