TODAY IN HISTORY: SEPTEMBER 21

September 21 1792: Monarchy abolished in France
In Revolutionary France, the Legislative Assembly voted to abolish the monarchy and establish the First Republic. The measure came one year after King Louis XVI reluctantly approved a new constitution that stripped him of much of his power.
Louis ascended to the French throne in 1774 and from the start was unsuited to deal with the severe financial problems that he inherited from his predecessors. In 1789, food shortages and economic crises led to the outbreak of the French Revolution. King Louis and his queen, Mary-Antoinette, were imprisoned in August 1792, and in September the monarchy was abolished. Soon after, evidence of Louis’ counterrevolutionary intrigues with foreign nations was discovered, and he was put on trial for treason. In January 1793, Louis was convicted and condemned to death by a narrow majority. On January 21, he walked steadfastly to the guillotine and was executed. Marie-Antoinette followed him to the guillotine nine months later.

September 21 1916 - World War I: East Africa
Portuguese forces crossed the border into German East Africa.

September 21 1940- World War II: North Africa
General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, reinforced with troops and tanks sent out from Britain, began a counter-offensive against General Rodolfo Graziani and his troops at Sidi Barrani. Graziani refused to move further into Egypt despite continual instructions form Mussolini to continue with the invasion.

September 21 1978
After twelve years, the state of emergency imposed after Lieutenant-Colonel Yakubu Gowon seized power in a military coup, was finally lifted.

September 21 1991
Mozambique and South Africa began discussions which lead to the creation of a cross-border conservation park which will include the Kruger National Park.

September 21 1999: Earthquake killed thousands in Taiwan
An earthquake in Taiwan on this day in 1999 killed thousands of people, caused billions of dollars in damages and left an estimated 100,000 homeless. It was the worst earthquake to hit Taiwan since a 1935 tremor that killed 3,200 people.
At 1:47 on the morning of September 21, with most people eagerly awaiting the annual Autumn Festival, the island nation of Taiwan was shaken awake by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake. The tremor was centered in central Taiwan along the west coast near Nantou and Taichung, but serious damage was found throughout the island. Roads buckled and landslides diverted rivers, causing the impromptu formation of lakes. To make things even worse, there were five aftershocks measuring at least 6.0 in magnitude in the 30 minutes following the major quake.
Buildings all over the island proved to be vulnerable. A 12-story hotel in Taipei was completely destroyed. A 14-story building in Dongshi was toppled. The quake exposed the fact that much shoddy construction had occurred during Taiwan’s construction boom in the 1990s. The worst-hit area was Tungshih, where virtually every building was damaged and the population of 60,000 was left without electricity, water or telephone service.

There was evidence of serious damage throughout the country. A new waterfall sprang up instantly on a river near a collapsed bridge, several Buddhist temples gave way and, in the capital city of Taipei, there were many fires. Because the quake had caused a vertical displacement of land of up to 26 feet in some places, new small hills were formed suddenly across the countryside.
The government’s response to the disaster was less than satisfactory to the people. Nations from around the world offered and provided assistance. Taiwan rejected all offers of aid from China, however, except for about $100,000 in cash.
With thousands dead, there was not enough freezer capacity in the country’s morgues to hold all the bodies. Tent cities popped up in fields and parks because many people were afraid of being in buildings while aftershocks continued. There were more than 8,000 aftershocks in the months following the quake.

Source: history.com, africanhistory.about.com