December 4th in History

771 - Austrasian King Carloman dies, leaving his brother Charlemagne King of the now complete Frankish Kingdom.

1110 - First Crusade: The Crusaders sack Sidon.

1259 - Kings Louis IX of France and Henry III of England agree to the Treaty of Paris, in which Henry renounces his claims to French-controlled territory on continental Europe (including Normandy) in exchange for Louis withdrawing his support for English rebels.

1563 - The final session of the Council of Trent is held (it opened on December 13, 1545).

1791 - The first edition of The Observer, the world's first Sunday newspaper, is published.

1893 - First Matabele War: A patrol of 34 British South Africa Police officers is killed in battle by an estimated 3,000 Ndebele on the Shangani River in Matabeleland.

1918 - US President Woodrow Wilson sails for the World War I peace talks in Versailles, becoming the first US president to travel to Europe while in office.

1945 - By a vote of 65 to 7, the United States Senate approves United States participation in the United Nations

1954 - The first Burger King is opened in Miami, Florida, United States

1971 - The Indian Navy attacks the Pakistan Navy and Karachi.

1971 - The Troubles: The Ulster Volunteer Force bombs a Catholic-owned pub in Belfast, killing 15 civilians and wounding 17. It was the city's highest death toll from a single incident during the conflict.

1975 - Suriname joins the United Nations.

1977 - Jean-Bédel Bokassa, President of the Central African Republic, crowns himself Emperor Bokassa I of the Central African Empire.

1981 - South Africa grants independence to the Ciskei "homeland" (not recognized by any government outside South Africa).

1982 - The People's Republic of China adopts its current constitution.

1991 - Pan Am goes bankrupt and ceases operations.

2005 - Tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong protest for democracy and call on the Government to allow universal and equal suffrage.

Famous Birthdays:

1585 - John Cotton, Puritan leader

1667 - Michel Pignolet de Montéclair, composer

1878 - Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia

1919 - I. K. Gujral 12th Prime Minister of India

1944 - Anna McGarrigle, singer and songwriter

1969 - Jay-Z, rapper

1970 - Kevin Sussman, actor

1987 - Orlando Brown, actor