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What Happened in August?
Conquests, crusades, and victories. Explore pivotal historical events that took place in August. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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Ottoman Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent, defeats the Hungarian forces at the Battle of Mohács battle that resulted in the death of King Louis II and much of the Hungarian nobility. This catastrophic defeat led to the partition of Hungary and marked the end of the Hungarian Jagiellonian dynasty, ushering in a period of Ottoman control and influence in the region for over 150 years and sustained Ottoman–Habsburg wars. Sultan Suleiman I, inherited the throne of the Ottoman Empire at the age of 26. He was the only son of Selim I, who conquered Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem and Alexandria. More
1537, c. August
The Matthew Bible, the first complete English-language Bible, is printed by John Rogers in 1537, under the pseudonym "Thomas Matthew".
It was a significant translation because it was based on the original Greek and Hebrew texts, unlike the earlier Coverdale Bible which relied on German and Latin sources. Rogers was eventually tried and executed as a heretic in 1555 under Mary I for having translated the Bible; a punishable offence on those days.
1539, Circa August
King Francis I of France issues the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts, making French the official language of legal documents.
Pierre de Monte becomes the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller (Knights of Malta) after the death of Jean Parisot de Valette on August 21, 1568
The Edict of Saint-Germain is signed on August 8, 1570, granting French Protestants (Huguenots) limited religious freedoms, ending France's Third War of Religion but ultimately failing to prevent further conflict, collapsing in 1572 with the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, which saw thousands of Huguenots killed, reigniting the Wars of Religion.
Thousands of Protestant Huguenots (French Protestants) are massacred in France by Catholics, in what became known as the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre after the royal wedding of a Catholic princess and a Huguenot leader failed to bring peace and instead sparked widespread religious conflict. More
The St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre occurs in France, resulting in the killing of thousands of Huguenots (Protestants). following the assassination attempt on Admiral Coligny. Catholic mobs targeted thousands of Huguenots (French Protestants), leading to widespread killings in Paris and other parts of France. Estimates for the total number of deaths vary widely, from about 2,000 to as many as 70,000.
The Spanish army of King Philip II, led by the Duke of Alba, decisively defeats the Portuguese forces of António, Prior of Crato, at the battle of Alcantara, who had proclaimed himself king during the Portuguese succession crisis. On August 27, two days after their decisive victory, King Philip captures Lisbon, effectively uniting the crowns of Portugal and Spain.
The following year, on April 16, 1581,the Portuguese Cortes of Tomar, (Parliament), formally recognized King Philip II of Spain as King Philip I of Portugal, resulting in the beginning of the Iberian Union, a personal union of the Spanish and Portuguese crowns that would last for 60 years.
The Treaty of Nonsuch is signed on August 10, 1585 between England and the Dutch rebels, formalizing England's military and financial support for the Dutch rebels against Spain. It led towards open Anglo-Spanish conflict, effectively drawing England into the Dutch Revolt against Philip II of Spain.
The University of Groningen is established in the Netherlands by the council of the province Groningen on 23 August 23, 1614.
The first recorded enslaved Africans arrive in the English colony of Virginia at Point Comfort, present-day Fort Monroe, more than a year before the Mayflower Pilgrims docked in Plymouth Harbor on December 1620. Two English pirate ships, the Treasurer and White Lion. each carrying 20-30 African slaves land in the Jamestown colony within four days of each other. and are then bought by the colonists.
The slaves had been taken from a Portuguese slave ship, the San Juan Bautista, carrying 350 African slaves in route to Veracruz, Mexico. Virginia’s first enslaved people spoke Bantu languages, and their homelands were the kingdoms of Ndongo and Kongo. They are the first recorded Africans to arrive in England's mainland American colonies. marking the beginning of what evolved into a legalized system of slavery that lasted two and a half centuries. More
The Dutch Republic officially cedes Dutch Brazil, also known as New Holland, to Portugal through the Treaty of The Hague in exchange for an indemnity payment from Portugal. The Dutch had initially gained control of this region in northeastern Brazil during the 17th century, but faced increasing Portuguese resistance and ultimately lost control of the major cities in 1654.
By Isochrone - This SVG map includes elements that have been taken or adapted from this map:, CC BY-SA 4.0, - Via Wikimedia
The Ottoman Empire agrees to the Peace of Vasvar following the Battle of Saint Gottharda and signs on August 10, 1664 the 20-year treaty between the Habsburg Monarchy (Holy Roman Empire) and the Ottoman Empire, ending the Fifteen Years' War. It allowed the Ottomans to retain key territories like Nové Zámky while stabilizing the border for two decades.
George Washington becomes a Master Mason in his hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia. He was twenty one years old. More
Most of the 55 members of the Continental Congress signed the parchment copy of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. While the vote for independence happened on July 2, and the document was formally adopted on July 4, the signing on parchment took place later. More
The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn, takes place, resulting in a decisive British victory. as General William Howe, defeats the Continental Army, led by General George Washington, forcing them to retreat from Brooklyn and later from Manhattan. It was the first major battle fought after the Declaration of Independence.
Engraving by James Charles Armytage (1802–1897) from painting by Michael Angelo Wageman,Title: Washington's Retreat at Long Island
Description "Retreat at Long Island" General George Washington personally orchestrating the successful retreat of the Continental Army, militias, and their supplies across the East River from Brooklyn Heights to Manhattan, New York on the evening of August 27, 1776.
The Badge of Military Merit is announced by General George Washington to the Continental Army to honor soldiers wounded in battle. Designed by Washington in the form of a purple heart,
It was intended as a military order for soldiers who exhibited, "not only instances of unusual gallantry in battle, but also extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way". This is thought to be the first time in modern history that military honor awards had been presented to common soldiers.It is believed that only three people received the Badge of Military Merit during the American Revolutionary War, The first Badge of Military Merit (“a heart of purple cloth with a narrow lace or binding”) was awarded to 26 year old Sergeant Elijah Churchill of Enfield, Connecticut, a member of the Fourth Troop of the Second Continental Dragoons. In 1932, the United States War Department authorized the new Purple Heart Medal, officially considered the "successor decoration" to the Badge of Military Merit. More