China Goes Nuclear: Fifth Nation Joins Atomic Club
China detonated its first nuclear device at Lop Nur, becoming the fifth nation to join the nuclear club just days after the Soviet Union's internal coup replaced Khrushchev with Brezhnev. The simultaneous atomic test and superpower leadership change redrew the global power map in a single week.
October 16, 1964
62 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on October 16
Ricimer, the barbarian general who commanded Rome's army, defeated Emperor Avitus at Piacenza and forced him to abdicate. Avitus became a bishop and died two mo…
Wu Zetian declared herself emperor of China, not empress. She changed the title. She was 66 years old and had already ruled from behind the throne for years, fi…
Abd ar-Rahman III became Emir of Córdoba on October 15, 912, at age 21. He inherited a collapsing emirate — rebels controlled most of Al-Andalus. He spent 20 ye…
King Otto I crushed a Slavic rebellion on October 16, 955, near the Raxa River in what's now northeastern Germany. The Slavs had revolted against forced Christi…
The Council of Vienne convened on October 16, 1311, to decide what to do about the Knights Templar. King Philip IV of France wanted them destroyed — he owed the…
Jadwiga was crowned King of Poland in 1384, not Queen. She was 10 years old. The masculine title gave her full sovereignty, not just consort status. Polish nobl…
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