August 13

Events

29 BC

Octavian holds the first of three consecutive triumphs in Rome to celebrate the victory over the Dalmatian tribes.

Octavian celebrates his victory over the Dalmatian tribes with a grand triumph in Rome. It is the first of three consecutive triumphs he would hold.
On August 13, 29 BC, Octavian, the future Emperor Augustus, held his first triumph in Rome to honor his decisive victory over the Dalmatian tribes. The spectacle featured gleaming trophies, captured weapons, and parading prisoners in chains. Citizens lined the streets of the Forum to catch a glimpse of the grand procession. Musicians, soldiers, and exotic animals added to the pageantry of the event. This triumph marked the beginning of three consecutive celebratory parades that cemented Octavian’s reputation as Rome’s greatest military leader. It served both as a political statement of his dominance and as public entertainment for the populace. The success of these ceremonies helped Octavian consolidate his power and laid the groundwork for the principate that would follow.
29 BC Octavian triumphs Rome Dalmatian tribes
523day.year

John I becomes the new Pope after the death of Pope Hormisdas.

John I is elected Pope following the death of Pope Hormisdas in 523.
In 523, upon the passing of Pope Hormisdas, John I ascended to the papal throne amidst political tensions. His election came at a time when the relationship between the Church and the Byzantine Empire was delicate. Emperor Justinian I had recently enacted the Henotikon in an attempt to reconcile Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian Christians. John I undertook a diplomatic mission to Constantinople to negotiate religious unity and seek relief from Arian pressures. During his brief pontificate, he faced opposition from Gothic King Theodoric and internal church factions. His efforts highlighted the growing role of the papacy in international politics. Though his reign lasted less than two years, John I’s activities laid groundwork for future papal involvement in ecclesiastical and imperial affairs.
523 John I Pope Pope Hormisdas
554day.year

Emperor Justinian I rewards Liberius for his service in the Pragmatic Sanction, granting him extensive estates in Italy.

Emperor Justinian I grants Liberius extensive estates in Italy for his service in the Pragmatic Sanction in 554.
In 554, Emperor Justinian I rewarded his loyal official Liberius for his crucial role in securing the Pragmatic Sanction of 554. This edict reorganized the administrative and legal framework of the Italian territories reclaimed from the Ostrogoths. Liberius oversaw the compilation of imperial laws and facilitated the efficient governance of the peninsula. As a token of gratitude, Justinian granted him vast estates across Italy, enhancing his wealth and influence. The land grants not only recognized Liberius’s achievements but also served as a political strategy to stabilize the region. These rewards underscored the emperor’s reliance on capable administrators to implement his ambitious reconquest plans. Liberius’s elevated status exemplified the close ties between military success, legal reform, and personal patronage within the Byzantine court.
554 Justinian I Liberius Pragmatic Sanction estates
582day.year

Maurice becomes Emperor of the Byzantine Empire.

Maurice is proclaimed Emperor of the Byzantine Empire in 582.
On August 13, 582, Maurice, a seasoned commander, was declared Emperor of the Byzantine Empire following the death of Tiberius II Constantine. Known for his strategic vision, Maurice had served as magister militum in key campaigns against Persians and Slavs. His accession marked the beginning of a reign focused on military efficiency and fiscal reform. He reorganized the Byzantine army into regional units and attempted to stabilize the empire’s finances through austere policies. Maurice also fostered alliances with various barbarian groups to secure the empire’s borders. Despite his administrative talents, his strict economic measures sparked unrest among troops and civilians alike. The emperor’s policies would later influence both the Eastern Roman state and neighboring kingdoms long after his death.
582 Maurice Emperor Byzantine Empire
871day.year

Emperor Louis II of Italy and Empress Engelberga are captured by Prince Adelchis of Benevento.

Emperor Louis II of Italy and Empress Engelberga are captured by Prince Adelchis of Benevento in 871.
In 871, Emperor Louis II of Italy and his wife, Empress Engelberga, embarked on a campaign against the Lombard duchy of Benevento. Their venture took a dramatic turn when Prince Adelchis ambushed and captured the imperial couple near his stronghold. This bold move by Adelchis aimed to assert Beneventan autonomy and challenge Carolingian authority in southern Italy. Louis and Engelberga were held hostage until concessions were made, including tribute payments and political recognition for Benevento. The incident highlighted the fragmented nature of power in medieval Italy and the complex interplay between imperial ambition and regional resistance. Although the couple was eventually released, the event exposed the vulnerabilities of even the most powerful rulers. Adelchis’s daring exploit earned him temporary prestige, but it also deepened the divide between the Italian principalities.
871 Louis II of Italy Engelberga Adelchis of Benevento
900day.year

Count Reginar I of Hainault rises against Zwentibold of Lotharingia and slays him near present-day Susteren.

Count Reginar I of Hainault rebels against King Zwentibold of Lotharingia and kills him near Susteren in 900.
On August 13, 900, Count Reginar I of Hainault led a revolt against his cousin, King Zwentibold of Lotharingia. Tensions had grown over Zwentibold’s favoritism toward certain nobles and his heavy taxation policies. Reginar’s rebellion culminated in a decisive ambush near the modern town of Susteren, where he slew the king in battle. The assassination plunged the kingdom into a succession crisis and weakened central authority. Restive nobles and external forces soon exploited the power vacuum, fragmenting Lotharingia further. Reginar emerged from the conflict as a dominant regional player, consolidating his lands and titles. The event underscored the fragility of Carolingian rule and foreshadowed the fragmentation of European territories in the early Middle Ages.
900 Reginar I of Hainault Zwentibold Lotharingia Susteren
1099day.year

Raniero is elected as Pope Paschal II, who would become deeply entangled in the Investiture Controversy.

Raniero is elected Pope Paschal II in 1099, soon embroiling himself in the Investiture Controversy.
In 1099, the College of Cardinals elected the monk Raniero as Pope Paschal II, facing the ongoing clash between papal and imperial authority. His ascension came amid the Investiture Controversy, a struggle over the right to appoint bishops and abbots. Paschal II initially sought compromise with Emperor Henry V to secure peace within Christendom. However, negotiations faltered, leading to renewed disputes and papal bannings of lay investiture. During his pontificate, Paschal championed church reform and reinforced the spiritual independence of the clergy. His stand against secular interference reshaped the balance of power in medieval Europe. Though his reign witnessed both triumphs and setbacks, Paschal II left a lasting legacy in defining the contours of church-state relations.
1099 Pope Paschal II Investiture Controversy
1516day.year

The Treaty of Noyon between France and Spain is signed. Francis I of France recognizes Charles's claim to Naples, and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, recognizes Francis's claim to Milan.

The Treaty of Noyon is signed between France and Spain, defining their claims to Italy in 1516.
On August 13, 1516, the Treaty of Noyon formalized peace between King Francis I of France and King Charles I of Spain (later Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor). France recognized Charles’s claim to the Kingdom of Naples, while Spain acknowledged Francis’s rights to the Duchy of Milan. The agreement temporarily stabilized Italian politics after decades of conflict in the region. It also marked a diplomatic success for both monarchs, allowing them to refocus on domestic matters and other European ambitions. The treaty reflected shifting alliances in Renaissance Europe and foreshadowed the complex balance of power that defined the era. Though the peace was short-lived, Noyon set a precedent for future treaties and negotiations between European powers.
1516 Treaty of Noyon Francis I of France Naples Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Milan
1521day.year

After an extended siege, forces led by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés capture Tlatoani Cuauhtémoc and conquer the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.

Hernán Cortés captures the Aztec emperor Cuauhtémoc and seizes Tenochtitlan in 1521, ending the Aztec Empire.
On August 13, 1521, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés achieved a decisive victory by capturing Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec tlatoani, in the ruins of Tenochtitlan. The fall of the city followed a brutal and prolonged siege that devastated the Aztec capital. Cortés’s forces, aided by indigenous allies and superior weaponry, cut off supplies and systematically dismantled Aztec defenses. The capture of Cuauhtémoc symbolized the collapse of the mighty Mesoamerican empire. In the aftermath, Cortés ordered the demolition of the city’s temples and began the construction of Spanish institutions on its foundations. The event signaled the beginning of Spanish colonial rule in central Mexico. It also marked a profound cultural and demographic shift that would reshape the region’s history.
1521 an extended siege conquistador Hernán Cortés Tlatoani Cuauhtémoc Aztec Tenochtitlan
1532day.year

Union of Brittany and France: The Duchy of Brittany is absorbed into the Kingdom of France.

The Duchy of Brittany is formally united with the Kingdom of France in 1532.
On August 13, 1532, the Parlement of Brittany approved the Edict of Union, officially integrating the independent Duchy of Brittany into the Kingdom of France. The move fulfilled long-standing French ambitions to consolidate power and bring semi-autonomous regions under royal control. Brittany retained certain privileges, such as exemption from some taxes and the right to maintain its local institutions. However, the union marked the end of Brittany’s political autonomy and its centuries-old ducal lineage. King Francis I of France secured a valuable coastline and strategic port, enhancing royal authority. The integration also facilitated cultural and administrative standardization across the realm. Brittany’s unique legal traditions would endure for centuries, even as it became fully enmeshed in the French state.
1532 Union of Brittany and France Duchy of Brittany Kingdom of France
1536day.year

Buddhist monks from Kyoto, Japan's Enryaku-ji temple set fire to 21 Nichiren temples throughout Kyoto in what will be known as the Tenbun Hokke Disturbance.

In 1536, militant monks from Enryaku-ji temple in Kyoto burned 21 Nichiren temples in a sectarian conflict known as the Tenbun Hokke Disturbance.
The Tenbun Hokke Disturbance erupted in August 1536 when rival factions of Japanese Buddhism clashed violently in the streets of Kyoto. Militant monks from the Tendai headquarters at Enryaku-ji organized and executed arson attacks against 21 temples belonging to the rival Nichiren sect, deepening centuries-old doctrinal animosities. This outbreak of religious warfare shook the imperial capital and underscored the political power wielded by Buddhist monastic orders during the tumultuous Sengoku period. Local officials struggled to quell the unrest, prompting regional warlords to intervene and exploit the chaos. Although the violence was eventually contained, its aftermath reshaped the religious landscape and foreshadowed further sectarian strife in pre-modern Japan.
1536 Kyoto Enryaku-ji Nichiren
1553day.year

Michael Servetus is arrested by John Calvin in Geneva, Switzerland as a heretic.

On August 13, 1553, Protestant reformer John Calvin had Michael Servetus arrested in Geneva on charges of heresy.
Spanish physician and theologian Michael Servetus traveled to Geneva under a false identity to escape condemnation for his unorthodox views on the Trinity. He was recognized and promptly detained by the city’s religious authorities at John Calvin’s urging. Charged with denying core Protestant doctrines, Servetus faced the Consistory of Geneva in a trial that highlighted the tension between Reformation leaders and emerging humanist critiques. Despite appeals from sympathizers across Europe, he was convicted of heresy and later executed by burning, marking a turning point in the enforcement of doctrinal uniformity within the Reformed church. The case of Servetus galvanized debate over religious freedom and the limits of ecclesiastical authority during the tumultuous era of the Protestant Reformation.
1553 Michael Servetus John Calvin Geneva heretic