1767-Ayutthaya kingdom in present-day Thailand falls to Burmese invaders
1820-The famous ancient Greek statue, Venus de Milo is discovered on the Aegean island of Milos
1886-William Ewart Gladstone introduces the first Irish Home Rule Bill into the British House of Commons.
1898-Battle of Atbara River: Anglo-Egyptian forces defeat 15,000 Sudanese during the Mahdist War, a turning point in the reconquest of Sudan
1913-China's National Assembly opens in Peking, the first free democratic parliament in Chinese history
1968-New socialist constitution of East Germany takes effect
2004-The Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement on the Conflict in Darfur is signed by the Sudanese government and two rebel groups, ending hostilities amid a 45 day ceasefire