Duke Albert I of Austria defeats deposed King Adolf of Germany at the Battle of Göllheim where Adolf was also killed. Adolf had been unilaterally deposed by the prince-electors to dethrone him after who then proclaimed Albert as the new King of Germany.
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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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1299, c. July- September
The Mongols under Ghazan Khan capture the Syrian Citadel of Aleppo during the Summer of 1299,, marking Mongol expansion into the region. Ghazan's conquest did not result in a permanent Mongol control of the region, and they withdrew the majority of their forces from Syria, to their bases in the north in February 1300.
The Flemish militia decisively defeats the French knights at the Battle of the Golden Spurs, on July 11, 1302: near Kortrijk (Courtrai), Belgium. The battle solidified Flemish resistance against French annexation, earning its name from the hundreds of golden spurs collected from fallen French nobles.
It was a stunning defeat of the French forces that were expecting an easy victory but instead, allowed the Flemish militias to effectively destroy the French armored cavalry with significant losses including top nobles. The battle is commemorated annually as the Flemish Community Holiday.
The Battle of the Golden Spurs takes place on July 11, 1302 on the outskirts of Kortrijk in Flanders (present day Belgium) in which an untrained Flemish infantry militia, defeats a professional force of the French king, Philip IV and patrician Flemish cavalry, thus checking the growth of French control over the area.
Edward II becomes King of England on July 7, 1307 at age 23, after the death of his father, Edward I. His 20-year Reign was marked by political conflict and disastrous military defeats to Scotland. He was eventually deposed and succeeded by his son, Edward III, in January 1327.
King Philip IV of France orders the arrest of the Knights Templar, marking the beginning of their persecution and eventual dissolution.
The Council of Ten is established in Venice with temporary emergency powers to suppress the rebellion led by Bajamonte Tiepolo and restore order. After the revolt was crushed, the council's authority was continuously renewed, and in 1335 it was made a permanent body. The council remained a powerful, secretive and influential governing body until the fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797. More
Circa 1324, July
Marsilius of Padua completes his political treatise "Defensor Pacis" (Defender of Peace). The book contained radical anti-papal views. Advocating for popular sovereignty, asserting that the source of all political power and law is the people, and argued for the separation of church and state, severely limiting the power of the papacy and clergy in secular matters.
Many believe that some of his ideas were later adopted by Luther and Calvin. His writings were condemned as heretical by the Catholic Church, and he spent the latter part of his life under the protection of the Holy Roman Emperor, Louis IV.. More
According to Czech legend, the Construction of the Charles Bridge in Prague, begins under the rule of Emperor Charles IV as he laid the first stone himself on July 9, 1357 at 5:31am
The Holy Roman Emperor was a strong believer in numerology and felt that this specific time, which formed a palindrome (1357 9/7 5:31), was a numerical bridge infused with additional strength. Constructions was completed in 1402. The Charles Bridge crosses the Vltava River in Prague, Czech Republic. It is one of the most iconic landmarks in the city and a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. The bridge replaced the Judith Bridge which had been destructed by a flood in 1342.
A.Savin, FAL, via Wikimedia Commons. Free Art License.
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch), Italian poet and scholar, dies in Arquà near Padua, Italy, He was a key figure in early Renaissance humanism. His highly influential poetry helped shaped European literature and the foundation of the Italian Renaissance.
King Charles VI of France is first diagnosed with a mental illness that would affect his reign.
The Joseon Dynasty is established in Korea with the crowning of King Taejo as the first king of Joseon.
Henry Bolingbroke lands in England at Ravenspur on the Yorkshire coast and begins his successful campaign to overthrow his cousin King Richard II, eventually becoming King Henry IV of England. Henry Bolingbroke landed at Ravenspur, beginning a rapid and successful campaign that led to the deposition of King Richard II. His return from exile was sparked by Richard's seizure of his inheritance, the vast Lancastrian estates, following the death of his father, John of Gaunt.
The Battle of Shrewsbury takes place after Henry "Hotspur" Percy and his uncle, Thomas Percy, the Earl of Worcester, rebelled against King Henry IV in 1403 (The Percy Rebellion). The rebellion was fueled by the Percy's feeling betrayed for not receiving the promised rewards after helping Henry IV gain the throne. The battle resulted in a decisive royalist victory, with Hotspur being killed, and the rebellion collapsing.
Henry IV of England's forces defeat rebel forces led by Henry "Hotspur" Percy at the Battle of Shrewsbury.
The Chinese admiral Zheng He, sets sail on his first voyage to explore the Indian Ocean. He commanded the largest and most advanced fleet the world had ever seen with 317 ships and nearly 28,000 crew.
The voyages were intended to showcase the Ming Dynasty's power and culture and bring foreign treasures back to the Ming court, establish diplomatic relations, and engage in trade. Departing from Nanjing, the fleet sailed to Southeast Asia including Champa (Vietnam), Java, and Malacca, before crossing the Indian Ocean to reach the southwest coast of India, specifically Calicut and Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Zheng made a total of seven voyages. He died on the return of the seventh trip in 1433 and was buried at sea. More
Jendul, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons (Cropped)
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The Council of Pisa is announced on July, 13,1408, by Cardinals from both Roman and Avignon lines, aiming to resolve the Western Schism by deposing both Pope Gregory XII and Antipope Benedict XIII. The Council officially opened in Pisa the following year on March 25, 1409.
Instead of resolving the schism, the Council of Pisa actually complicated the situation even more by electing Alexander V on June 26, 1409, and since neither Pope Gregory XII and Antipope Benedict XIII agree to resign, there were now three Pope claimants. It took the Council of Constance, years later to resolve it. (1414-1418).
Pope Gregory XII resigned on July 4, 1415, to help end the Western Schism. His resignation was announced at the Council of Constance, a key event in reunifying the Catholic Church.
Jan Hus is executed by burning at the stake after the The Council of Constance finds him guilty of heresy and condemns his teachings. Hus, a Bohemian reformer, promoted ideas like the Bible's ultimate authority and criticized church corruption. His death fueled the Hussite Wars and positioned him as a significant forerunner of the Protestant Reformation.
The Council of Siena convened by Pope Martin V to discuss church reforms and address corruption officially begins on July 21, 1423. It was ordinally to be held in Pavia but it was moved to Siena because of an outbreak of the plague in Pavia. The Council was dissolved on February 26, 1424.