1174day.year
William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173–74, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Henry II of England.
In 1174, William I of Scotland, a leader in the Revolt of 1173–74, was captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Henry II of England.
William I of Scotland, also known as William the Lion, was a central figure in the 1173–74 revolt against King Henry II of England.
He led incursions into northern England, hoping to assert Scottish independence.
On July 13, 1174, William launched a surprise attack on Alnwick Castle but was ambushed and taken prisoner.
His capture forced the Scots to negotiate terms, leading to the Treaty of Falaise, which humbled Scotland under English overlordship.
This event marked a significant setback for Scottish autonomy and shaped Anglo-Scottish relations for decades.
1174
William I of Scotland
rebel
Revolt of 1173–74
Alnwick
Henry II of England
1249day.year
Coronation of Alexander III as King of Scots.
In 1249, Alexander III ascended to the Scottish throne with his coronation as King of Scots.
Alexander III, the posthumous son of Alexander II, was crowned King of Scots on July 13, 1249.
Though still a child, he swore to uphold the laws and traditions of Scotland.
A council of regents governed in his name until he reached maturity.
His eventual personal rule brought a period of peace and expansion, strengthening Scotland’s position in the British Isles.
Alexander’s reign laid the foundations for one of the most stable eras in medieval Scottish history.
1249
Coronation
Alexander III
King of Scots
1260day.year
The Livonian Order suffers its greatest defeat in the 13th century in the Battle of Durbe against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
In 1260, the Livonian Order suffered its greatest defeat at the Battle of Durbe against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
During the Baltic Crusades, the Livonian Order was a key military and religious force in the region.
On July 13, 1260, their knights engaged a Lithuanian army near Durbe in present-day Latvia.
The Lithuanians, supported by local Samogitians, employed superior tactics and terrain knowledge.
Massive casualties and the death of high-ranking knights dealt a crippling blow to the Order.
This defeat fueled further resistance against the crusaders and weakened German influence in the eastern Baltic.
1260
Livonian Order
Battle of Durbe
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
1402day.year
Nanjing surrenders to Zhu Di without a fight, ending the Jingnan campaign. The Jianwen Emperor disappears and his family is incarcerated.
In 1402, Zhu Di captured the Ming capital Nanjing without a fight, ending his brother’s reign in the Jingnan campaign.
The Jingnan campaign was a civil war between Emperor Jianwen and his uncle Zhu Di, Prince of Yan.
After months of skirmishes, Zhu Di’s forces reached Nanjing and demanded surrender.
On July 13, 1402, the capital yielded without resistance, and the Jianwen Emperor disappeared.
Zhu Di then proclaimed himself the Yongle Emperor, initiating one of the most prosperous eras of the Ming dynasty.
This power shift relocated the capital to Beijing and reshaped China’s political landscape.
1402
Nanjing
Zhu Di
Jingnan campaign
Jianwen Emperor
1558day.year
Battle of Gravelines: In France, Spanish forces led by Count Lamoral of Egmont defeat the French forces of Marshal Paul de Thermes at Gravelines.
Spanish troops under Count Egmont defeated the French at the Battle of Gravelines in 1558.
Amid the Italian Wars, control of the Spanish Netherlands was fiercely contested.
On July 13, 1558, Count Lamoral of Egmont led Spanish forces against Marshal Paul de Thermes’ French army at Gravelines.
Egmont’s disciplined infantry and cavalry outmaneuvered the French on the field.
The victory protected key supply routes along the coast and boosted Spanish morale.
The battle foreshadowed the eventual Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis, which temporarily halted hostilities.
1558
Battle of Gravelines
Lamoral of Egmont
Paul de Thermes
Gravelines
1573day.year
Eighty Years' War: The Siege of Haarlem ends after seven months.
The seven-month Siege of Haarlem ended with a Spanish victory during the Eighty Years’ War in 1573.
Haarlem, a prosperous Dutch city, resisted Spanish rule in the Eighty Years’ War.
From December 1572, its citizens and soldiers withstood repeated assaults and harsh conditions.
By July 13, 1573, hunger and disease forced Haarlem to capitulate to the Duke of Alva’s forces.
Spanish victors imposed brutal penalties, executing or exiling many defenders.
The siege’s legacy inspired Dutch resolve and highlighted the high cost of resistance.
1573
Eighty Years' War
Siege of Haarlem
1586day.year
Anglo–Spanish War: A convoy of English ships from the Levant Company manage to repel a fleet of eleven Spanish and Maltese galleys off the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria.
In 1586, English Levant Company ships repelled eleven Spanish and Maltese galleys off Pantelleria.
The Levant Company was England’s pioneering trading venture in the Mediterranean.
On July 13, 1586, its merchant convoy near Pantelleria encountered a Spanish-Maltese galley squadron.
Despite being outgunned and designed for cargo, the English ships defended themselves fiercely.
Their successful reprisal demonstrated emerging English naval confidence against established powers.
This action foreshadowed England’s naval ascendancy leading up to the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
1586
Anglo–Spanish War
Levant Company
repel a fleet
Maltese
Pantelleria
1643day.year
English Civil War: Battle of Roundway Down: In England, Henry Wilmot, 1st Earl of Rochester, commanding the Royalist forces, heavily defeats the Parliamentarian forces led by Sir William Waller.
Royalists under Henry Wilmot crushed Parliamentarian forces at the Battle of Roundway Down in 1643.
During the First English Civil War, control of the West Country was hotly contested.
On July 13, 1643, Royalist cavalry led by Henry Wilmot confronted Sir William Waller’s Parliamentarians near Devizes.
A swift charge routed Waller’s men, resulting in heavy casualties and prisoners.
This decisive victory secured the region for King Charles I and boosted Royalist morale.
Roundway Down remains noted for showcasing the Royalist cavalry’s effectiveness.
1643
English Civil War
Battle of Roundway Down
Henry Wilmot, 1st Earl of Rochester
Royalist
Parliamentarian
William Waller
1690day.year
Nine Years' War: French naval forces led by Anne Hilarion de Tourville fresh from their victory at Beachy Head sail West and launch a raid on the small English town of Teignmouth leaving it devastated.
French naval forces under Tourville raided and devastated Teignmouth in 1690 during the Nine Years' War.
Fresh from winning the Battle of Beachy Head, Admiral Tourville turned his fleet toward England’s southern coast.
On July 13, 1690, French galleys entered the River Teign and attacked the town of Teignmouth.
Fires raged as buildings were looted and burned, leaving the town in ruins.
The raid exposed England’s coastal vulnerabilities and caused widespread fear.
Local defenses were later strengthened to prevent similar attacks.
1690
Nine Years' War
Anne Hilarion de Tourville
victory at Beachy Head
launch a raid
1787day.year
The Congress of the Confederation enacts the Northwest Ordinance establishing governing rules for the Northwest Territory. It also establishes procedures for the admission of new states and limits the expansion of slavery.
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 established rules for governance and statehood in America’s Northwest Territory.
Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress sought to manage western lands fairly.
On July 13, 1787, the Northwest Ordinance laid out a blueprint for territorial governance, civil liberties, and public education.
It established a three-stage path to statehood based on population thresholds.
The ordinance also banned slavery in the territory north of the Ohio River.
Its principles guided American expansion and influenced later western territories.
1787
Congress of the Confederation
Northwest Ordinance
Northwest Territory
slavery
1794day.year
The Battle of Trippstadt between French forces and those of Prussia and Austria begins.
In July 1794, French revolutionary armies engaged Allied Prussian and Austrian troops at Trippstadt in a significant campaign of the War of the First Coalition.
The Battle of Trippstadt was fought between French Revolutionary forces and a coalition of Prussian and Austrian troops. It marked a key phase in the French push to secure its eastern frontier. The French aimed to defend their territory against advancing Allied armies. Prussian and Austrian commanders sought to roll back French gains in the Rhineland. Fierce combat occurred around the village of Trippstadt and nearby heights. The outcome boosted French morale and contributed to shifting momentum in the Coalition Wars. This engagement exemplified the broader struggle for power in late 18th century Europe.
1794
Battle of Trippstadt
Prussia
1814day.year
The Carabinieri, the national gendarmerie of Italy, is established.
The Carabinieri, Italy's national gendarmerie, was established in July 1814 to maintain public order and security across the newly restored Italian states.
Founded by King Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia, the Carabinieri combined military discipline with policing powers. They were tasked with combating banditry and protecting civilian populations. Over time, they evolved into one of the oldest national police forces in the world. The force played a central role in Italian unification and in maintaining stability during turbulent periods. Today, the Carabinieri serve both military and civilian law enforcement functions. Their foundation on this day laid the groundwork for modern Italian security services.
1814
Carabinieri
gendarmerie