This Day That Year

December 2

in History

Emperor Jianwen of Liang Born — A prince destined for a puppet emperor's throne
Jiankang (Nanjing), ChinaMedieval
503

Emperor Jianwen of Liang Born

A prince destined for a puppet emperor's throne

Xiao Gang was born into the Chinese Liang dynasty's royal family, initially far from the line of succession. Fate and tragedy would elevate him to crown prince after his elder brother's death, and eventually to emperor. But his reign unfolded under the shadow of the rebel general Hou Jing, who held him captive, making Jianwen an emperor in chains.

503 AD
Elisa Godinez Born — Cuba's future first lady arrives
CubaEarly 20th Century
1900

Elisa Godinez Born

Cuba's future first lady arrives

In Cuba, Elisa Godinez Gomez was born, destined to become the First Lady of Cuba as the wife of President Fulgencio Batista during his first presidential term from 1940 to 1944. Her life at the center of Cuban politics during one of the island nation's most turbulent periods placed her at the intersection of power, privilege, and revolutionary upheaval.

1900 AD
World War I — World War I: Russia and the Central Powers sign an armistice at Brest-Litovsk, and peace talks leading to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk begin.
1914–1918 global conflictEarly 20th Century
1917

World War I

World War I: Russia and the Central Powers sign an armistice at Brest-Litovsk, and peace talks leading to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk begin.

World War I, or the First World War, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Central Powers. Major areas of conflict included Europe and the Middle East, as well as parts of Africa and the Asia-Pacific. The war saw important developments in weaponry including tanks, aircraft, artillery, machine guns, and chemical weapons.

1917 AD