June 07

Events - Wars & Conflicts

1099day.year

First Crusade: The Siege of Jerusalem begins.

The Crusaders begin the Siege of Jerusalem in a decisive campaign of the First Crusade to capture the holy city.
On June 7, 1099, Crusader forces reach and encircle Jerusalem, initiating a siege that will last until July. The army, composed of knights, infantry, and volunteers from across Western Europe, builds siege engines and fortifications. They face fierce resistance from Fatimid defenders inside the city walls. After weeks of bombardment and skirmishes, the Crusaders breach the defenses on July 15, leading to the city's fall. The siege culminates in brutal fighting and significant casualties on both sides. The capture of Jerusalem transforms the Crusader states and reverberates throughout Christendom and the Islamic world.
1099 First Crusade Siege of Jerusalem
1420day.year

Troops of the Republic of Venice capture Udine, ending the independence of the Patria del Friuli.

Venetian troops storm and seize Udine, bringing the Patria del Friuli under the Republic of Venice's rule.
Troops of the Republic of Venice capture the city of Udine on June 7, 1420, ending the independence of the Patria del Friuli. Venice's expansionist policy aims to secure its mainland borders against rival Italian states. The annexation follows negotiations and a brief military campaign that encounters limited resistance. Udine's fall integrates Friulian territories into Venice's Terraferma, boosting its strategic position in northeastern Italy. The local nobility is compelled to swear allegiance to the Venetian doge, reshaping regional governance. This conquest exemplifies Venice's growing dominance on land as well as at sea.
1420 Republic of Venice Udine Patria del Friuli
1640day.year

Corpus de Sang in Barcelona: Catalan reapers rioted against Spanish Royal soldiers and officers, killing the Viceroy of Catalonia, Dalmau de Queralt. Escalation of hostilities between the Principality of Catalonia and the Spanish Monarchy, leading to the Reapers' War.

Catalan reapers revolt in the Corpus de Sang riot in Barcelona, killing the Viceroy and igniting the Reapers' War.
On June 7, 1640, rural workers known as reapers clash with Spanish royal troops in Barcelona, triggering the Corpus de Sang (Blood Corpus) riot. Frustrated by oppressive taxation and quartering of soldiers, the protesters attack and kill Viceroy Dalmau de Queralt. The violence escalates tensions between the Principality of Catalonia and the Spanish Monarchy. Catalan institutions rally behind the revolt, leading to a broader conflict known as the Reapers' War. France soon enters the struggle, allying with Catalan forces against Spain. The uprising challenges Habsburg control and shifts the balance of power in the Iberian Peninsula.
1640 Corpus de Sang Barcelona Viceroy of Catalonia Dalmau de Queralt Principality of Catalonia Spanish Monarchy Reapers' War
1866day.year

One thousand eight hundred Fenian raiders are repelled back to the United States after looting and plundering the Saint-Armand and Frelighsburg areas of Canada East.

Canadian forces repel Fenian raiders back to the US after their raid in Canada East.
On June 7, 1866, some 1,800 members of the Fenian Brotherhood, Irish-American veterans seeking leverage for Ireland’s independence, crossed into Canada East (now Quebec). Their forces looted and plundered settlements in Saint-Armand and Frelighsburg before encountering Canadian and British militia. The defenders managed to repel the raiders, forcing them to retreat across the border. These skirmishes, known as part of the Fenian Raids, heightened security concerns and fueled support for Canadian Confederation. The raids underscored tensions between Irish nationalists and British authorities in North America. Though militarily inconclusive, they had significant political impacts on Canadian unity and defense policies.
1866 Fenian raiders Saint-Armand Frelighsburg Canada East
1880day.year

War of the Pacific: The Battle of Arica, the assault and capture of Morro de Arica (Arica Cape), ends the Campaña del Desierto (Desert Campaign).

Chilean forces capture Morro de Arica in a decisive victory during the War of the Pacific.
On June 7, 1880, in the War of the Pacific, Chilean troops launched a fierce assault on the fortified hills of Morro de Arica, overlooking the port city of Arica. After intense combat and heavy casualties on both sides, Chilean soldiers overran Peruvian defenses, securing a critical strategic position. The fall of Arica marked the end of the Desert Campaign (Campaña del Desierto) and paved the way for Chilean advances into southern Peru. The victory bolstered Chilean morale and weakened Peruvian resistance. Negotiations would eventually lead to the Treaty of Ancón in 1883, reshaping borders in the region. The battle remains a symbol of Chilean military prowess and sacrifice.
1880 War of the Pacific Battle of Arica Morro de Arica
1917day.year

World War I: Battle of Messines: Allied soldiers detonate a series of mines underneath German trenches at Messines Ridge, killing 10,000 German troops.

Allied forces detonate massive mines under German lines at Messines Ridge, inflicting heavy casualties.
On June 7, 1917, during World War I, Allied troops exploded 19 underground mines beneath German trenches at Messines Ridge in Belgium. The meticulously planned detonation created one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, heard as far away as London. An estimated 10,000 German soldiers were killed, shattering enemy defenses and paving the way for an infantry advance. Coordinated by British, Australian, and New Zealand forces, the operation showcased innovative mining techniques. The victory boosted Allied morale but foreshadowed the grinding, attritional warfare that continued on the Western Front.
1917 World War I Battle of Messines a series of mines
1938day.year

Second Sino-Japanese War: The Chinese Nationalist government creates the 1938 Yellow River flood to halt Japanese forces. Five hundred thousand to nine hundred thousand civilians are killed.

Chinese forces intentionally breach the Yellow River dikes to impede Japanese troops, causing massive civilian casualties.
On June 7, 1938, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese Nationalist government deliberately breached the Yellow River dikes. The resulting flood inundated vast areas of northern China, aiming to slow the advance of Japanese forces. Between 500,000 and 900,000 civilians perished, making it one of history’s deadliest intentional floods. The catastrophe displaced millions, destroying homes, farmlands, and critical infrastructure. Although the flood temporarily hindered Japanese troops, it inflicted immense civilian suffering and deepened the humanitarian crisis.
Second Sino-Japanese War Chinese Nationalist 1938 Yellow River flood Japanese forces
1942day.year

World War II: The Battle of Midway ends in American victory.

The Battle of Midway concludes with a decisive American victory, turning the tide in the Pacific War.
On June 7, 1942, the six-day Battle of Midway ended with the U.S. Navy delivering a crippling defeat to the Imperial Japanese Navy. American forces sank four Japanese aircraft carriers while losing only one of their own carriers, dramatically shifting naval power. U.S. intelligence breakthroughs allowed commanders to anticipate and counter Japanese movements at Midway Atoll. The victory halted Japan’s expansion in the Pacific and provided momentum for Allied offensive operations. Midway is widely regarded as the turning point of World War II in the Pacific theater.
1942 World War II Battle of Midway
1942day.year

World War II: Aleutian Islands Campaign: Imperial Japanese soldiers begin occupying the American islands of Attu and Kiska, in the Aleutian Islands off Alaska.

Imperial Japanese forces occupy the American islands Attu and Kiska in Alaska during the Aleutian Islands Campaign of World War II.
On June 7, 1942, Imperial Japanese soldiers launched amphibious assaults on the strategically remote islands of Attu and Kiska in the Aleutian chain off Alaska. This offensive marked the only time foreign forces occupied U.S. territory during World War II. The campaign aimed to divert American forces and secure bases for further operations in the North Pacific. Harsh weather and rugged terrain complicated both the invasion and subsequent battles. The American response culminated in fierce fighting, environmental challenges, and eventual U.S. recapture of both islands in May and August 1943 respectively, underscoring the strategic importance of the Aleutians.
Aleutian Islands Campaign Imperial Japanese Attu Kiska Aleutian Islands
1944day.year

World War II: Battle of Normandy: At Ardenne Abbey, members of the SS Division Hitlerjugend massacre 23 Canadian prisoners of war.

Soldiers of the SS Division Hitlerjugend execute 23 Canadian prisoners of war at Ardenne Abbey during the Normandy Campaign.
During the early hours of June 7, 1944, troops from the Waffen SS' Hitler Youth Division executed 23 wounded and captured Canadian soldiers gathered at Ardenne Abbey in Normandy. Following their arrival in France, the division, composed largely of teenage recruits, began committing atrocities against Allied prisoners. The unprovoked massacre shocked both military and civilian communities, leading to investigations by Canadian authorities and war crime trials after the conflict. Ardenne Abbey has since become a solemn memorial honoring the fallen soldiers and a reminder of the horrors of war crimes committed during World War II.
1944 Battle of Normandy Ardenne Abbey SS Division Hitlerjugend massacre prisoners of war
1962day.year

The Organisation Armée Secrète (OAS) sets fire to the University of Algiers library building, destroying about 500,000 books.

OAS extremists torch the University of Algiers library, destroying half a million books amid the Algerian War.
On June 7, 1962, militants from the Organisation Armée Secrète, opposing Algerian independence, infiltrated the University of Algiers and set fire to its central library. The blaze consumed an estimated 500,000 books, manuscripts, and academic records, representing centuries of knowledge and cultural heritage. This act of cultural vandalism occurred shortly before Algeria’s formal independence and aimed to destabilize the new nation’s intellectual foundations. The international scholarly community condemned the attack, highlighting the irreplaceable loss. Reconstruction efforts over subsequent decades sought to rebuild the library’s collections and restore academic life in Algiers.
1962 Organisation Armée Secrète University of Algiers
1967day.year

Six-Day War: Israeli soldiers enter Jerusalem.

During the Six-Day War, Israeli forces capture and enter East Jerusalem, reuniting the city under their control.
On June 7, 1967, Israeli troops broke through Jordanian defenses and marched into East Jerusalem, marking a pivotal moment in the Six-Day War. The rapid advance allowed control of the Old City and significant religious sites, including the Western Wall. Israel’s capture of Jerusalem ended years of division and reshaped Middle Eastern geopolitics. The reunification triggered complex debates over sovereignty, holy places, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This event continues to influence diplomatic negotiations and cultural identity surrounding the contested city.
1967 Six-Day War Israeli Jerusalem