On December 31, history records 51 notable events, 215 famous births and 114 deaths, spanning the years 406 to 1757.
Events on this day include: Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gaul. (406); Byzantine general Belisarius completes the conquest of Sicily, defeating the Gothic garrison of Palermo (Panormos), and ending his consulship for the year. (535).
Notable people born on December 31 include Muhammad bin Qasim (695), Pope Callixtus III (1378), Jacques Cartier (1491).
Notable figures who died on this day include Commodus (192), Pope Sylvester I (335), Li Shiji (669).
Events on 31 December 51
See all →Byzantine general Belisarius completes the conquest of Sicily, defeating the Gothic garrison of Palermo (Panormos), and ending his consulship for the year.
Battle of Englefield: The Vikings clash with ealdorman รthelwulf of Berkshire. The invaders are driven back to Reading (East Anglia), many Danes are killed.
The Lรฝ dynasty of Vietnam ends after 216 years by the enthronement of the boy emperor Trแบงn Thรกi Tรดng, husband of the last Lรฝ monarch, Lรฝ Chiรชu Hoร ng, starting the Trแบงn dynasty.
James I of Aragon the Conqueror enters Medina Mayurqa (now known as Palma, Spain) thus consummating the Christian reconquest of the island of Majorca.
Empress Elizabeth I of Russia issues her ukase incorporating Kรถnigsberg into Russia.