What Happened in August?

Spanish conquistador Hernándo Cortés captures Tenochtitlan the capital of the Aztec Empire after over two months of fighting, winning the Aztec Empire for Spain. Cortes' conquests began with Cuba in 1511, Mexico’s Bay of Campeche in 1519, and then deeper into Mexico.

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

The Matthew Bible, the first complete English-language Bible, is printed by John Rogers in 1537, under the pseudonym "Thomas Matthew".  Expand +

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. Expand +

Sir Humphrey Gilbert, a British navigator and explorer takes possession of the area around St. John’s harbor, Newfoundland in the name of the Queen. He was later lost at sea in a storm off the Azores on his return trip to England.

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.

Henry III King of France is assassinated by Jacques Clément, a young fanatical Dominican friar with a knife. Clément was killed on the spot by the guards.

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.  Expand +

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.

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.

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, Expand +