In History, Today on October 10

A military plane crash in Irkutsk, Russia, killed both pilots. The plane was reportedly on a test flight before the accident.

Armenia and Azerbaijan agree to a ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict after weeks of fighting, though violations continue.

The Nobel Prize in Literature for the year 2018 was awarded to Polish author Olga Tokarczuk, while the award for the year 2019 went to Austrian author Peter Handke.

Hurricane Michael makes landfall in the Florida Panhandle as a Category 5 hurricane, causing widespread destruction and becoming the strongest storm to hit the continental U.S. since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

Hurricane Ophelia forms in the Atlantic Ocean, eventually becoming the easternmost major hurricane on record in the Atlantic basin.

Two suicide bombings occur at a peace rally in Ankara, Turkey, killing over 100 people and injuring more than 400, marking one of the deadliest attacks in Turkey's history.

The Netherlands Antilles is dissolved as a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, resulting in Curaçao and Sint Maarten becoming constituent countries, while Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba become special municipalities of the Netherlands.

Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) reach an agreement to form a grand coalition government in Germany, paving the way for Merkel to become the first female Chancellor of Germany.

Congress of the United States passes a resolution authorizing President George W. Bush to use military force against Iraq.

U.S. President George W. Bush presents a list of 22 most wanted terrorists, including Osama bin Laden, as part of the War on Terror following the September 11 attacks.

The Treaty of Amsterdam is signed, amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaties establishing the European Communities.

The Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany comes into effect, leading to the reunification of Germany.

U.S. Navy F-14 fighter jets intercept an Egyptian plane carrying the hijackers of the Achille Lauro cruise ship and force it to land at a NATO base in Sicily, leading to their arrest.

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the El Asnam region of Algeria, resulting in significant casualties and damage.

The Vice President of the United States, Spiro Agnew, resigns after being charged with tax evasion following investigations of political corruption throughout his career. This resignation marks the first time a U.S. Vice President leaves office due to criminal charges.

The London Bridge, which was dismantled and sold to an American entrepreneur, is officially re-opened in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. This event is emblematic of the quirky transfer of historical artifacts between continents.

The Fiji Independence Act 1970 is enacted, granting Fiji independence from the United Kingdom.

The 1964 Summer Olympics open in Tokyo, Japan, marking the first time the Olympic Games are held in Asia. These games are notable for being broadcast live via satellite, sending real-time images across the world.

The Partial Test Ban Treaty, which prohibits all test detonations of nuclear weapons except for those conducted underground, comes into effect after being signed on August 5, 1963. This marked a significant step towards nuclear disarmament during the Cold War era.

The Holocaust: 800 Romani children were murdered at the Auschwitz concentration camp.

A United Airlines Boeing 247 is destroyed by sabotage, the first proven case of air sabotage in commercial aviation history.

Chiang Kai-shek became Chairman of the National Government of the Republic of China.

The Xinhai Revolution begins in China with the Wuchang Uprising, leading to the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China.

The Second Boer War began, marking the start of hostilities between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics of the South African Republic and the Orange Free State.

Following the Nez Perce War, Chief Joseph and his people were captured at Bear Paw Mountain, ending their flight towards Canada.

The Treaty of Bosque Redondo was signed, marking the relocation of the Navajo people back to their traditional lands after years of forced displacement by the U.S. government.

The United States Naval Academy opens in Annapolis, Maryland, with 50 midshipmen students and seven professors.

Russian General Alexander Suvorov leads his troops to victory in the battle against Polish forces at the Battle of Maciejowice during the Kościuszko Uprising.

The Battle of Cape Breton begins during the American Revolutionary War. British forces aim to capture supplies from French and American forces at Cape Breton Island.

The Great Hurricane of 1780, the deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record, makes landfall in the Caribbean, causing widespread destruction and loss of life.

Due to the introduction of the Gregorian calendar, the day does not exist in Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain as the calendar shifts directly from October 4 to October 15.

Overbury's trial: Galileo Galilei presents his lecture on the "Hydrostatic Balance," marking one of his early efforts to revolutionize scientific thought.

Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor, grants the Postmaster General office to the Taxis family, making the Thurn und Taxis post one of the first modern postal services.

The Battle of Visby is concluded with Danish forces capturing Gotland after defeating the troops of the Swedish King Magnus Eriksson.

The 1138 Aleppo earthquake struck the region around the city of Aleppo in northern Syria. It was one of the deadliest earthquakes in history, with an estimated magnitude of 8.5, causing widespread destruction and significant casualties.

The Battle of Tours, also known as the Battle of Poitiers, took place, where Frankish leader Charles Martel defeated an invading Muslim army, halting the northward advance of Islam from the Iberian Peninsula.

The Battle of Karbala occurred, a pivotal event in early Islamic history where Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was killed along with his supporters by the forces of the Umayyad caliph Yazid I.