{"slug": "black-sea", "label": "Black Sea", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q166", "qid": "Q166", "description": "sea between Europe and Asia", "entries": 52, "years": 52, "span": [-1199, 2018], "span_label": ["1200 BCE", "2018 CE"], "topics": [{"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 21}, {"title": "Exploration & Expansion", "count": 14}, {"title": "Deaths", "count": 4}, {"title": "Disasters & Accidents", "count": 4}, {"title": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "count": 3}, {"title": "Technology & Infrastructure", "count": 2}, {"title": "Crime & Justice", "count": 1}, {"title": "Religion & Belief", "count": 1}, {"title": "Health & Medicine", "count": 1}, {"title": "Climate & Environment", "count": 1}], "related": [{"slug": "constantinople", "label": "Constantinople", "shared": 6}, {"slug": "bulgars", "label": "Bulgars", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "athens", "label": "Athens", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "turkey", "label": "Turkey", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "first-bulgarian-empire", "label": "First Bulgarian Empire", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "byzantine-empire", "label": "Byzantine Empire", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "georgia-country", "label": "Georgia (country)", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "huns", "label": "Huns", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "lazica", "label": "Lazica", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "aegean-sea", "label": "Aegean Sea", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "danube", "label": "Danube", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "goths", "label": "Goths", "shared": 3}], "items": [{"year": -1199, "year_label": "1200 BCE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "c. 1200 BC: The proto-Scythian Srubna (Timber-grave) culture expands from the lower Volga region to cover the whole of the North Pontic area.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1350963473#Events_and_trends", "title": "1200s BC (decade)", "revid": 1350963473, "section": "Events and trends"}}, {"year": -669, "year_label": "670 BCE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Miletus begins establishing colonies in the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370510223#Events", "title": "670 BC", "revid": 1370510223, "section": "Events"}}, {"year": -436, "year_label": "437 BCE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Pericles, concerned for Athenian trade with Greek settlements to the East, and in order to counteract a new and possibly threatening Thracian–Scythian alliance, leads Athens' fleet to Pontus on the Black Sea and establishes friendly relations with the Greek cities of the region.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1312957840#Greece", "title": "437 BC", "revid": 1312957840, "section": "Events › By place › Greece"}}, {"year": -435, "year_label": "436 BCE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Following Pericles' visit to the Black Sea, a large Athenian colony is founded at Amphipolis. This is disconcertingly close to an outpost of Corinthian influence at Potidaea in the Chalcidice. Corinth feels it is being indirectly pressured by Athens.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1354173296#Greece", "title": "436 BC", "revid": 1354173296, "section": "Events › By place › Greece"}}, {"year": -408, "year_label": "409 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Alcibiades recaptures Byzantium, ending the city's rebellion from Athens. This action completes Athenian control of the Bosporus which secures the Athenian supply route for grain from the Bosporan Kingdom in the Black Sea region.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1353486457#Greece", "title": "409 BC", "revid": 1353486457, "section": "Events › By place › Greece"}}, {"year": -375, "year_label": "376 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Athenian admiral Chabrias wins a naval victory for Athens over the Spartan fleet, off the island of Naxos (the Battle of Naxos). The battle is brought on by the Athenians to break the Spartans' blockade of Athens' corn-ships from the Black Sea.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1305121209#Greece", "title": "376 BC", "revid": 1305121209, "section": "Events › By place › Greece"}}, {"year": -352, "year_label": "353 BCE", "section": "Crime & Justice", "date": null, "text": "Clearchus, the tyrant of Heraclea, a Greek city on the Black Sea, is murdered by some of the city's citizens led by Chion after a reign of twelve years. Most of the conspirators are killed by the tyrant's body-guards upon the spot, while others are captured and put to death. Within a short time, the city falls under the rule of the new tyrant Satyrus, Clearchus' brother.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1231489277#Greece", "title": "353 BC", "revid": 1231489277, "section": "Events › By place › Greece"}}, {"year": -243, "year_label": "244 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The war in Asia Minor and the Aegean Sea intensifies as the Achaean League allies itself to Ptolemy III Euergetes of Egypt, while Seleucus II secures two allies in the Black Sea region. Ptolemy III's armies reach as far as Bactria and the borders of India in their attacks on the Seleucid Empire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370482239#Greece", "title": "244 BC", "revid": 1370482239, "section": "Events › By place › Greece"}}, {"year": 8, "year_label": "8 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "AD 8 – Roman poet Ovid is banished from Rome and exiled to the Black Sea near Tomis (modern-day Constanța).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1365712040#Roman_Empire", "title": "0s", "revid": 1365712040, "section": "Events › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 150, "year_label": "150 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "The Germans of the east move south, into the Carpathians and Black Sea area.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373077197#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 150", "revid": 1373077197, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 180, "year_label": "180 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "The Goths reach the banks of the Black Sea.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371305659#Europe", "title": "AD 180", "revid": 1371305659, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 256, "year_label": "256 CE", "section": "Health & Medicine", "date": null, "text": "The great pandemic of the Roman world strikes violently in Pontus on the Black Sea, and causes enormous loss of life in Alexandria, encouraging thousands to embrace Christianity.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371188385#Medicine", "title": "256", "revid": 1371188385, "section": "Events › By topic › Medicine"}}, {"year": 257, "year_label": "257 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "The Goths build a fleet on the Black Sea.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371187339#Roman_Empire", "title": "257", "revid": 1371187339, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 262, "year_label": "262 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "The Heruls accompany the Goths, ravaging the coasts of the Black Sea and the Aegean.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1325890529#Roman_Empire", "title": "262", "revid": 1325890529, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 267, "year_label": "267 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Heruli invade the Black Sea coast; they unsuccessfully attack Byzantium and Cyzicus. The Roman fleet defeats the Herulian fleet (500 ships) but allows them to escape into the Aegean Sea, where they raid the islands of Lemnos and Skyros.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367427906#Roman_Empire", "title": "267", "revid": 1367427906, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 269, "year_label": "269 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Second Gothic invasion: The Goths and other German tribes attack Bosphorean towns on the coast of the Black Sea. Some 2,000 ships and 320,000 men from the Danube enter Roman territory. Emperor Claudius II defeats the invaders and receives the title Gothicus for his triumph. Many of the prisoners will serve in the Roman legions and settle in vacant lands in the Danubian provinces.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371227782#Roman_Empire", "title": "269", "revid": 1371227782, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 355, "year_label": "355 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "The Huns of Central Asia begin their great drive westwards with an advance into Scythia (modern Ukraine). They overcome and absorb the Alans, a nomadic and warlike horse breeding people from the steppes northeast of the Black Sea.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1331300399#Asia", "title": "355", "revid": 1331300399, "section": "Events › By place › Asia"}}, {"year": 401, "year_label": "401 CE", "section": "Climate & Environment", "date": null, "text": "The Chronicon Pachale (Paschal Chronicle) reports that the Black Sea is completely frozen.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1334186664#Black_Sea", "title": "401", "revid": 1334186664, "section": "Events › By place › Black Sea"}}, {"year": 412, "year_label": "412 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Winter – Olympiodorus, historical writer, is sent on an embassy by Honorius, and sails in stormy weather around Greece up the Black Sea, to meet the Huns who are located on the middle Danube (modern Bulgaria).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1346865702#Roman_Empire", "title": "412", "revid": 1346865702, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 507, "year_label": "507 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": null, "text": "Emperor Anastasius I completes the strategic fortress at Dara (Northern Mesopotamia). He raises the city walls to 30 feet (10 m), disregarding Persian protests. Alarmed by the depredations of Slavs and Bulgars in Thrace, he builds the Anastasian Wall from the Black Sea to Propontis, across the narrow peninsula near Constantinople (modern Turkey).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364907722#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "507", "revid": 1364907722, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 512, "year_label": "512 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Anastasius I constructs a wall from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, to protect Constantinople from raiding Bulgars and Slavs.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369170659#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "512", "revid": 1369170659, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 513, "year_label": "513 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Vitalian defeats the Byzantines at Acris (Bulgaria), on the Black Sea coast. He attacks their fortified Laager in darkness, and in a crushing defeat kills a large part of the imperial army.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364908252#Europe", "title": "513", "revid": 1364908252, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 514, "year_label": "514 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Vitalian, Byzantine general, marches again to Constantinople. A fleet of 200 vessels sails from the Black Sea ports and blockades the entrance of the harbor capital. Emperor Anastasius I is disquieted by riots in the city, which cost many casualties, and decides to negotiate with Vitalian.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364908338#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "514", "revid": 1364908338, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 541, "year_label": "541 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Lazic War: King Khosrau I intervenes in Lazica (modern Georgia), and supports the weakened king Gubazes II against a full-scale uprising. He sends an expeditionary force under Mermeroes and captures the Byzantine stronghold of Petra, located on the coast of the Black Sea, which provides the Persians a strategic port.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1299131059#Persia", "title": "541", "revid": 1299131059, "section": "Events › By place › Persia"}}, {"year": 548, "year_label": "548 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Gubazes II besieges the fortress of Petra, located on the Black Sea. The Persian army under Mermeroes defeats a small Byzantine force guarding the mountain passes, and relieves Petra.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1368141112#Persia", "title": "548", "revid": 1368141112, "section": "Events › By place › Persia"}}, {"year": 551, "year_label": "551 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Spring – Lazic War - Siege of Petra (550–551): The Byzantine army and their Sabir allies (some 6,000 men) under Bessas recapture the strategic Byzantine fortress of Petra, located on the coast of the Black Sea. He orders the city walls razed to the ground.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362066549#Persia", "title": "551", "revid": 1362066549, "section": "Events › By place › Persia"}}, {"year": 557, "year_label": "557 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "The Avars arrive in the northern region of the Caucasus, between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. They send envoys to the Byzantines in Lazica (modern Georgia). Like the Huns, the Avars are the former elite of a central Asian federation, which has been forced to flee westwards.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340800259#Europe", "title": "557", "revid": 1340800259, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 581, "year_label": "581 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "The Göktürks under Taspar Qaghan besiege the city of Chersonesos Taurica (modern Ukraine), located at the Black Sea; their cavalry keep plundering the steppes of the Crimean Peninsula until 590.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340801589#Europe", "title": "581", "revid": 1340801589, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 597, "year_label": "597 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Autumn – Balkan Campaign: The Avars, strengthened by the tribute of the Franks, resume their campaign along the Danube River, and besiege the Byzantine fortress city of Tomis (modern Romania) on the Black Sea coast.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364755884#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "597", "revid": 1364755884, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 626, "year_label": "626 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Byzantine–Persian War: Heraclius, his army reduced by campaigning to less than 30,000 men, is on the defensive in Pontus. Apparently he leaves a strong Byzantine garrison in Trapezus, and withdraws north-eastward along the Black Sea into Colchis, where he halts the Persians by aggressive defensive-offensive operations along the Phasis River. By attracting the Persian army under Shahin Vahmanzadegan in Anatolia, he provides Theodore with the opportunity to defeat them. By the end of the summer he threatens the communication of the Persians at Chalcedon (modern Turkey).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1352126742#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "626", "revid": 1352126742, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 662, "year_label": "662 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "August 13", "text": "August 13 – Maximus the Confessor, Byzantine monk and theologian, dies in exile in Lazica (modern Georgia), on the southeastern shore of the Black Sea.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340805159#Religion", "title": "662", "revid": 1340805159, "section": "Events › By topic › Religion"}}, {"year": 665, "year_label": "665 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Kubrat, ruler (khagan) of Great Bulgaria, dies after a 33-year reign. He is succeeded by his son Batbayan, who rules from Poltava (modern Ukraine), the lands north of the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340805187#Europe", "title": "665", "revid": 1340805187, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 717, "year_label": "717 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "August 15", "text": "August 15 – Siege of Constantinople: Maslama begins a combined land and sea effort to capture Constantinople. The capital controls the Bosporus, access between the Mediterranean and Black Sea, and is defended by a garrison of roughly 25,000 men. Leo III orders the granaries be restocked and siege engines installed. The Arab besiegers are suffering immense losses due to disease, and from attrition of siege warfare.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340808622#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "717", "revid": 1340808622, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 740, "year_label": "740 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "The Khazars, a nation of the Black Sea steppe, though not ethnically Jewish, voluntarily convert to Judaism.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1352534655#Religion", "title": "740", "revid": 1352534655, "section": "Events › By topic › Religion"}}, {"year": 764, "year_label": "764 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "According to the historian Theophanes the Confessor, icebergs float past Constantinople from the Black Sea (approximate date).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340847738#Geography", "title": "764", "revid": 1340847738, "section": "Events › By topic › Geography"}}, {"year": 812, "year_label": "812 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Byzantine–Bulgarian War: The Bulgars, led by Krum, ruler (khan) of the Bulgarian Empire, launch an invasion against the Byzantines. They capture the fortress cities of Develt and Mesembria, near the Black Sea.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1345909676#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "812", "revid": 1345909676, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 815, "year_label": "815 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "Byzantine–Bulgarian Treaty: Emperor Leo V the Armenian signs a 30-year peace agreement in Constantinople with Omurtag, ruler (khan) of the Bulgarian Empire. The Rhodope Mountains become the Byzantine border again, and Leo regains its lost Black Sea cities, after the Bulgars have them demolished.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1348647036#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "815", "revid": 1348647036, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 863, "year_label": "863 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "September 3", "text": "September 3 – Battle of Lalakaon: A Byzantine army confronts an invasion by Muslim forces, led by Umar al-Aqta, Emir of Malatya. The Muslims raid deep into Byzantine territory, reaching the Black Sea coast at the port city of Amisos. Petronas annihilates the Arabs near the River Lalakaon, in Paphlagonia (modern Turkey).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1322668706#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "863", "revid": 1322668706, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 917, "year_label": "917 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "August 20", "text": "August 20 – Battle of Achelous: A Byzantine expeditionary force (62,000 men) under General Leo Phokas (the Elder) is routed by the Bulgarians at the Achelous River near the fortress of Anchialos (modern Pomorie) on the Black Sea coast. Phokas flees to Mesembria (modern Nesebar) and escapes by boarding a ship. Tsar Simeon I (the Great) becomes de facto ruler of the whole Balkan Peninsula, except the well-protected Byzantine capital of Constantinople and the Peloponnese.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364468140#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "917", "revid": 1364468140, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 924, "year_label": "924 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "September 9", "text": "September 9 – After pillaging the suburbs of Constantinople, Tsar Simeon I of Bulgaria meets with the Byzantine Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos on the Golden Horn to arrange a truce, according to which Byzantium will pay the Bulgarians an annual tribute in exchangefor the return of some cities on the Black Sea coast.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360748864#July—September", "title": "924", "revid": 1360748864, "section": "Events › July—September"}}, {"year": 1214, "year_label": "1214 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "November 1", "text": "November 1 – Siege of Sinope: The Seljuk Turks under Sultan Kaykaus I capture the strategic Black Sea port city of Sinope – at the time held by the Empire of Trebizond (one of the Byzantine successor states formed after the Fourth Crusade). Emperor Alexios I of Trebizond leads an army to break the siege, but he is defeated and captured. His capture forces the Byzantines to accept tributary status to Kaykaus.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1329586748#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "1214", "revid": 1329586748, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 1223, "year_label": "1223 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Late April – The Russian and Polovtsian armies march down the west bank of the Dnieper River. Within a few days of the march beginning, a second group of Mongol ambassadors appear in the Russian camp and again offer peace. When their offers are rebuffed, the ambassadors are allowed to leave unharmed. Meanwhile, Russian forces from Galicia arrive by boat or cart-loads of equipment and food, along the Black Sea coast and up the Dnieper River, screened by Mongol forces on the east bank.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1336497375#Mongol_Empire", "title": "1223", "revid": 1336497375, "section": "Events › Other events, by place › Mongol Empire"}}, {"year": 1417, "year_label": "1417 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "March 5", "text": "March 5 – Alexios IV becomes the new Emperor of Trebizond (located in what is now Turkey along the Black Sea) upon the death of his father, Manuel III.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1368829183#January–March", "title": "1417", "revid": 1368829183, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1440, "year_label": "1440 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "February 26", "text": "February 26 – Ibrahim II becomes the Bey of Candar, a monarchy on the Black Sea that encompasses 10 modern-day Turkish provinces, upon the death of his father, Mubariz al-Din Isfendiyar, in the capital, Sinop.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1343605568#January–March", "title": "1440", "revid": 1343605568, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1854, "year_label": "1854 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "November 14", "text": "November 14 – Great Storm of 1854 in the Black Sea: 19 British transport and other ships (plus 2 French) supporting the Crimean War are wrecked with the loss of at least 287 men.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362496011#October–December", "title": "1854", "revid": 1362496011, "section": "Events › October–December"}}, {"year": 1919, "year_label": "1919 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "May 19", "text": "May 19 – Mustafa Kemal Atatürk lands at Samsun on the Anatolian Black Sea coast, marking the start of the Turkish War of Independence. The anniversary of this event is also an official day of Turkish Youth.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373508849#May", "title": "1919", "revid": 1373508849, "section": "Events › May"}}, {"year": 1920, "year_label": "1920 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "July 20", "text": "July 20 – The United Kingdom cedes its brief control of the key Black Sea port of Batum to the Democratic Republic of Georgia.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369258210#July", "title": "1920", "revid": 1369258210, "section": "Events › July"}}, {"year": 1942, "year_label": "1942 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "February 24", "text": "February 24 – Struma disaster: , carrying Jewish refugees from Axis-allied Romania to British-administered Palestine, is torpedoed and sunk by Soviet submarine Shch-213 in the Black Sea, killing about 791 men, women and children, with only 1 survivor.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372873908#February", "title": "1942", "revid": 1372873908, "section": "Events › February"}}, {"year": 1952, "year_label": "1952 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "June 1", "text": "June 1 – Navigation opens on the Volga–Don Canal, connecting the Caspian Sea basin with that of the Black Sea.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373187098#May–June", "title": "1952", "revid": 1373187098, "section": "Events › May–June"}}, {"year": 1986, "year_label": "1986 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "August 31", "text": "August 31 – The Soviet passenger liner collides with the bulk carrier Pyotr Vasev in the Black Sea and sinks almost immediately, killing 398.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373510075#August", "title": "1986", "revid": 1373510075, "section": "Events › August"}}, {"year": 2016, "year_label": "2016 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "December 25", "text": "December 25 – 2016 Russian Defence Ministry Tupolev Tu-154 crash: A Tupolev Tu-154 jetliner of the Russian Defence Ministry crashes into the Black Sea shortly after taking off from Sochi International Airport, Russia, while en route to Khmeimim Air Base, Syria. All 92 people on board, including 64 members of the Alexandrov Ensemble choir of the Russian Armed Forces, are killed.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373421880#December", "title": "2016", "revid": 1373421880, "section": "Events › December"}}, {"year": 2018, "year_label": "2018 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "November 27", "text": "November 27 – Kerch Strait incident: Ukraine declares martial law after an armed incident in which the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) coast guard fired upon and captured three Ukrainian Navy vessels attempting to pass from the Black Sea into the Sea of Azov through the Kerch Strait.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373090883#November", "title": "2018", "revid": 1373090883, "section": "Events › November"}}]}