July 11
Overview
Holidays & Observances
ChristianFeast Day:
Benedict of Nursia, Olga of Kiev, Pope Pius I, Thomas Sprott, July 11 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Eastern Orthodox feast day honoring saints Benedict of Nursia, Olga of Kiev, Pope Pius I, and Thomas Sprott.
China National Maritime Day(China)
China’s National Maritime Day celebrates the country’s seafaring heritage and promotes sustainable use of marine resources.
Day of the Bandoneón(Argentina)
Argentina celebrates the bandoneón, the iconic instrument of tango music, showcasing its cultural significance.
Day of the Flemish Community(Flemish CommunityofBelgium)
The Flemish Community commemorates the Battle of the Golden Spurs and celebrates regional heritage and identity.
Eleventh Night(Northern Ireland)
Communities in Northern Ireland light bonfires on the eve of the Twelfth to celebrate Protestant heritage and the Battle of the Boyne.
National Day of Remembrance of the victims of the Genocide of the Citizens of the Polish Republic committed by Ukrainian Nationalists(Poland, established by the 22 July 2016 resolution ofSejmin reference to the July 11, 1943Volhynian Bloody Sunday)
Poland’s official remembrance day honors the victims of the 1943 Volhynian massacre by Ukrainian nationalists.
Gospel Day(Kiribati)
Kiribati’s Gospel Day celebrates the arrival of Christianity and its influence on the nation’s culture and faith.
National Day of Commemoration, held on the nearest Sunday to this date (Ireland)
Ireland’s National Day of Commemoration honors all Irish men and women who died in wars and peacekeeping missions.
The first day ofNaadam(July 11–15) (Mongolia)
Mongolia’s Naadam festival begins with a vibrant opening day of wrestling, horse racing, and archery competitions.
Events
Byzantine emperor Michael I, under threat by conspiracies, abdicates in favor of his general Leo the Armenian, and becomes a monk (under the name Athanasius).
Amid conspiracies, Byzantine Emperor Michael I abdicates and retreats to monastic life as Athanasius, paving the way for General Leo the Armenian to take the throne.
Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy.
The Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between King Charles the Simple of West Francia and Viking leader Rollo grants land that becomes Normandy.
Baldwin IV, 13, becomes King of Jerusalem, with Raymond III, Count of Tripoli as regent and William of Tyre as chancellor.
Teenaged Baldwin IV ascends to the throne of Jerusalem with Raymond III as regent and chronicler William of Tyre at his side.
Battle of the Golden Spurs (Guldensporenslag in Dutch): A coalition around the Flemish cities defeats the king of France's royal army.
In the Battle of the Golden Spurs, Flemish infantry triumphs over the French royal army, delivering a symbolically charged victory near Kortrijk.
Charles IV, Count of Luxembourg and King of Bohemia, is elected King of the Romans.
Charles IV of Luxembourg, already King of Bohemia, is elected King of the Romans, solidifying his influence in the Holy Roman Empire.
Ming admiral Zheng He sets sail to explore the world for the first time.
Ming admiral Zheng He departs on his inaugural voyage, commanding a grand fleet that will expand China’s maritime influence.
Ottoman Interregnum: Süleyman Çelebi defeats his brother Musa Çelebi outside the Ottoman capital, Edirne.
During the Ottoman Interregnum, prince Süleyman Çelebi defeats his brother Musa Çelebi near Edirne, shaping succession in the fractured empire.
Giuliano della Rovere is appointed bishop of Coutances.
Future Pope Julius II, Giuliano della Rovere, is appointed bishop of Coutances, marking an important step in his rise within the Church.
While exploring the North Atlantic Ocean in an attempt to find the Northwest Passage, Martin Frobisher sights Greenland, mistaking it for the hypothesized (but non-existent) island of "Frisland".
Explorer Martin Frobisher sights Greenland on his quest for the Northwest Passage, misidentifying it as the mythical island of Frisland.
Births
Bardaisan
Syrian scholar and philosopher who integrated astrology with theology in the 2nd century.
Robert the Bruce
Scottish king who led Scotland to independence in the early 14th century.
William
German nobleman who ruled the Margraviate of Hachberg-Sausenberg in the 15th century.
Kaspar
German noble who served as Count Palatine of Zweibrücken during the late 15th century.
Robert Greene
Pioneering Elizabethan writer known for his prose pamphlets and early plays.
Luis de Góngora
Spanish Baroque poet and cleric renowned for his highly ornate style.
Kenelm Digby
English courtier and scholar known for his interests in astrology, science, and diplomacy.
Tokugawa Mitsukuni
Powerful Japanese daimyō and scholar known for compiling the 'Dai Nihonshi.'
Sarah Good
One of the first victims executed during the Salem witch trials of 1692.
Deaths
Anthemius
Anthemius was Western Roman Emperor from 467 to 472, known for defending Italy against barbarian invasions.
Rudolph II of Burgundy
Rudolph II was King of Upper Burgundy from 912 and Lower Burgundy from 933, striving to maintain his realm amid dynastic conflicts.
Olga of Kiev
Olga of Kiev was regent of Kievan Rus and one of the earliest rulers to convert to Christianity, known for her reforms and diplomacy.
Amalric I of Jerusalem
Amalric I was King of Jerusalem from 1163 to 1174, noted for his campaigns in Egypt and efforts to secure the Crusader Kingdom.
Otto I Wittelsbach
Otto I Wittelsbach was the first Duke of Bavaria from the Wittelsbach dynasty and founder of a line that ruled Bavaria for centuries.
Robert II
Robert II was Count of Artois from 1297 until his death at the Battle of the Golden Spurs, remembered for his bravery in battle.
Pierre Flotte
Pierre Flotte was Chancellor of France and a key legal advisor to King Philip IV during a time of royal assertion against papal authority.
Ulrich III
Ulrich III was Count of Württemberg from 1325 to 1344, known for strengthening his territory through expansion and urban development.
Anna von Schweidnitz
Anna von Schweidnitz was Empress consort of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and known for her political influence and patronage.