Do you know that one day in the calendar can cover the discoveries of a new continent, revolutions that have changed the course of history, and the birth of people whose works have survived centuries? If you are wondering what happened that day in history, on April 17, it provides answers that may surprise even dry lovers of the past. This day in history turns out to be extremely rich – from medieval battles through space missions to breakthroughs in world politics. We invite you to read our history calendar on April 17.
What happened on April 17? Major events in history
1492 – Christopher Columbus signed with the monarchs of Castile
On that day in 1492 Christopher Columbus signed a groundbreaking agreement with Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II. Under her power, the explorer was to become an hereditary admiral of newly discovered lands and governor of the crown in those areas. It was this agreement that opened the door to one of the most pregnant in human history – Columbus's first journey to America. Without this signature history Both continents would have been completely different.
1521 – Marcin Luther faces the Reich Parliament in Wormia
In 1521, Marcin Luther, equipped with an iron letter guaranteeing his safety, arrived in Wormia for the session of the Reich's Sejm. He was summoned there for one purpose – he was to officially cancel his teachings, which shook the foundations of the Catholic Church. Luther refused by saying words that went into history. This moment is considered to be one of the key points of the Reformation, a religious movement that has forever changed the face of Europe.
1794 – Warsaw Inspection of Jan Kiliński
When most Poles think about the insurrection of Kościuszko, Tadeusz Kościuszko comes to mind and the battle of Racławice. Meanwhile, on 17 April 1794, another equally dramatic link of this revolt broke out – Warsaw's insurrection led by Jan Kiliński, a shoemaker who became a symbol of the patriotism of bourgeoisy. Warsaw was created against the Russian occupation, and the fight was taken by ordinary citizens of the city. This is one of those moments in Poland's history, which shows that revolutions were born not only in salons but on the cobbled streets of the capital.
1864 – Prime Minister of Ford Mustang in New York City
The automotive world has its sacred dates, and on April 17, 1964, it is one of them. In New York, the official premiere of Ford Mustang was held – a car that changed not only the automotive market but also pop culture. Mustang became a symbol of freedom, rebellion and American dream. To this day it is one of the most recognizable cars in the world, and its debut is mentioned by automotive enthusiasts as an unprecedented event. Interestingly, the same day the legendary Shea Stadium was opened in New York City.
1917 – Lenin presents April thesis in Piotrogrodzie
One document, several points and history changed forever. On 17 April 1917 Włodzimierz Lenin, upon his arrival at Peter's Garden, presented his famous April thesis. This document called for the immediate overthrow of the interim government and the taking over of power by the labor councils. Historians agree: this is the moment to be considered as the announcement of the October Revolution, which soon shuffled the political order of half the world and gave birth to the Soviet Union.
1924 – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer label is established
Hollywood Without MGM, it's hard to imagine. On April 17, 1924, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, a film label, was founded, setting standards for cinema throughout the globe for decades to come. It was the MGM that was behind such productions as "The Gone With the Wind" or "The Wizard of Oz". The lion's roar that opens the label's films became one of the most recognizable symbols of pop culture in history. This day in history The cinematography was recorded with gold notes.
1970 – Apollo 13 crew returns safely to Earth
"Houston, we have a problem" – those words said a few days earlier have all over the world. On April 17, 1970, an Apollo 13 mission pod with three astronauts aboard safely launched in the Pacific after one of the most dramatic space missions in NASA history. The explosion of the oxygen tank prevented landing on the Moon, but engineers and astronauts made the impossible – three people's lives saved were considered a triumph of human ingenuity. This historical calendar couldn't have missed this thrilling return.
1989 – The court re-records the NSZZ "Solidarity"
After almost a decade of illegalization, on 17 April 1989 the Provincial Court in Warsaw re-registered NSZZ "Solidarity". This was one of the direct consequences of the Round Table and a signal that communist power in Poland was coming down. This event opened the way for partially free June elections, which started the collapse of the communist system not only in Poland, but throughout Central and Eastern Europe.
2014 – NASA Announces Discovery of Planet Kepler-186f
Are we alone in the universe? That question has fascinated humanity for centuries. On April 17, 2014, NASA announced the discovery of Kepler-186f, the first planet of magnitude Earth in the ecosphere of its star, or in a zone where liquid water is possible. The discovery electrified the scientific community and rekindled the debate on the possibility of living outside the Earth. What happened that day in astronomy will go to the annals of science as one of the most important moments of the 21st century.
Born 17 April
Christopher Columbus (1451, however the agreement of 1492 – see above)
John Pierpont Morgan (1837) – An American financier and entrepreneur, one of the most powerful bankers in the history of the United States, who shaped the economy of the entire country with his wealth and influence at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Karen Blixen (1885) – Danish writer, author of the famous novel "Goodbye to Africa", who described her life on a Kenyan farm and became the basis of an Oscar-winning film with Meryl Streep in the lead role.
William Holden (1918) – one of the biggest Hollywood actors of the golden era, Oscar-winning for his role in the film "Stalag 17′′, also known for productions such as "Bulwar of the Sunset" and "Network".
Victoria Beckham (1974) – British singer, for years a member of the cult band Spice Girls, and then a valued fashion designer whose clothing brand gained recognition worldwide.
Sean Bean (1959) – British actor film and television, recognisable primarily as Boromir in the trilogy "Lord of the Rings" and Ned Stark in the series "Game of Thrones", he was also famous for the fact that his characters exceptionally often die on screen.
World events
1521 – Luther in Worma – Marcin Luther came to the session of the Reich parliament, where he refused to cancel his teachings, thus becoming a symbol of the Reformation.
1790 – Death Benjamin Franklin – One of the founding fathers of the United States, scholar, diplomat and inventor, Benjamin Franklin, ended his life in Philadelphia at the age of 84.
1924 – Founding of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer – One of the most famous film labels in the world was created, which for decades defined the face of Hollywood cinema.
1961 – Invasion in Bay of Pigs "CIA-supported Cuban refugees have made an unsuccessful attempt to invade Cuba, which ended in the disgrace of President Kennedy's administration.
1970 – Return of Apollo 13 crew – After a dramatic failure in space, three astronauts safely watered in the Pacific and the whole world breathed relief after a few days of tension.
April 17 is a day that proves that history does not know boredom – from revolution and geographical discoveries, through the birth of cultural stars, to triumphs of science and political drama. It's a historical calendar. It's just a clipping of what happened that day for centuries all over the world. Come back to us tomorrow – 18 April history also has a lot to say.
