July 12

Events - Politics & Government

927day.year

King Constantine II of Scotland, King Hywel Dda of Deheubarth, Ealdred of Bamburgh and King Owain of the Cumbrians accepted the overlordship of King Æthelstan of England, leading to seven years of peace in the north.

In 927, four northern British rulers recognized Æthelstan of England as their overlord, ushering in seven years of peace across the region.
In 927 AD, King Æthelstan of England secured the allegiance of Constantine II of Scotland, Hywel Dda of Deheubarth, Ealdred of Bamburgh, and Owain of the Cumbrians. This diplomatic achievement marked the first recorded instance of a single ruler exerting overlordship over the northern kingdoms. The agreement followed negotiations and recognition ceremonies that solidified Æthelstan’s influence beyond traditional Anglo-Saxon territories. As a result, a remarkable period of peace and stability lasted for the next seven years, fostering cultural and economic exchange. Chroniclers of the era praised Æthelstan’s leadership and viewed this union of crowns as a milestone in the formation of a unified Britain.
927 Constantine II of Scotland Hywel Dda Deheubarth Ealdred of Bamburgh King Owain of the Cumbrians Æthelstan
1335day.year

Pope Benedict XII issues the papal bull Fulgens sicut stella matutina to reform the Cistercian Order.

In 1335, Pope Benedict XII issued the papal bull Fulgens sicut stella matutina to reorganize and strengthen the Cistercian Order.
Pope Benedict XII issued Fulgens sicut stella matutina in July 1335 to address corruption within the Cistercian monasteries. The bull reaffirmed strict observance of the Rule of Saint Benedict, emphasizing poverty, manual labor, and liturgical devotion. It called for the visitation of abbeys, disciplinary reforms, and the suppression of unauthorized abuses of monastic privileges. This decree aimed to restore spiritual rigor and unity among Cistercian communities across Europe. Historians view the bull as a landmark in Church-led monastic reform, reflecting broader 14th-century concerns about clerical discipline.
1335 Benedict XII Fulgens sicut stella matutina Cistercian Order
1527day.year

Lê Cung Hoàng ceded the throne to Mạc Đăng Dung, ending the Lê dynasty and starting the Mạc dynasty.

In 1527, Emperor Lê Cung Hoàng abdicated in favor of Mạc Đăng Dung, marking the fall of the Lê dynasty and rise of the Mạc dynasty in Vietnam.
Lê Cung Hoàng was the last ruler of the Later Lê dynasty, which had governed Vietnam since 1428. Faced with internal unrest and military pressure, he transferred power to his general Mạc Đăng Dung. Mạc Đăng Dung established the Mạc dynasty, inaugurating a new era of centralized rule. This dynastic transition sparked civil conflict as loyalists of the Lê royal house resisted Mạc authority. The episode exemplifies the turbulent political landscape of 16th-century Southeast Asia and the fragility of monarchical legitimacy.
1527 Lê Cung Hoàng Mạc Đăng Dung Lê dynasty Mạc dynasty
1543day.year

King Henry VIII of England marries his sixth and last wife, Catherine Parr, at Hampton Court Palace.

In 1543, King Henry VIII married his sixth and final wife, Lady Catherine Parr, at Hampton Court Palace, sealing a union that outlasted him.
Catherine Parr became queen consort of England through marriage to the notoriously tumultuous Henry VIII. Their wedding at Hampton Court Palace on July 12, 1543, marked the king’s final marital alliance. Catherine’s intelligence and piety allowed her to reconcile Henry with his daughters Mary and Elizabeth. She acted as regent during the king’s military campaign in France, demonstrating political acumen. Following Henry’s death, Parr married Thomas Seymour, continuing her influential role in Tudor court life.
1543 Henry VIII of England Catherine Parr Hampton Court Palace
1789day.year

In response to the dismissal of the French finance minister Jacques Necker, the radical journalist Camille Desmoulins gives a speech which results in the storming of the Bastille two days later.

Camille Desmoulins’ fiery speech on July 12, 1789, mobilized Parisians and set the stage for the storming of the Bastille.
Following Finance Minister Jacques Necker’s dismissal, journalist Camille Desmoulins rallied crowds at the Palais-Royal. His call to arms—‘Arm yourselves, citizens!’—ignited public outrage against royal authority. Tens of thousands gathered, seizing weapons and preparing for confrontation with the monarchy. Desmoulins’ oratory galvanized revolutionary fervor, leading to the storming of the Bastille on July 14. This dramatic uprising marked a key turning point in the French Revolution, challenging absolute monarchy.
1789 Jacques Necker Camille Desmoulins storming of the Bastille
1790day.year

The Civil Constitution of the Clergy is passed in France by the National Constituent Assembly.

The French National Constituent Assembly passed the Civil Constitution of the Clergy in 1790, imposing state control over the Church.
On July 12, 1790, the Assembly enacted the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, reorganizing the Catholic Church in France. Clergy were required to swear an oath of loyalty to the state, effectively making them civil servants. Dioceses were redrawn to align with administrative departments, reducing papal influence. This law provoked deep divisions, with many priests refusing the oath and forming a refractory clergy. The resulting schism fueled political tensions and radicalization during the Revolution.
1790 Civil Constitution of the Clergy National Constituent Assembly
1806day.year

At the insistence of Napoleon, Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg and thirteen minor principalities leave the Holy Roman Empire and form the Confederation of the Rhine.

Napoleon’s influence led to the formation of the Confederation of the Rhine in 1806, dissolving the Holy Roman Empire.
At Napoleon’s behest, Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg, and other German states seceded from the Holy Roman Empire on July 12, 1806. They formed the Confederation of the Rhine, a French satellite polity under Napoleon’s protection. This reorganization effectively ended the millennium-old Holy Roman Empire, dissolved later that year. Member states adopted French legal codes and contributed troops to Napoleon’s military campaigns. The confederation reshaped Central Europe and set the stage for future German unification.
1806 Bavaria Baden Württemberg Holy Roman Empire Confederation of the Rhine
1862day.year

The Medal of Honor is authorized by the United States Congress.

On July 12, 1862, the United States Congress authorized the Medal of Honor, establishing the nation's highest military award for valor in service.
The authorization came amid the American Civil War as lawmakers sought to recognize extraordinary acts of bravery on the battlefield. President Abraham Lincoln signed the legislation creating the Medal of Honor, making it the first formal military decoration of the United States. This landmark decision paved the way for soldiers to be honored for their courage under fire, regardless of rank. The Medal of Honor would go on to become the most prestigious military award in American history. Recipients are remembered for their selfless heroism and devotion to duty.
1862 Medal of Honor United States Congress
1913day.year

The Second Revolution breaks out against the Beiyang government, as Li Liejun proclaims Jiangxi independent from the Republic of China.

On July 12, 1913, revolutionaries led by Li Liejun declared Jiangxi province independent, igniting the Second Revolution against China's Beiyang government.
The uprising was sparked by political discontent with President Yuan Shikai’s centralizing policies. General Li Liejun seized the provincial government in Nanchang and proclaimed independence for Jiangxi. The revolt quickly spread to other southern provinces but lacked sufficient coordination. Government forces loyal to the Beiyang regime mobilized troops to suppress the insurrection. By August, the revolt collapsed, and many revolutionaries were forced into exile or executed. Although short-lived, the Second Revolution underscored the fragile unity of the early Republic of China and foreshadowed further internal strife.
Second Revolution Beiyang government Li Liejun Jiangxi Republic of China
1920day.year

The Soviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty is signed, by which Soviet Russia recognizes the independence of Lithuania.

In 1920, Soviet Russia and Lithuania signed a peace treaty in which Soviet Russia officially recognized the independence of Lithuania.
The Soviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty was concluded on July 12, 1920, amid the Russian Civil War. Under its terms, Soviet Russia renounced claims to Lithuanian territory and sovereignty. The agreement established diplomatic relations and laid the groundwork for mutual cooperation. It marked Lithuania’s first de jure recognition by a major power after World War I. However, shifting front lines in the Polish–Soviet War soon threatened the fragile arrangement. The treaty remained a reference point in Baltic diplomacy throughout the interwar period.
1920 Soviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty Soviet Russia Lithuania
1948day.year

Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion orders the expulsion of Palestinians from the towns of Lod and Ramla.

In 1948, Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion ordered the expulsion of Palestinian residents from the towns of Lod and Ramla, leading to their mass displacement.
The expulsions took place on July 12, 1948, during the Arab–Israeli War following the declaration of Israel’s independence. Military authorities implemented the order under Plan Dalet, aiming to secure strategic areas. Over 50,000 Palestinian civilians were forced to leave their homes in two days, with many seeking refuge elsewhere in the region. Properties were later repurposed or destroyed to prevent return. The events in Lod (Lydda) and Ramla have remained a contentious chapter in Israeli and Palestinian narratives. The expulsions contributed to the broader Palestinian refugee crisis that endures today.
1948 David Ben-Gurion expulsion of Palestinians Lod Ramla
1975day.year

São Tomé and Príncipe declare independence from Portugal.

São Tomé and Príncipe declared their independence from Portugal, becoming Africa's newest sovereign nation.
On July 12, 1975, the archipelago of São Tomé and Príncipe officially declared independence from Portuguese colonial rule. Located in the Gulf of Guinea, the islands had long been an agricultural hub for sugar, cocoa, and coffee plantations. The Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe led peaceful negotiations with Portugal for the transfer of power. Manuel Pinto da Costa became the nation's first president, tasked with guiding development amid limited resources. Independence ushered in social and economic reforms focused on diversifying the economy and expanding education and healthcare. Today, July 12 is celebrated as National Independence Day with cultural festivities and official ceremonies.
1975 São Tomé and Príncipe