Today:
1066 – William the Conqueror’s fleet sails from the mouth of the Somme, beginning the Norman Conquest of England.
1540 – The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) is formally established by Pope Paul III.
1590 – Pope Urban VII dies 13 days after being chosen as Pope, the shortest papal reign in history.
1777 – Lancaster, Pennsylvania, becomes the capital of the United States for one day after Philadelphia falls to British forces.
1821 – The Mexican War of Independence ends, with Spain finally recognizing Mexico’s independence.
1905 – The physics journal *Annalen der Physik* publishes Albert Einstein’s paper introducing the equation E=mc².
1937 – The first Santa Claus training school opens in Albion, New York.
1940 – Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan sign the Tripartite Pact, forming the Axis powers of World War II.
1968 – The musical *Hair* opens in London, England, after its success on Broadway.
1996 – The Taliban capture Kabul, establishing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.