Events 853 – A Byzantine fleet sacks and destroys undefended Damietta in Egypt. 1176 – The Hashshashin (Assassins) attempt to assassinate Saladin near Aleppo. 1200 – King John of England and King Philip II of France sign the Treaty of Le Goulet. 1254 – Serbian King Stefan Uroš I and the Republic of Venice sign… Read More

Events 293 – Roman Emperors Diocletian and Maximian appoint Galerius as Caesar to Diocletian, beginning the period of four rulers known as the Tetrarchy. 878 – Syracuse, Sicily, is captured by the Muslim Aghlabids after a nine-month siege. 1403 – Henry III of Castile sends Ruy González de Clavijo as ambassador to Timur to discuss… Read More

Events 685 – The Battle of Dun Nechtain is fought between a Pictish army under King Bridei III and the invading Northumbrians under King Ecgfrith, who are decisively defeated. 794 – While visiting the royal Mercian court at Sutton Walls with a view to marrying princess Ælfthryth, King Æthelberht II of East Anglia is taken… Read More

Events 1445 – John II of Castile defeats the Infantes of Aragon at the First Battle of Olmedo. 1535 – French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships, 110 men, and Chief Donnacona’s two sons (whom Cartier had kidnapped during his first voyage). 1542 – The Prome… Read More

Events 1096 – First Crusade: Around 800 Jews are massacred in Worms, Germany.. 1152 – The future Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. He would become king two years later, after the death of his cousin once removed King Stephen of England. 1268 – The Principality of Antioch, a crusader state, falls to… Read More

Events 1395 – Battle of Rovine: The Wallachians defeat an invading Ottoman army. 1809 – Emperor Napoleon I orders the annexation of the Papal States to the French Empire. 1814 – Occupation of Monaco changes from French to Austrian. 1900 – Second Boer War: British troops relieve Mafeking. 1902 – Greek archaeologist Valerios Stais discovers… Read More

Events 1527 – The Florentines drive out the Medici for a second time and Florence re-establishes itself as a republic. 1568 – Mary, Queen of Scots, flees to England. 1584 – Santiago de Vera becomes sixth Governor-General of the Spanish colony of the Philippines. 1739 – The Battle of Vasai concludes as the Marathas defeat… Read More