987day.year
Hugh Capet is crowned King of France, the first of the Capetian dynasty that would rule France until the French Revolution in 1792.
In 987, Hugh Capet is crowned King of France, founding the Capetian dynasty that would rule for over 800 years.
In 987, after the death of the last Carolingian king, Hugh Capet was elected and crowned at Noyon.
His accession marked the beginning of the Capetian dynasty, which held power until the French Revolution in 1792.
Hugh’s reign established a new royal lineage and a more stable succession system.
He asserted control over his domains through strategic alliances and the support of feudal lords.
The Capetians gradually expanded their authority beyond the Ile-de-France region.
Under Hugh, the French monarchy began its transformation into a centralized state.
His legacy endured through centuries of dynastic continuity and political change.
987
Hugh Capet
Capetian dynasty
French Revolution
1792
1035day.year
William the Conqueror becomes the Duke of Normandy, reigning until 1087.
In 1035, William the Conqueror succeeds as Duke of Normandy at the age of eight, beginning a reign that shaped medieval Europe.
In 1035, following the death of his father Robert I, young William inherited the title Duke of Normandy.
At just eight years old, his succession sparked turmoil among Norman nobles and neighboring powers.
William faced multiple rebellions and threats during his minority, relying on loyal guardians for protection.
Over decades, he consolidated ducal authority and restored order across Normandy.
His leadership skills and political acumen earned him the epithet 'the Conqueror.'
William’s rule as duke laid the groundwork for his later conquest of England in 1066.
His tenure reshaped the political landscape of both Normandy and England.
1035
William the Conqueror
Duke of Normandy
1848day.year
Governor-General Peter von Scholten emancipates all remaining slaves in the Danish West Indies.
Governor-General Peter von Scholten proclaims freedom for all enslaved people in the Danish West Indies, abolishing slavery in the colony.
On July 3, 1848, Peter von Scholten, the Danish West Indies' Governor-General, issues a decree emancipating the colony's remaining slaves.
This landmark decision follows mounting pressure from abolitionist movements and slave revolts on islands like Saint Croix.
The proclamation transforms the social and economic fabric of the islands, granting rights and mobility to former slaves.
It stands as a pivotal moment in Denmark's colonial history and the wider struggle against human bondage.
Today, the emancipation is commemorated as a key milestone in the Caribbean's path to freedom.
1848
Peter von Scholten
1890day.year
Idaho is admitted as the 43rd U.S. state.
Idaho joins the Union as the 43rd state, marking a significant milestone in the American West’s development.
On July 3, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison signs the Idaho Statehood Act, admitting Idaho into the United States.
The territory's rich mining, agriculture, and timber industries fuel its bid for statehood.
Admission grants Idaho full representation in Congress and the right to elect a governor.
The new state becomes a key part of America's expanding West during the Gilded Age.
Idaho's entry highlights the nation's growth and the closing of the continental frontier.
1890
Idaho
U.S. state
1938day.year
United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicates the Eternal Light Peace Memorial and lights the eternal flame at Gettysburg Battlefield.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Eternal Light Peace Memorial at Gettysburg and ignited its eternal flame on July 3, 1938, honoring Civil War soldiers from both sides.
On the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, President Franklin D. Roosevelt traveled to Pennsylvania to dedicate the Eternal Light Peace Memorial.
The ceremony on July 3, 1938, took place at the Gettysburg National Military Park, uniting veterans and descendants of both Union and Confederate soldiers.
Roosevelt lit the memorial’s eternal flame, symbolizing a lasting commitment to reconciliation and national unity.
Designed by architect John Russell Pope, the monument features a granite arch flanked by twin Doric columns.
Thousands of attendees witnessed the dedication, reflecting on the cost of civil strife and the promise of peace.
The Eternal Light Memorial remains a focal point for remembrance and reflection at Gettysburg.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Eternal Light Peace Memorial
Gettysburg Battlefield
1952day.year
The Constitution of Puerto Rico is approved by the United States Congress.
On July 3, 1952, the United States Congress approved the Constitution of Puerto Rico, establishing its status as a Commonwealth and expanding self-governance.
After extensive political debate and a local constitutional convention, Puerto Rico drafted its own constitution to define its relationship with the United States.
On July 3, 1952, Congress granted approval, allowing the island to adopt a Commonwealth government structure.
The new constitution guaranteed fundamental civil rights, created executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and outlined federal-territorial relations.
Luis Muñoz Marín, Puerto Rico’s first elected governor, was instrumental in guiding the process to ratification.
The approval marked a pivotal step in Puerto Rico’s political evolution and identity within the US framework.
Today, Puerto Rico celebrates Constitution Day on July 25 each year to honor this milestone.
1952
Constitution of Puerto Rico
United States Congress
1979day.year
U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul.
President Jimmy Carter authorized the first covert U.S. aid to Afghan opponents of the pro-Soviet Kabul regime.
Amid rising Cold War tensions in South Asia, President Jimmy Carter on July 3, 1979, signed a top-secret directive authorizing U.S. intelligence agencies to provide clandestine aid to anti-government forces in Afghanistan.
Aimed at countering Soviet influence, this covert operation marked the United States' first direct involvement in the Afghan conflict.
Over the following years, billions of dollars in funding, training, and arms flowed to various insurgent groups, shaping the dynamics of the Soviet–Afghan War after the Soviet invasion in December 1979.
Known later as the foundation of Operation Cyclone, the program became one of the largest covert actions in CIA history.
Historians debate the long-term impact of this aid on regional stability and its unintended geopolitical consequences.
1979
Jimmy Carter
secret aid
1996day.year
British Prime Minister John Major announced the Stone of Scone would be returned to Scotland.
Prime Minister John Major announced the return of the historic Stone of Scone to Scotland, honoring its cultural significance.
On July 3, 1996, British Prime Minister John Major announced plans to return the Stone of Scone—also known as the Stone of Destiny—to Scotland after over 700 years at Westminster Abbey.
Seized by King Edward I in 1296, the 335-pound sandstone block had been integral to English and British coronation ceremonies.
The decision fulfilled long-standing appeals from Scottish heritage groups and nationalists seeking repatriation of the ancient symbol.
Later that year, the stone was officially relocated to Edinburgh Castle, where it joined the Crown Jewels on public display.
The gesture was widely celebrated as a meaningful step toward recognizing Scotland’s distinct history and cultural identity within the United Kingdom.
1996
John Major
Stone of Scone
2013day.year
President of Egypt Mohamed Morsi is removed from office by the military after four days of protests all over the country calling for his resignation, to which he did not respond. The president of the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt, Adly Mansour, is declared acting president until further elections are held.
Egypt’s military deposed President Mohamed Morsi amid mass protests, appointing Adly Mansour as interim president.
Amid massive protests demanding his resignation, Egypt's military deposed President Mohamed Morsi on July 3, 2013, just one year after his election.
Morsi, the first democratically elected leader following the 2011 revolution, faced criticism over consolidation of power and economic challenges.
The military suspended the constitution and installed Adly Mansour, head of Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court, as interim president.
Morsi's supporters decried the move as a coup, while opponents celebrated the end of Muslim Brotherhood rule.
International reactions were mixed, with some governments urging a return to democratic processes.
The interim administration outlined a roadmap toward fresh elections, reshaping Egypt's political landscape once more.
2013
President of Egypt
Mohamed Morsi
removed from office
military
Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt
Adly Mansour