813day.year
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.
Facing intrigues at the court, Emperor Michael I steps down on this day in 813.
He adopts the monastic name Athanasius and withdraws from imperial affairs.
His general, Leo the Armenian, is proclaimed the new emperor of Byzantium.
This peaceful transfer highlights the era's blending of political and religious authority.
Michael's resignation illustrates the vulnerability of rulers to factional plots.
Leo's reign marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Byzantine Empire.
813
Michael I
Leo the Armenian
monk
911day.year
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.
Amid persistent Viking raids, King Charles the Simple negotiates with Rollo to secure peace in 911.
On this day, they formalize the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte along the Epte River.
Charles cedes territory in northern France to Rollo in exchange for his loyalty.
Rollo pledges fealty and agrees to defend the realm against further Norse incursions.
This agreement lays the foundations for the Duchy of Normandy and a fusion of Frankish and Norse cultures.
The treaty's legacy shapes medieval European politics and ethnic landscapes.
911
Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte
Charles the Simple
Rollo
1174day.year
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.
At just 13 years old, Baldwin IV is crowned King of Jerusalem in the tumultuous Crusader state.
Unable to rule alone, he relies on his cousin Raymond III of Tripoli as regent.
William of Tyre is appointed chancellor and records the young king's reign.
Baldwin's bout with leprosy and his court's politics test the fragile alliances in Outremer.
His reign influences the balance between Christian and Muslim powers in the Levant.
This day marks a pivotal moment in the history of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem.
1174
Baldwin IV
King of Jerusalem
Raymond III, Count of Tripoli
William of Tyre
1302day.year
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.
Fought on July 11, 1302, near Kortrijk, this battle pits Flemish militias against French knights.
Local townsmen and guild members use pikes and terrain advantage to halt a cavalry charge.
The unexpected defeat of King Philip IV's forces becomes a rallying point for Flemish identity.
Thousands of golden spurs taken from fallen knights lend the battle its evocative name.
The victory weakens French influence in Flanders and inspires later uprisings.
To this day, the battle symbolizes civic resistance against feudal oppression.
1302
Battle of the Golden Spurs
Flemish
1346day.year
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.
On this day in 1346, the princes of the Holy Roman Empire choose Charles of Luxembourg as King of the Romans.
Already ruling Bohemia, Charles's election underscores his dynastic reach across Central Europe.
His ascent follows complex negotiations among electors balancing regional power.
As King of the Romans, he secures precedence for his future coronation as Holy Roman Emperor.
Charles later issues the Golden Bull of 1356, standardizing the imperial election process.
His reign shapes imperial governance and cements Luxembourg influence in European politics.
1346
Charles IV
Count of Luxembourg
King of Bohemia
King of the Romans
1405day.year
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.
Commissioned by the Yongle Emperor, Zheng He sets sail from Suzhou with hundreds of ships and thousands of sailors.
His fleet includes massive treasure ships designed to project Ming naval power.
Aimed at establishing tributary relations, the expedition travels through the South China Sea and beyond.
Zheng He's voyages introduce Chinese goods and diplomacy to Southeast Asia, South Asia, and East Africa.
These missions reflect the technological prowess and cosmopolitan vision of the early Ming dynasty.
Zheng He's first journey lays the groundwork for seven subsequent expeditions over the next decades.
1405
Ming
Zheng He
to explore the world
1410day.year
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.
Following Sultan Bayezid I's defeat and death, his sons vie for control of the Ottoman realm.
On July 11, 1410, Süleyman Çelebi’s forces clash with Musa Çelebi’s army outside Edirne.
Superior tactics and local support enable Süleyman to rout his brother’s troops.
This victory secures his authority in the European territories of the empire.
The internecine conflict, known as the Ottoman Interregnum, lasts until 1413.
Süleyman's triumph influences the eventual reunification and centralization of Ottoman rule.
1410
Ottoman Interregnum
Süleyman Çelebi
defeats
Musa Çelebi
Edirne
1476day.year
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.
Giuliano della Rovere, nephew of Pope Sixtus IV, receives the bishopric of Coutances at a young age.
This appointment bolsters his ecclesiastical career and familial influence in the Curia.
As bishop, he oversees the diocese’s spiritual and administrative affairs in Normandy.
His tenure in Coutances enhances his reputation as a skilled churchman and politician.
He later becomes a cardinal and is elected Pope Julius II, patron of the Renaissance.
His future papacy leaves a lasting mark on art and church reform in 16th-century Italy.
1476
Giuliano della Rovere
Coutances
1576day.year
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.
On this voyage, Frobisher sails the North Atlantic in search of a route to Asia.
He unexpectedly sights the icy coast of Greenland, believing it to be Frisland.
The misidentification reflects the era's limited cartographic knowledge.
Undeterred, Frobisher presses onward, mapping the northern seas for future explorers.
His discoveries ignite renewed European interest in Arctic navigation.
Although no passage is found, these expeditions expand geographic understanding of the North.
1576
North Atlantic Ocean
Northwest Passage
Martin Frobisher
Greenland
1616day.year
Samuel de Champlain returns to Quebec.
French explorer Samuel de Champlain returns to Quebec, reinforcing France’s colonial presence in North America.
Having founded Quebec in 1608, Champlain spends years in France securing support.
He embarks on his return voyage to solidify the fledgling settlement on the St. Lawrence River.
Arriving with supplies and settlers, he strengthens defenses against rival powers.
Champlain renews alliances with Indigenous allies, crucial for the colony’s survival.
His leadership helps shape the political and cultural foundations of New France.
This return marks a pivotal moment in early European colonization of Canada.
1616
Samuel de Champlain
Quebec
1735day.year
Mathematical calculations suggest that it is on this day that dwarf planet Pluto moved inside the orbit of Neptune for the last time before 1979.
On July 11, 1735, mathematical calculations show that dwarf planet Pluto moved inside Neptune's orbit for the last time before 1979.
Early astronomers applied Newtonian mechanics to trace Pluto’s highly eccentric path and discovered that it periodically crosses inside Neptune’s orbit. Though Pluto would not be discovered until 1930, retrospective calculations revealed this orbital crossover. The event underscores the dynamic complexity of our solar system and hints at the subtle gravitational interplay among distant worlds. Pluto’s 248-year orbital period ensures such crossovers are rare, making this 1735 occurrence a notable footnote in astronomical history.
1735
dwarf planet
Pluto
Neptune
1789day.year
Jacques Necker is dismissed as France's Finance Minister sparking the Storming of the Bastille.
French finance minister Jacques Necker was dismissed, fueling public outrage that led to the Storming of the Bastille.
On July 11, 1789, King Louis XVI dismissed Jacques Necker, a popular reformer and financier. Necker’s removal ignited protests among Parisian citizens who viewed him as a defender of their rights. The ensuing unrest culminated in the storming of the Bastille three days later, marking the symbolic start of the French Revolution. This dismissal highlighted the fragile relationship between the monarchy and the public. It remains a pivotal moment showcasing the power of popular sentiment in reshaping the course of history.
1789
Jacques Necker
Storming of the Bastille