What Happened in July?

Louis VIII becomes King of France upon the death of his father, Philip II. His coronation took place on 6 August of the same year, in the cathedral at Reims. Louis VIII, nicknamed The Lion, was King of France from 1223 to 1226. More

The Treaty of San Germano is signed between Emperor Frederick II and Pope Gregory IX, ending the Papal-Imperial conflict.

The Battle of Posada takes place between the Mongol Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary, resulting in a Hungarian victory.

The Battle of Lake Peipus occurs between the Teutonic Knights and the Novgorod Republic, with the Novgorod forces emerging victorious.

King Louis IX of France defeats Henry III of England at the two day battle of Taillebourg on July 21-22, 1242. It was the decisive engagement of the Saintonge War; a feudal dynastic conflict between Capetian forces supportive of King Louis IX's brother Alphonse, Count of Poitiers and those of Hugh X of Lusignan, Raymond VII of Toulouse and Henry III of England.

Mindaugas is crowned as the first and only King of Lithuania, establishing the Kingdom of Lithuania. This day is celebrated as Statehood Day (or King Mindaugas' Coronation Day) in Lithuania. Mindaugas is now generally considered the founder of the Lithuanian state, he is also credited with stopping the advance of the Tatars towards the Baltic Sea and turning it towards Western civilization.

The Battle of Ain Jalut occurs between the Mongol Empire and the Mamluk Sultanate, resulting in a decisive Mamluk victory and halting the Mongol expansion into the Middle East.

The Nicaean Empire, one of the Byzantine successor states, recovers Constantinople as Michael VIII enters the city in triumph ending the Latin Empire on July 25, 1261. The Fourth Crusade sack of Constantinople and other actions cemented the schism between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches and delivered a fatal blow to the already declining Byzantine Empire. leaving an enduring legacy of chaos and division.

King Edward I of England issues the Edict of Expulsion on July 18, 1290, ordering all Jews to leave the country before November 1, 1290. The expulsion was motivated by a combination of economic and religious factors, and it remained in effect for 366 years, until 1656 when Oliver Cromwell allowed for the readmission of Jews. More

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.

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. Expand +

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 on July 15, 1310, 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

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. Expand +

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 Expand +

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch), Italian poet and scholar, dies on July 19, 1374 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.

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.