ON THIS DAY

EVENTS FROM THIS DAY IN HISTORY VISUALISED BY AI

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NOVEMBER 17

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In one of medieval England’s darkest episodes, authorities arrested 680 Jews on charges of coin clipping—accused of tampering with royal currency. Of those, 293 were hanged. Whether guilty or scapegoated, the mass execution reflected the deep-rooted anti-Semitism of the time. It marked a chilling prelude to the eventual expulsion of Jews from England, underscoring how politics, finance, and prejudice could violently converge.

medieval London street, 1278, dusk light filtering through timber-framed buildings

1278 – 680 Jews Arrested in England, 293 Hanged for Alleged Coin Clipping

stone interior of a 13th-century hall with flickering torchlight illuminating somber faces

silent city square at dawn, fog drifting between buildings, townspeople in cloaks whispering among

On November 17th, the Suez Canal officially opened, creating a direct maritime link between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. The engineering marvel slashed travel time between Europe and Asia, altering global trade forever. Egypt became a strategic focal point for empires, while the canal itself emerged as a symbol of both technological achievement and colonial ambition.

sunrise over the northeastern Egyptian coast, engineers and Egyptian workers setting up flags

1869 – Suez Canal in Egypt Opens, Linking Two Seas and Changing the World

grand procession of ships led by the French imperial yacht, gliding slowly through the canal

evening along the canal, oil lanterns reflecting in the still waters, workers seated by campfires

This day marked the official unification of Buda, Pest, and Óbuda into a single city: Budapest. Strategically located along the Danube River, the new capital of Hungary quickly grew into a thriving cultural and political hub. The merger transformed two historical rivals into one of Europe’s great cities, known for its stunning architecture, thermal baths, and vibrant intellectual life.

midday over the Chain Bridge connecting Buda and Pest, 19th-century Hungarian officials in formal

1873 – Rival Cities of Buda & Pest Unite to Form the Capital of Hungary

bustling square in Pest decorated with red and white banners, brass musicians playing

panoramic view of the Danube at sunset, rooftops of Buda and Pest glowing orange and gold

During the second round of a prizefight, boxing legend John L. Sullivan was arrested by police for what they deemed "cruelty." At the time, bare-knuckle boxing existed in legal gray areas. This bizarre interruption added to Sullivan’s mythos as a rebellious figure in sports history and highlighted ongoing tensions between public entertainment, law enforcement, and shifting moral standards of the era.

underground 1880s boxing ring crowded with rowdy spectators in waistcoats and bowler hats, cigar smo

1884 – Cops Arrest Boxer John L. Sullivan Mid-Fight for Being “Cruel”

second round of the bout underway, Sullivan mid-swing in bare-knuckle stance, police officers pushin

cold back alley behind the venue, Sullivan in wrist restraints, coat draped over his shoulders

On November 17th, Sultan Mehmed VI boarded a British warship and left Istanbul for exile in Malta, officially ending over 600 years of Ottoman rule. The caliphate was abolished soon after. His departure marked the collapse of an empire that had once stretched across three continents, and it cleared the way for the birth of modern secular Turkey under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.