Charlemagne's coronation, the biggest slave revolt in the history of the British West Indies, and the deaths of Nicolae Ceaușescu, JonBenét Ramsey, and Eartha Kitt all occurred on Christmas Day.
Each year, people around the world celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25. While that’s likely not the exact date that Jesus Christ was born, plenty of other historical events have taken place on Christmas Day over the centuries.
Library of CongressA Christmas tree in Washington, D.C., with the Washington Monument in the background. 1923.
From coronations to key military battles, Dec. 25 has seen its share of history. William the Conqueror became the King of England on Christmas Day 1066, forever changing the history of Britain. And George Washington’s decision to cross the Delaware River on the evening of Dec. 25, 1776, may have secured America’s independence.
The festive date has also marked times of great sorrow. The murder of JonBenét Ramsey remains one of America’s most tragic mysteries. And Dec. 25, 2008, brought an end to the career of Eartha Kitt, whose sultry voice lives on in holiday songs like “Santa Baby.”
Go inside 11 of the joyful, devastating, fortuitous, and sometimes world-changing events that have taken place on Christmas Day throughout history.
800 C.E.: Charlemagne Is Crowned ‘Emperor Of The Romans’
Public DomainItalian Renaissance painter Raphael’s 16th-century painting of Charlemagne’s coronation on a wall of the Papal Palace in Vatican City.
On Dec. 25, 800 C.E., Charlemagne was crowned “Emperor of the Romans” by Pope Leo III during Christmas Day mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Though he was technically the emperor of the Carolingian Empire, he’s often considered the first Holy Roman Emperor, as the Carolingian territory later came to be known as the Holy Roman Empire.
After the death of his father in 768 C.E. and brother in 771 C.E., Charlemagne became the ruler of the Frankish kingdom. During his reign, he expanded his territory into Lombardy, Bavaria, and Saxony, forming a massive empire that stretched across much of western Europe. He sought to convert all of his subjects to Christianity, and he gifted large amounts of money and land to the Catholic Church.
In recognition of his efforts, Pope Leo named him emperor. It’s said that the king knelt to pray at mass on Christmas Day, and as he rose, the pope crowned him and declared him “emperor of the Romans.”
Public DomainA 16th-century portrait of Charlemagne by Albrecht Dürer.
Some historians believe that Charlemagne was in on the plan, while others insist that he was completely surprised by the action. Regardless, the ruler took the opportunity to try to rebuild the Western Roman Empire, which hadn’t had an emperor since Romulus Augustus was deposed in 476 C.E.
Charlemagne’s new title didn’t really give him additional authority, but it did throw him into conflict with the Byzantine Empire. Still, he spent the next 14 years making the most of his role. His reforms sparked the Carolingian Renaissance, an intellectual revival that saw an increase in literature, music, and art. And even 1,200 years after his death, Charlemagne remains one of the most famous figures in European history.
