The Synod of Worms condemns Pope Gregory VII and excommunicates Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor.
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What Happened Today in History on April 18
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on April 18th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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Eleanor of Aquitaine marries Henry Plantagenet, who later becomes King Henry II of England.
Pope Nicholas III is elected as the 188th pope.
The Statute of Rhuddlan establishes English rule in Wales under King Edward I.
Christopher of Bavaria is appointed King of Denmark.
The construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City in Rome begins as Pope Julius II lays the the ceremonial corner stone. It was completed on November 18, 1626, replacing the earlier Old St. Peter's Basilica. It was designed by multiple renowned architects, including Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, and Carlo Maderno, and features a notable dome, atrium, and square designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
A Powhatan Indian attack on Jamestown in Virginia results in the deaths of hundreds of English settlers.
The Siege of Derry, a key event in the Williamite War in Ireland begins when Jacobite forces, loyal to King James II, laid siege to the city. The siege lasted for 105 days, ending on August 1, 1689, when supply ships broke through a boom on the River Foyle and relieved the city. The siege is remembered as a pivotal moment in the conflict between William of Orange and James II for control of the British Isles. More
Paul Revere and William Dawes ride from Boston to Lexington warning of British troop movements, marking the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.
The UK and Russia sign the Treaty of London, forming an alliance against Napoleon.
The first train crosses the Indian Peninsula from Bombay to Thane.
The Greco-Turkish War begins with a general advance by Ottoman forces under Edhem Pasha. However, the war effectively started earlier, following the rebellion on Crete in late 1896 and Greek military interventions in early 1897, which escalated tensions and border clashes before the formal start of the conflict.
The devastating San Francisco earthquake strikes, killing thousands and causing widespread destruction and fires. More than 3,000 people died, and 80% of the city was destroyed. The death toll remains the greatest loss of life from a natural disaster in California's history and high on the lists of American disasters. More
The Yankee Stadium, one of the most iconic sports venues, opens in the Bronx, New York City.
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The Doolittle Raid, also known the Tokyo Raid, takes place. 16 B-25B Mitchell medium bombers, each with a crew of five, were launched from the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Hornet, in the Pacific Ocean.
They flew without fighter escorts planning to continue westward to land in China after bombing the military and industrial targets. The damage to Japanese military caused was minimal. Killing around 50 people and injuring 400. However the raid had major psychological effects. In the United States, it raised morale. In Japan, it raised fear and doubt about the ability of military leaders to defend the home islands. Doolittle received the Medal of Honor and was promoted two ranks to Brigadier general. More
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) launches a U.S. Army Air Forces North American B-25B Mitchell during the Doolittle Raid, 18 April 1942.
American actress Grace Kelly marries Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
A Federal Court decides to release Poet Ezra Pound from the St. Elizabeth Hospital for the criminally insane, where he had been interned for 13 years since his arrest in Italy in 1945 on charges for treason. After his release, Pounds returned to Europe. He died in 1972. More
Zimbabwe gains independence from Britain, ending white minority rule.
A suicide bomber detonated a one-half-ton pickup truck laden with 2,000 pounds of TNT near the front of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 63 people, including 17 Americans. It was the deadliest attack on a U.S. diplomatic mission to date, and changed the way the U.S. Department of State secured its resources and executed its missions overseas. More