Sept 25 in History
275AD — For the last time, the Roman Senate chooses an emperor, electing Marcus Claudius Tacitus, 75. He reigns from December until his death in June 276AD.
1066 — Two battles for the English throne after King Edward the Confessor died childless on January 5. Sept 25: Harold (Godwinson) II, the last Anglo-Saxon king, defeats the invading Norwegian force led by King Harald Hardrada and his own brother Tostig Godwinson at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Harald Hardrada and Tostig both die in the bloody battle. William, the Duke of Normandy, arrives in England on September 28. Harold and his men quickly march south to intercept. Oct 14: Harold, who has only reigned since January 6, dies at the Battle of Hastings. William I (William the Conqueror) reigns until 1087. 1237 — England’s Henry III and Scotland’s Alexander II sign the Treaty of York, establishing the location of their common border. It remains almost unchanged.
1790 — The “Four Great Anhui Troupes” bring Anhui opera to Beijing in honour of the Qianlong Emperor’s 80th birthday. Peking opera, the most influential in China, is born. It combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. 1944 — Michael (Kirk) Douglas, American actor (“Wall St”, “Jewel of the Nile”), is born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. 1969 — Catherine ZetaJones, Welsh actress (“Chicago”, “The Mask of Zorro”) and Michael Douglas’s second wife (they marry on November 18 2000), is born in Swansea. 1952 — Christopher Reeve, actor (“Superman”, “Somewhere in Time”), is born in NYC.
1956 — TAT-1, the first submarine transatlantic telephone cable system (Oban, Scotland to Clarenville, Newfoundland), is inaugurated.
1962 — The North Yemen Civil War begins when Abdullah al-Sallal dethrones the newly crowned Imam Muhammad al-Badr and declares Yemen a republic under his presidency. The war ends on December 1 1970 with a republican victory.
1964 — The Mozambican War of Independence against Portugal begins. It ends with a ceasefire on September 8 1974, resulting in a negotiated independence in 1975.
1969 — Hansie Cronjé, SA cricketer, is born in Bloemfontein. He plays for SA from 1992 to 2000 and leads the Proteas to victory in 27 Tests and 99 ODIs. Record — 68 Tests, 3,714 runs, 36.31 average, 43 wickets, 29.95 average, 33 catches; 188 ODIs, 5,565 runs, 38.64 average, 114 wickets, 34.78 average, 73 catches.