118day.year
Hadrian, who became emperor a year previously on Trajan's death, makes his entry into Rome.
Roman Emperor Hadrian made his triumphant entry into Rome in 118 AD, marking the consolidation of his rule.
In 118 AD, one year after succeeding Emperor Trajan, Hadrian entered Rome in a grand procession. He was formally recognized by the Senate and the people in a public ceremony. The event included displays of military strength and cultural achievements. Citizens lined the streets to welcome him with honors and gifts. His entry solidified his authority and set the tone for a prosperous reign.
118
Hadrian
381day.year
The end of the First Council of Christian bishops convened in Constantinople by the Roman emperor Theodosius I.
The First Council of Constantinople, convened by Theodosius I, concluded in 381, shaping early Christian doctrine.
The First Council of Constantinople opened in May 381 under Emperor Theodosius I to address theological disputes such as Arianism. Over several months, bishops debated the nature of the Holy Spirit and expanded the Nicene Creed. The council affirmed the divinity of the Holy Spirit and condemned various heresies. Its canons influenced the organization of the Eastern Church and imperial authority over doctrine. The council's decisions had a lasting impact on Christian theology for centuries.
381
First Council
Theodosius I
491day.year
Odoacer makes a night assault with his Heruli guardsmen, engaging Theoderic the Great in Ad Pinetam. Both sides suffer heavy losses, but in the end Theoderic forces Odoacer back into Ravenna.
In 491, Odoacer launched a nighttime assault against Theoderic the Great near Pinetam, resulting in heavy losses on both sides.
In the summer of 491, Odoacer led his Heruli guardsmen in a surprise night attack on Theoderic's Ostrogothic forces at Ad Pinetam. The skirmish inflicted significant casualties but failed to break Theoderic's defensive lines. Theoderic regrouped his troops and launched a counterattack, forcing Odoacer back into the fortified city of Ravenna. The encounter demonstrated the fierce struggle for control of Italy after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. It set the stage for the protracted siege of Ravenna and eventual Gothic victory.
491
Odoacer
Heruli
Theoderic the Great
Ravenna
551day.year
A major earthquake strikes Beirut, triggering a devastating tsunami that affects the coastal towns of Byzantine Phoenicia, causing thousands of deaths.
A massive earthquake struck Beirut in 551, triggering a devastating tsunami that ravaged Byzantine Phoenician coastal towns.
On July 9, 551, a powerful earthquake estimated at magnitude 7.2 struck near Beirut, then part of Byzantine Phoenicia. The tremors generated a tsunami that surged onto the coast, demolishing towns and sweeping inhabitants into the sea. Contemporary accounts report thousands of casualties and widespread destruction of ports, villas, and farmland. The disaster disrupted trade routes and weakened the region's economic stability. It highlighted the Levantine coast's vulnerability to seismic events and influenced later urban defenses.
551
major earthquake
Byzantine Phoenicia
660day.year
Korean forces under general Kim Yu-sin of Silla defeat the army of Baekje in the Battle of Hwangsanbeol.
In 660, Silla forces under General Kim Yu-sin defeated Baekje at the Battle of Hwangsanbeol, a pivotal moment in Korean unification.
On July 9, 660, General Kim Yu-sin of the Silla kingdom led his troops to victory against the Baekje army at Hwangsanbeol. Despite facing a numerically superior force, Silla's disciplined soldiers executed strategic maneuvers that broke Baekje lines. The defeat shattered Baekje's military strength and opened the way for an alliance between Silla and Tang China. This victory became legendary in Korean history and folklore as a turning point in the struggle for the peninsula. It laid the groundwork for the eventual unification of the Three Kingdoms under Silla rule.
660
Kim Yu-sin
Baekje
Battle of Hwangsanbeol
869day.year
The 8.4–9.0 Mw Sanriku earthquake strikes the area around Sendai in northern Honshu, Japan. Inundation from the tsunami extended several kilometers inland.
The 869 Sanriku earthquake and ensuing tsunami devastated the Sendai region in northern Honshu, inundating coastal plains.
On July 9, 869, a massive earthquake estimated between magnitude 8.4 and 9.0 struck off the northeastern coast of Honshu. The resulting tsunami raced inland for several kilometers, destroying villages and farmland around Sendai. Historical records describe houses flattened and ships carried far inland by the mighty waves. The disaster claimed countless lives and disrupted early Heian-period coastal communities. Modern geological research has confirmed the scale of this ancient tsunami and informs current risk assessments in Japan.
869
Sanriku earthquake
Sendai
Honshu
969day.year
The Fatimid general Jawhar leads the Friday prayer in Fustat in the name of Caliph al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah, thereby symbolically completing the Fatimid conquest of Egypt.
Fatimid general Jawhar led Friday prayers in Fustat in 969, symbolizing the completion of Egypt's conquest under Caliph al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah.
In July 969, Jawhar al-Siqilli, the chief general of the Fatimid Caliphate, led the first Friday sermon in Fustat, declaring loyalty to Caliph al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah. This ceremony marked the formal end of the Ikhshidid dynasty and the establishment of Fatimid rule over Egypt. Fustat became the new administrative center, reflecting the political and religious shift from Sunni to Isma'ili Shi'a governance. The event consolidated the Fatimid Caliphate's presence in North Africa and the Near East. It initiated a period of cultural flourishing and architectural development in Cairo.
969
Fatimid
Jawhar
Friday prayer
Fustat
al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah
Fatimid conquest of Egypt
1357day.year
Emperor Charles IV assists in laying the foundation stone of Charles Bridge in Prague.
Emperor Charles IV laid the foundation stone for Prague's Charles Bridge in 1357, initiating one of medieval Europe's greatest engineering feats.
On July 9, 1357, Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV personally placed the first stone of the new bridge spanning the Vltava River in Prague. The structure, later known as Charles Bridge, was designed to replace a flood-damaged predecessor and secure a vital trade route. Gothic architects and stonemasons worked for decades to complete the bridge, which features 16 arches and statues of saints. Charles IV's direct involvement underscored the project's political and economic significance. The bridge stands today as an iconic symbol of Prague's medieval heritage.
1357
Emperor Charles IV
foundation stone
Charles Bridge
Prague
1386day.year
The Old Swiss Confederacy makes great strides in establishing control over its territory by soundly defeating the Duchy of Austria in the Battle of Sempach.
In 1386, the Old Swiss Confederacy achieved a decisive victory over the Duchy of Austria at the Battle of Sempach.
On July 9, 1386, Swiss confederate forces confronted the Habsburg army near Sempach in present-day Switzerland. Through the tactical use of pike formations and disciplined infantry, the Swiss overcame a feudal cavalry force. The death of Duke Leopold III during the battle demoralized the Austrian troops and secured Swiss autonomy. This victory halted Habsburg expansion into Swiss territories. The battle became a symbol of Swiss independence and military innovation.
1386
Old Swiss Confederacy
establishing control over its territory
Duchy of Austria
Battle of Sempach
1401day.year
Timur attacks the Jalairid Sultanate and destroys Baghdad.
In 1401, Timur's forces sacked and destroyed Baghdad, ending centuries of Abbasid power in the city.
In July 1401, the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur advanced on Baghdad, then a major center of the Jalairid Sultanate and former Abbasid Caliphate seat. After a brief siege, his armies breached the city walls and unleashed widespread plunder. Grand libraries, mosques, and palaces were razed, and the population suffered massive casualties and enslavement. The sack marked the collapse of the region's political and cultural center and dispersed its intellectual legacy. Timur's campaign reshaped power dynamics across the Middle East for decades.
1401
Timur
Jalairid Sultanate
1540day.year
King Henry VIII of England annuls his marriage to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves.
King Henry VIII legally ends his politically arranged marriage to Anne of Cleves, citing non-consummation.
On July 9, 1540, King Henry VIII of England formally annulled his marriage to Anne of Cleves. The union had been arranged to secure an alliance with the Duchy of Cleves. Henry claimed the marriage was never consummated and declared it invalid under canon law. The annulment became a sensational display of royal authority and personal ambition. Anne was treated generously afterward, granted estates and retained her royal title. This event highlights the turbulent marital politics that defined Henry’s reign.
1540
Henry VIII
Anne of Cleves
1572day.year
Nineteen Catholics suffer martyrdom for their beliefs, in the Dutch town of Gorkum.
Nineteen Dutch Catholics are executed in Gorkum for refusing to renounce their faith amid Reformation conflicts.
On July 9, 1572, nineteen Catholic clerics and laymen were hanged in Gorkum (present-day Gorinchem, Netherlands). They were captured by Calvinist forces and pressured to reject doctrines like transubstantiation and papal supremacy. Their steadfast refusal led to their execution, later commemorated as the Martyrs of Gorkum. This tragic event intensified religious tensions during the Dutch Revolt and the broader Reformation in Europe. In 1675, they were beatified, and in 1867, they were canonized by Pope Pius IX. Their sacrifice remains a poignant example of faith under persecution.
1572
Nineteen Catholics
Gorkum