July 31

Events

30 BC

Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian's forces, but most of his army subsequently deserts, leading to his suicide.

In 30 BC, at Alexandria, Mark Antony won a fleeting victory over Octavian's forces but saw most of his army desert him, leading to his eventual suicide.
In the summer of 30 BC, Mark Antony and Octavian clashed in a final confrontation near Alexandria. Antony managed to rout segments of Octavian's legions, achieving a minor battlefield success in the waning days of the Roman Republic. However, his triumph proved hollow when his troops lost faith and deserted en masse. Deprived of support, Antony retreated into Egypt, where he faced the wrath of Octavian. With his forces shattered and his political career ruined, Antony chose to take his own life. This battle marked a decisive step toward Octavian's unchallenged rise, culminating in his transformation into the first Roman emperor, Augustus.
30 BC Battle of Alexandria Mark Antony Octavian
781day.year

The oldest recorded eruption of Mount Fuji (Traditional Japanese date: Sixth day of the seventh month of the first year of the Ten'o (天応) era).

In 781, Mount Fuji erupted for the first time on record during the Ten'o era, marking the oldest documented volcanic activity of Japan’s most famous peak.
According to traditional Japanese records, Mount Fuji erupted on the sixth day of the seventh month in the first year of the Ten'o era. This event stands as the earliest known volcanic eruption of the iconic stratovolcano. While details of the eruption’s scale are scarce, ancient chronicles note ash fall and disturbances in nearby settlements. The eruption underscores Mount Fuji’s long history of volcanic activity. Later eruptions would shape surrounding landscapes and influence local folklore. This 781 event provides invaluable insight into the early natural history of Japan’s highest mountain.
781 Mount Fuji Japanese date
1009day.year

Pope Sergius IV becomes the 142nd pope, succeeding Pope John XVIII.

Pope Sergius IV ascended to the papacy in 1009, becoming the 142nd pope after the death of John XVIII.
Following the death of Pope John XVIII, Pope Sergius IV was elected as the 142nd bishop of Rome on July 31, 1009. His election came during a turbulent period marked by factional disputes among Roman nobility and clergy. Sergius IV chose his papal name in honor of his predecessor, signaling continuity amid uncertainty. His brief pontificate focused on church reform and consolidating papal authority over secular rulers. He also supported monasticism and sought to curtail simony within the church hierarchy. Though his reign lasted less than two years, Sergius IV’s measures set precedents for later popes.
1009 Pope Sergius IV Pope John XVIII
1201day.year

Attempted usurpation by John Komnenos the Fat for the throne of Alexios III Angelos.

On July 31, 1201, John Komnenos the Fat launched a failed coup attempt against Byzantine Emperor Alexios III Angelos.
In Constantinople, John Komnenos the Fat seized the imperial palace and declared himself emperor on July 31, 1201. This bold usurpation aimed to overthrow Alexios III Angelos, whose rule faced internal opposition. Komnenos gained temporary support from disgruntled aristocrats but failed to secure broad backing. Within days, loyalist forces recaptured the capital and arrested the usurper. John Komnenos the Fat was executed for treason, ending the brief upheaval. The revolt highlighted the fragility of the Angelos dynasty and foreshadowed later turmoil within the Byzantine Empire.
1201 John Komnenos the Fat Alexios III Angelos
1423day.year

Hundred Years' War: Battle of Cravant: A Franco-Scottish army is defeated by the Anglo-Burgundians at Cravant on the banks of the river Yonne.

During the Hundred Years' War in 1423, an Anglo-Burgundian force defeated the Franco-Scottish army at the Battle of Cravant on the Yonne River.
The Battle of Cravant took place on July 31, 1423, near the town of Cravant in Burgundy. A coalition of English and Burgundian troops faced a Franco-Scottish army aiming to relieve the siege of Auxerre. Utilizing superior archery tactics, the Anglo-Burgundian forces broke the allied line and routed their opponents. The victory solidified English control in northern France and weakened the Franco-Scottish alliance. The battle also demonstrated the effectiveness of longbowmen against heavily armored knights. Cravant remains a notable encounter in the protracted conflict of the Hundred Years' War.
1423 Hundred Years' War Battle of Cravant Yonne
1451day.year

Jacques Cœur is arrested by order of Charles VII of France.

Jacques Cœur, the influential French merchant and royal financier, was arrested by King Charles VII in 1451 amid charges of corruption and treason.
On July 31, 1451, Jacques Cœur, one of France’s wealthiest merchants and treasurers, was arrested by order of King Charles VII. Accused of financial misconduct, embezzlement, and poisoning, Cœur faced a trial influenced by political rivals and jealous courtiers. His assets were seized, and he was stripped of his titles and properties. Although Cœur was later pardoned, his financial empire had collapsed, and he spent his remaining years in exile. The arrest marked a dramatic fall from grace for a man who had funded royal armies and diplomatic missions. Jacques Cœur’s story illustrates the precarious nature of wealth and favor in the medieval French court.
1451 Jacques Cœur Charles VII of France
1492day.year

All remaining Jews are expelled from Spain when the Alhambra Decree takes effect.

The Alhambra Decree took effect in 1492, expelling all remaining Jews from Spain under the Catholic Monarchs’ order.
On July 31, 1492, the Alhambra Decree, issued by Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, went into effect. The edict demanded that all Jews convert to Christianity or leave their Spanish territories within four months. Approximately 200,000 Jews faced exile, leading to significant displacement and loss of property. Many sought refuge in Ottoman lands, North Africa, and elsewhere in Europe. The expulsion marked a tragic turning point for Spanish Jewry and reshaped the cultural landscape of the Iberian Peninsula. The decree also reflected the monarchs’ efforts to enforce religious homogeneity after the Reconquista.
1492 Alhambra Decree
1498day.year

On his third voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus becomes the first European to discover the island of Trinidad.

On his third voyage in 1498, Christopher Columbus became the first European to discover the island of Trinidad in the Caribbean Sea.
During his third expedition westward, Christopher Columbus sighted Trinidad on July 31, 1498. Navigating the Gulf of Paria, he approached from the south and anchored off a peninsula he named 'La Trinidad.' Columbus observed the island’s lush vegetation and friendly indigenous inhabitants. He spent several days exploring its bays and rivers, documenting flora and fauna previously unknown to Europeans. Trinidad would later become a key site for Spanish colonial settlement and trade. Columbus’s discovery expanded European maps of the New World and underscored the vastness of unexplored territories.
1498 Christopher Columbus Trinidad
1618day.year

Maurice, Prince of Orange disbands the waardgelders militia in Utrecht, a pivotal event in the Remonstrant/Counter-Remonstrant tensions.

Prince Maurice of Orange disbanded the waardgelders militia in Utrecht on July 31, 1618, escalating the Remonstrant and Counter-Remonstrant conflict.
In the context of religious and political tensions within the Dutch Republic, Maurice of Orange ordered the dissolution of the waardgelders civic militia in Utrecht. The waardgelders were local forces supportive of the Remonstrant (Arminian) faction. Their disbandment weakened the Remonstrant position and empowered the Counter-Remonstrant (Calvinist) party. Maurice’s decisive action reflected his alignment with orthodox Calvinists and his desire to stabilize the republic under a unified creed. The move intensified factional strife and set the stage for the Synod of Dort two years later. This episode illustrates the interplay of religion and politics in the Dutch struggle for independence.
1618 Maurice, Prince of Orange Utrecht Remonstrant Counter-Remonstrant
1655day.year

Russo-Polish War (1654–67): The Russian army enters the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Vilnius, which it holds for six years.

During the Russo-Polish War, Russian forces entered Vilnius, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, on July 31, 1655 and occupied it for six years.
On July 31, 1655, amid the Russo-Polish War (1654–1667), the Russian army captured Vilnius after a brief siege. The fall of the Lithuanian capital marked a significant blow to the Commonwealth’s resistance in the eastern theater. Russian occupation authorities imposed harsh measures, including requisitions and forced conversions. The city remained under Russian control until 1661, experiencing economic hardship and population displacement. The capture of Vilnius demonstrated Muscovy’s growing influence and foreshadowed the eventual partitions of Poland-Lithuania. The war would continue for another decade, reshaping the balance of power in Eastern Europe.
1655 Russo-Polish War (1654–67) Grand Duchy of Lithuania Vilnius
1658day.year

Aurangzeb is proclaimed Mughal emperor of India.

In 1658, Aurangzeb ascended to the Mughal throne, becoming emperor of India and marking the start of his influential reign.
Aurangzeb, born Muhi al-Din Muhammad, was the third son of Emperor Shah Jahan. Following a fierce war of succession, he seized power and was proclaimed emperor in 1658. He expanded the Mughal Empire to its greatest territorial extent, stretching across the Indian subcontinent. His reign introduced strict Islamic policies and strengthened the empire's administration. Aurangzeb's military campaigns against the Deccan sultanates solidified his authority but drained resources. His death in 1707 marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire's gradual decline under his successors.
1658 Aurangzeb Mughal emperor
1703day.year

Daniel Defoe is placed in a pillory for the crime of seditious libel after publishing a politically satirical pamphlet, but is pelted with flowers.

In 1703, author Daniel Defoe was punished for seditious libel by being placed in a pillory, only to be cheered with flowers by supportive Londoners.
Daniel Defoe, known for his later novel Robinson Crusoe, wrote a politically satirical pamphlet called 'The Shortest Way with the Dissenters'. His sharp critique of government policy led to a charge of seditious libel and a sentence in the pillory. On July 31, 1703, he stood in the pillory at Temple Bar in London before a jeering crowd. Rather than stones, Defoe was pelted with flowers and verses mocking his critics. This unusual public reaction highlighted tensions over free expression and dissent in early 18th-century England. Defoe's resilience in the face of punishment solidified his reputation as a bold writer and political commentator.
1703 Daniel Defoe pillory seditious libel pamphlet