December 25, 496: King Clovis, who united Gaul and founded France, is baptized in the Cathedral of Rheims, followed by 3,000 of his soldiers. "Worship what you once burned, and burn what you worshipped," the priest instructed him. However, Clovis and his troops showed little change after their "conversion" and apparently believed Christ was merely a war god who would grant them victory if they prayed for it.
December 25, 800: Pope Leo III is crowns Charlemagne, the first ruler of the Holy Roman Empire.
December 25, 1066: William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, was crowned king of England at Westminster Abbey, officially recognizing his rule and the success of the Norman Conquest of England.
December 25, 1814: First Protestant sermon on New Zealand soil preached by Rev. Samuel Marsden, colonial chaplain of New South Wales. Spearhead of the CMS mission to the Maoris, who were baptised in droves in the 1830's.
December 25, 1865: Evangeline Booth is born, the last of the Booth children.
December 25, 1931: Missionary radio station HCJB, run by World Radio Missionary Fellowship, Inc., begins broadcasting the Gospel from Quito, Ecuador, to eastern Asia.
