1290day.year
King Edward I of England issues the Edict of Expulsion, banishing all Jews (numbering about 16,000) from England.
On July 18, 1290, King Edward I of England issued the Edict of Expulsion, banning all Jews from the realm and seizing their property.
The Edict of Expulsion represented the culmination of mounting anti-Jewish laws and social pressures in 13th-century England. Jews were ordered to leave by All Saints' Day 1290, facing harsh penalties if they remained. The crown confiscated Jewish assets and debts, transferring significant wealth to the royal treasury. Displaced Jewish families traveled across Europe, encountering varying degrees of welcome and persecution. The expulsion remained in effect for over three centuries, only lifted by Oliver Cromwell in 1656. This decree had lasting economic and cultural impacts, altering trade networks and communal life. Historians view the edict as a stark example of medieval intolerance and state-sanctioned discrimination.
1290
Edward I of England
Edict of Expulsion
1507day.year
In Brussels, Prince Charles I is crowned Duke of Burgundy and Count of Flanders, a year after inheriting the title.
On July 18, 1507, Prince Charles of Habsburg was crowned Duke of Burgundy and Count of Flanders in Brussels, consolidating his inherited titles.
The investiture ceremony in Brussels on July 18, 1507, formally recognized Prince Charles of Habsburg as Duke of Burgundy and Count of Flanders. He had inherited these titles from his grandmother, Mary of Burgundy, five years earlier. The extravagant celebrations included pageants, feasts, and the attendance of local nobility and foreign envoys. The event underscored the importance of the Burgundian territories within Charles's expanding domains. Securing loyalty among Flemish cities and nobles was crucial for his future aspirations. Charles would later become King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor, using Burgundy as the core of his European power. The 1507 coronation marked a key moment in the ascent of the Habsburg dynasty.
1507
Brussels
Prince Charles I
Duke of Burgundy and Count of Flanders
1555day.year
The College of Arms is reincorporated by Royal charter signed by Queen Mary I of England and King Philip II of Spain.
Queen Mary I and King Philip II granted a royal charter reinstating the College of Arms, England's official heraldic authority.
On 18 July 1555, Queen Mary I of England and her husband King Philip II of Spain signed a Royal charter reincorporating the College of Arms.
The College served as the crown's official heraldic authority, regulating coats of arms and genealogies among the English nobility.
The charter restored and expanded its powers, cementing its role in overseeing heraldic grants and ceremonial protocol.
Based in London, the College of Arms became an enduring institution charged with maintaining the official register of pedigrees and coats of arms.
Its officers, known as Kings of Arms, heralds, and pursuivants, held special privileges in state ceremonies and tournaments.
The 1555 charter remains a foundational legal document for the modern College and its continuing function.
1555
College of Arms
Royal charter
Mary I of England
Philip II of Spain
1812day.year
The Treaties of Orebro end both the Anglo-Russian and Anglo-Swedish Wars.
The Treaties of Örebro formally ended the Anglo-Russian and Anglo-Swedish Wars, reshaping alliances in the Napoleonic era.
On 18 July 1812, Britain signed separate Treaties of Örebro with Russia and Sweden, concluding hostilities from the Anglo-Russian and Anglo-Swedish Wars.
Negotiations took place in the Swedish port city of Örebro under the shadow of Napoleon's expanding influence.
By restoring peace, these treaties secured British access to Russian and Swedish ports and reinforced their maritime coalition against France.
The agreements underscored shifting allegiances among European powers during the Napoleonic Wars.
The Örebro treaties facilitated the later Sixth Coalition, as Russia and Sweden joined forces with Britain.
Their conclusion marked a turning point that helped isolate Napoleon on the continent.
Provisions included mutual restoration of occupied territories and assurances of future military cooperation.
1812
Treaties of Orebro
Anglo-Russian
Anglo-Swedish Wars
1841day.year
Coronation of Emperor Pedro II of Brazil.
Pedro II was crowned Emperor of Brazil, inaugurating a lengthy and culturally vibrant reign.
On 18 July 1841, 15-year-old Dom Pedro II was formally crowned Emperor of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro's Imperial Chapel.
His coronation followed a regency period and financial crisis that threatened Brazil's stability.
The youthful monarch's ascension reinforced the Bragança dynasty and symbolized a new era of national unity.
Pedro II's reign would last over 58 years, overseeing cultural flourishing, economic growth and territorial consolidation.
He championed education, science and the abolition of slavery later in his rule.
The coronation festivities included elaborate ceremonies, military parades and public celebrations.
Pedro II became one of Latin America's longest-serving and most respected monarchs.
1841
Pedro II of Brazil
1872day.year
The Ballot Act 1872 in the United Kingdom introduced the requirement that parliamentary and local government elections be held by secret ballot.
The Ballot Act 1872 introduced the secret ballot for UK elections, transforming voting into a private and fair process.
On 18 July 1872, the British Parliament passed the Ballot Act, mandating secret voting in all parliamentary and municipal elections.
Prior to this, voters publicly declared their choices, exposing them to bribery, coercion and social pressure.
The act applied to England, Wales and Scotland, though Ireland adopted similar reforms later.
Polling booths and official ballots replaced open declarations at public hustings.
This landmark legislation greatly enhanced electoral integrity and expanded the franchise's independence.
Inspired by earlier reforms in Australia, the UK's secret ballot set a precedent for modern democratic procedures.
The Ballot Act 1872 remains a cornerstone of fair voting and representative governance.
1872
Ballot Act 1872
1914day.year
The U.S. Congress forms the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps, giving official status to aircraft within the U.S. Army for the first time.
The U.S. Congress creates the Aviation Section of the U.S. Signal Corps, marking the first official recognition of military aviation in the U.S. Army.
On July 18, 1914, the U.S. Congress authorized the formation of the Aviation Section within the U.S. Army Signal Corps. This act granted aircraft their first formal status as a branch of military service. The Aviation Section was responsible for training pilots, maintaining aircraft, and developing aerial reconnaissance techniques. Prior to this, American military aviation operated in an informal capacity with limited funding and recognition. The new section laid the groundwork for future aviation branches, eventually evolving into the U.S. Air Force. This legislation reflected growing global interest in the strategic potential of air power on the eve of World War I.
1914
U.S. Congress
Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps
1925day.year
Adolf Hitler publishes Mein Kampf.
Adolf Hitler releases Mein Kampf, an autobiographical manifesto that outlines his ideology and political ambitions.
Mein Kampf was published on July 18, 1925, by Adolf Hitler shortly after his release from prison. The book combines elements of autobiography with Hitler’s political ideology, including his views on race, nationalism, and anti-Semitism. It sold modestly at first but gained popularity as the Nazi Party rose to power. The themes and narrative in Mein Kampf laid the ideological foundation for the party’s future policies in Germany. Its publication marked a significant moment in the spread of extremist political propaganda. Over the decades, Mein Kampf has remained a controversial and influential text in modern history.
1925
Adolf Hitler
Mein Kampf
1944day.year
World War II: Hideki Tōjō resigns as Prime Minister of Japan because of numerous setbacks in the war effort.
Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tōjō resigns amid mounting military defeats in World War II.
On July 18, 1944, General Hideki Tōjō stepped down as Prime Minister of Japan following a series of significant setbacks in the Pacific theater. Tōjō had held the premiership since 1941 and was a driving force behind Japan’s wartime policies. His resignation came after losses at Saipan and other key battles raised doubts about Japan’s ability to continue the war. The change in leadership reflected deep divisions within Japan’s military and government over strategy. Tōjō’s departure opened the door for more moderate leaders under Prime Minister Kuniaki Koiso. After the war, Tōjō was tried and executed for war crimes, cementing his controversial legacy.
1944
Hideki Tōjō
Prime Minister of Japan