Today:
451 – The Council of Chalcedon, the fourth ecumenical council of the Christian Church, begins.
1075 – Dmitar Zvonimir is crowned King of Croatia.
1480 – The Great Stand on the Ugra River occurs, marking the end of the Tatar-Mongol yoke in Russia.
1600 – San Marino adopts its written constitution, still in effect today.
1813 – The Treaty of Ried is signed between Bavaria and Austria, switching Bavaria’s allegiance to the Sixth Coalition during the Napoleonic Wars.
1871 – The Great Chicago Fire begins, destroying much of the city.
1918 – Corporal Alvin C. York leads an attack during World War I that earns him the Medal of Honor.
1939 – Germany annexes western Poland after the defeat of Polish forces in World War II.
1956 – New York Yankees’ pitcher Don Larsen throws the only perfect game in a World Series.
2001 – U.S. President George W. Bush announces the establishment of the Office of Homeland Security following the 9/11 attacks.