This day in history: 22 july

Europa

• 1209 – Massacre at Béziers: The first major military action of the Albigensian Crusade took place in Béziers, France, where thousands of Cathars and Catholics were killed by crusaders targeting heresy.
• 1298 – Battle of Falkirk: During the Wars of Scottish Independence, King Edward I of England and his longbowmen defeated William Wallace and his Scottish forces near Falkirk, Scotland.
• 1342 – St. Mary Magdalene’s Flood: Central Europe experienced the worst recorded flood in its history, causing widespread devastation.
• 1456 – Siege of Belgrade: Hungarian forces led by John Hunyadi achieved a significant victory over the Ottoman Empire, lifting the siege of Belgrade and halting Ottoman expansion into Central Europe for decades.
• 1812 – Battle of Salamanca: The Duke of Wellington led British, Portuguese, and Spanish forces to a decisive victory over the French in Spain during the Napoleonic Wars, significantly weakening French control on the Iberian Peninsula.
• 1894 – First Motor Race: The world’s first competitive motor race took place in France, from Paris to Rouen, marking a milestone in automotive history.
• 1936 – Spanish Civil War: The Popular Executive Committee of Valencia took power in the Valencian Community, reflecting the turmoil and shifting allegiances during the early days of the Spanish Civil War.
• 1942 – Grossaktion Warsaw: On July 22, Nazi Germany began the mass deportation of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto to the Treblinka extermination camp. This operation, known as “Grossaktion Warschau,” resulted in the murder of approximately 300,000 Jews over 46 days, marking one of the most tragic chapters of the Holocaust.
• 1944 – Liberation of Majdanek: The Red Army liberated the Majdanek concentration camp near Lublin, Poland. This was the first major Nazi concentration camp liberated by Allied forces, exposing the world to the extent of Nazi atrocities.
• 1944 – Polish Committee of National Liberation: The Soviet-backed Polish Committee of National Liberation was officially proclaimed in Chelm, signaling a shift in Poland’s political landscape as World War II neared its end.
• 2011 – Norway Attacks: Anders Behring Breivik carried out two terrorist attacks in Norway: a car bomb in Oslo’s government district and a mass shooting at a youth camp on the island of Utøya. These attacks killed 77 people, mostly teenagers, and deeply shocked Norway and the world, highlighting the threat of domestic extremism in Europe.

America

• 1587 – Roanoke Colony: A second group of English settlers arrived on Roanoke Island (now North Carolina) to re-establish the deserted colony, marking a key moment in early American colonization.
• 1686 – Albany, New York Chartered: Albany was formally chartered as a municipality, becoming one of the oldest surviving European settlements from the original thirteen colonies.
• 1793 – Alexander Mackenzie Reaches the Pacific: Mackenzie became the first recorded person to complete a transcontinental crossing of North America, reaching the Pacific Ocean.
• 1796 – Cleveland Named: Surveyors from the Connecticut Land Company named the area “Cleveland” after their superintendent, Gen. Moses Cleaveland.
• 1864 – Battle of Atlanta: During the American Civil War, Confederate General John Bell Hood led an unsuccessful attack against Union troops under General William T. Sherman outside Atlanta, a pivotal moment in the Atlanta Campaign.
• 1893 – “America the Beautiful” Written: Katharine Lee Bates wrote the poem “America the Beautiful” after admiring the view from Pikes Peak, Colorado.
• 1916 – Preparedness Day Bombing: A bomb exploded on Market Street during a parade in San Francisco, killing ten and injuring 40, in one of the deadliest terror attacks in the U.S. at the time.
• 1933 – Wiley Post’s Solo Flight Around the World: Aviator Wiley Post landed at Floyd Bennett Field in New York City, completing the first solo flight around the world in 7 days, 18 hours, and 49 minutes—a milestone in aviation history.
• 1934 – John Dillinger Killed: Infamous bank robber John Dillinger was shot and killed by federal agents outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago.
• 1937 – FDR’s Court-Packing Plan Rejected: The U.S. Senate voted down President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s proposal to add more justices to the Supreme Court.
• 1943 – Allied Capture of Palermo: American forces led by Gen. George S. Patton captured Palermo, Sicily, giving the Allies a strategic foothold in World War II.
• 1955 – Nixon Presides Over Cabinet: Richard Nixon became the first vice president to preside over a cabinet meeting.
• 1993 – Great Flood of 1993: Levees near Kaskaskia, Illinois ruptured, forcing the town’s evacuation by Army Corps of Engineers barges during one of the most devastating floods in U.S. history.
• 1997 – Blue Water Bridge Opens: The second span of the Blue Water Bridge opened between Port Huron, Michigan, and Sarnia, Ontario, improving U.S.-Canada connectivity.
• 2015 – Dylann Roof Indicted: Dylann Roof was indicted on federal hate crime charges for the Charleston church shooting, becoming the first person sentenced to death for a federal hate crime.

Asia

• 1976 – Japan completes its last war reparations to the Philippines: On July 22, 1976, Japan made its final payment of reparations to the Philippines for war crimes committed during its imperial conquest in World War II. This marked an important step in post-war reconciliation between the two countries.
• 1678 – Shivaji’s forces capture Vellore Fort: After a prolonged 14-month siege, the Maratha ruler Shivaji’s army successfully took control of the Vellore Fort from Mughal forces, a significant event in the expansion of Maratha power in southern India.
• 1702 – East India Company merger: The East India Company merged with a rival trading group to form the United Company of Merchants of England Trading to the East Indies, a key development in British colonial trade dominance in Asia.
• 1981 – India’s first geostationary satellite APPLE begins functioning: The Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE), launched by ISRO, started its operations on July 22, 1981, marking a milestone in India’s space program and technological advancement.
• 1945 – Allied agreement on Berlin occupation zones: American, British, and Soviet officials agreed to allow their military police to move freely throughout all occupation zones of Berlin to curb black market activities. Though centered in Europe, this event was part of the broader Allied post-war management affecting Asia-Pacific geopolitics.
• 1991 – Brioni Declaration signed: Slovenia, Croatia, and Yugoslavia signed the Brioni Declaration, ending hostilities in the Slovenian War of Independence. While geographically in Europe, this event had implications for ethnic and political conflicts extending into Eurasian regions.

Africa

• 2012 – Hashim Amla’s Record: On July 22, 2012, South African cricketer Hashim Amla became the first South African to score a triple century in Test cricket, marking a historic achievement for both South African and African cricket.
• 2012 – Ernie Els Wins British Open: On the same day, South African golfer Ernie Els won the British Open, further highlighting African excellence in international sports.