July 17

Events - Wars & Conflicts

1203day.year

The Fourth Crusade assaults Constantinople. The Byzantine emperor Alexios III Angelos flees from his capital into exile.

In 1203, forces of the Fourth Crusade attacked Constantinople, leading to the exile of Emperor Alexios III Angelos.
The Fourth Crusade, originally intended to reclaim Jerusalem, diverted to Constantinople in July 1203. Crusader armies landed on the outskirts of the Byzantine capital and began a siege that shocked Christendom. Emperor Alexios III Angelos, facing overwhelming odds, fled the city and sought refuge abroad. The assault marked a critical turning point in Byzantine history and weakened the empire’s defenses. It set the stage for the eventual sack of Constantinople in 1204 and deepened the rift between Eastern and Western Christianity.
1203 Fourth Crusade Constantinople Byzantine emperor Alexios III Angelos
1429day.year

Hundred Years' War: Charles VII of France is crowned the King of France in the Reims Cathedral after a successful campaign by Joan of Arc.

In 1429, Charles VII was crowned King of France at Reims Cathedral following Joan of Arc’s pivotal military support.
During the Hundred Years’ War, French forces, inspired by Joan of Arc, marched triumphantly towards Reims in July 1429. Joan’s leadership lifted the siege of Orléans and shifted the momentum in favor of Charles VII. On July 17, Charles VII was officially crowned at Reims Cathedral, solidifying his claim to the throne. The coronation served as a powerful symbol of French resistance and national unity against English domination. Joan of Arc’s involvement forever cemented her status as a heroine of France and changed the course of the conflict.
1429 Hundred Years' War Charles VII of France crowned Reims Cathedral Joan of Arc
1453day.year

Battle of Castillon: The last battle of the Hundred Years' War, the French under Jean Bureau defeat the English under the Earl of Shrewsbury, who is killed in the battle in Gascony.

In 1453, the Battle of Castillon marked the final engagement of the Hundred Years’ War, ending English rule in southwestern France.
Fought on July 17, 1453, the Battle of Castillon was characterized by the French army’s innovative use of field artillery under Jean Bureau. English forces led by the Earl of Shrewsbury attempted to relieve the besieged town but were overwhelmed by well-positioned cannon fire. The Earl of Shrewsbury himself was killed during the assault, delivering a devastating blow to English morale. This defeat effectively ended the Hundred Years’ War and solidified French control over Gascony. The battle is often cited as a turning point in medieval warfare, demonstrating the growing importance of artillery on the battlefield.
1453 Battle of Castillon Hundred Years' War Jean Bureau Earl of Shrewsbury Gascony
1771day.year

Bloody Falls massacre: Chipewyan chief Matonabbee, traveling as the guide to Samuel Hearne on his Arctic overland journey, massacres a group of unsuspecting Inuit.

In 1771, during Samuel Hearne’s expedition, Matonabbee led the massacre of Inuit at Bloody Falls in present-day Canada.
As part of an Arctic overland exploration, Chipewyan chief Matonabbee guided Samuel Hearne across the Canadian tundra. On July 17, 1771, the party arrived at Bloody Falls on the Coppermine River, where Matonabbee and his warriors attacked a camp of sedentary Inuit. The massacre of men, women, and children shocked Hearne and became one of the darkest episodes in early Canadian exploration. Hearne documented the event in his journals, providing one of the first written accounts of the massacre. The incident remains a significant and tragic moment in the history of Indigenous and European encounters in North America.
1771 Bloody Falls massacre Chipewyan Matonabbee Samuel Hearne Inuit
1918day.year

The RMS Carpathia, the ship that rescued the 705 survivors from the RMS Titanic, is sunk off Ireland by the German SM U-55; five lives are lost.

On July 17, 1918, the British ocean liner RMS Carpathia, famous for rescuing Titanic survivors, was torpedoed by German U-boat SM U-55 off the coast of Ireland, resulting in five fatalities.
RMS Carpathia was the British ocean liner that famously rescued 705 Titanic survivors in 1912. On July 17, 1918, while serving as a troop transport in World War I, she was torpedoed by the German submarine SM U-55 off the Irish coast. The attack caused irreparable damage and the ship sank, claiming five crew members’ lives. Carpathia’s loss marked the first major Allied maritime disaster of 1918. The vessel’s heroism in 1912 and tragic end in 1918 remain a poignant reminder of the perils faced by civilian ships in wartime.
RMS Carpathia RMS Titanic SM U-55
1932day.year

Altona Bloody Sunday: A riot between the Nazi Party paramilitary forces, the SS and SA, and the German Communist Party ensues.

On July 17, 1932, political tensions in Altona erupted as Nazi paramilitary forces (SS and SA) clashed with Communist supporters, resulting in deadly urban violence.
Altona Bloody Sunday occurred against a backdrop of deepening political polarization in the Weimar Republic. Members of the Nazi Party’s stormtroopers (SA) and elite SS units marched through the working-class district of Altona, provoking Communist supporters. The confrontation rapidly escalated into street fighting, with gunfire exchanged and bottles hurled. Police intervention followed belatedly, and dozens were wounded, while fatalities deeply shocked the nation. Subsequent trials and political maneuvering over responsibility deepened the crisis, exposing weaknesses in Weimar judicial and political institutions.
1932 Altona Bloody Sunday Nazi Party SS SA German Communist Party
1936day.year

Spanish Civil War: An Armed Forces rebellion against the recently elected leftist Popular Front government of Spain starts the civil war.

On July 17, 1936, a military uprising against Spain’s Popular Front government sparked the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.
In the early hours of July 17, 1936, a group of Spanish generals led by Francisco Franco and other officers rebelled against the democratically elected Popular Front government. The revolt began in Spanish Morocco and quickly spread to mainland cities, dividing the nation between Nationalist and Republican forces. Fierce battles ensued as both sides sought control of key regions, infrastructure, and foreign aid. The conflict drew international involvement, with Germany and Italy supporting the Nationalists and the Soviet Union backing the Republicans, while thousands of foreign volunteers joined brigades on both sides. The war lasted until 1939, resulting in massive casualties, civilian suffering, and the establishment of Franco’s dictatorship. The uprising on July 17 thus marked the start of one of the most significant pre–World War II conflicts in Europe.
1936 Spanish Civil War Armed Forces rebellion Popular Front
1944day.year

World War II: At Sainte-Foy-de-Montgommery in Normandy, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel is seriously injured by Allied aircraft while returning to his headquarters.

On July 17, 1944, during the Normandy campaign, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was severely wounded by Allied aircraft while traveling near Sainte-Foy-de-Montgommery.
Assigned to oversee German defenses along the Atlantic Wall after the D-Day landings, Erwin Rommel traveled to front-line positions on July 17 to boost morale and inspect fortifications. While returning to his headquarters, his open-top staff car came under attack from Allied fighter-bombers. Rommel suffered life-threatening head and chest wounds, and his driver and adjutant were killed. The incident removed one of Germany’s most respected commanders from active duty just as the Allies pressed their Normandy breakout. Rommel’s forced recovery sidelined him during the critical stages of the Battle of Normandy. His temporary absence deprived the German command structure of his tactical expertise and leadership at a pivotal moment on the Western Front.
World War II Sainte-Foy-de-Montgommery Erwin Rommel Allied
1954day.year

First Indochina War: Viet Minh troops successfully ambush the armoured French column 'G.M. 42' in the Battle of Chu Dreh Pass in the Central Highlands. It is the last battle of the war.

On July 17, 1954, Viet Minh forces ambushed the French armoured column G.M. 42 at Chu Dreh Pass in the Central Highlands, concluding the First Indochina War.
As part of a final offensive in the First Indochina War, Viet Minh guerrillas prepared an ambush along the mountain roads of Chu Dreh Pass. On July 17, 1954, they engaged the heavily armed French armoured column G.M. 42 with anti-tank weapons and coordinated infantry attacks. The decisive victory forced French forces to retreat and signaled the effective end of hostilities in Indochina. Soon after, the Geneva Conference resulted in a ceasefire agreement and the withdrawal of French troops. The ambush at Chu Dreh Pass demonstrated the Viet Minh’s tactical adaptability and the declining morale of colonial forces. This engagement marked the closing chapter of the war and set the stage for the division of Vietnam at the 17th parallel.
1954 First Indochina War Viet Minh Battle of Chu Dreh Pass Central Highlands
2014day.year

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, a Boeing 777, crashes near the border of Ukraine and Russia after being shot down. All 298 people on board are killed.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 is shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people aboard amid escalating conflict.
On July 17, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, a Boeing 777, departed Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur. The aircraft was flying over eastern Ukraine when it was struck by a surface-to-air missile amid the conflict. All 298 passengers and crew aboard were killed instantly when the jet disintegrated in midair. International investigators concluded the missile was launched from territory held by pro-Russian separatists. The tragedy intensified global condemnation and sanctions, highlighting the risks of civil aviation in conflict zones.
2014 Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 Boeing 777 Ukraine
2015day.year

At least 120 people are killed and 130 injured by a suicide bombing in Diyala Governorate, Iraq.

A suicide bombing in Iraq's Diyala Governorate claims at least 120 lives and injures more than 130 in a devastating attack.
On July 17, 2015, a suicide bomber detonated explosives in Buhriz, a town in Iraq's Diyala Governorate. The attack targeted a crowded market, killing at least 120 civilians and injuring over 130 others. Emergency responders rushed to treat the wounded amid fears of further bombings. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility as part of its campaign against Iraqi security forces. The bombing underlined ongoing instability and sectarian tensions in the region.
2015 suicide bombing Diyala Governorate