Wikipedia:Selected anniversaries/October 1

October 1: National Day in the People's Republic of China (1949); Independence Day in Cyprus & Nigeria (both 1960), Tuvalu (1978) and Palau (1994)

331 BC - Battle of Arbela: Despite being greatly outnumbered, Alexander the Great and his Macedonian forces defeated Darius III of Persia. Alexander was then crowned "King of Asia" in a magnificent ceremony in Arbela (modern-day Arbil, Iraq).
1891 - In Stanford, California, Leland Stanford Junior University officially opened. There were 559 students, and tuition was free.
1936 - Generalissimo Francisco Franco became the head of the Spanish State, ruling as a dictator till his death in 1975.
1958 - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) began operations, replacing the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, (NACA).
1977 - Brazilian football (soccer) star Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as the "Black Pearl" or Pelé, played his last game as a professional.