It’s January 3 and an important day in history. From Pope Leo X ex-communicating Martin Luther from the Catholic Church to Benito Mussolini declaring himself as the dictator of Italy, all of it unfolded on this day in the past.
Firstpost Explainers has begun a series titled ‘History Today’ in which we shall time travel and bring you the most important events that occurred on this day in the years gone by.
So, if history is your jam, the read on to find out what all went down on January 3, making it a significant day in history.
Mussolini declares self as dictator of Italy
Today, everyone knows the name of Benito Mussolini; he’s one of the most famous fascists of the 20th century. It was on January 3, 1925, that Mussolini began his dictatorship when he asserted his right to supreme power in Italian parliament, effectively becoming the dictator of Italy.
Similar to other dictatorial forces, Mussolini’s rise to the top wasn’t an overnight phenomenon. In 1921, he was elected to the lower chamber of Italy’s parliament. In the following year, tens of thousands of armed Fascists marched on Rome, demanding Mussolini be named prime minister.
What followed changed Italy’s history forever: King Victor Emmanuel III ignored Prime Minister Luigi Facta’s pleas that he declare martial law, leading to Facta’s resignation and Emmanuel’s invitation to Mussolini to form a new government.
In his two decades as dictator, Benito Mussolini ruled with an iron fist. File image/AFP
In the months to follow, he and his Fascists created more and more intrusive legislation, inching Italy towards a totalitarian state. And on January 3, he stood in parliament, declaring, “I and I alone, assume the political, moral, and historical responsibility for all that has happened.”
It was from here that he began to operate openly as a dictator, styling himself as Il Duce and what followed was 20 years of suppression and brutality followed. It was during his time that Italy aligned with Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler.
When Germany began losing, Mussolini attempted to flee to Switzerland with his mistress. However, his years of promoting his cult of personality led to his quick identification and he was executed along with his mistress by Italian Communist partisans on April 28, 1945.
Panama strongman Manuel Noriega surrenders to US
Thirty-five years ago, on January 3, Panama’s General Manuel Antonio Noriega surrendered to the United States military to face charges of drug trafficking.
The military dictator finally gave up after hiding for 10 days at the Vatican embassy in Panama City where he fled after a US military invasion. Crowds lined the streets of the capital the next day when Noriega was flown to Miami. On July 10, 1992, the former dictator was convicted of drug trafficking, money laundering and racketeering and sentenced to 40 years in prison.
He emerged as general of Panama’s military forces — and the de facto leader of the country — after the death of former leader General Omar Torrijos. His reign was marked by corruption and violence. He also became a double agent, selling American intelligence secrets to Cuba and Eastern European governments.
After hiding for 10 days at the Vatican embassy in Panama City, Panama’s Manuel Noriega surrendered to the US after listening to US rock ’n’ roll. File image/AP
In 1987, when Panamanians organised protests against Noriega and demanded his ouster, he declared a national emergency, shut down radio stations and newspapers, and forced his political enemies into exile.
The same year, the US cut off aid to Panama and tried to get Noriega to resign; in 1988, Washington began considering the use of military action to put an end to his drug trafficking.
In December 1989, he declared a state of war with the United States. After an American marine was killed by Panamanian soldiers, then President George HW Bush authorised “Operation Just Cause.” When he sought refuge in the Papal Nunciatura (the Vatican’s embassy in Panama), US General “Mad Max” Thurman ordered construction of a “musical barrier” around the embassy – constant barrages of sound played from the speakers of encircling US army Humvees.
On the first day, Christmas music was played. But later, Noriega was subjected to Billy Idol’s Flesh for Fantasy, Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N’ Roses, God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood, We’re Not Going to Take It by Twisted Sister, several songs by the Doors. Faced with such music, the opera-loving Noriega surrendered on January 3, 1990.
This day, that year
>> On January 3, 1521, Pope Leo X issues the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem, which excommunicates Martin Luther from the Catholic Church. Martin Luther, later, became the chief catalyst of Protestantism.
>> In 1961, the United States broke diplomatic relations with Cuba.
>> On this day, back in 1977, Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs incorporate Apple Computer, Inc.
>> Back in 2012, Pakistan’s Malala Yousafzai was shot by terrorists.