History of 20th September – A Day of Transformative Events

Explore the history of 20th September, a date marked by pivotal events across centuries. From Ferdinand Magellan’s ambitious circumnavigation attempt in 1519 to the fall of Delhi in 1857, this day has witnessed transformative moments that shaped global history.

Five hundred years ago, on this day, in the year 1519, Ferdinand Magellan set sail on what would become a rather curious caper—an attempt to circumnavigate the globe. You’d think it would be as straightforward as following a map, wouldn’t you? But no, this voyage was as twisty as a corkscrew. Magellan, a Portuguese chap, found himself working for Spain (because why not complicate things?). While he fancied himself a first-rate captain, his crew would’ve happily thrown him overboard if given half the chance. And though his expedition did, in fact, sail around the world, poor old Magellan didn’t manage to make the full trip—he popped his clogs in the Philippines before he could finish the job. Talk about not sticking the landing! Nonetheless, his mad dash across the seas was nothing short of legendary, braving unknown waters, imaginary sea monsters, and the odd bout of killer fog, all while proving that, yes, the Earth was indeed round (much to the surprise of those who feared they’d sail right off the edge). Quite the legacy for a man whose name wasn’t even Magellan and this is how I begin this narrative on the history of 20^th September.

Let’s move on with the history of 20^th September and come to the year 1596. It was this day when Diego de Montemayor founded the city of Monterrey in New Spain.

Again as I read the history of 20^th September, I find myself in the year 1643 when on this day in the first Battle of Newbury (English civil war) King Charles I’s was beaten by a parliamentary army led by the Earl of Essex and Philip Stapleton.

Now before I move on to the feature story from the history of 20^th September, I take this opportunity to remember Jayanta Hazarika on his birth anniversary.

With this I come to the feature story from the history of 20^th September- The End of an Era.

The End of an Era: Delhi’s Fall

September 1857 marks a turning point in history—a proper watershed moment if there ever was one. The Mughal Empire, once a grand institution, was on its last legs. After a gruelling five months of rebellion by Indian soldiers, the British troops, ever the persistent lot, finally breached the city’s defences through the ruins of the Civil Lines. It was on the 11th of September that they launched their attack on Kashmiri Gate. The British, led by the determined John Nicholson, stormed the gate and took control of the entire area. Nicholson, a man of extraordinary grit, was soon wounded and met his end—a grim reminder of the cost of conquest.

The battle of Kashmiri Gate, as fate would have it, took place during a solar eclipse. This celestial coincidence had many of the sepoys—Indian soldiers fighting against British rule—taking it as a bad omen, a sign of the inevitable end. With the British soldiers facing reduced resistance, they swiftly made their way inside the city and seized the capital of power. By September 20th, the British had the whole city under their siege, and the rebels faced their defeat. The fall of Delhi was officially declared on September 21st, 1857, sealing the fate of the once-mighty Mughal Empire.

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What followed was a grim chapter of retribution. The British troops, in a fit of vengeful zeal, carried out a series of massacres. Ordinary citizens of Delhi found themselves swept up in the violence. The brutality was nothing short of horrific. In Kucha Chelan, a locality in Delhi, nearly 1,400 people were killed—an indication of the scale of the carnage. The British forces’ sadistic cruelty knew no bounds. While the primary targets were the rebels and soldiers, the general population was also caught in the crossfire. Senior citizens and the differently-abled were not spared; military orders saw them evicted alongside the rest.

The massacre continued unabated for about a week, and the entire city was effectively emptied of its inhabitants. It was a scene straight out of a dystopian nightmare. Only after several months did the authorities begin to allow people to return to Delhi, albeit in phases. The once vibrant city was left scarred, both physically and emotionally, marking the end of an era and changing the course of the Indian freedom struggle forever.

In retrospect, the events of September 1857 are a stark reminder of the brutal cost of imperial ambition and the enduring struggle for freedom.