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THE DAY IN HISTORY · OCTOBER 14

October 14 in history

What happened on October 14: 4 moments from the Maps of History atlases, in 1066, 1806, 1956 and 1962, each linked to the map that shows it.

Hastings: an arrow, a broken shield-wall, and England changes language, law and landlords in an afternoon.

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— Battle of Jena–Auerstedt

14 Oct 1806 — Prussia’s legendary army is destroyed in twin battles fought the same day. Napoleon enters Berlin thirteen days later.

READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE AGE OF REVOLUTIONS MAP → · THE FULL STORY →

— Ambedkar’s conversion to Buddhism

14 Oct 1956 — B. R. Ambedkar, framer of the constitution, renounced Hinduism and took Buddhist vows with several hundred thousand followers, most of them Dalits of the Mahar community. The law had abolished untouchability; he had concluded that the social order would not. He died seven weeks later, on 6 December 1956.

READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE INDIAN INDEPENDENCE & PARTITION MAP → · THE FULL STORY →

— Soviet missile sites in Cuba

14 Oct 1962 — A U-2 photographs Soviet medium-range missiles at San Cristóbal — launchers that could reach Washington in minutes. The thirteen days begin.

READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE COLD WAR MAP → · THE FULL STORY →

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