Europa
- The Treaty of Berlin (1878)
On July 13, 1878, the Treaty of Berlin was signed at the end of the Congress of Berlin. This treaty reorganized the countries of the Balkans after the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. It revised the earlier Treaty of San Stefano, significantly reducing the Ottoman Empire’s territory and recognizing the independence or autonomy of several Balkan states, including Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro. This redrawing of the map had a lasting impact on the balance of power in Southeastern Europe and set the stage for future conflicts in the region. - Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat (1793)
On July 13, 1793, Jean-Paul Marat, a prominent leader of the radical Montagnard faction during the French Revolution, was assassinated in his bath by Charlotte Corday, a Girondin sympathizer. Marat’s murder intensified the revolutionary fervor in France and turned him into a martyr for the cause. - Battle of Gravelines (1558)
The Battle of Gravelines took place in France on July 13, 1558. Spanish forces led by Count Lamoral of Egmont defeated the French forces of Marshal Paul de Thermes. This battle was a significant episode in the ongoing rivalry between France and Spain for dominance in Europe. - Coronation of Alexander III of Scotland (1249)
Alexander III was crowned King of Scots on July 13, 1249, marking the beginning of a reign that would see Scotland maintain its independence during a turbulent medieval period. - Capture of William I of Scotland (1174)
William I of Scotland, also known as William the Lion, was captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Henry II of England on July 13, 1174, during the Revolt of 1173–74. This event had lasting implications for Scottish-English relations. - Battle of Durbe (1260)
On July 13, 1260, the Livonian Order suffered its greatest defeat of the 13th century at the Battle of Durbe against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a pivotal moment in the Baltic Crusades. - Battle of Roundway Down (1643)
During the English Civil War, the Royalist forces led by Henry Wilmot, 1st Earl of Rochester, achieved a decisive victory over Parliamentarian forces at the Battle of Roundway Down on July 13, 1643. - The July Crisis (1914) – Prelude to World War I
In July 1914, Europe was in the midst of the July Crisis, a series of diplomatic and military escalations that followed the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28. By July 13, Austria-Hungary and Germany were quietly preparing for war, while publicly maintaining an appearance of calm. Behind the scenes, leaders like István Tisza and Conrad von Hötzendorf debated the next steps, and the presentation of an ultimatum to Serbia was being planned to coincide with the absence of French leaders from Russia.
America
- Northwest Ordinance Enacted (1787)
On July 13, 1787, the U.S. Congress enacted the Northwest Ordinance, establishing formal procedures for transforming territories into states. This legislation provided for the creation of three to five states in the area north of the Ohio River, guaranteed a Bill of Rights including freedom of religion, trial by jury, and public education, and banned slavery in the Northwest Territory. - New York City Draft Riots Begin (1863)
On July 13, 1863, the New York City draft riots erupted. These three days of violent unrest, sparked by anger over new conscription laws during the Civil War, became the worst riots in U.S. history, resulting in widespread destruction and numerous deaths. - Charleston Workhouse Slave Rebellion (1849)
The Charleston Workhouse Slave Rebellion began in Charleston, South Carolina, on July 13, 1849. This was a significant act of resistance by enslaved people in the antebellum South. - Battle of Guaymas, Mexico (1854)
On July 13, 1854, General José María Yáñez led Mexican forces to stop a French invasion at the Battle of Guaymas, marking an important event in Mexican history. - Live Aid Concerts (1985)
On July 13, 1985, the Live Aid benefit concerts were held simultaneously in London and Philadelphia. These concerts raised millions for famine relief in Ethiopia and were watched by over a billion people worldwide. - Krispy Kreme Founded (1937)
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, now an international brand, was founded by Vernon Rudolph in the United States on July 13, 1937. - Kinney, Minnesota Declares Secession (1977)
On July 13, 1977, the town of Kinney, Minnesota, humorously declared its secession from the United States as the “Republic of Kinney” in protest over local infrastructure issues. - In 1812, the USS Essex, commanded by Captain David Porter, captured the merchant brig Lamprey in the Atlantic.
- In 1863, a Union squadron transported 5,000 troops for a successful landing at Yazoo City, Mississippi, during the Civil War.
- Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest defeated a Union army at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on July 13, 1862.
Asia
- July 13 Penghu Incident (1949, Taiwan/China)
On July 13, 1949, the Penghu Incident occurred during the Republic of China’s White Terror period. About 5,000 students and teachers, refugees from Shandong fleeing the Chinese Civil War, were relocated to the Penghu archipelago near Taiwan. Promised continued education while serving part-time as soldiers, they were instead conscripted full-time. Student protests broke out on July 13 and were violently suppressed by the military, resulting in deaths and executions. Hundreds were arrested, tortured, and falsely accused of being communist spies. The event is now commemorated in Taiwan as a symbol of the White Terror’s brutality. - Mumbai Bombings (2011, India)
On July 13, 2011, a series of coordinated bomb blasts struck Mumbai, India, hitting the Zaveri Bazaar, Dadar, and Opera House areas. The attacks killed at least 20 people and injured over 100, shaking India’s financial capital and drawing international attention to terrorism in the region. - Boxer Rebellion: Siege of Beijing (1900, China)
On July 13, 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion, Chinese forces set off a mine under the French Legation in Beijing, forcing French and Austrian defenders to seek shelter in the British compound. The event was part of the larger anti-foreign, anti-colonial uprising that gripped China at the turn of the century. - Ethiopian-Somali War Begins (1977, Horn of Africa)
On July 13, 1977, the Somali National Army invaded the disputed Ogaden region, launching the Ethiopian-Somali War. The conflict lasted nine months and had significant ramifications for the Horn of Africa. - In India, July 13 marks the founding of the Scottish Church College in Calcutta in 1830, a key institution in the Bengali Renaissance.
- The day is also observed as the death anniversary of prominent Bengali novelist Ashapoorna Devi (died July 13, 1995).
- July 13 is the birthdate of Ma Ying-jeou, former President of Taiwan (born 1950).
Africa
- Execution of Moroccan Coup Leaders (1971, Morocco)
On July 13, 1971, the Moroccan Army executed 10 leaders who were accused of orchestrating a failed coup attempt against King Hassan II. The attempted coup, which took place at the king’s summer palace in Skhirat just days earlier, was a pivotal moment in Moroccan history, reinforcing the monarchy’s authority and leading to a period of heightened security and political repression. - Darfur Peacekeeper Attack (2013, Sudan)
On July 13, 2013, seven peacekeepers from the African Union–United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) were killed and 17 others injured during an ambush while returning to their base near Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state. This attack was one of the deadliest against international peacekeeping forces in the region and highlighted the ongoing instability and violence in Sudan’s Darfur conflict. - Ethiopian-Somali War Begins (1977, Horn of Africa)
On July 13, 1977, the Somali National Army invaded the disputed Ogaden region, marking the official start of the Ethiopian-Somali War (also known as the Ogaden War). This conflict lasted for nine months, with significant ramifications for both Ethiopia and Somalia and for broader Cold War dynamics in Africa. - Live Aid Concerts for Ethiopian Famine Relief (1985)
On July 13, 1985, the global Live Aid benefit concerts were held, including major events in London and Philadelphia, but with the primary goal of raising funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. The concerts brought worldwide attention to the humanitarian crisis in Africa and raised millions of dollars for aid efforts. - July 13, 1980, marks the death of Seretse Khama, the first President of Botswana and a key figure in the country’s independence and development.
This day in history: 13 july