Caesar defeats Pompey's lieutenants at Ilerda in Spain (49 BC), and Pakistan is readmitted to the Commonwealth of Nations (1989). Born on this day: J.D. Vance, Shimon Peres and Peter O’Toole. Died: Alexander Graham Bell, Warren G. Harding and Paul von Hindenburg.
28 events, 58 births and 54 deaths on this date.
Julius Caesar, who had marched into Spain while Marcus Antonius held Italy, beat two commanders loyal to his rival Pompey at Ilerda, now Lleida, north of the Ebro. The battle came during the civil war that began with his crossing of the Rubicon.
Ángel M. Felicísimo from Mérida, España · Public domainCleopatraHear the story in ChunksPakistan rejoined the Commonwealth after returning to democratic rule, its first elected government since 1972. The country had been suspended during military rule, and its return marked a formal recognition of civilian government.
Caesar beat Pharnaces II, the ruler of Pontus, at Zela, a battle fought while he was still engaged in his civil war against Pompey's supporters. The win showed he could still secure decisive victories far from Rome, even as his rivals regrouped.
Ángel M. Felicísimo from Mérida, España · Public domain
A blast sank the Italian battleship Leonardo da Vinci, and the blame fell on saboteurs from Austria-Hungary, Italy's enemy in the First World War. Losing a modern battleship hurt the Italian navy during the war.
Vice president Calvin Coolidge, a taciturn New Englander, moved into the White House after Warren Harding died suddenly. He went on to lead the country through the Roaring Twenties and was nicknamed Silent Cal.
Harris & Ewing · Public domain
Toledo had often defied Córdoba, so its surrender after a long blockade was a notable win for Abd al-Rahman III. It strengthened his drive to bring the central highlands under Umayyad control.
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Vance wrote the 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy, about growing up in a turbulent, low-income Ohio family, which drew wide attention and became a 2020 film. He later served as a Republican senator for Ohio and, from 2025, as the country's second-in-command under Donald Trump.
Emily J. Higgins · Public domain
Born Szymon Perski, Peres became one of Israel's longest-serving politicians, twice prime minister and later president. When he left politics in 2014 he was the world's oldest serving head of state.
Avi Ohayon · CC BY-SA 3.0
Remembered for playing T. E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, this actor was also known for a wild off-stage reputation. He earned many Best Actor nominations without ever winning, then received an honorary Oscar in 2002.
ABC TV · Public domain
Alexander Graham Bell won the first US patent for a practical telephone in 1876. He also helped found AT&T in 1885 and, as second president of the National Geographic Society, shaped its magazine.
Moffett Studio · Public domain
Harding was the 29th US president and died in office, partway through his term. Popular when he died, his reputation was later badly damaged by a run of scandals that came to light afterwards.
Copyright by Moffett, Chicago. J241772 U.S. Copyright Office. · Public domain
Former field marshal and German president, Hindenburg died at his estate in East Prussia. He is remembered for winning the Battle of Tannenberg in 1914 and, in 1933, appointing Adolf Hitler as chancellor.
Unknown author. · CC BY-SA 3.0 de
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