August 26

Events

683day.year

Yazid I's army kills 11,000 people of Medina including notable Sahabas in Battle of al-Harrah.

In 683, Yazid I's forces captured Medina in the Battle of al-Harrah, resulting in a massacre of around 11,000 people, including revered Sahabas.
During the Second Fitna in 683, Caliph Yazid I marched on the holy city of Medina in an effort to suppress opposition to his rule. The Battle of al-Harrah culminated in the loss of nearly 11,000 lives, with many respected companions of the Prophet Muhammad among the casualties. The Medinese defenders, driven by religious conviction, put up fierce resistance but were ultimately overwhelmed by Yazid's larger force. The aftermath saw widespread looting and desecration of the city, deeply wounding the sanctity of the heartland of Islam. This event marked a significant rupture in early Islamic unity and fueled further rebellions against Umayyad authority. The brutality of the raid left a lasting legacy in Islamic historical memory.
683 Yazid I Medina Sahabas Battle of al-Harrah
1071day.year

The Seljuq Turks defeat the Byzantine army at the Battle of Manzikert, and soon gain control of most of Anatolia.

In 1071, the Seljuq Turks decisively defeated the Byzantine army at the Battle of Manzikert, opening Anatolia to Turkic settlement.
The Battle of Manzikert took place on August 26, 1071, between the Byzantine army led by Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes and the Seljuq Turks under Sultan Alp Arslan. Despite possessing a well-trained force, the Byzantines suffered from poor coordination and alleged betrayal among their ranks. Alp Arslan's strategic acumen led to a crushing victory that shattered Byzantine dominance in Anatolia. The defeat undermined the empire's military strength and political authority, triggering internal strife. In the decades that followed, waves of Turkic tribes migrated into Anatolia, transforming the region's demographic and cultural landscape. Manzikert thus stands as a key turning point in medieval Middle Eastern history.
1071 Seljuq Turks Byzantine army Battle of Manzikert Anatolia
1278day.year

Ladislaus IV of Hungary and Rudolf I of Germany defeat Ottokar II of Bohemia in the Battle on the Marchfeld near Dürnkrut in (then) Moravia.

In 1278, Ladislaus IV of Hungary and Rudolf I of Germany defeated Ottokar II of Bohemia at the Battle on the Marchfeld, altering Central European politics.
The Battle on the Marchfeld was fought on August 26, 1278, as part of a contest for regional supremacy. King Ladislaus IV of Hungary joined forces with King Rudolf I of Germany against Ottokar II of Bohemia, who had expanded his territories. The encounter near Dürnkrut ended in a decisive victory for the Hungarian-German coalition, resulting in Ottokar's death on the battlefield. Following the battle, Rudolf I leveraged the victory to secure Austrian and Moravian lands for the nascent Habsburg dynasty. This event marked the beginning of Habsburg ascendency in Central Europe and reshaped dynastic politics for centuries. The outcome curtailed Bohemian influence and firmly established the Habsburgs as a major European power.
1278 Ladislaus IV of Hungary Rudolf I of Germany Ottokar II of Bohemia Battle on the Marchfeld Dürnkrut Moravia
1303day.year

Chittorgarh falls to the Delhi Sultanate.

In 1303, Sultan Alauddin Khalji of the Delhi Sultanate captured the fortress of Chittorgarh in Rajasthan, ending its status as a Rajput stronghold.
Chittorgarh was a symbol of Rajput resistance in western India, ruled by the Sisodia clan. In the spring of 1303, Sultan Alauddin Khalji launched a determined siege to expand the Delhi Sultanate's dominion. Despite heroic defense by the Rajput garrison, superior artillery and numbers tipped the balance in favor of the Sultanate. After weeks of bombardment and trench warfare, the fortress walls were breached on August 26. The fall of Chittorgarh led to the capture of its ruler and consolidated Khalji's control over Rajasthan. The event reinforced the military reputation of the Delhi Sultanate and entered Rajput lore as a tale of valor and sacrifice.
1303 Chittorgarh falls
1346day.year

At the Battle of Crécy, an English army easily defeats a French one twice its size.

In 1346, an English force led by Edward III overwhelmed a larger French army at the Battle of Crécy, showcasing the power of the longbow.
The Battle of Crécy took place on August 26, 1346, during the early phase of the Hundred Years' War between England and France. King Edward III of England positioned his troops on a hillside, using longbowmen to devastating effect against charging French knights. A combination of disciplined English formations, muddy terrain, and heavy rain disrupted the traditional French cavalry assault. King Philip VI's forces suffered severe casualties, including many nobles, while English losses were comparatively light. Crécy demonstrated a shift in medieval warfare tactics, emphasizing ranged weaponry and defensive strategy. The victory bolstered English morale and paved the way for further campaigns on French soil.
1346 Battle of Crécy
1444day.year

Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs: A vastly outnumbered force of Swiss Confederates is defeated by the Dauphin Louis (future Louis XI of France) and his army of 'Armagnacs' near Basel.

On August 26, 1444, a small Swiss force fought bravely but was defeated by the Dauphin Louis's army at the Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs near Basel.
The Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs occurred during the Old Zürich War when Swiss Confederates clashed with a larger army led by the future King Louis XI of France, known then as the Dauphin Louis. Approximately 1,600 Swiss soldiers took position along the Birs River to halt the advance of Armagnac mercenaries. Though vastly outnumbered, the Swiss inflicted heavy losses before being overwhelmed. The ferocity of the Swiss defense impressed European observers and highlighted their reputation for military discipline and courage. While a tactical defeat, the battle strengthened Swiss cohesion and deterred further foreign incursions into their territory. In the aftermath, diplomatic negotiations helped bring an end to the conflict and shaped the future of Swiss neutrality.
1444 Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs Louis XI of France Basel
1542day.year

Francisco de Orellana crosses South America from Guayaquil on the Pacific coast to the mouth of the Amazon River on the Atlantic coast.

In 1542, Francisco de Orellana completed the first recorded navigation of the Amazon River, journeying from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast.
Spanish explorer Francisco de Orellana embarked in 1541 from Guayaquil on the Pacific coast of present-day Ecuador, aiming to find El Dorado. The expedition traveled down the Napo and Amazon Rivers, facing rapids, tropical diseases, and encounters with indigenous peoples. Orellana's crew constructed makeshift ships to navigate the vast waterways and document new regions. On August 26, 1542, they reached the mouth of the Amazon River at the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the first Europeans to accomplish this feat. The voyage provided Europe with its first detailed account of the Amazon basin's geography and inhabitants. Orellana's narrative sparked further interest in exploring South America's interior and its rich resources.
1542 Francisco de Orellana
1642day.year

Dutch–Portuguese War: Second Battle of San Salvador: The Dutch force the Spanish garrison at San Salvador (modern day Keelung, Taiwan) to surrender, ending the short-lived Spanish colony on Formosa and replacing it with a new Dutch administration.

On August 26, 1642, Dutch forces compelled the Spanish garrison at San Salvador (modern Keelung, Taiwan) to surrender, ending Spain's colonial presence on Formosa.
During the Dutch–Portuguese War, the Dutch East India Company sought to seize strategic ports in Asia from the Iberian powers. In 1642, a Dutch armada attacked the Spanish fortifications at San Salvador, located at modern-day Keelung in northern Taiwan. After a naval blockade and artillery bombardment, the isolated Spanish garrison capitulated. The fall of San Salvador terminated the short-lived Spanish colony on Formosa. The Dutch established their own administration, using Taiwan as a base for trade and regional expansion. This event exemplified the intense competition among European powers for control of Asian maritime routes in the 17th century.
1642 Dutch–Portuguese War Second Battle of San Salvador Keelung Taiwan Spanish colony on Formosa a new Dutch administration
1648day.year

The Fronde: First Fronde: In the wake of the successful Battle of Lens, Cardinal Mazarin, Chief Minister of France, suddenly orders the arrest of the leaders of the Parlement of Paris, provoking the rest of Paris to break into insurrection and barricade the streets the next day.

On August 26, 1648, Cardinal Mazarin ordered the arrest of Paris Parlement leaders, igniting the First Fronde uprising with barricades and civil unrest.
The First Fronde was a series of uprisings against royal authority in France during the minority of Louis XIV. After the monarchy's success at the Battle of Lens, Cardinal Jules Mazarin moved to arrest key members of the Parlement of Paris to enforce fiscal reforms. When Parisians learned of the detentions, they erected barricades and took to the streets in protest against perceived tyranny. The insurrection revealed widespread resistance among nobles, magistrates, and commoners to centralized power and high taxation. Although the rebellion was eventually suppressed, it exposed deep fractures within French society and governance. The events of the Fronde influenced Louis XIV's later pursuit of absolute monarchy and shaped the development of modern statecraft.
1648 The Fronde First Fronde Battle of Lens Cardinal Mazarin Chief Minister of France Parlement of Paris Paris break into insurrection and barricade the streets
1748day.year

The first Lutheran denomination in North America, the Pennsylvania Ministerium, is founded in Philadelphia.

In 1748, Lutheran pastors in Pennsylvania founded the Pennsylvania Ministerium in Philadelphia, the first organized Lutheran body in North America.
Amid growing German immigration to the American colonies, Lutheran congregations sought unity and shared governance. On August 26, 1748, clergy in Philadelphia established the Pennsylvania Ministerium, formalizing Lutheran practice and doctrine in North America. The new body set standards for liturgy, pastoral education, and church administration, strengthening ties among scattered congregations. It provided mutual support for ministers and congregants adapting to frontier life and religious diversity. Over time, the Ministerium influenced the formation of additional synods and contributed to the spread of Lutheranism across the burgeoning United States. Its founding represented a key moment in colonial religious history and the establishment of denominational identity in America.
1748 Lutheran Pennsylvania Ministerium Philadelphia
1767day.year

Jesuits all over Chile are arrested as the Spanish Empire suppresses the Society of Jesus.

In 1767, the Spanish Empire arrests all Jesuits in Chile under King Charles III’s decree expelling the Society of Jesus from its territories.
On August 26, 1767, King Charles III ordered the expulsion of the Society of Jesus from all Spanish colonies. Chilean authorities arrested hundreds of Jesuit priests, educators, and missionaries. The suppression targeted Jesuit-run schools, estates, and missions, which were seized and secularized by colonial officials. Many of the detainees were deported across the Atlantic to Europe, where they remained in exile. This dramatic measure dismantled a powerful religious order in Chile and reshaped the colony’s educational and social landscape.
1767 Jesuits Chile Spanish Empire suppresses the Society of Jesus
1768day.year

Captain James Cook sets sail from England on board HMS Endeavour.

Captain James Cook departs England aboard HMS Endeavour in 1768 for a groundbreaking Pacific expedition.
On August 26, 1768, Captain James Cook set sail from Plymouth on HMS Endeavour to observe the transit of Venus in Tahiti. The scientific mission, accompanied by naturalists like Joseph Banks, aimed to expand European knowledge of astronomy, geography, and natural history. After the astronomical observations, Cook was tasked with charting the coastlines of New Zealand and the eastern shores of Australia. His detailed maps and surveys added vast stretches of the Pacific to European charts for the first time. The voyage returned to England in 1771, having significantly advanced scientific and navigational understanding.
1768 James Cook sets sail HMS Endeavour