657day.year
First Fitna: In the Battle of Siffin, troops led by Ali ibn Abu Talib clash with those led by Muawiyah I.
In 657, during the First Fitna, Ali ibn Abi Talib's forces clashed with those of Muawiyah I at the Battle of Siffin, marking a key conflict in early Islamic history.
Fought in 657 near the Euphrates, the Battle of Siffin pitted the supporters of Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib against Muawiyah I's forces.
This clash was a central episode of the First Fitna, the first Islamic civil war.
Despite heavy fighting, neither side achieved a decisive victory, leading to an arbitration process that deepened divisions.
The battle's outcome influenced the emergence of Sunni and Shia sects in Islam.
Its legacy endured in Muslim political and religious discourse for centuries.
657
First Fitna
Battle of Siffin
Ali ibn Abu Talib
Muawiyah I
811day.year
Battle of Pliska: Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros I is killed and his heir Staurakios is seriously wounded.
In 811, at the Battle of Pliska, Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros I was killed and his heir Staurakios gravely wounded by advancing Bulgar forces.
On July 26, 811, the forces of Khan Krum ambushed the Byzantine army at Pliska in Thrace.
Emperor Nikephoros I led a punitive expedition into Bulgar territory but fell into a trap during the retreat.
Nikephoros was killed while trying to reach his encampment; his helm was reportedly repurposed by Krum as a drinking cup.
His son Staurakios survived but suffered severe spinal injuries that forced his abdication.
This crushing defeat weakened Byzantine military prestige and set the stage for internal power struggles.
The battle remains one of the most devastating losses in early Byzantine history.
811
Battle of Pliska
Byzantine Emperor
Nikephoros I
Staurakios
920day.year
Rout of an alliance of Christian troops from Navarre and Léon against the Muslims at the Battle of Valdejunquera.
In 920, Christian forces from Navarre and León were decisively routed by Muslim armies at the Battle of Valdejunquera, underscoring al-Andalus's military strength.
Fought on July 26, 920, at the Valdejunquera pass in the western Pyrenees.
An allied Christian army from Navarre and León attempted a raid into Muslim-held al-Andalus.
The forces were decisively outmaneuvered by troops loyal to the Caliphate of Córdoba.
Heavy casualties led to a chaotic retreat and a temporary setback for the northern kingdoms.
The defeat delayed further Christian advances and underscored the military prowess of the Umayyad defenders.
920
Navarre
Léon
Battle of Valdejunquera
1309day.year
The Holy Roman Emperor Henry VII is recognized King of the Romans by Pope Clement V.
Pope Clement V recognized Henry VII of Luxembourg as King of the Romans in 1309, strengthening his claim to imperial authority.
On July 26, 1309, Pope Clement V formally recognized Henry VII of Luxembourg as King of the Romans.
This papal endorsement granted Henry legitimacy as heir to the Holy Roman Empire.
Henry's ascent marked the first emperor crowning by a French Pope, emphasizing papal-imperial relations.
His rule sought to reassert imperial authority in Italy and enforce justice across the realm.
The recognition paved the way for Henry's imperial coronation in 1312.
This event underscored the delicate balance between Papacy and Empire in medieval Europe.
1309
The Holy Roman Emperor Henry VII
King of the Romans
Pope Clement V
1509day.year
The Emperor Krishnadevaraya ascends to the throne, marking the beginning of the regeneration of the Vijayanagara Empire.
In 1509, Krishnadevaraya ascended the throne, inaugurating a golden age of military success and cultural flourishing in the Vijayanagara Empire.
Krishnadevaraya ascended the Vijayanagara throne on July 26, 1509, initiating a period of cultural and political revival.
Under his leadership, the empire expanded its territories across southern India through strategic campaigns.
He fostered a flourishing court culture, patronizing literature, music, and monumental architecture, notably in Hampi.
Trade thrived under his reign, with bustling markets dealing in textiles, spices, and precious stones.
Krishnadevaraya's governance emphasized administrative reforms, revenue systems, and diplomatic alliances.
His era is remembered as the apex of Vijayanagara's military might and artistic achievement.
1509
Krishnadevaraya
Vijayanagara Empire
1529day.year
Francisco Pizarro González, Spanish conquistador, is appointed governor of Peru.
On July 26, 1529, Francisco Pizarro was appointed governor of Peru, solidifying Spanish control over the former Inca Empire.
On July 26, 1529, Spanish King Charles V appointed Francisco Pizarro as governor of Peru.
This royal grant formalized Spanish authority over the former Inca Empire following Pizarro's conquests.
Pizarro, famed for capturing Emperor Atahualpa in 1532, now wielded civil and military power in the colony.
He established Lima as the colonial capital and implemented encomienda and tribute systems.
His governance drew large shipments of silver and gold to Spain, fueling European wealth.
The appointment solidified Pizarro's legacy as a key figure in the age of conquest and colonization.
1529
Francisco Pizarro González
1579day.year
Francis Drake, the English explorer, discovers a "fair and good" bay on the coast of the Pacific Northwest (probably Oregon or Washington).
In 1579, Francis Drake sighted a "fair and good" bay on the Pacific Northwest coast during his circumnavigation, signaling England's Pacific ambitions.
On July 26, 1579, Francis Drake's ship sighted what he described as a "fair and good" bay on the Pacific Northwest coast.
This landing marked one of the first English incursions into the North American Pacific shore.
Drake claimed the area as Nova Albion, staking English claims amidst Spanish rivalries.
The expedition provided valuable navigational knowledge that fueled future voyages and trade ventures.
His descriptions inspired cartographers, sparking European interest in the western coastline.
Though the exact location remains debated, Drake's voyage signaled England's maritime ambitions.
1579
Francis Drake
Pacific Northwest
Oregon
Washington
1581day.year
Plakkaat van Verlatinghe (Act of Abjuration): The northern Low Countries declare their independence from the Spanish king, Philip II.
In 1581, the Plakkaat van Verlatinghe legally declared the northern Low Countries' independence from King Philip II of Spain.
On July 26, 1581, the Plakkaat van Verlatinghe legally abjured allegiance to King Philip II of Spain.
Issued by representatives of the northern Low Countries, it served as their formal declaration of independence.
This landmark document justified rebellion under the notion that a ruler failing his subjects could be deposed.
It laid the foundation for the Dutch Republic and inspired later enlightenment ideas on government.
The Act united the provinces of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Gelderland, Friesland, and Groningen.
Its principles echoed in subsequent struggles for national sovereignty worldwide.
1581
Plakkaat van Verlatinghe (Act of Abjuration)
Low Countries
Philip II
1703day.year
During the Bavarian Rummel the rural population of Tyrol drove the Bavarian Prince-Elector Maximilian II Emanuel out of North Tyrol with a victory at the Pontlatzer Bridge and thus prevented the Bavarian Army, which was allied with France, from marching as planned on Vienna during the War of the Spanish Succession.
In 1703, Tyrolean militia triumphed over Bavarian forces at the Pontlatzer Bridge, safeguarding Vienna during the War of the Spanish Succession.
On July 26, 1703, Tyrolean farmers and militiamen defeated the Bavarian army at Pontlatzer Bridge.
In an event known as the Bavarian Rummel, locals rose against Prince-Elector Maximilian II Emanuel's forces.
Their victory halted a planned advance towards Vienna during the War of the Spanish Succession.
Using intimate knowledge of mountain passes, the Tyroleans ambushed and overwhelmed the invaders.
The triumph became a symbol of regional unity and resistance against foreign occupation.
It helped secure the Habsburg heartland and boosted morale among anti-French coalitions.
1703
Bavarian Rummel
Tyrol
Bavarian
Maximilian II Emanuel
Bavarian Army
France
Vienna
War of the Spanish Succession
1745day.year
The first recorded women's cricket match takes place near Guildford, England.
On July 26, 1745, the earliest recorded women's cricket match took place near Guildford, marking a landmark in sports history.
On July 26, 1745, records show the first documented women's cricket match near Guildford, England.
Organized by local parishes, the game featured female players at a time when cricket was emerging as a popular sport.
Contemporary accounts praised the players' skills and the novelty of seeing women participate in a formal match.
The event reflects early social shifts in leisure and the gradual acceptance of women in public sporting life.
Though limited in scope, it set a precedent for future women's cricket clubs and organized competitions.
It remains a significant milestone in the history of women's involvement in competitive sports.
1745
women's cricket
Guildford
1758day.year
French and Indian War: The Siege of Louisbourg ends with British forces defeating the French and taking control of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.
In 1758, British forces captured the fortress of Louisbourg after a prolonged siege, securing control of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence during the French and Indian War.
The Siege of Louisbourg was a major military operation during the French and Indian War, aimed at crippling French naval power in North America. British and colonial troops bombarded the fortress from both land and sea. The fortress guarded the entrance to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and threatened British shipping. After weeks of siege, French defenders surrendered on July 26, 1758. The British victory opened the route for future campaigns against Quebec and Montreal. Control of the gulf secured British supply lines and weakened French presence. It marked a turning point in the struggle for dominance in North America.
1758
French and Indian War
Siege of Louisbourg
Gulf of Saint Lawrence
1775day.year
The office that would later become the United States Post Office Department is established by the Second Continental Congress. Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania takes office as Postmaster General.
On July 26, 1775, the Second Continental Congress established the United States Post Office Department and appointed Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General.
Amid the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress recognized the need for reliable communication across the colonies. Benjamin Franklin, celebrated for his postal reforms in colonial America, was tapped to lead the new department. His appointment ensured the organization would benefit from his extensive experience in managing postal routes and services. The establishment laid the groundwork for a unified postal system. Under Franklin’s guidance, post roads were expanded and schedules standardized. This innovation strengthened coordination among revolutionary forces and colonial governments. It formed the foundation of the modern United States Postal Service.
1775
United States Post Office Department
Second Continental Congress
Benjamin Franklin