What Happened in June?

Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El Cid, conquers the city of Valencia from the Moors on June 15, 1094, after a siege which began in 1093. He ruled it for the remainder of his life, holding it against counterattacks from the Almoravid army.  Expand +

The Crusaders begin the Siege of Jerusalem, a pivotal event during the First Crusade that eventually leads to the capture of the city. On June 15, the Crusaders enter Jerusalem and establish the Kingdom of Jerusalem, marking the culmination of the First Crusade.

al-Idrisi, a highly accomplished geographer and cartographer is born in Ceuta, what is now, an autonomous Spanish City bordering Morocco, on the North African Coast. Born into a noble family, he received an extensive education in Córdoba.  Expand +

The Order of the Knights Templar is founded in Jerusalem after the First Crusade. They were a military religious order of the Catholic Church, officially known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon. They initially aimed to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. Over time, they became a powerful and wealthy organization, deeply involved in European politics and finance, and played a significant role in the Crusades. More

Lothair III, was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in Rome on June 4, 1133, by Pope Innocent II, which included the title King of Italy. He ruled as King of Germany from 1125–1137 and as Holy Roman Emperor from 1133 until his death in 1137. His coronation in Rome was not the first time he held the title of King of Italy; he had also been crowned King of the Romans in 1131 by Pope Innocent II, a title that included the Kingdom of Italy. 

The Treaty of Wallingford is signed, ending the civil war in England between King Stephen and Empress Matilda, and establishing Henry II as the undisputed king.

Frederick I, also known as Barbarossa, duke of Swabia and German king, is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV. in the St, Peter Basilica in Rome. More

Five monks in Canterbury, England, observe an unusual phenomenon on the moon described by them as a "flaming torch" springing up from the split, spewing out fire, hot coals, and sparks. They also said the Moon's body below the division "writhed" and "throbbed like a wounded snake" Their unusual observation has sparked scientific debate for centuries. The most plausible scientific explanation is that they observed a meteor exploding in Earth's atmosphere that, from their specific location, appeared to be affecting the moon. This interpretation aligns with the lack of evidence for a major lunar impact at that time and the nature of the monks' description. More

The Peace of Constance is signed on June 25, 1183 ending the conflicts between the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I (Barbarossa) and the Lombard League  that granted autonomy to the Italian city-states, ending years of conflict. The treaty officially recognized the league's existence and allowed the cities to maintain their communal liberties, legal jurisdiction, and alliances, in exchange for fealty to the Emperor. This agreement was a result of the Emperor's military defeat at the Battle of Legnano in 1176.

The Battle of Fimreite takes place in Norway, where King Sverre Sigurdsson defeats the forces of Magnus Erlingsson, securing his rule. More

Holy Roman Emperor Fredrick I, also known as Barbarossa drowns while crossing the Saleph River (also known as the Göksu River) in modern-day Turkey, near the city of Seleucia in Anatolia. Frederic I was leading an army to Jerusalem during the Third Crusade.  Expand +

Richard I of England (Richard the Lionheart) arrives in Acre, beginning his involvement in the Third Crusade.

In June 1196, King Philip II of France married Agnes of Merania after having separated from his second wife, Ingeborg of Denmark. Pope Innocent III declared the marriage invalid, and a papal interdict was placed on France until Philip took Ingeborg back in 1200. Agnes died in 1201, and Pope Innocent III later declared the two children she had with Philip as legitimate. 

King John affixes his royal seal to the Magna Carta at Runnymede, England. The document was basically a negotiated peace treaty between the King and his barons who were unhappy with King John's rule due to heavy taxation and perceived abuses of power. The sealing of the agreement failed to resolve the conflict and civil war broke out shortly after. The Magna Carta laid the foundation for future legal and constitutional developments, including the concept of the rule of law and limitations on governmental power. More

According to Danish legend, in the early 13th century, the Danish king Valdemar Sejr (Valdemar the Victorious) led his army on a crusade in present-day Estonia. During a battle on June 15, 1219, the Danes were on the defensive when suddenly a red banner with a white cross fell from the sky. As a result, the luck changed, the Danish army won, and Denmark got its flag. It is considered to be the world's oldest national flag still in use, by now over 800 years. The name of the Danish flag is Dannebrog. The word itself translates to "Danish cloth" or "well-made cloth". More

The University of Oxford receives its royal charter from King Henry III of England on June 20, 1248. This charter officially established the university as a formal educational institution, although  it had existed in some form since at least 1096. The charter provided the legal basis for the university as an organized institution.

Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire, is born in the town of Söğüt, northwestern Anatolia. He was the son of Ertuğrul and the founder of the Ottoman dynasty and empire, which began as a small principality in the region and grew into a world power over the following centuries.

The Parliament of Ireland meets at Castledermot in County Kildare, the first Irish parliament on record.

The Treaty of Rheinfelden is signed, ending the conflict between the House of Habsburg and the Swiss Confederation. It formalized the succession of the Duchies of Austria and Styria to Albert I, King of the Romans, and removed his younger brother, Rudolf II, as co-ruler. This treaty established a form of primogeniture within the Habsburg dynasty. More

Ottoman Turks led by Osman I begin the Ottoman Empire's expansion from their base in Anatolia. Under Osman and his successors, the Ottomans gradually conquered neighboring territories, starting with the Byzantine lands in western Anatolia and later expanding into the Balkans and beyond.  Expand +