July 29

Events

587 BC

The Neo-Babylonian Empire sacks Jerusalem and destroys the First Temple.

In 587 BC, the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II captured Jerusalem, leading to the destruction of the First Temple and the exile of its inhabitants.
Year 587 BC saw Nebuchadnezzar II's forces encircle and conquer Jerusalem. After a fierce siege, the Babylonians dismantled the city's defenses and razed Solomon's First Temple to the ground. Thousands of residents were killed or exiled, beginning the Babylonian Captivity of the Jewish people. This event reshaped the religious and cultural landscape of the region. Archaeological discoveries and biblical accounts later provided detailed records of the city's fall. The loss of the Temple became a central theme in Jewish memory and identity.
587 BC Neo-Babylonian Empire sacks First Temple
615day.year

Pakal ascends the throne of Palenque at the age of 12.

In 615 CE, the young noble K'inich Janaab' Pakal ascended the throne of Palenque at age twelve, beginning one of the longest recorded reigns in Maya history.
At just twelve years old, Pakal became ruler of Palenque under the guidance of regents. He commissioned grand architectural projects, most notably the Temple of the Inscriptions. Under his leadership, Palenque emerged as a major cultural and artistic center. Hieroglyphic inscriptions from his reign provide crucial insights into Maya civilization. Pakal's tomb, discovered in the temple he built, revealed richly carved sarcophagi and treasures. His nearly seventy-year rule is celebrated for its stability and artistic legacy.
615 Pakal Palenque
904day.year

Sack of Thessalonica: Saracen raiders under Leo of Tripoli sack Thessaloniki, the Byzantine Empire's second-largest city, after a short siege, and plunder it for a week.

In 904 CE, Saracen raiders under Leo of Tripoli launched a daring assault on Thessalonica, plundering the Byzantine Empire's second-largest city for a week.
Leo of Tripoli, a former Byzantine sailor turned pirate, led Muslim fleets from Crete against the empire. They surprised Thessalonica's defenders and breached the walls after a brief siege. For seven days, the raiders looted churches, homes, and markets, capturing many inhabitants as slaves. Casualties mounted, and the city’s defenses were shown to be vulnerable to maritime raids. The sack prompted the Byzantines to strengthen their naval forces and coastal fortifications. This brutal attack became one of the most infamous episodes of the Arab-Byzantine conflicts.
904 Sack of Thessalonica Leo of Tripoli Thessaloniki Byzantine Empire
923day.year

Battle of Firenzuola: Lombard forces under King Rudolph II and Adalbert I, margrave of Ivrea, defeat the dethroned Emperor Berengar I of Italy at Firenzuola (Tuscany).

In 923 CE, Lombard forces led by King Rudolph II and Adalbert I of Ivrea defeated Emperor Berengar I at the Battle of Firenzuola in Tuscany.
The battle occurred amidst rival claims for supremacy in early medieval Italy. Rudolph II of Burgundy allied with Margrave Adalbert I to challenge Emperor Berengar I's authority. On the open fields near Firenzuola, their coalition outmaneuvered and routed the imperial army. Berengar's defeat marked the end of his dominance in northern Italy and led to political fragmentation. The victory empowered regional lords and invited further foreign intervention in Italian affairs. Firenzuola's outcome underscored the era's volatile alliances and shifting power dynamics.
923 Battle of Firenzuola Rudolph II Adalbert I Ivrea Berengar I of Italy Firenzuola Tuscany
1014day.year

Byzantine–Bulgarian wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat on the Bulgarian army, and his subsequent treatment of 15,000 prisoners reportedly causes Tsar Samuil of Bulgaria to die of a heart attack less than three months later, on October 6.

On July 29, 1014, Byzantine Emperor Basil II delivered a devastating blow to the Bulgarian army at the Battle of Kleidion, earning his nickname 'Bulgar-Slayer.'
In the rugged terrain of the Belasitsa Mountains, Basil II implemented a successful pincer maneuver. The Byzantine forces overwhelmed Tsar Samuil's troops, capturing thousands of Bulgarian soldiers. According to historical accounts, Basil ordered the blinding of 99 out of every 100 captives, sparing one for each hundred. Showing the blinded men to Samuil reportedly caused the tsar to suffer a fatal stroke months later. This ruthless act secured Byzantine supremacy in the Balkans and demoralized Bulgarian resistance. The battle became a legendary example of medieval warfare's brutality and strategic cunning.
1014 Byzantine–Bulgarian wars Battle of Kleidion Byzantine emperor Basil II Bulgarian Tsar Samuil of Bulgaria October 6
1018day.year

Count Dirk III defeats an army sent by Emperor Henry II in the Battle of Vlaardingen.

In 1018 CE, Count Dirk III of Holland achieved a landmark victory against Emperor Henry II's army at the Battle of Vlaardingen, solidifying his autonomy.
Count Dirk III's assertion of authority in the Rhine delta challenged imperial control. Emperor Henry II dispatched forces to subdue Dirk near the town of Vlaardingen. Dirk exploited the marshy landscape, luring the imperial troops into ambushes and bottlenecks. The unfamiliar terrain caused chaos among Henry's soldiers, leading to a decisive rout. This victory affirmed Holland's de facto independence and enhanced Dirk’s prestige. The battle is often regarded as the foundation of the County of Holland's future power.
1018 Dirk III Emperor Henry II Battle of Vlaardingen
1030day.year

Ladejarl-Fairhair succession wars: Battle of Stiklestad: King Olaf II fights and dies trying to regain his Norwegian throne from the Danes.

On July 29, 1030, King Olaf II of Norway fell at the Battle of Stiklestad during his attempt to reclaim his throne, later becoming the nation's patron saint.
Olaf II returned from exile with a small force to challenge Danish-backed rulers in Norway. At Stiklestad, his men fought fiercely but were heavily outnumbered by enemy troops. King Olaf was killed in combat, and his body was displayed as proof of his death. Within years, reports of miracles at his grave led to his canonization as Saint Olaf. His martyrdom facilitated the Christianization of Norway and strengthened royal authority. The Battle of Stiklestad is commemorated annually with historical reenactments.
1030 Ladejarl Fairhair Battle of Stiklestad King Olaf II Norwegian throne Danes
1148day.year

The Siege of Damascus ends in a decisive crusader defeat and leads to the disintegration of the Second Crusade.

On July 29, 1148, Crusader forces abandoned the Siege of Damascus in disarray, marking a critical failure of the Second Crusade.
The Frankish armies, aiming to capture Damascus as a base for further incursions, laid siege to the city. Internal disagreements over tactics and distrust among Crusader leaders weakened their efforts. Poor supply lines and stiff resistance from local defenders further sapped morale. After just four days, the Crusaders withdrew amid accusations of betrayal and incompetence. This retreat shattered the momentum of the Second Crusade and disappointed European supporters. Damascus remained under Muslim rule, and the crusading movement faced a crisis of confidence.
1148 Siege of Damascus Second Crusade
1565day.year

The widowed Mary, Queen of Scots marries Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, Duke of Albany, at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh, Scotland, in a Catholic ceremony.

On July 29, 1565, Mary, Queen of Scots married Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, in a grand Catholic ceremony at Holyrood Palace, intensifying political and religious strife.
Mary married her cousin Darnley to solidify dynastic alliances and secure a Catholic heir. The lavish celebrations at Holyrood showcased Renaissance court culture and pageantry. Protestant factions in Scotland and England viewed the union as a threat to religious reform. Darnley's arrogance and ambition soon led to rivalries at court and a breakdown of trust. His subsequent mysterious death tarnished Mary's reputation and fueled scandals. This ill-fated marriage set in motion events that culminated in Mary’s imprisonment and abdication.
1565 Mary, Queen of Scots Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley Duke of Albany Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Catholic ceremony
1567day.year

The infant James VI is crowned King of Scotland at Stirling.

At Stirling Castle on July 29, 1567, the infant James VI was crowned King of Scotland following his mother Mary’s forced abdication.
Parliament declared Mary unfit to rule after her marriage controversies and imprisonment. One-year-old James was anointed amid Protestant reforms and public scrutiny. Regents governed in his name, directing Scotland toward a more Presbyterian model. The ceremony affirmed the Tudor-Stuart lineage and placated rival noble factions. As James VI and I, he would later unite the crowns of Scotland and England. His coronation marked the beginning of a new era in British monarchy.
1567 James VI crowned King of Scotland Stirling
1588day.year

Anglo-Spanish War: Battle of Gravelines: English naval forces under the command of Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake defeat the Spanish Armada off the coast of Gravelines, France.

English naval forces under Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake defeat the Spanish Armada at the Battle of Gravelines, crippling Spain's attempt to invade England.
In July 1588, during the Anglo-Spanish War, King Philip II of Spain dispatched the formidable Armada to overthrow Elizabeth I and halt English support for the Dutch rebels. On July 29, English fleets commanded by Lord Charles Howard and his second-in-command Sir Francis Drake engaged the Armada off the coast of Gravelines, France. The English used fire ships as a tactical diversion and exploited their faster, more maneuverable vessels. The disorganized Spanish fleet suffered heavy losses and was forced to retreat northwards into the North Sea. The defeat marked a major turning point in naval warfare and signaled the decline of Spain's maritime supremacy. This victory boosted English morale and helped pave the way for the rise of the British Empire on the seas.
1588 Anglo-Spanish War Battle of Gravelines naval Lord Charles Howard Francis Drake Spanish Armada Gravelines
1693day.year

War of the Grand Alliance: Battle of Landen: France wins a victory over Allied forces in the Netherlands.

France secures a hard-fought victory over Allied forces at the Battle of Landen during the War of the Grand Alliance.
The Battle of Landen, fought on July 29, 1693, was a significant engagement in the War of the Grand Alliance, where French forces clashed with Allied armies under William III of England. Marshal Nicolas Catinat led the French and executed a defensive strategy that repelled multiple Allied attacks. Despite heavy casualties on both sides, France maintained control of the battlefield. The victory bolstered French military prestige and temporarily checked the Allied advance in the Spanish Netherlands. The battle demonstrated the effectiveness of trench fortifications and artillery support in late 17th-century warfare. It also highlighted the strategic importance of fortified positions in shaping the outcome of major European conflicts.
1693 War of the Grand Alliance Battle of Landen