362 BC
Battle of Mantinea: The Thebans, led by Epaminondas, defeated the Spartans.
In 362 BC, at the Battle of Mantinea, Theban general Epaminondas led his troops to a decisive victory over Sparta, altering the balance of power in ancient Greece.
The Battle of Mantinea took place in 362 BC during the Theban–Spartan conflict.
Epaminondas, the innovative Theban commander, employed an oblique phalanx formation to great effect.
The Theban forces achieved a decisive triumph, routing the Spartan army and ending Spartan dominance in the Peloponnese.
Both sides suffered heavy losses, but Thebes emerged as the leading Greek power.
This battle demonstrated new tactical approaches that would influence Hellenistic warfare for generations.
362 BC
Battle of Mantinea
Thebans
Epaminondas
Spartans
414day.year
Emperor Theodosius II, age 13, yields power to his older sister Aelia Pulcheria, who reigned as regent and proclaimed herself empress (Augusta) of the Eastern Roman Empire.
In 414, the teenage Emperor Theodosius II ceded authority to his sister Aelia Pulcheria, who became regent and Augusta of the Eastern Roman Empire.
At just thirteen years old, Theodosius II stepped back from active imperial duties.
His elder sister, Aelia Pulcheria, assumed the regency and took the title Augusta.
Pulcheria’s regency marked a rare instance of female leadership in the late Roman Empire.
She wielded significant political influence and guided religious policy across the court.
Her tenure laid the groundwork for ecclesiastical reforms and strengthened the imperial administration until Theodosius reached maturity.
414
Theodosius II
Aelia Pulcheria
regent
Augusta
Eastern Roman Empire
836day.year
Pactum Sicardi, a peace treaty between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples, is signed.
In 836, the Pactum Sicardi was signed, forging peace between Benevento and Naples for trade and security.
The Pactum Sicardi was a landmark peace treaty signed on July 4, 836.
It ended hostilities between the Lombard Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples.
The agreement granted trading rights and defined territorial borders between the two states.
It also established mutual defense obligations against external threats in southern Italy.
This treaty stabilized regional relations and illustrates the complex diplomacy of medieval Italian politics.
836
Pactum Sicardi
Principality of Benevento
Duchy of Naples
993day.year
Ulrich of Augsburg is canonized as a saint.
In 993, Bishop Ulrich of Augsburg was canonized, becoming the first saint formally recognized by a pope.
Ulrich of Augsburg (890–973) served as bishop in Germany and defended his diocese against Magyar invasions.
His reputation for charity and strong leadership led to widespread veneration after his death.
On July 4, 993, Pope John XV formally canonized Ulrich, marking a precedent for papal sainthood.
He became known as the first saint officially proclaimed by a pope, elevating the authority of the Holy See.
Saint Ulrich’s relics and reported miracles attracted pilgrims to Augsburg Cathedral for centuries to come.
993
Ulrich of Augsburg
canonized
1054day.year
A supernova, called SN 1054, is seen by Chinese Song dynasty, Arab, and possibly Amerindian observers near the star Zeta Tauri. For several months it remains bright enough to be seen during the day. Its remnants form the Crab Nebula.
In 1054, observers across Asia witnessed SN 1054, a supernova so bright it was visible in daylight, whose remnants form the Crab Nebula.
SN 1054 exploded in the constellation Taurus and was recorded by Song dynasty astronomers, Arab scholars, and possibly Native American observers.
The supernova reached a peak brightness that outshone Venus and remained visible during daylight for weeks.
It was documented as a 'guest star' near Zeta Tauri in multiple historical records.
Modern astronomy identifies its remnants as the Crab Nebula, a well-studied pulsar wind nebula.
The event provided early evidence for stellar evolution and supernova mechanisms that inform current astrophysics.
1054
SN 1054
Song dynasty
Arab
Amerindian
Zeta Tauri
Crab Nebula
1120day.year
Jordan II of Capua is anointed as prince after his infant nephew's death.
In 1120, Jordan II of Capua was anointed prince following the untimely death of his infant nephew, altering Capuan succession.
The principality of Capua in southern Italy faced a dynastic crisis when the designated heir died in infancy.
On July 4, 1120, Jordan II, son of the previous prince, was formally anointed to restore stability.
His elevation involved ceremonies blending Lombard traditions with ecclesiastical rites.
Jordan II’s rule sought to consolidate power amid Norman and papal interests in the region.
His reign influenced the politics of the Mezzogiorno and shaped relations with neighboring states.
1120
Jordan II of Capua
1187day.year
The Crusades: Battle of Hattin: Saladin defeats Guy of Lusignan, King of Jerusalem.
On July 4, 1187, Saladin’s forces decisively defeated King Guy of Lusignan at the Battle of Hattin, paving the way for the Muslim reconquest of Jerusalem.
The Battle of Hattin was a pivotal engagement in the Crusades, fought near the Sea of Galilee.
Saladin’s tactical encirclement and denial of water supply shattered the Crusader ranks.
King Guy of Lusignan and many of his knights were captured or killed during the conflict.
This defeat directly led to the fall of Jerusalem later in 1187.
Hattin underscored Saladin’s military prowess and revitalized Muslim unity across the Levant.
1187
Crusades
Battle of Hattin
Saladin
Guy of Lusignan
King of Jerusalem
1253day.year
Battle of West-Capelle: John I of Avesnes defeats Guy of Dampierre.
In 1253, John I of Avesnes secured victory over Guy of Dampierre at the Battle of West-Capelle, influencing power dynamics in Flanders.
The confrontation at West-Capelle was part of a dynastic struggle for control over Flanders.
John I of Avesnes, claiming rights through marriage and lineage, clashed with the Dampierre faction.
His victory on July 4, 1253, affirmed Avesnes influence in key territories.
Guy of Dampierre’s defeat weakened his political position and led to further feudal disputes.
The battle reflects the shifting alliances and rivalries of 13th-century European nobility.
1253
John I of Avesnes
Guy of Dampierre
1333day.year
Genkō War: Forces loyal to Emperor Go-Daigo seize Tōshō-ji during the Siege of Kamakura. Hōjō Takatoki and other members of the Hōjō clan commit suicide, ending the rule of the Kamakura shogunate.
In 1333, the Genkō War climaxed as Emperor Go-Daigo’s forces captured Tōshō-ji, leading to the fall of the Hōjō clan and the end of the Kamakura shogunate.
The Genkō War pitted imperial loyalists against the powerful Hōjō regents who controlled the shogunate.
During the Siege of Kamakura, attackers breached the gates of Tōshō-ji, a Hōjō stronghold.
Facing defeat, Hōjō Takatoki and many clan members committed ritual suicide (seppuku).
Their deaths on July 4 marked the collapse of the Kamakura military government.
The event restored direct imperial rule under Emperor Go-Daigo and ushered in a tumultuous era.
1333
Genkō War
Emperor Go-Daigo
Tōshō-ji
Siege of Kamakura
Hōjō Takatoki
Hōjō clan
rule
Kamakura shogunate
1359day.year
Francesco II Ordelaffi of Forlì surrenders to the Papal commander Gil de Albornoz.
In 1359, Francesco II Ordelaffi capitulated to Pope Innocent VI’s commander Gil de Albornoz, bringing Forlì under papal influence.
Francesco II Ordelaffi, ruler of Forlì, had resisted the temporal authority of the Papal States.
Under military pressure from Cardinal Gil de Albornoz, he surrendered the city on July 4, 1359.
This capitulation restored direct papal control over the strategic fortress town.
Albornoz’s campaign was part of a broader effort to reassert papal temporal power in central Italy.
The event highlights the dynamic interplay of military force and diplomacy in the medieval Papacy.
1359
Francesco II Ordelaffi
Forlì
Gil de Albornoz
1456day.year
Ottoman–Hungarian wars: The Siege of Nándorfehérvár (Belgrade) begins.
In 1456, the Ottoman Empire laid siege to the fortress of Nándorfehérvár (modern Belgrade), marking a key moment in the Ottoman–Hungarian wars.
The Siege of Nándorfehérvár began on July 4, 1456, as Sultan Mehmed II aimed to conquer the crucial stronghold guarding the gateway to Central Europe. The fortress, held by Hungarian defenders under John Hunyadi, withstood intense bombardment and assault. Despite being outnumbered, the garrison's resilience and supply lines held firm. The battle showcased early use of artillery on both sides and the strategic importance of river crossings. Relief forces from neighboring kingdoms eventually lifted the siege at great cost. The conflict influenced European military tactics and delayed Ottoman expansion for decades. Nándorfehérvár's defense became legendary in Hungarian history.
1456
Ottoman–Hungarian wars
Siege of Nándorfehérvár (Belgrade)
1534day.year
Christian III is elected King of Denmark and Norway in the town of Rye.
Christian III was unanimously elected King of Denmark and Norway at Rye, ushering in reforms that shaped Scandinavian history.
On July 4, 1534, Christian III, son of Frederick I, was chosen by the three Danish estates to reign over Denmark and Norway. His election in the town of Rye signaled a shift toward Lutheranism, as he later enforced Protestant reforms across his kingdoms. Christian's rule ended the civil war between Catholic and Protestant factions following his father's death. He established a strong centralized monarchy and reorganized the church under royal supervision. His policies laid the groundwork for Denmark-Norway's territorial expansion in the Baltic. Christian III's reign also saw economic growth through trade and naval development. His legacy endures in the consolidation of the Danish state and the spread of the Reformation in Scandinavia.
1534
Christian III is elected King of Denmark and Norway
Rye