Europa
- Battle of Grunwald (1410)
One of the most significant events in European history that took place on July 15 is the Battle of Grunwald, fought in 1410 during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War. The allied forces of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led by King Władysław II Jagiełło and Grand Duke Vytautas, decisively defeated the Teutonic Knights under Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen. This battle, among the largest in medieval Europe, shifted the balance of power in Central and Eastern Europe, marking the rise of the Polish–Lithuanian union as a dominant regional force. The Teutonic Order suffered heavy losses, and although they retained most of their territory after the subsequent Peace of Thorn, their influence waned significantly. - 1099: Capture of Jerusalem
On July 15, 1099, during the First Crusade, Christian crusaders captured Jerusalem, a pivotal moment that shaped the medieval European and Middle Eastern political landscape. - 1799: Discovery of the Rosetta Stone
French Captain Pierre Bouchard discovered the Rosetta Stone in Egypt, which later enabled scholars to decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, an achievement with profound implications for European scholarship. - 1815: Napoleon Bonaparte Surrenders
Napoleon Bonaparte surrendered to the British after his defeat at Waterloo, marking the end of his rule and a major turning point in European history. - 1927: Vienna Massacre
Austrian police killed 89 protesters in Vienna during a demonstration, a tragic event reflecting the political tensions in interwar Europe. - 1941: Holocaust Deportations Begin from the Netherlands
Nazi Germany began deporting 100,000 Jews from the occupied Netherlands to extermination camps, a grim milestone in the Holocaust. - 1955: Mainau Declaration Signed
Eighteen Nobel laureates, many from Europe, signed the Mainau Declaration against nuclear weapons, reflecting postwar European scientific and ethical leadership.
America
- 1806: The Pike Expedition Begins
On July 15, 1806, Lieutenant Zebulon Pike set out from Fort Belle Fountaine near St. Louis, Missouri, beginning the Pike Expedition to explore the American Southwest. This journey contributed significantly to the mapping and understanding of the Louisiana Purchase territory. - 1870: Georgia Re-admitted to the Union
Georgia became the last of the former Confederate states to be readmitted to the Union on July 15, 1870, marking a major milestone in the Reconstruction era following the Civil War. - 1876: First No-Hitter in Major League Baseball
George Washington Bradley of St. Louis pitched the first no-hitter in Major League Baseball history, leading his team to a 2-0 victory over Hartford. - 1882: Death of Mary Todd Lincoln
Former First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, widow of President Abraham Lincoln, passed away on July 15, 1882. - 1885: Opening of Niagara Reservation State Park
The Niagara Reservation State Park (now Niagara Falls State Park), the first state park in the United States, opened in New York. - 1904: First Buddhist Temple in the U.S.
The first Buddhist temple in the United States was established in Los Angeles, California, reflecting the growing diversity of American religious life. - 1916: Incorporation of Boeing
William Boeing and George Conrad Westervelt incorporated Pacific Aero Products in Seattle, Washington, on July 15, 1916. This company would later become Boeing, a global leader in aviation and aerospace. - 1918: Second Battle of the Marne
American troops played a key role as the Second Battle of the Marne began in France during World War I. This battle marked a turning point, with Allied forces—including Americans—halting the last major German offensive on the Western Front. - 1954: First Flight of Boeing 367-80
The prototype for the Boeing 707 and C-135 series, the Boeing 367-80, took its first flight, marking a milestone in the jet age and commercial aviation. - 1960: John F. Kennedy Accepts Democratic Nomination
John F. Kennedy accepted the Democratic nomination for President of the United States on July 15, 1960, setting the stage for his historic election later that year. - 1996: Launch of MSNBC
MSNBC, a major American news television channel, was launched on July 15, 1996, as a partnership between Microsoft and NBC. - 1997: Gianni Versace Murdered in Miami
Although Italian by birth, fashion designer Gianni Versace was murdered in front of his Miami, Florida, home, an event that drew major media attention in the United States.
Asia
- An Lushan Rebellion: Execution of Yang Guozhong (756)
On July 15, 756, during the An Lushan Rebellion, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty in China was forced by his Imperial Guards to order the execution of his chancellor, Yang Guozhong, who was blamed for the crisis. This event marked a pivotal moment in one of China’s most devastating uprisings, which had far-reaching consequences for the Tang Dynasty and Chinese history. - Establishment of the Japanese Communist Party (1922)
The Japanese Communist Party, one of the oldest communist parties in Asia, was established on July 15, 1922. Its founding marked a significant development in Japan’s political landscape and the broader history of leftist movements in Asia. - Vietnam War: Operation Hastings Begins (1966)
On July 15, 1966, the United States and South Vietnam launched Operation Hastings, a major military campaign aimed at pushing North Vietnamese forces out of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone. This operation was one of the largest of the Vietnam War and had a significant impact on the conflict’s dynamics in Southeast Asia. - Annexation of North Borneo (Sabah) by the United Kingdom (1946)
On July 15, 1946, the State of North Borneo (now Sabah, Malaysia) was annexed by the United Kingdom. This event played a role in the region’s colonial history and the eventual formation of Malaysia. - Japanese Invasion of China (1937)
On July 15, 1937, Japanese forces launched an attack at the Marco Polo Bridge near Beijing, escalating into the full-scale Second Sino-Japanese War. This conflict had profound consequences for China and the broader Asian region. - First Jewish–Roman War: Breach of Jerusalem’s Walls (70 CE)
While Jerusalem is geographically at the crossroads of Asia and the Middle East, the Roman breach of Jerusalem’s walls on July 15, 70 CE, was a significant event in the region’s ancient history. - Sultan of Brunei’s Birthday (1946)
Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muʿizzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan of Brunei, was born on July 15, 1946, later becoming one of the world’s longest-reigning monarchs.
Africa
- End of the Rwandan Genocide (1994)
On July 15, 1994, the Rwandan Genocide officially ended. This marked the conclusion of one of the most horrific episodes in modern African—and global—history. The genocide began on April 7, 1994, following the assassination of Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana, and lasted approximately 100 days. During this period, an estimated 800,000 ethnic Tutsi and moderate Hutu were systematically killed in a campaign of mass violence orchestrated by the Hutu-led government. The killings were characterized by their rapid pace and brutality, often carried out with rudimentary weapons and by neighbors against neighbors. The genocide ended as the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), led by Paul Kagame, advanced across the country, eventually capturing Kigali and forcing the genocidal regime to flee. The RPF’s victory brought an end to the mass killings, and July 15 is widely recognized as the date marking the genocide’s conclusion.
This day in history: 15 july