August 12
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Christianfeast day:
Euplius, Eusebius of Milan, Herculanus of Brescia, Pope Innocent XI, Jænberht, Jane Frances de Chantal, Muiredach (or Murtagh), Porcarius II, August 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
A celebration in the Eastern Orthodox Church honoring a group of saints and martyrs on their feast day.
Glorious Twelfth(United Kingdom)
Marks the traditional start of the red grouse shooting season across the United Kingdom on August 12.
HM the Queen Mother's BirthdayandNational Mother's Day(Thailand)
Thailand celebrates the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen Mother, which is also observed as National Mother's Day.
International Youth Day(United Nations)
A United Nations observance to celebrate the role of youth in society and the issues they face.
Russian Air Force Day(Russia)
Honors the achievements and service of the Russian Air Force personnel.
Russian Railway Troops Day(Russia)
Commemorates the Railway Troops of Russia for their vital role in military logistics and infrastructure.
Sea Org Day(Scientology)
Marks the anniversary of the founding of the Sea Organization, a religious order within Scientology.
World Elephant Day(International)
An annual international day dedicated to the conservation and welfare of elephants.
Euplius
Commemorates Saint Euplius, an early Christian martyr honored by the Church.
Events
First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid forces led by Al-Afdal Shahanshah. This is considered the last engagement of the First Crusade.
On August 12, 1099, Crusaders led by Godfrey of Bouillon captured Ascalon, defeating the Fatimid forces and securing the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Battle of Didgori: The Georgian army under King David IV wins a decisive victory over the famous Seljuk commander Ilghazi.
In 1121, King David IV of Georgia achieved a stunning victory at the Battle of Didgori, routing Seljuk forces under Ilghazi and securing Georgian independence.
Battle of Harim: Nur ad-Din Zangi defeats the Crusader armies of the County of Tripoli and the Principality of Antioch.
Nur ad-Din Zangi delivered a fatal blow to Crusader ambition at the Battle of Harim in 1164, defeating the County of Tripoli and Principality of Antioch’s forces.
The Treaty of Nöteborg between Sweden and Novgorod Republic is signed, regulating the border between the two countries for the first time.
In 1323, Sweden and the Novgorod Republic signed the Treaty of Nöteborg, establishing their first formal border and ending decades of territorial disputes.
Christopher Columbus arrives in the Canary Islands on his first voyage to the New World.
Christopher Columbus reached the Canary Islands on August 12, 1492, as he embarked on his historic voyage toward the New World.
First engagement of the Battle of Zonchio between Venetian and Ottoman fleets.
In 1499, the fleets of Venice and the Ottoman Empire clashed for the first time during the Battle of Zonchio, signaling a major naval confrontation in the Mediterranean.
Charles de La Vieuville is arrested and replaced by Cardinal Richelieu as the French king's chief advisor.
In 1624, Cardinal Richelieu supplanted Charles de La Vieuville as chief minister to King Louis XIII, reshaping French politics toward centralized power.
Praying Indian John Alderman shoots and kills Metacomet, the Wampanoag war chief, ending King Philip's War.
On August 12, 1676, John Alderman, a Praying Indian, shot and killed Metacomet (King Philip), bringing King Philip’s War to an end.
Battle of Mohács: Charles of Lorraine defeats the Ottoman Empire.
In 1687, Duke Charles of Lorraine led Habsburg forces to victory against the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Mohács, shifting Central European power dynamics.
Births
Abraham Zacuto
Jewish astronomer and mathematician whose astronomical tables guided early explorers.
King of Denmark and Norway who established Lutheranism and strengthened royal authority.
Franciscus Sonnius
Influential theologian who helped implement the Council of Trent's reforms in the Low Countries.
Louise de Marillac
French saint and social reformer who co-founded the Daughters of Charity to serve the poor.
Sir William Curtius FRS
German magistrate and diplomat who served the Elector Palatine at the English court.
Tokugawa Iemitsu
Third shōgun of the Tokugawa dynasty who centralized power and enforced isolationist policies.
Giovanni Legrenzi
Italian Baroque composer admired for his sacred music and instrumental sonatas.
Archduchess Isabella Clara of Austria
Habsburg archduchess known for her patronage and regency in Mantua and Montferrat.
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber
Bohemian-Austrian violin virtuoso and composer celebrated for groundbreaking violin techniques.
Deaths
Cleopatra
Last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, celebrated for her intelligence, political acumen, and alliance with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.
Jænberht
Anglo-Saxon Archbishop of Canterbury from 765 to 792, known for his resistance to Mercian control under King Offa.
Louis II
Holy Roman Emperor and King of Italy in the mid-9th century, recognized for his campaigns against Saracen incursions in southern Italy.
Li Gu
Chinese statesman who served as chancellor of the Later Zhou dynasty during the Five Dynasties period.
Yuan Zong
Second emperor of the Southern Tang during China's Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, presiding over its cultural zenith.
Vladislaus III
Member of the Přemyslid dynasty who served as Duke of Bohemia in the early 13th century.
Charles Martel
Member of the Capetian House of Anjou who was titular King of Hungary in the late 13th century.
Rudolf I
Member of the Wittelsbach dynasty who ruled as Duke of Bavaria in the early 14th century.
Guy de Beauchamp
Powerful English nobleman and 10th Earl of Warwick in the early 14th century, leader of baronial opposition to King Edward II.