Events on January 11 41

Nika riots in Constantinople: A quarrel between supporters of different chariot teams—the Blues and the Greens—in the Hippodrome escalates into violence.

Emperor Tai Zong of the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty invades the Later Jin, resulting in the destruction of the Later Jin.

Theodora is crowned empress of the Byzantine Empire.

Vladislaus II, Duke of Bohemia becomes king of Bohemia.

First recorded lottery in England.

Austrian nobility is granted freedom of religion.

A powerful earthquake destroys parts of Sicily and Malta.

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the first American life insurance company is incorporated.

Ching-Thang Khomba is crowned King of Manipur.

William Herschel discovers Titania and Oberon, two moons of Uranus.

The Michigan Territory is created.

Alabama secedes from the United States.

American Civil War: Battle of Arkansas Post: General John McClernand and Admiral David Dixon Porter capture the Arkansas River for the Union.

American Civil War: CSS Alabama encounters and sinks the USS Hatteras off Galveston Lighthouse in Texas.

The Anglo-Zulu War begins.

Grand Canyon National Monument is created.

Immigrant textile works in Lawrence, Massachusetts, go on strike when wages are reduced in response to a mandated shortening of the work week.

The Kingsland munitions factory explosion occurs as a result of sabotage.

First use of insulin to treat diabetes in a human patient.

Occupation of the Ruhr: Troops from France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr area to force Germany to make its World War I reparation payments.

Louis B. Mayer, head of film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), announces the creation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, at a banquet in Los Angeles, California.

Amelia Earhart becomes the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California.

World War II: The Japanese capture Kuala Lumpur.

World War II: The Japanese attack Tarakan in Borneo, Netherlands Indies (Battle of Tarakan)

The Republic of China agrees to the Sino-British New Equal Treaty and the Sino-American New Equal Treaty.

Italian-American anarchist Carlo Tresca is assassinated in New York City.

Enver Hoxha, Secretary General of the Communist Party of Albania, declares the People's Republic of Albania with himself as head of state.

The first "networked" television broadcasts took place as KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania goes on the air connecting the east coast and mid-west programming.

The African Convention is founded in Dakar, Senegal.

Throgs Neck Bridge over the East River, linking New York City's boroughs of The Bronx and Queens, opens to road traffic.

Cold War: While tied to its pier in Polyarny, the Soviet submarine B-37 is destroyed when fire breaks out in its torpedo compartment.

An avalanche on Huascarán in Peru causes around 4,000 deaths.

Surgeon General of the United States Dr. Luther Terry, M.D., publishes the landmark report Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the United States saying that smoking may be hazardous to health, sparking national and worldwide anti-smoking efforts.

East Pakistan renames itself Bangladesh.

Major League Baseball owners vote in approval of the American League adopting the designated hitter position.

The Gateway Bridge, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia is officially opened.

The Irish Government announces the end of a 15-year broadcasting ban on the IRA and its political arm Sinn Féin.

Space Shuttle program: STS-72 launches from the Kennedy Space Center marking the start of the 74th Space Shuttle mission and the 10th flight of Endeavour.

Over 100 people are killed in the Sidi-Hamed massacre in Algeria.

Illinois Governor George Ryan commutes the death sentences of 167 prisoners on Illinois's death row based on the Jon Burge scandal.

One French soldier and 17 militants are killed in a failed attempt to free a French hostage in Bulo Marer, Somalia.