Karl Bryullov
b. 1799
Russian painter
On This Day · The 346th day of the year
December 12
December 12 carries 10 recorded events spanning between 627 and 2012. Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II's Persian forces, commanded by General Rhahzadh.
Compiled & reviewed by Roman Tailor · Last reviewed July 13, 2026
What happened on December 12?
December 12 is the 346th day of the year. It marks 10 notable events in history, dated between 627 and 2012. Famous people born on December 12 include Karl Bryullov, Frank Sinatra and Edvard Munch.
The shape of the day
Few dates reach as far back as December 12: its recorded history runs unusually deep, stretching to 627. Its center of gravity is the 20th century, and disaster looms large.
Sagittarius is the sign for December 12 — read more on the Sagittarius page, or see December's birthstone & birth flower.
Released on December 12
Movies, games, albums & shows2025
- Game Terminator 2D: No Fate
- TV Speed and Love
2024
- Game The Spirit of the Samurai
- Game Murky Divers
Release data from TMDB & IGDB.
Events
10 notable moments- 627
Battle of Nineveh (627)
Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II's Persian forces, commanded by General Rhahzadh.
- 1787
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania becomes the second state to ratify the US Constitution.
- 1866
Oaks explosion
Oaks explosion: The worst mining disaster in England kills 361 miners and rescuers.
- 1941
World War II
World War II: Fifty-four Japanese A6M Zero fighters raid Batangas Field, Philippines. Jesús Villamor and four Filipino fighter pilots fend them off; César Basa is killed.
- 1941
The Holocaust
The Holocaust: Adolf Hitler declares the imminent extermination of the Jews at a meeting in the Reich Chancellery.
- 1963
Kenya
Kenya declares independence from Great Britain.
- 1979
1979 Tumaco earthquake
The 8.2 Mw Tumaco earthquake shakes Colombia and Ecuador with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 300–600, and generating a large tsunami.
- 1988
Clapham Junction rail crash
The Clapham Junction rail crash kills thirty-five and injures hundreds after two collisions of three commuter trains—one of the worst train crashes in the United Kingdom.
- 2000
Supreme Court of the United States
The United States Supreme Court releases its decision in Bush v. Gore.
- 2012
North Korea
North Korea successfully launches its first satellite, Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2.
Famous birthday twins
Born on December 12Frank Sinatra
b. 1915
American singer, actor, and producer
Edvard Munch
b. 1863
Norwegian painter
Gustave Flaubert
b. 1821
French novelist
Tracy Austin
b. 1962
American tennis player and sportscaster
Rajinikanth
b. 1950
Indian actor
Martina Hellmann
b. 1960
German discus thrower
Adolf Bötticher
b. 1842
German journalist and historian
Deaths
- 2021Vicente Fernández
- 1997Evgenii Landis
- 1939Douglas Fairbanks
- 1921Henrietta Swan Leavitt
- 1766Johann Christoph Gottsched
- 1204Maimonides
Holidays & observances
- —Christian feast day: Corentin of Quimper
- —Christian feast day: Jane Frances de Chantal
- —Christian feast day: Edburga of Minster-in-Thanet
- —Christian feast day: Finnian of Clonard
- —Christian feast day: Thomas Holland
- —Christian feast day: Ida of Nivelles
- —Christian feast day: Peter the Aleut
- —Christian feast day: Vicelinus
Historical facts, event summaries, and biographical lines above are adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) license. DateLore adds curation, structure, and original editorial commentary. DateLore is not affiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation.
Born on this day?
Make your birthday card.
Drop in your birth year and we'll work out your exact age, the day of the week you were born, your Chinese zodiac, your generation, and the countdown to your next candle.
Please pick a valid date in the past.
—
Years old
—
Days lived
—
Day you were born