1124day.year
The city of Tyre falls to the Venetian Crusade after a siege of nineteen weeks.
After a nineteen-week siege, Crusader forces capture the strategic coastal city of Tyre, securing a vital foothold in the Levant.
In 1124, the city of Tyre, a key port in the eastern Mediterranean, surrendered to the Venetian-led Crusader army after enduring a prolonged siege. The Venetian Crusade, part of the larger Crusades movement, aimed to control important commercial hubs in the Holy Land. Tyre’s fall provided the Crusaders with a major naval base and trade center, bolstering their efforts in the region. The siege showcased the tactical prowess of the Venetian navy and the logistical challenges of medieval warfare. Its capture marked a turning point in the power dynamics between European crusaders and Muslim defenders, influencing subsequent campaigns along the Syrian coast.
1124
Tyre
Venetian Crusade
1520day.year
Spanish conquistadores defeat a larger Aztec army at the Battle of Otumba.
Outnumbered Spanish conquistadors rout the Aztec army at Otumba, securing their survival in hostile territory.
On July 7, 1520, a small contingent of Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés faced a much larger Aztec force near Otumba in central Mexico. Despite being outnumbered, the Spaniards leveraged cavalry charges and superior weaponry to break the Aztec lines. The decisive victory allowed the Spaniards to retreat from the fallen Tenochtitlan and regroup for their eventual conquest. The battle highlighted the impact of European military tactics and technology against indigenous armies. Otumba’s outcome preserved the Spanish expedition, setting the stage for further campaigns that would reshape the region’s political landscape.
1520
conquistadores
Aztec
Battle of Otumba
1575day.year
The Raid of the Redeswire is the last major battle between England and Scotland.
The final significant armed clash between English and Scottish border forces unfolds at Redeswire.
On July 7, 1575, border wardens from England and Scotland met in combat at the Redeswire Pass in the Cheviot Hills. Disputes over cattle raids and cross-border law enforcement escalated into open fighting. Though neither side gained a decisive upper hand, Scottish forces managed to capture several English leaders before a truce was brokered. The Raid of the Redeswire is historically noted as the last major battle between the two kingdoms prior to the Union of the Crowns in 1603. Its outcome reflected the volatile nature of border politics in Tudor-era Britain and foreshadowed the eventual reconciliation of England and Scotland.
1575
Raid of the Redeswire
England
Scotland
1667day.year
An English fleet completes the destruction of a French merchant fleet off Fort St Pierre, Martinique during the Second Anglo-Dutch War.
An English naval squadron destroys a French merchant fleet off Martinique during the Second Anglo-Dutch War.
In early July 1667, Sir John Harman led an English fleet to Martinique as part of the global conflicts of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. Off Fort St Pierre, the English fleet engaged and demolished a French merchant convoy, sinking or capturing dozens of ships laden with valuable sugar and commodities. The operation dealt a severe blow to French colonial trade in the Caribbean and demonstrated England’s naval reach. This action helped secure English maritime dominance and economic advantage in the West Indies. The engagement also illustrated how European wars extended to colonial theaters, affecting imperial balances overseas.
1667
Fort St Pierre
Martinique
Second Anglo-Dutch War
1770day.year
The Battle of Larga between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire takes place.
Russian troops defeat Ottoman forces at the Battle of Larga, securing a key victory in the Russo-Turkish War.
On July 7, 1770, near the Larga River in present-day Moldova, Russian forces under Field Marshal Pyotr Rumyantsev clashed with the Ottoman army. Employing disciplined infantry formations and artillery bombardment, the Russians broke Ottoman lines and forced a retreat. The victory at Larga, followed by the Battle of Kagul, paved the way for the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca in 1774. This treaty granted Russia significant territorial gains and influence over Ottoman vassal states. The battle showcased the modernization of the Russian military and signaled a shift in the balance of power in Eastern Europe.
1770
Battle of Larga
Russian Empire
Ottoman Empire
1777day.year
American forces retreating from Fort Ticonderoga are defeated in the Battle of Hubbardton.
Continental troops withdrawing from Fort Ticonderoga are overtaken and beaten at Hubbardton.
As American forces evacuated Fort Ticonderoga in July 1777, a rearguard under Colonel Seth Warner held off British pursuers at Hubbardton in Vermont. Despite fierce resistance, the Americans were eventually routed, suffering notable casualties and loss of supplies. Although a tactical defeat, the delaying action allowed the main American column to regroup and strengthen defenses around Saratoga. The engagement demonstrated the resilience of Colonial militia against professional British soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Hubbardton remains the only significant battle fought entirely on Vermont soil, commemorated today for its strategic importance.
1777
American
Fort Ticonderoga
Battle of Hubbardton
1798day.year
As a result of the XYZ Affair, the US Congress rescinds the Treaty of Alliance with France sparking the "Quasi-War".
Following diplomatic scandals, the US withdraws from France’s alliance, triggering the undeclared Quasi-War at sea.
In response to the XYZ Affair, where French agents demanded bribes for negotiations, the US Congress on July 7, 1798, formally annulled the 1778 Treaty of Alliance with France. This action marked the breakdown of Franco-American relations and led to the Quasi-War, an undeclared naval conflict fought in the Caribbean and Atlantic. American frigates captured numerous French privateers, protecting American merchant shipping. The episode tested the young republic’s diplomatic and military resolve and shaped the future of US foreign policy. Eventually, the Convention of 1800 ended hostilities, but the Quasi-War established a precedent for America’s naval independence.
1798
XYZ Affair
US Congress
Treaty of Alliance
Quasi-War
1846day.year
US troops occupy Monterey and Yerba Buena, thus beginning the US conquest of California.
American forces occupy Monterey and Yerba Buena, initiating the U.S. conquest of California during the Mexican–American War.
On July 7, 1846, United States troops landed and occupied the towns of Monterey and Yerba Buena (modern-day San Francisco), marking the start of the U.S. conquest of California. This operation was part of the larger Mexican–American War, driven by territorial ambitions. The swift occupation faced minimal resistance but had lasting consequences for the region’s political landscape. Following the landings, California remained under American military control, paving the way for its eventual statehood. The campaign demonstrated the effectiveness of U.S. naval power and set a precedent for further westward expansion.
1846
Monterey
Yerba Buena
conquest of California
1892day.year
The Katipunan is established, the discovery of which by Spanish authorities initiated the Philippine Revolution.
The secret society Katipunan is founded, setting the stage for the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule.
On July 7, 1892, Filipino nationalist Andres Bonifacio and others founded the Katipunan (Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan), a secret revolutionary society aimed at gaining independence from Spain. The organization recruited members from various social classes and spread a strong sense of Filipino identity and unity. Its discovery by Spanish authorities later that year sparked the Philippine Revolution in August 1896. The Katipunan’s flag and revolutionary ideals inspired widespread uprisings and became symbols of the fight for freedom. The movement ultimately led to the end of over three centuries of Spanish colonial rule.
1892
Katipunan
Spanish authorities
Philippine Revolution
1915day.year
The First Battle of the Isonzo comes to an end.
The First Battle of the Isonzo concludes after weeks of intense mountain warfare between Italy and Austria-Hungary during World War I.
On July 7, 1915, the First Battle of the Isonzo ended without a decisive breakthrough for either side. Fought along the Isonzo River on the Italian Front, it was the beginning of a series of twelve battles between Italy and Austria-Hungary. The engagement featured grueling trench warfare, artillery barrages, and challenging alpine terrain. Both armies sustained heavy casualties amid minimal territorial gains. The battle demonstrated the difficulties of offensive operations in mountainous environments. It set the stage for further costly encounters that characterized the brutal nature of World War I’s Italian campaigns.
1915
First Battle of the Isonzo
1937day.year
The Marco Polo Bridge Incident (Lugou Bridge) provides the Imperial Japanese Army with a pretext for starting the Second Sino-Japanese War (China-Japan War).
The Marco Polo Bridge Incident near Beijing sparks the Second Sino-Japanese War, changing the course of East Asian history.
On July 7, 1937, Japanese and Chinese troops clashed at the Marco Polo (Lugou) Bridge outside Beijing.
Although a minor skirmish initially, it was used by the Imperial Japanese Army as a pretext for full-scale invasion.
The conflict escalated rapidly, plunging China into a protracted and devastating war.
Urban and rural regions across China soon became battlegrounds in a conflict that lasted eight years.
The incident drastically shifted power dynamics in East Asia and foreshadowed wider hostilities in World War II.
It remains a deeply significant moment in both Chinese and Japanese modern history.
1937
Marco Polo Bridge Incident
Imperial Japanese Army
Second Sino-Japanese War
1941day.year
The US occupation of Iceland replaces the UK's occupation.
United States forces replace British troops to occupy Iceland during World War II, securing a strategic North Atlantic outpost.
On July 7, 1941, U.S. Marines landed in Reykjavik, taking over the occupation of Iceland from Britain.
The move aimed to prevent Nazi Germany from seizing the strategically vital Mid-Atlantic island.
Iceland’s ports and airfields became crucial bases for Allied convoys and anti-submarine patrols.
The transfer of control bolstered American presence in Europe before its official entry into World War II.
Local Icelanders experienced an influx of foreign troops and resources that impacted daily life.
This occupation underscored Iceland’s geopolitical importance in the broader Atlantic campaign.
1941
occupation of Iceland