Gone with the Wind Premieres: Cinematic Phenomenon Begins
Victor Fleming's epic sweeps audiences into a sweeping romance that redefined Hollywood's scale and box office dominance. The film's massive success cemented the studio system's power while sparking decades of debate over its romanticized portrayal of the antebellum South.
December 15, 1939
87 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on December 15
Byzantine general Belisarius shattered the Vandal army at Tricamarum with a series of devastating cavalry charges, sending King Gelimer fleeing into the Numidia…
The Roman clergy couldn't agree. Two men claimed the papacy at once—Paschal and Theodore—each backed by armed factions in the streets. Neither would yield. For …
A Syrian refugee's son became pope — chosen by acclaim while two rival factions fought over who bought the job. Sergius refused to pay the Byzantine emperor's d…
Constantine VIII finally assumed sole control of the Byzantine Empire at age sixty-five, after spending sixty-three years as a titular co-emperor overshadowed b…
Emperor Hailing pushed his army south against Song China despite warnings. At Caishi, Song forces crushed his invasion fleet. Back in camp, his own generals wat…
Chancellor Stephen du Perche relocated the Sicilian royal court to Messina to neutralize mounting unrest among the island’s powerful barons. By physically dista…
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