9月13日今日歷史｜從《星條旗》誕生、超級瑪利歐到奧斯陸協議｜September 13 in History｜From The Star-Spangled Banner and Super Mario to the Oslo Accords

9月13日連結戰爭、國家、民權、流行文化與和平外交，從《星條旗》到奧斯陸協議，歷史在這天留下多重印記。

September 13 connects war, national identity, civil rights, popular culture and diplomacy, bringing together stories that shaped both nations and generations.

中文版本

9月13日是一個充滿歷史轉折的日期，從18世紀美國首都的建立，到19世紀戰爭中一面旗幟如何成為國家象徵，再到20世紀女性參政、監獄改革、電子遊戲與中東和平外交，這一天呈現出非常多元的人類歷史。1609年9月13日，英國航海家亨利・哈德遜（Henry Hudson）沿著一條後來以他命名的河流向內陸航行。哈德遜原本是尋找通往亞洲的新航線，但這次探索沒有找到理想中的航道，卻增加了歐洲人對北美東岸地理環境的認識，也為後來荷蘭在哈德遜河流域建立殖民據點提供了重要基礎。這段航海史說明，歷史上的「失敗探索」有時反而會帶來完全不同的結果，甚至影響後來城市與國家的形成。1759年9月13日，七年戰爭中的亞伯拉罕平原戰役在魁北克城附近爆發。英軍在詹姆斯・沃爾夫（James Wolfe）將軍指揮下與法軍交戰，最終取得勝利。沃爾夫與法軍指揮官蒙卡姆侯爵（Louis-Joseph de Montcalm）均在戰鬥中受傷死亡，但英軍的勝利令法國在北美的勢力受到重大打擊。這場戰役成為英法爭奪北美殖民霸權的重要轉折，並對後來加拿大的政治發展產生深遠影響。1788年9月13日，美國邦聯議會決定舉行第一次總統選舉，並指定紐約市為美國臨時首都。當時美國聯邦政府仍處於建立初期，紐約市成為新國家政治運作的重要中心。翌年喬治・華盛頓當選第一任總統，聯邦政府制度逐步正式運作。這個日期因此見證了美國由革命後的鬆散邦聯走向更完整聯邦政治制度的過程。 1814年9月13日，1812年戰爭期間，英軍開始猛烈炮轟巴爾的摩港的麥克亨利堡（Fort McHenry）。英國艦隊在清晨開始攻擊，炮擊持續約25小時。當時美國律師兼詩人弗朗西斯・斯科特・基（Francis Scott Key）被英軍扣留在港內一艘船上，隔著距離觀察炮火。他原本是前往協商釋放一名被英軍拘留的美國醫生，卻因知道英軍即將攻擊巴爾的摩而被暫時扣留。整個晚上，他一直注視著炮火與黑暗中的麥克亨利堡。到了9月14日清晨，當他看到美國國旗仍然飄揚在堡壘上空時，受到極大震撼，並開始寫下後來成為美國國歌的《星條旗》（The Star-Spangled Banner）。美國國會圖書館指出，基將自己的經歷寫成詩句，並配上當時已有的旋律；歌曲後來逐漸成為美國事實上的國歌，1931年正式獲國會承認。 《星條旗》的故事之所以重要，是因為它展示了國家象徵如何從一場具體的歷史事件中產生。一面在戰火中仍然飄揚的旗幟，成為人們理解國家抵抗、希望與身份認同的象徵。這首歌曲並非一開始就被正式定為國歌，而是在多年之間逐漸普及，最後才獲得法律上的國歌地位。今天人們聽到它時，往往只想到國家儀式與體育比賽，但它的起源其實與1814年巴爾的摩遭受英軍攻擊的戰爭記憶密切相關。1940年9月13日，第二次世界大戰期間，德國空軍轟炸白金漢宮，英王喬治六世與王后伊利沙伯當時身在宮中，但兩人沒有受傷。這次空襲成為英國王室與普通市民共同承受戰爭威脅的象徵。王室留在倫敦並公開面對轟炸，也被英國社會視為一種與民眾共同承擔戰爭壓力的姿態。這段歷史後來成為英國戰時王室形象的重要部分。1948年9月13日，美國政治史出現重要突破，Margaret Chase Smith當選美國參議員，成為第一位先後在美國眾議院和參議院任職的女性。她早年進入眾議院，後來成功進入參議院，打破女性在聯邦政治高層中的一道重要障礙。她的政治生涯亦以獨立立場著稱，1950年更發表著名的「Declaration of Conscience」演說，批評政治恐慌與無根據的指控。她的成功說明女性參政並非只是取得投票權，更包括真正進入制定國家政策的核心位置。 1971年9月13日，紐約州阿提卡監獄起義進入最血腥的階段。囚犯此前已控制部分監獄設施並提出改善生活條件、醫療待遇與囚犯權利等要求，談判數日後，州警和國民警衛隊強行進入監獄。行動造成43人死亡，包括囚犯及被挾持的監獄工作人員。阿提卡事件後來成為美國監獄改革與人權史的重要案例，也引發人們對監獄管理、國家使用武力、囚犯待遇以及媒體報道真相的長期討論。 同一天，中國近代史亦發生重大事件。1971年9月13日，林彪事件進入最終階段。毛澤東的接班人林彪在政治局勢急劇變化後離開中國，所乘飛機最終在蒙古墜毀，機上人員全部死亡。林彪事件成為文化大革命後期最神秘、最具爭議的政治事件之一，亦令中國最高政治權力結構出現重大震動。1985年9月13日，世界流行文化迎來一個看似輕鬆、實際影響極為深遠的時刻——任天堂在日本推出《超級瑪利歐兄弟》（Super Mario Bros.）。遊戲最初在日本的Family Computer上推出，玩家控制Mario穿越不同關卡，收集道具、避開敵人並拯救Princess Toadstool。遊戲的橫向捲軸設計、關卡節奏、隱藏區域與道具系統，為平台遊戲建立了許多後來被廣泛採用的設計模式。更重要的是，《超級瑪利歐兄弟》把一個角色變成全球流行文化象徵，Mario後來不再只是一個電子遊戲人物，而成為任天堂乃至整個電子遊戲產業最具代表性的角色之一。1993年9月13日，歷史焦點再次回到國際政治。以色列總理伊扎克・拉賓（Yitzhak Rabin）與巴勒斯坦解放組織（PLO）領導人亞西爾・阿拉法特（Yasser Arafat）在美國白宮簽署《奧斯陸協議》相關的《原則宣言》，並在美國總統克林頓見證下握手。這是以色列與PLO公開承認對方、開始直接談判的重要外交突破。美國國務院資料指出，以色列承認PLO為巴勒斯坦人的代表，而PLO則承認以色列有和平安全存在的權利；雙方同意建立巴勒斯坦自治政府，並計劃在過渡期內進一步談判永久地位問題。 當年的握手畫面成為20世紀最著名的外交照片之一，因為它象徵兩個長期敵對陣營首次正式走到談判桌前。奧斯陸進程原本被視為通往和平的重要道路，但後來受到政治暴力、互不信任及其他重大爭議影響，最終沒有實現原先預期的永久和平安排。即使如此，1993年9月13日仍然是以巴關係史上的關鍵日子，因為它證明即使長期敵對的政治對手，也曾經嘗試以談判取代武力。1997年9月13日，印度加爾各答舉行德蕾莎修女（Mother Teresa）的葬禮。她在世界各地以服務貧困人士及弱勢群體聞名，1979年獲得諾貝爾和平獎。她的葬禮由印度政府以國葬規格舉行，反映她在印度及全球社會中的特殊地位。2010年9月13日，西班牙網球選手拉斐爾・拿度（Rafael Nadal）贏得美國網球公開賽男子單打冠軍，完成職業生涯大滿貫，成為當時最年輕完成四大滿貫的男子球員之一。這場勝利標誌他的網球生涯進入另一個歷史階段，也令他與費達拿、祖高域等人共同構成21世紀男子網球最具代表性的黃金時代。2007年9月13日，聯合國大會通過《聯合國原住民族權利宣言》，這份文件確認原住民族在文化、身份、自決、土地及資源等方面的重要權利，成為國際人權制度中重要的一步。從戰爭中的旗幟，到女性進入國會，再到電子遊戲角色成為全球文化符號，以及敵對政治力量坐下來談判，9月13日似乎一直圍繞著「身份」這個主題。1814年的美國旗幟代表一個新國家的身份；1948年的Margaret Chase Smith代表女性逐步進入政治權力中心；1985年的Mario成為新一代娛樂文化的象徵；1993年的奧斯陸協議則涉及兩個民族如何尋找各自的政治身份與未來。回望9月13日，我們會發現歷史並不只是戰爭與政權更替，也包括歌曲、旗幟、人物、遊戲、談判與社會制度。這些看似不同的東西，都會影響人們如何理解自己、自己的國家，以及自己所屬的世界。從1814年麥克亨利堡上空的一面旗，到1985年電子遊戲螢幕上的Mario，再到1993年白宮草坪上的一次握手，9月13日展示了歷史如何透過象徵與行動，一點一點改變世界。

English Version

September 13 brings together stories of war, national identity, political representation, popular culture and diplomacy. The date reaches from the age of empires to the modern world, showing how a battle, a political breakthrough, a song or even a video game character can become part of a much larger historical story. On September 13, 1609, English navigator Henry Hudson travelled along the river that would later bear his name. Hudson was searching for a new route to Asia, but his expedition did not discover the passage he wanted. Instead, it provided Europeans with valuable information about the geography of the North American coast and helped encourage Dutch interest in the Hudson River region. Dutch settlement would eventually lead to New Amsterdam and, after English control was established, the development of New York. The voyage therefore illustrates an important pattern in history: exploration does not always produce the result its participants expect, yet its unintended consequences can shape entire cities and regions. In 1759, September 13 became an important date in the Seven Years’ War when British forces defeated the French at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham near Quebec City. British General James Wolfe and French commander Louis-Joseph de Montcalm were both mortally wounded during the fighting, but the British victory severely weakened French power in North America. The battle became one of the decisive moments in the struggle between Britain and France for control of the continent and helped shape the political future of what would become Canada. In 1788, September 13 marked another important step in the development of the United States. The Congress of the Confederation authorised the first national presidential election and designated New York City as the temporary capital of the United States. The new federal government was still in its early stages, and New York became an important centre of national political activity. George Washington would be elected the following year, helping establish the new constitutional government. The decision therefore belongs to the wider story of the United States moving from the loose structure of the Confederation toward a functioning federal state.  September 13, 1814, produced one of the most enduring symbols in American history. During the War of 1812, British naval forces began a major bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor. The attack lasted approximately twenty-five hours. American lawyer and poet Francis Scott Key watched the bombardment from a ship in the harbour after being temporarily detained by the British. Key had originally travelled to negotiate the release of an American physician held by British forces, but because he had learned about the planned attack on Baltimore, he and his companions were kept under guard until the operation was over. Through the night, Key watched rockets and shells strike the fort. At dawn on September 14, he saw the American flag still flying above Fort McHenry. The sight inspired him to write the poem that became “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The Library of Congress explains that Key adapted his words to an existing melody, and the song gradually became the unofficial national anthem before Congress formally recognised it in 1931. The importance of the Star-Spangled Banner lies in the way a specific wartime experience became a national symbol. The flag represented survival and resistance during a moment when Baltimore was under serious threat. The song itself did not immediately become the official anthem, but its popularity grew over many decades. Today it is associated with national ceremonies and sporting events, yet its origins are deeply connected with the fear and uncertainty of the War of 1812. In 1940, September 13 became another important date in wartime British history when German aircraft bombed Buckingham Palace during the Second World War. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were inside the palace but survived the attack. Their decision to remain in London and publicly share the dangers faced by ordinary citizens became an important part of the wartime image of the British monarchy. The bombing symbolised the fact that even the royal family was not isolated from the dangers facing the country. On September 13, 1948, American political history recorded another important milestone when Margaret Chase Smith was elected to the U.S. Senate. She became the first woman to serve in both houses of the United States Congress. Smith had previously served in the House of Representatives and later built a reputation for political independence. In 1950, she delivered her famous “Declaration of Conscience” speech, criticising political fear and unsupported accusations during the early Cold War. Her career demonstrated that the expansion of women’s political rights involved more than voting; it also required women to enter the institutions where national policy was debated and decided.  September 13, 1971, was a tragic day in the history of the American prison system. The Attica prison uprising in New York had begun several days earlier, with prisoners demanding improved living conditions, medical care and greater recognition of prisoners’ rights. State police and National Guard forces eventually stormed the prison. Forty-three people died, including prisoners and hostages. The event became a major symbol in debates about prison reform, government use of force, human rights and the treatment of incarcerated people. The legacy of Attica continues to influence discussions about how prisons should be managed and how authorities should respond to large-scale unrest.  The same date in 1971 was also associated with the mysterious Lin Biao incident in China. Lin Biao, Mao Zedong’s designated successor, attempted to leave China during a rapidly changing political situation. His aircraft crashed in Mongolia, killing everyone on board. The incident became one of the most controversial political episodes of the later Cultural Revolution and created major uncertainty within China’s highest leadership. September 13, 1985, brought a completely different kind of historical transformation. Nintendo released Super Mario Bros. in Japan for the Family Computer. The game placed Mario in a colourful world filled with enemies, obstacles, power-ups and hidden areas as players attempted to rescue Princess Toadstool. Its side-scrolling structure, level design and gameplay mechanics influenced generations of platform games. More importantly, Super Mario Bros. transformed Mario from a video game character into one of the most recognisable figures in global popular culture. Mario eventually became a symbol not only of Nintendo but of the video game industry itself. On September 13, 1993, the world watched another iconic moment, this time in international diplomacy. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organization chairman Yasser Arafat signed the Declaration of Principles associated with the Oslo Accords at the White House in Washington, D.C., with U.S. President Bill Clinton present. The agreement represented a major diplomatic breakthrough because Israel and the PLO formally recognised each other as negotiating partners. According to the U.S. State Department, Israel recognised the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people, while the PLO recognised Israel’s right to exist in peace and security. The agreement established a framework for Palestinian self-government and called for further negotiations on permanent-status issues.The image of Rabin and Arafat shaking hands became one of the most famous diplomatic photographs of the twentieth century. For many people, it symbolised the possibility that long-standing enemies could move from confrontation toward negotiation. The Oslo process later encountered severe obstacles, including violence, political opposition and deep mistrust, and it did not produce the permanent peace settlement originally hoped for. Nevertheless, September 13, 1993, remains a crucial date in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict because it demonstrated that direct political dialogue between the two sides was possible. In 1997, September 13 marked the funeral of Mother Teresa in Kolkata, India. Known internationally for her work among poor and vulnerable people, she received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Her funeral was held with the status of a state funeral, reflecting the extraordinary respect she had gained in India and around the world. In 2010, Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal won the U.S. Open men’s singles title, completing his career Grand Slam. The victory added another major achievement to a career that would make Nadal one of the defining athletes of twenty-first-century tennis. September 13 also has an important place in the history of indigenous rights. In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, recognising important principles concerning indigenous identity, culture, self-determination, land and resources. Looking across the date, September 13 appears to have a recurring connection with identity. The American flag at Fort McHenry became a symbol of national identity. Margaret Chase Smith represented the gradual expansion of women’s participation in political power. Mario became a cultural symbol for a new generation shaped by electronic entertainment. The Oslo Accords addressed the difficult question of political identity and self-government for Israelis and Palestinians. These events may seem unrelated, but they show that history is not only made by armies and governments. Songs, flags, political representation, games, diplomacy and cultural symbols can also shape the way people understand themselves and their place in the world. From a flag flying above Fort McHenry in 1814 to Mario appearing on a video game screen in 1985 and the handshake between Rabin and Arafat in 1993, September 13 demonstrates how historical meaning can emerge through both dramatic events and powerful symbols. The date therefore offers more than a list of anniversaries. It provides a window into the changing ways societies define freedom, identity, representation and the possibility of a different future.

總評

9月13日由戰爭中的《星條旗》、女性參政、監獄改革一路走到超級瑪利歐與奧斯陸協議，展現歷史如何由象徵與行動塑造世界。

September 13 reveals how war, political representation, human rights, entertainment and diplomacy can shape collective identity, showing that history is created by symbols as much as events.