William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, becomes the Duke at the age of 8, on July 3, 1035, after the death of his father, Robert I.
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What Happened in July?
Natural disasters, battles, and rulers being crowned. Discover the significant events and milestones from July throughout history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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Pope Damasus II was consecrated as the 151st pope on July 17, 1048. He was the choice of Emperor Henry III to replace the controversial Pope Benedict IX . He was the third German to hold the papacy which was one of the shortest ones in history, lasting only 24 days.
He died on August 9, 1048. in Palestrina, near Rome. Early rumors led to him having been poisoned, but later analysis point to him having died from Malaria,
Pope Leo IX issues a papal bull, presented by Cardinal Humbert, on July 16, 1054. excommunicating the Patriarch of Constantinople, Michael I Cerularius, leading to the Great Schism between the Eastern and Western Christian Churches.
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.
Key factors leading to the separation of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church included disagreements over the Pope's absolute authority, and a major theological dispute over the "Filioque" clause in the Nicene Creed. The original creed stated the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father, but the West changed it to "proceeds from the Father and the Son," which was a major concern for the East and was not agreed upon by Eastern churches.
The rift was also enhanced by growing political and cultural tensions and disagreements over practices such as married clergy (allowed in the East) versus celibacy (required in the West) and language differences (Latin in the West, Greek in the East).
Henry I of France is crowned King of France in Reims.
1078, circa July
Prince Vsevolod I becomes Grand Prince of Kiev, marking a significant period in Kievan Rus' history.
The Crusaders, led by Godfrey of Bouillon, capture the city of Jerusalem from the Fatimid Caliphate, marking the conclusion of the First Crusade.
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King William II of England, also known as William Rufus, is killed in a hunting accident in the New Forest. Some believe that his brother Henry plotted his death since shortly after his brother William's death, he rushed to be crowned king before anyone could contest him. Also, Walter Tirel, the person that killed King William, fled to France following the incident, which over time has been viewed as an admission of guilt. Yet hunting was not a particularly safe at the time with frequent hunting accidents some of which were fatal. More
1101, c. July 15
Following William Rufus's death, Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy attempted to take the English throne from his youngest brother, Henry I, landing at Portsmouth in c. July,1101, but failing to secure the crown and signed the Treaty of Alton surrendering his claim and agreeing that if either brother died without an heir, the other would inherit the land. He was ultimately defeated by his brothers' Henry military and political maneuvers.
The Siege of Tripoli during the aftermath of the First Crusade began in 1102 and concluded with its capture on July 12, 1109. This siege led to the establishment of the County of Tripoli which remained under the control of the crusaders until it was captured by the Muslim Mamluks in 1289
The Battle of Ourique takes place, where the forces of Portuguese count Afonso Henriques (of the House of Burgundy) defeat those led by the Almoravid governor of Córdoba, Muhammad Az-Zubayr Ibn Umar, identified as "King Ismar" in Christian chronicles. More
By Domingos Sequeira (1793) Public Domain.
Crusaders begin the Siege of Damascus on July 24, 1148 during the Second Crusade. It was a disastrous failure for the Second Crusade, resulting in a swift retreat that crippled European efforts in the Holy Land. Led by Louis VII of France, Conrad III of Germany, and Baldwin III of Jerusalem, Christian forces failed to take the city, boosting Muslim unity.
King Amalric I of Jerusalem dies of dysentery on July 11, 1174, while returning from a campaign in Syria. His death, following that of Nur ad-Din, created a power vacuum, leaving the kingdom to his 13-year-old son, Baldwin IV.
Pope Alexander III and Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I sign the Treaty of Venice, ending their long-running dispute.
Richard the Lionheart is crowned Duke of Normandy on July 20, 1189 after the death of his father, Henry II, who had died on July 6, 1189. Richard was crowned King on September 3, 1189.
Crusaders under King Richard I (The Lion Heart) and King Philip II of France, captured Acre, on July 12, 1191, from Saladin's Muslim forces after a prolonged and brutal siege which started two years earlier on August 28, 1189. Acre went on to become a critical base of operations for the Crusaders.
The Siege of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade, begins on July 17, 1203, as the Crusaders, aboard a Venetian fleet, attack the city; resulting in the Sack of Constantinople, the fleeing of the reigning emperor, Alexios III and the restoration of Isaac II and his son Alexios IV as co-emperors on August 1, 1203.
The attack and siege of Constantinople was the result of Alexios IV promise to pay the Crusaders' debts to the Venetians and unite the Orthodox and Catholic churches. More
1206, c. July
Genghis Khan is proclaimed the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire.
The Massacre at Béziers takes place during the Albigensian Crusade, with Crusaders led by Simon de Montfort sacking the city and killing thousands.
Christian forces decisively defeat the Almohads on July 16, 1212 at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in Spain