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HISTORY & TIMELINE
27 October

A journey through
27 October in history

A toll exemption in 1275, a burning in 1553, a subway in 1904 and two new nations in 1979 and 1991: 27 October has been a date of quiet documents and loud consequences. This timeline follows it from 1275 to 1991.

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JUMP THROUGH TIME
II
THE MIDDLE AGES

Medieval History

Kingdoms, conflict, faith, power and the changing medieval world.

1275
Amsterdam today.Amsterdam today.Image: Bybbisch94, Christian Gebhardt · CC BY-SA 4.0
world · Europe

The first written mention of Amsterdam

A document issued at Leiden on 27 October 1275 exempted ‘the people living near the Amstel dam’ from tolls throughout the county of Holland. The toll privilege of Count Floris V is the first time the name Amsterdam appears in writing, and the date is kept as the city’s traditional founding, although a full town charter did not follow until 1306. The exemption gave the settlement’s traders an advantage that helped turn a village on a dam into one of the great trading cities of Europe.

Source: Amsterdam City Archives: The toll privilege ↗
III
A CHANGING WORLD

Early Modern Era

Exploration, political change, scientific development and expanding global connections.

V
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

The 1900s

War and peace, technological leaps, social change, politics, sport and popular culture.

1962
A Lockheed U-2, the type Major Anderson was flying.A Lockheed U-2, the type Major Anderson was flying.Image: United States Department of the Air Force · Public domain
politics · Americas

The most dangerous day of the Cuban Missile Crisis

On 27 October 1962 a Soviet missile shot down an American U-2 over Cuba, killing Major Rudolf Anderson — the only combat death of the Cuban Missile Crisis — on what remains the closest the Cold War came to nuclear war.

Source: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library: 27 October 1962, Cuban Missile Crisis ↗
1979
The flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.The flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.Image: No machine-readable author provided. SKopp assumed (based on copyright claims). · Public domain
politics · Americas

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines becomes independent

Saint Vincent became independent of the United Kingdom on 27 October 1979, ten years to the day after it became a state in free association with Britain. It took the name Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, remained a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth, and adopted a new flag of blue, yellow and green.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, independence ↗
1991
Saparmurat Niyazov, Turkmenistan's first president.Saparmurat Niyazov, Turkmenistan’s first president.Image: Danny Gys · CC BY 4.0
politics · Asia

Turkmenistan becomes independent

Turkmenistan declared independence from the Soviet Union on 27 October 1991, with Saparmurat Niyazov as its first president. He ruled until his death in 2006.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica: Turkmenistan ↗
RESEARCH

Sources & Further Reading

Selected authoritative references supporting the events on this page.

WHY THESE MOMENTS?

Significance before volume

This page is not the longest possible list of events. It is a chronological journey through 27 October, where each entry is chosen for historical significance, human interest and reliability.

Facts are checked against authoritative museums, archives, universities and reference works. Where sources disagree, the page says so.

EXPLORED THE DEEPER STORY?

Return to the highlights of 27 October

Discover the lighter side of the date with famous birthdays, culture, firsts and lives remembered.

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