June 18

Events

618day.year

Li Yuan becomes Emperor Gaozu of Tang, initiating three centuries of Tang dynasty rule over China.

In 618, Li Yuan proclaims himself Emperor Gaozu of Tang, founding the Tang dynasty and beginning three centuries of rule over China.
In 618, Li Yuan, a high-ranking Sui dynasty general, seized the opportunity amid widespread unrest and declared himself Emperor Gaozu of Tang. This marked the founding of the Tang dynasty, one of China's golden ages known for cultural flourishing and economic prosperity. Under Emperor Gaozu’s leadership, the new dynasty consolidated power through military campaigns and administrative reforms. The Tang dynasty expanded China’s borders deep into Central Asia and fostered the Silk Road trade. Gaozu established a merit-based bureaucracy that would influence Chinese governance for centuries. His reign set the stage for future Tang emperors to continue building a dynasty that lasted nearly 300 years.
618 Emperor Gaozu of Tang Tang dynasty
656day.year

Ali becomes Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate.

In 656, Ali, cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, becomes the fourth Rashidun Caliph, leading the early Islamic community during a period of internal strife.
Ali ibn Abi Talib, a prominent companion of the Prophet Muhammad, was chosen as Caliph in 656 following the assassination of his predecessor. His accession deepened existing divisions within the Muslim community, contributing to the First Fitna, the first major civil war in Islamic history. Ali moved the capital to Kufa in present-day Iraq and sought to assert authority over rival factions. His reign was marked by battles against Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan and Aisha, leading to significant political and theological ramifications. Ali’s leadership and decisions during this period shaped Shia Islam, which regards him as the first rightful Imam. His caliphate laid the foundations for lasting religious and political legacies in the Muslim world.
656 Ali
860day.year

Byzantine–Rus' War: A fleet of about 200 Rus' vessels sails into the Bosphorus and starts pillaging the suburbs of the Byzantine capital Constantinople.

During the Byzantine–Rus' War in 860, a fleet of around 200 Rus' ships sails into the Bosphorus and raids the suburbs of Constantinople.
In 860, amid ongoing conflicts between the Byzantine Empire and the Rus', a fleet of approximately 200 Rus' longships breached the Bosphorus Strait and attacked the outskirts of Constantinople. The sudden assault caught the city’s defenders off guard and spread panic among residents as churches and villages were plundered. Although the Rus' forces did not manage to capture the heavily fortified city center, their raids underscored the vulnerability of Byzantium's maritime defenses. News of the attack reached Emperor Michael III, prompting reforms to strengthen naval capabilities and coastal fortifications. The confrontation also influenced Byzantine diplomatic efforts, leading to treaties that regulated trade and tribute with the Rus'. This incursion remains a notable episode in the history of Byzantine-Russian relations.
860 Byzantine–Rus' War Rus' Bosphorus Byzantine Constantinople
1053day.year

Battle of Civitate: Three thousand Norman horsemen of Count Humphrey rout the troops of Pope Leo IX.

In 1053, at the Battle of Civitate, three thousand Norman horsemen under Count Humphrey rout the forces of Pope Leo IX in southern Italy.
The Battle of Civitate, fought on June 18, 1053, saw Norman forces led by Count Humphrey of Apulia clash with troops loyal to Pope Leo IX. Despite the pope's intent to curb Norman expansion in southern Italy, his army suffered a decisive defeat, and Pope Leo was taken prisoner. The Norman cavalry’s superior tactics and experience in mounted warfare overwhelmed the papal troops, who were less organized and lacked heavy cavalry support. The victory secured Norman dominance in the region and paved the way for the eventual Norman Kingdom of Sicily. Although Pope Leo was released later that year, his defeat demonstrated the shifting balance of power between the papacy and regional lords. The battle marked a turning point in Italian politics, reinforcing Norman influence and shaping medieval Mediterranean history.
1053 Battle of Civitate Norman Count Humphrey Pope Leo IX
1264day.year

The Parliament of Ireland meets at Castledermot in County Kildare, the first definitively known meeting of this Irish legislature.

In 1264, the Parliament of Ireland holds its first definitively recorded meeting at Castledermot, County Kildare.
On June 18, 1264, the Parliament of Ireland convened at Castledermot in County Kildare, marking the earliest known formal assembly of the Irish legislature. This gathering brought together Anglo-Norman lords, clergy, and representatives of the towns to advise the Lord Deputy and enact measures for governance. The assembly addressed issues such as taxation, land disputes, and judicial reforms under the authority of the English crown. Its proceedings reflected the evolving administrative structures imposed by the Anglo-Norman rulers in Ireland. Although not yet a fully representative parliament by modern standards, this meeting set a precedent for later parliamentary developments. Over the centuries, the Parliament of Ireland would grow in power and complexity before its eventual dissolution in the early 19th century.
1264 Parliament of Ireland Castledermot County Kildare legislature
1265day.year

A draft Byzantine–Venetian treaty is concluded between Venetian envoys and Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos, but is not ratified by Doge Reniero Zeno.

In 1265, Venetian envoys agree a draft treaty with Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos, but Doge Reniero Zeno refuses ratification.
A Byzantine–Venetian treaty was drafted on June 18, 1265, as envoys from the Republic of Venice negotiated terms with Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos. The proposed agreement aimed to restore Venetian trading privileges in the Byzantine Empire in exchange for military and financial support. Despite reaching a consensus on key details, the treaty failed to gain formal approval when Doge Reniero Zeno withheld ratification. Political rivalries within the Venetian government and fears of Byzantine influence contributed to the stalemate. The breakdown of negotiations strained relations between Venice and Constantinople, delaying Venice’s commercial expansion in the eastern Mediterranean. This episode illustrates the complex diplomacy of medieval Italian and Byzantine politics.
1265 Byzantine–Venetian treaty Michael VIII Palaiologos Reniero Zeno
1391day.year

Tokhtamysh–Timur war: Battle of the Kondurcha River: Timur defeats Tokhtamysh of the Golden Horde in present-day southeast Russia.

In 1391, during the Tokhtamysh–Timur war, Timur defeats Tokhtamysh of the Golden Horde at the Battle of the Kondurcha River.
The Battle of the Kondurcha River on June 18, 1391, was a pivotal clash between the forces of Timur (Tamerlane) and Tokhtamysh of the Golden Horde. Timur’s disciplined army used strategic maneuvers to outflank and overwhelm the larger Horde cavalry. The defeat weakened Tokhtamysh’s hold over the vast territories of the Golden Horde and accelerated its political fragmentation. Timur’s victory at Kondurcha reinforced his reputation as one of the most formidable conquerors of the late medieval period. Following the battle, Timur continued his campaigns across Central Asia and into the Caucasus. The confrontation reshaped power dynamics in the region and set the stage for the decline of Mongol successor states.
1391 Tokhtamysh–Timur war Battle of the Kondurcha River Timur Tokhtamysh Golden Horde
1429day.year

Charles VII's army defeats an English army under John Talbot at the Battle of Patay during the Hundred Years' War. The English lost 2,200 men, over half their army, crippling their efforts during this segment of the war.

On June 18, 1429, Charles VII's forces rout the English under John Talbot at the Battle of Patay during the Hundred Years' War.
The Battle of Patay on June 18, 1429, saw French forces under commanders like Jean de Dunois and La Hire launch a surprise attack on an English contingent led by John Talbot. Exploiting the mobility of their forces, the French rushed the English longbowmen before they could properly set their defensive stakes. The resulting rout inflicted over 2,200 casualties—more than half the English force—and captured many survivors. The crushing defeat severely weakened English military presence in the Loire Valley and boosted morale among Charles VII's supporters. This victory, following the lifting of the Siege of Orléans, marked a decisive turn in the Hundred Years' War, accelerating the French recapture of occupied territories. At Patay, the newfound momentum signaled the decline of English fortunes in France.
1429 Charles VII's English army John Talbot Battle of Patay Hundred Years' War
1633day.year

Charles I is crowned King of Scots at St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh.

In 1633, Charles I is crowned King of Scots in a ceremony at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh.
On June 18, 1633, Charles I was formally crowned King of Scots at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, in a lavish ceremony attended by Scottish nobility and clergy. The coronation followed years of negotiations over religious and political concessions, as Charles sought to assert his authority in Scotland while respecting Presbyterian traditions. A richly decorated crown, or 'Great Crown of Scotland,' was placed upon his head, symbolizing the continuity of the Stuart monarchy. The event featured elaborate pageantry, including masques, lords of session, and representatives of the burghs. Tensions between the king and the Scottish church remained, however, foreshadowing future conflicts such as the Bishops' Wars. Despite these undercurrents, the coronation reinforced Charles's legitimacy and the union of the crowns under the Stuart dynasty.
1633 Charles I St Giles' Cathedral Edinburgh
1684day.year

The charter of the Massachusetts Bay Colony is revoked via a scire facias writ issued by an English court.

In 1684, an English court issued a scire facias writ revoking the charter of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
The royal charter of the Massachusetts Bay Colony was revoked on June 18, 1684, when an English court issued a scire facias writ against the colony’s governing document. The legal action arose from allegations that the colony had exceeded its charter powers and acted contrary to English laws, especially regarding trade restrictions. With the charter voided, Massachusetts lost its autonomous government and came under the direct control of the Crown. This revocation was part of the broader Restoration-era effort to tighten imperial oversight of North American colonies. Colonists protested the decision, arguing it threatened their civil liberties and self-governance. The loss of the charter paved the way for the later establishment of the Dominion of New England and fueled growing resentment that contributed to tensions leading up to the American Revolution.
1684 Massachusetts Bay Colony scire facias
1757day.year

Battle of Kolín between Prussian forces under Frederick the Great and an Austrian army under the command of Field Marshal Count Leopold Joseph von Daun in the Seven Years' War.

Prussian forces under Frederick the Great were defeated at Kolín by Austrian troops under Count Daun, marking a key turning point in the Seven Years' War.
The Battle of Kolín was fought on June 18, 1757 between Prussian forces led by Frederick the Great and Austrian troops under Field Marshal Count Leopold Joseph von Daun. The engagement occurred near the town of Kolín in Bohemia during the Third Silesian War, part of the wider Seven Years' War. Despite initial Prussian attacks, Austrian defenses held firm and counterattacks inflicted heavy casualties. Frederick the Great was forced to withdraw, marking the first major defeat of his army in the conflict. The battle shifted momentum in favor of Austria and altered strategic plans across Europe.
1757 Battle of Kolín Prussian forces Frederick the Great Austrian army Count Leopold Joseph von Daun Seven Years' War
1778day.year

American Revolutionary War: The British Army abandons Philadelphia.

British forces withdrew from Philadelphia, conceding control of the city to the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
On June 18, 1778, the British Army evacuated Philadelphia after a year-long occupation, allowing the Continental Army to reclaim Pennsylvania's largest city. Supply shortages, widespread disease, and increasing pressure from American forces prompted the withdrawal. General Sir William Howe had occupied Philadelphia in 1777 but faced logistical challenges. The evacuation freed British troops to consolidate their position in New York. Philadelphia's recapture boosted American morale and restored operations for the Continental Congress. The event underscored shifting momentum in the northern theater of the war.
1778 American Revolutionary War British Army Philadelphia