OTD:

In 786 CE, Harun al-Rashid became the fifth Abbasid caliph, ushering in the Islamic Golden Age with significant cultural, scientific, and economic advancements centered in Baghdad.

In 1741, Elizabeth Petrovna seized the Russian throne in a palace coup, becoming Empress and fostering the flourishing of arts and culture, including founding the University of Moscow.

In 1812, Napoleon's Grande Armée entered a burning and abandoned Moscow, marking a turning point in his failed Russian campaign due to harsh conditions and supply shortages.

In 1901, President William McKinley died from assassination wounds, making Theodore Roosevelt the youngest U.S. president and initiating progressive reforms.

In 1927, the League of Nations adopted the International Slavery Convention in Geneva, aiming to abolish slavery and the slave trade worldwide.

In 1939, Nazi Germany began the Siege of Warsaw, heavily bombarding the city to break Polish resistance during World War II.

In 1959, the Soviet Luna 2 spacecraft became the first human-made object to reach the Moon, marking a significant milestone in the Space Race.

In 1982, Lebanese President-elect Bachir Gemayel was assassinated in Beirut, escalating tensions in the Lebanese Civil War.

In 1985, Nintendo released Super Mario Bros. in Japan, revolutionizing the video game industry and introducing the iconic character Mario.

In 1994, Major League Baseball canceled the remainder of the season, including the World Series, due to a players' strike—the longest labor dispute in American sports history.