Today in History: Tutankhamun’s tomb was opened in 1922

The following are some of the major events that occurred on November 26 throughout history:

1. 1778 – Captain Cook sights Maui
British explorer James Cook became the first European to sight the Hawaiian island of Maui on November 26, 1778, during his third voyage in the Pacific. Although he never landed, the event marked Maui’s first known contact with Europeans.

2. 1917 – Sykes–Picot Agreement published
The Manchester Guardian published the full text of the secret 1916 Sykes–Picot Agreement on November 26, 1917. The disclosure revealed Anglo-French plans to divide Ottoman territories, reshaping the modern Middle East.

3. 1922 – Tutankhamun’s tomb opened
British archaeologist Howard Carter breached the sealed doorway to Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings on November 26, 1922, revealing a trove of treasures untouched for over 3,000 years.

4. 1924 – Mongolia declares the Mongolian People’s Republic
On November 26, 1924, Mongolia adopted its first constitution, officially ending the theocratic monarchy and declaring the Mongolian People’s Republic under Soviet influence.

5. 1939 – USSR shells Mainila
The Soviet Union fired artillery into the village of Mainila near the Finnish border on November 26, 1939, in a false-flag operation used to justify launching the Winter War against Finland days later.

6. 1941 – U.S. delivers Hull Note to Japan
On November 26, 1941, the U.S. handed Japan its final diplomatic proposal (the Hull Note), demanding withdrawal from China and French Indochina. Japan’s rejection of the note preceded the attack on Pearl Harbor.

7. 1949 – India adopts its Constitution
India’s Constituent Assembly formally adopted the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949. It came into force on January 26, 1950, establishing the country as a sovereign democratic republic.

8. 1965 – France launches first satellite, Astérix
France became the third country to launch a satellite into space with the successful launch of Astérix aboard a Diamant A rocket from Algeria on November 26, 1965.

9. 2018 – NASA’s InSight lands on Mars
NASA’s InSight spacecraft successfully landed on the surface of Mars on November 26, 2018, beginning a mission to study the planet’s deep interior.

10. 2021 – WHO names Omicron a Variant of Concern
The World Health Organization officially classified the B.1.1.529 COVID-19 variant as a Variant of Concern and named it Omicron on November 26, 2021, triggering global travel restrictions and renewed health measures.