What Happened in July?

Alexander III (Alexander the Great) was born in Pella, the capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia, on the sixth day of the ancient Greek month of Hekatombaion, which probably corresponds to July 20, 356 BC (although the exact date is uncertain).

The Battle of Dyrrhachium, is fought during the Roman Civil War. It was a significant engagement between Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great. While Pompey ultimately won the battle, it was a strategic victory for Caesar as he managed to withdraw his forces and later decisively defeat Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalus.

Birth of the Roman historian and senator, Gaius Cornelius Tacitus. It birth place was most likely Gallia Narbonensis (southern France) although Northern Italy is another possibility.

The Great Fire of Rome begins during the reign of Emperor Nero, lasting for several days and resulting in significant destruction.

Emperor Caracalla grants Roman citizenship c. July 11, 212 CE, to all free inhabitants of the Roman Empire. His Edict was a landmark event, transforming the concept of Roman citizenship from an elite status to a near-universal right within the Empire.

Crete earthquake - An estimated 8.5 magnitude underseas earthquake and resulting Tsunami causes widespread destruction in central and southern Macedonia (Modern Greece), Africa northern Libya, Egypt, where the city of Alexandria was severely damaged, Cyprus, Sicily and Hispania (Spain). On Crete, nearly all towns were destroyed. More

The Eastern Roman Emperor Theodosius I defeats the Western Roman usurper Magnus Maximus at the Battle of the Save (also known as the Battle of Poetovio) circa July 15, 388 AD, leading to Maximus's capture and execution in Aquileia, leading to Theodosius's securing control over the unified Roman Empire.

The Bulgarian Khan Asparukh defeats the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IV at the Battle of Ongal. A decisive loss for the Byzantines that led to the recognition of the First Bulgarian Empire.

The Umayyad conquest of Hispania begins as Muslim forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad land at Gibraltar. the Islamic Arabs and Moors of Berber descent in northern Africa crossed the Strait of Gibraltar onto the Iberian Peninsula, and in a series of raids they conquered Visigothic Christian Hispania.

The Papal States are established as Pepin the Short, King of the Franks, donates land to Pope Stephen II, creating a temporal domain for the papacy.

The Battle of Simancas, (also called Alhandega or al-Khandaq) begins between the Kingdom of León and the Caliphate of Córdoba. The battle lasted some days, with the allied Christian troops emerging victorious and routing the Cordovan forces; resulting in a victory for León and the decline of the Caliphate's power in the region. ibn Muhammad al-Tawil, wali of Huesca, withheld his troops from the battle. He was hunted down near Calatayud by Salama ibn Ahmad ibn Salama, taken to Córdoba, and crucified in front of its Al-Qasr.

Pope Benedict VII dies on July 10, 983 after a reign marked by the struggle between the papacy and the Roman nobility.

Hugh Capet is crowned as the King of the Franks c. July 3, 987 ending the almost three century rule of the Carolingian dynasty and marking the beginning of the Capetian dynasty and the consolidation of power in France, laying the foundation for the French nation-state.  Expand +

Hugh Capet was crowned King of the Franks on July 3, 987, at Noyon or Reims, ending the 99-year conflict between competing noble houses. and establishing the Capetian dynasty that ruled France until 1328. As Duke of the Franks, he succeeded the last Carolingian, Louis V, transitioning power away from the Carolingian line.

Baptism of Kievan Rus' ruler Vladimir the Great c. July, 28, 988, leading to the Christianization of the region. The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church both canonized him as Saint Vladimir, around 1240.

The Battle of Spercheios takes place on July 16, 997 resulting in a decisive Byzantine victory that virtually destroyed the Bulgarian army and ended its raids into southern Greece.
Thr battle took place during the reign of Emperor Basil II but the Byzantine forces were led on the field by General Nikephoros Ouranos, who Basil had appointed  as "Domestic of the West".

The Byzantine emperor Basil II defeats Tsar (Emperor) Samuel's Bulgarian army at the Battle of Kleidion on July 29, 1014, leading to Bulgaria's eventual surrender in 1018 and its integration into the Byzantine Empire for over 150 years, earning Basil the epithet "Bulgar-Slayer".

Norway King Olaf II (Olaf Haraldsson) is killed at the Battle of Stiklestad in Norway. The Catholic Church would later canonize him as Saint Olaf and he is the Patron Saint of Norway. More

The Great Schism, the separation of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church takes place when papal legate Cardinal Humbert, excommunicates the Patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Cerularius. The Patriarch and his council responded four days later by excommunicating Cardinal Humbert, formally enacting the split. Expand +

Henry I of France is crowned King of France in Reims.