July 15

Events

484 BC

Dedication of the Temple of Castor and Pollux in ancient Rome.

Centered in the Roman Forum, the Temple of Castor and Pollux was dedicated in 484 BC. This grand ceremony honored the twin gods and showcased Rome’s early architectural prowess.
In 484 BC, the Roman Senate oversaw the dedication of a magnificent temple to Castor and Pollux in the heart of the Forum. Built to commemorate a legendary apparition during the Battle of Lake Regillus, it symbolized divine favor on Rome. Constructed from tufa and travertine, the temple featured Corinthian columns and richly decorated pediments. Its opening ceremony included sacrificial rituals, public games, and political speeches by leading magistrates. Over centuries, it served as a meeting place for the Senate and housed the state treasury, reflecting its civic importance. Today, remnants of its three standing columns remain an iconic testament to ancient Roman religious and architectural achievements.
484 BC Temple of Castor and Pollux ancient Rome
70day.year

First Jewish–Roman War: Titus and his armies breach the walls of Jerusalem. (17th of Tammuz in the Hebrew calendar).

On July 15, 70 AD, Emperor Titus’s legions breached Jerusalem’s formidable walls during the First Jewish–Roman War. This pivotal assault led to the city’s ultimate fall.
Part of the First Jewish–Roman War, the siege of Jerusalem culminated when Titus’s forces exploited a breach in the city walls on July 15, 70 AD. After months of famine and fierce resistance, Roman soldiers poured into the Second Wall, overwhelming the defenders. The breach took place on the 17th of Tammuz according to the Hebrew calendar, adding religious resonance to the event. Following the entrance, Roman troops systematically destroyed the Temple precincts, inciting a profound loss for the Jewish people. The fall of Jerusalem marked a turning point in the war, leading to the diaspora of Jewish communities across the Roman world. Titus celebrated a triumph in Rome, showcasing captives and sacred artifacts, including the Temple menorah.
70 First Jewish–Roman War Titus breach the walls of Jerusalem 17th of Tammuz
756day.year

An Lushan Rebellion: Emperor Xuanzong of Tang is ordered by his Imperial Guards to execute chancellor Yang Guozhong by forcing him to commit suicide or face a mutiny. General An Lushan has other members of the emperor's family killed.

During the An Lushan Rebellion in 756, Emperor Xuanzong’s guards forced Chancellor Yang Guozhong to commit suicide amid fears of mutiny. This dramatic purge reflected the rebellion’s turmoil.
The An Lushan Rebellion, a major uprising against Tang authority, reached its climax when Imperial Guards turned against Chancellor Yang Guozhong on July 15, 756. Fearing his perceived corruption and military failures, the guards demanded his execution, offering suicide as his only reprieve. Under duress, Yang took his own life, while rebel general An Lushan ordered members of the imperial family killed, deepening the crisis. The purge highlighted the erosion of central authority and the intense court intrigues that plagued Emperor Xuanzong’s rule. This internal collapse paved the way for widespread violence and further rebellions, ultimately weakening the Tang dynasty. Historians view these events as a turning point that ushered in decades of instability across China.
756 An Lushan Rebellion Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Imperial Guards Yang Guozhong An Lushan
1099day.year

First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the final assault of a difficult siege.

On July 15, 1099, Crusader forces captured the Church of the Holy Sepulchre after a grueling siege. This triumph marked the fall of Jerusalem during the First Crusade.
Following weeks of fierce resistance, Christian soldiers stormed the walls of Jerusalem on July 15, 1099, securing a breach near the city’s northern quarter. In the final assault, Crusaders made straight for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, revered as the site of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Its capture signified both a military and spiritual victory, fulfilling vows taken by knights at the outset of the First Crusade. Pilgrims and warriors alike flocked to the church, turning it into a focal point for religious fervor and celebration. The fall of Jerusalem established several Crusader states in the Levant and reshaped Christian–Muslim relations for generations. Contemporary accounts describe the day as a mix of jubilation, massacres, and solemn religious ceremonies.
1099 First Crusade Church of the Holy Sepulchre Jerusalem a difficult siege
1149day.year

The reconstructed Church of the Holy Sepulchre is consecrated in Jerusalem.

In 1149, Crusader leaders consecrated the newly rebuilt Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The ceremony reaffirmed the site’s spiritual centrality in Christendom.
After its destruction in 1009 and the tumult of the First Crusade, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre underwent extensive reconstruction. On July 15, 1149, Patriarch Fulk of Jerusalem presided over a grand consecration ceremony attended by nobles, clergy, and pilgrims. The restored basilica showcased Romanesque arches, ornate chapels, and intricate mosaic floors, reflecting Western architectural influences. This event marked the church’s rededication as the symbolic heart of Crusader Jerusalem, drawing renewed pilgrim traffic. Its consecration reinforced Latin Christian claims in the Holy Land and fueled ongoing cultural and religious exchanges. The rebuilt structure remained a center for worship until the city fell to Salah ad-Din in 1187.
1149 Church of the Holy Sepulchre Jerusalem
1207day.year

King John of England expels Canterbury monks for supporting Archbishop Stephen Langton.

King John of England expelled the monks of Canterbury in 1207 for backing Archbishop Stephen Langton. This clash with the Church escalated tensions ahead of the Magna Carta era.
In 1207, King John faced a political standoff with Pope Innocent III over the appointment of Stephen Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury. When the monks refused John’s nominee and welcomed Langton, the king retaliated by expelling them from Canterbury Cathedral. This action led to England’s interdict and John’s excommunication, straining the crown’s relationship with the papacy. The crisis weakened John’s domestic support and contributed to baronial discontent, setting the stage for the Magna Carta of 1215. Historians view this conflict as a pivotal moment in medieval church–state relations and the development of English common law. The expelled monks endured exile until a resolution in 1213 restored their positions.
1207 John of England Canterbury Archbishop Stephen Langton
1240day.year

Swedish–Novgorodian Wars: A Novgorodian army led by Alexander Nevsky defeats the Swedes in the Battle of the Neva.

On July 15, 1240, Alexander Nevsky led Novgorodian forces to victory over the Swedes at the Battle of the Neva. This triumph bolstered his reputation as a defender of Russia.
The Battle of the Neva took place near present-day Saint Petersburg as part of the Swedish–Novgorodian Wars. On July 15, 1240, Prince Alexander of Novgorod marshaled a smaller force to repel a Swedish naval invasion along the river. Despite being outnumbered, his tactical flanking maneuvers secured a decisive victory that prevented Swedish advances. Celebrated as a national hero, Alexander earned the moniker “Nevsky” and secured his place in Russian folklore. The win strengthened Novgorod’s northern defenses and affirmed its sovereignty amid regional power struggles. The legacy of the battle lived on as a symbol of unity and resistance against foreign threats.
1240 Swedish–Novgorodian Wars Novgorodian Alexander Nevsky Swedes Battle of the Neva
1381day.year

John Ball, a leader in the Peasants' Revolt, is hanged, drawn and quartered in the presence of King Richard II of England.

Peasants’ Revolt leader John Ball was executed by hanging, drawing, and quartering before King Richard II on July 15, 1381. His death underscored the revolt’s brutal suppression.
John Ball, a radical preacher and key figure in the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt, was captured after the uprising’s collapse. On July 15, 1381, he was brought before King Richard II and subjected to the grisly sentence of hanging, drawing, and quartering. Ball’s impassioned sermons had fueled demands for economic justice and the end of serfdom, rallying thousands of peasants. His brutal execution served as a warning to other dissidents and marked the violent end of the revolt. Despite his death, Ball’s calls for social reform resonated in later movements and contributed to ongoing debates about equality. He became a martyr figure in English history, symbolizing early challenges to feudal authority.
1381 John Ball Peasants' Revolt hanged, drawn and quartered Richard II of England
1410day.year

Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War: Battle of Grunwald: The allied forces of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania defeat the army of the Teutonic Order.

In 1410, Polish and Lithuanian forces defeated the Teutonic Knights at the Battle of Grunwald. This decisive medieval clash altered Eastern Europe’s power balance.
Fought on July 15, 1410, the Battle of Grunwald (Tannenberg) saw the allied armies of King Władysław II Jagiełło of Poland and Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania confront the Teutonic Order. It ranked among the largest battles in medieval Europe, with tens of thousands of troops engaged on both sides. Polish-Lithuanian coordination and Vytautas’s cavalry charges broke the Teutonic lines, capturing their Grand Master. This crushing defeat marked the decline of Teutonic power and secured the eastern frontier of the Polish–Lithuanian union. The victory was celebrated in chronicles and monuments, reinforcing a shared sense of national identity. Its outcome influenced diplomatic alliances and territorial settlements in the region for decades.
1410 Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War Battle of Grunwald Kingdom of Poland Grand Duchy of Lithuania Teutonic Order
1482day.year

Muhammad XII is crowned the twenty-second and last Nasrid king of Granada.

Muhammad XII, known as Boabdil, was crowned as the last Nasrid ruler of Granada on July 15, 1482. His reign presaged the final chapter of Muslim rule in Spain.
Born into the Nasrid dynasty, Muhammad XII ascended to the throne of Granada amid internal strife and external pressure from Castile. His coronation on July 15, 1482, marked the twilight of Al-Andalus and the beginning of intensified Christian Reconquista efforts. Facing rival claimants and Castile’s expanding kingdom, Boabdil’s rule was fraught with political betrayal and military challenges. Despite attempts at negotiation, Grenadian forces gradually lost territory, culminating in the city’s fall in 1492. Boabdil’s legacy endured in Spanish and Moorish legends, symbolizing loss, exile, and the cultural fusion of medieval Spain. His final departure from the Alhambra palace is remembered as a poignant moment in Iberian history.
1482 Muhammad XII Nasrid Granada
1640day.year

The first university of Finland, the Royal Academy of Turku, is inaugurated in Turku.

Finland's first university, the Royal Academy of Turku, is inaugurated in Turku, marking a milestone in the country's academic history.
Founded by decree of Queen Christina of Sweden, the Royal Academy of Turku opened its doors on July 15, 1640. It was modelled on Uppsala University and quickly became the center of scholarly life in Finland. The new institution offered studies in theology, law, medicine, and philosophy. It played a crucial role in developing Finnish language and culture during the Swedish rule. For over a century, it remained the sole university in Finland. In 1827, following the Great Fire of Turku, the academy was relocated and reestablished as the Imperial Alexander University in Helsinki.
1640 Royal Academy of Turku Turku
1738day.year

Baruch Laibov and Alexander Voznitzin are burned alive in St. Petersburg, Russia. Vonitzin had converted to Judaism with Laibov's help, with the consent of Empress Anna Ivanovna.

Baruch Laibov and Alexander Voznitzin are burned alive in St. Petersburg after converting to Judaism with the approval of Empress Anna Ivanovna.
In 1738, Baruch Laibov and Alexander Voznitzin were tried and burned alive in St. Petersburg under charges of heresy. Voznitzin's conversion to Judaism had been facilitated by Laibov and controversially sanctioned by Empress Anna Ivanovna. The executions sparked outrage in the Jewish community and were used to reinforce religious conformity in the Russian Empire. Eyewitness accounts describe the public spectacle and the severity of the punishment. This event exposes tensions between imperial authority and religious minorities in 18th-century Russia.
1738 St. Petersburg Empress Anna Ivanovna