5 November 1492

A Saturday in history

Weekday

Saturday

Season

Autumn (N. Hemisphere)

Century

15th century

Records

394

  1. 2013

    The Indian Space Research Organisation launched the Mars Orbiter Mission, India's first interplanetary probe.

    Source
  2. 2009

    U.S. Army major Nidal Hasan went on a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, the worst shooting ever to take place on an American military base, killing 13.

    Source
  3. 2003

    American serial killer Gary Ridgway pleaded guilty to 48 counts of first-degree murder.

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  4. 1995

    Aline Chrétien (pictured) thwarted André Dallaire's attempt to assassinate her husband, Canadian prime minister Jean Chrétien, by locking the bedroom door in 24 Sussex Drive, their official residence in Ottawa.

    Source
  5. 1990

    Israeli ultra-nationalist rabbi Meir Kahane (pictured) was assassinated in a New York City hotel by an Arab gunman.

    Source
  6. 1952

    An earthquake struck the Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering a major tsunami that affected the Kuril Islands and other parts of the Pacific Ocean.

    Source
  7. 1950

    Korean War: The 27th British Commonwealth Brigade succeeded in preventing a Chinese breakthrough at the Battle of Pakchon.

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  8. 1944

    World War II: Allied forces began a military campaign on Japanese-occupied Singapore.

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  9. 1943

    World War II: An unknown aircraft dropped four bombs on Vatican City, which maintained neutrality during the war.

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  10. 1916

    An armed confrontation in Everett, Washington, between local authorities and members of the Industrial Workers of the World resulted in seven deaths.

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  11. 1854

    Crimean War: Despite being severely outnumbered, and fighting in heavy foggy conditions, the allied armies of the United Kingdom and France defeated the Russians in present-day Inkerman, Ukraine.

    Source
  12. 1757

    Seven Years' War: Prussian forces led by Frederick the Great defeated the allied French and Habsburg armies at the Battle of Rossbach.

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  13. 1605

    The arrest of Guy Fawkes, found during a search of the Palace of Westminster, foiled the Gunpowder Plot, which planned to blow up the House of Lords.

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  14. 1556

    At the Second Battle of Panipat, forces of the Mughal emperor Akbar captured Hemu, the Hindu emperor of north India.

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  15. 1138

    Lý Anh Tông was enthroned as the emperor of Đại Việt at the age of two, beginning a 37-year reign.

    Source

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.