In History, Today on December 11

The Sicilian city of Messina surrenders to the forces of Charles of Anjou, marking a significant moment in the War of the Sicilian Vespers.

The Mayflower Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in present-day Massachusetts, marking a significant event in the early colonization of North America.

King Louis XVI of France is put on trial for treason by the National Convention during the French Revolution.

Indiana is admitted as the 19th U.S. state.

King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom abdicates the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée.

Germany and Italy declare war on the United States during World War II, following the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is established to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II.

Apollo 17 becomes the sixth and final Apollo mission to land on the Moon, with astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt conducting lunar surface activities.

The First Chechen War began as Russian forces entered the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, leading to a prolonged and bloody conflict.

The People's Republic of China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) after 15 years of negotiations, marking a significant moment in global trade as China opened its markets to international competition.

Bernard Madoff was arrested and charged with securities fraud in a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of billions of dollars, one of the largest financial frauds in U.S. history.

The European Union and Croatia signed a treaty of accession, paving the way for Croatia to become the 28th member state of the EU, which it officially joined on July 1, 2013.

An attempted terrorist attack occurred in New York City when a pipe bomb partially detonated in the New York City Subway, injuring four people including the perpetrator.

A volcanic eruption occurred on White Island (Whakaari) in New Zealand, resulting in 22 deaths and multiple injuries among tourists and guides who were on the island at the time.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, marking a significant milestone in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.