What is December 21?
{{calendar}} {{day}} ==Events== === Up to 1900 === *[[69]] &ndash; [[Vespasian]] becomes the fourth [[Roman Emperor]] in the [[Year of the four emperors]]. *[[640]] &ndash; [[Islam|Muslim]] [[Arab]]s capture the [[Babylon]]ian fortress in the [[Nile]] [[Delta]] after a seven–month [[siege]]. *[[1124]] &ndash; [[Pope Honorius II]] is elected. *[[1361]] &ndash; The [[Battle of Linuesa]] is fought during the [[Spanish Reconquista]] between forces of the [[Emirate]] of [[Granada]] and the combined [[army]] of the [[Kingdom]]s of [[Castile]] and [[Jaen]], resulting in a Castilian victory. *[[1471]] &ndash; The first European reaches the island of [[Sao Tome]] in the [[Gulf of Guinea]]. *[[1598]] &ndash; [[Battle of Curalaba]]: The revolting [[Mapuche]], led by [[Cacique Pelentaru]], inflict a major defeat on the Spanish troops in Southern [[Chile]]. *[[1620]] &ndash; The [[Pilgrims]] land on what is now known as [[Plymouth Rock]] *[[1780]] &ndash; [[Great Britain]] declares war on [[The Netherlands]] in response to the Dutch joining the [[League of Armed Neutrality]] and for assisting [[France|French]] and [[United States|American]] forces during the [[American Revolution]]. *[[1832]] &ndash; [[Egyptian-Ottoman War]]: Egyptian forces decisively defeat [[Ottoman Empire]] troops in the [[Battle of Konya]] in present–day [[Turkey]]. *[[1859]] &ndash; [[Sam Houston]] becomes [[Governor]] of [[Texas]]. *[[1861]] &ndash; The [[Medal of Honor]] is first authorized. *[[1861]] &ndash; [[Lord Lyons]], the [[United Kingdom|British]] minister to the [[United States]], meets with [[United States Secretary of State]] [[William Seward]] concerning [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] envoys arrested by the [[United States Navy]] in order to prevent war between the United States and the [[United Kingdom]]. *[[1872]] &ndash; HMS ''[[Challenger expedition|Challenger]]'' sails from [[Portsmouth]] on the 4 year scientific expedition that would lay the foundation for the science of [[oceanography]]. *[[1879]] &ndash; The first