This Day In History

August 25
450
Pulcheria becomes empress of the Byzantine Empire after her brother Theodosius II is killed during an hunting accident. She marries the Illyrian (or Thracian) senator Marcian who is crowned as emperor.
1609
Galileo Galilei demonstrates his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers.
1758
Seven Years' War: Frederick II of Prussia defeats the Russian army at the Battle of Zorndorf.
1768
James Cook begins his first voyage.
1912
The Kuomintang, the Chinese nationalist party, is founded.
1944
World War II: Paris is liberated by the Allies.
1991
Belarus gains its independence from the Soviet Union.