[Amnorix]

November 17

284. Diocletian is pronounced Roman Emperor by his soldiers. A brilliant administrator, he reforms the government of the Empire, ennabling it to last another hundred years despite seemingly being on the brink of collapse during his youth. He will also create the Tetrarchy, and institute various reforms which will help serve as the basis on which the empire will split into its Eastern and Western halves, with the Eastern half to last another thousand years, and known to history as Byzantium. The Tetrarchy would collapse after his death, but many of his other reforms would remain and help stabilize the Empire. He also becomes the first Roman Emperor to voluntarily abdicate.

1558. Queen Mary I dies, to be succeeded by her half-sister, Queen Elizabeth I. A daughter of Henry VIII, her 44 year reign is one of the longest on record, and will become known as the Elizabethan era, and oversee victory over the Spanish Armada.

1800. As noted above, Congress convenes for the first time in Washington DC.

1869. The Suez Canal is opened, a mighty engineering achievement linking the Mediterranean with the Red Sea.

1903. The Russian Social Democratic Party splits into two groups -- the Bolsheviks (which is Russian for "more" or, here, "majority"), following Vladimir Lenin, and the Mensheviks (Russian for "fewer", "less" or, more appropriately in this case, "minority"). Two guesses who won out in the long run. But if nothing else, now you know what Bolshevik means, and what its etymology is.

1933. 15 years after it seized power, the Soviet Union is recognized by the United States.

1947. Two American scientists observe the characteristics of the transistor, which will become a key feature in the coming revolution in electronics.

1973. As also noted above, US President Nixon memorably states that he is "not a crook." While technically he may have been correct, the reality is that key, high-ranking members of his administration ordered burglaries to be committed against Nixon's political enemies, and their actions were a distinct reflection of Nixon's own deep paranoia, deep hatred of his political opponents, and overall vileness.

2004. KMart announces it is buying Sears, once the largest retailer in America, with sales equivalent to 1% of the country's GDP.