This day in history: 25 july

Europa

• 306 CE: Constantine I was proclaimed Roman Emperor by his troops in Eboracum (modern York, England), marking the beginning of a reign that would profoundly shape the Roman Empire and the future of Christianity in Europe.
• 315 CE: The Arch of Constantine, a triumphal monument commemorating his victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, was completed near the Colosseum in Rome.
• 1261: Constantinople was recaptured by Nicaean forces, ending the Latin Empire and restoring the Byzantine Empire under Michael VIII Palaiologos.
• 1547: Henry II was crowned King of France.
• 1554: The royal wedding of Mary I of England and Philip II of Spain took place at Winchester Cathedral, strengthening ties between England and Spain.
• 1591: The Duke of Parma was defeated near Nijmegen (Netherlands) by an Anglo-Dutch force led by Maurice of Orange, a key event in the Dutch struggle for independence.
• 1593: Henry IV of France publicly converted from Protestantism to Catholicism, a pivotal moment that helped end the French Wars of Religion.
• 1909: French aviator Louis Blériot made the first flight across the English Channel in a heavier-than-air aircraft, flying from Calais, France, to Dover, England—a landmark in aviation history.
• 1943: Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was dismissed and arrested by order of King Victor Emmanuel III, marking the collapse of the Fascist regime in Italy during World War II.
• 1995: A gas explosion at the Saint Michel station in Paris killed eight people and wounded 80, highlighting the ongoing threat of terrorism in Europe.
• 2000: Air France Concorde Flight 4590 crashed outside Paris shortly after takeoff, killing 113 people and marking the beginning of the end for supersonic passenger travel.
• 2019: National extreme heat records were set in the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany during the July 2019 European heat wave, reflecting the growing impact of climate change on the continent.

America

• 1775: The U.S. Postal Service was established by the Second Continental Congress, with Benjamin Franklin appointed as the first postmaster general, laying the foundation for the nation’s communications infrastructure.
• 1814: During the War of 1812, the Battle of Lundy’s Lane (near Niagara Falls) took place. British troops, led by General Phineas Riall, halted the American advance into Canada, resulting in one of the bloodiest battles of the war.
• 1861: The U.S. Congress passed the Crittenden–Johnson Resolution, declaring that the Civil War was being fought to preserve the Union, not to interfere with slavery or the rights of states.
• 1885: Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States and Civil War general, died at Mount McGregor, New York.
• 1952: Puerto Rico officially became a self-governing commonwealth of the United States, a major development in the island’s political status.
• 1960: The Woolworth’s store in Greensboro, North Carolina, which had been the site of historic sit-in protests against segregation, dropped its whites-only lunch counter policy, marking a significant victory for the Civil Rights Movement.
• 1946: The United States conducted the first underwater atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific, a key moment in the early nuclear age.
• 1956: The Italian ocean liner SS Andrea Doria collided with the Swedish ship Stockholm off the coast of New England, resulting in 51 deaths. The Andrea Doria sank the following morning.

Asia

• India’s Presidential Inaugurations: July 25 is the traditional date for the inauguration of Indian presidents. Notably:
  • 1982: Zail Singh became the 7th President of India.
  • 1987: R. Venkataraman was sworn in as the 8th President.
  • 1997: K. R. Narayanan became India’s 10th president and the first Dalit (historically marginalized caste) to hold the office.
  • 2007: Pratibha Patil made history as India’s first female president.
  • 2017: Ram Nath Kovind was inaugurated as the 14th President of India.
• 1971 – Sohagpur Massacre: In Bangladesh (then East Pakistan), the Sohagpur massacre occurred, where the Pakistan Army killed hundreds of villagers during the Bangladesh Liberation War.
• 1511 – Portuguese Attack on Malacca: Portuguese forces under Afonso de Albuquerque launched their first attack on the wealthy city of Malacca (in present-day Malaysia), marking the beginning of European colonial influence in Southeast Asia.
• Hideyoshi’s Ban on Christianity (Japan): On July 25, 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the de facto ruler of Japan, banned Christianity and ordered all missionaries to leave, signaling the start of a period of religious persecution in Japan.
• 1973 – Mars 5 Launch: The Soviet Mars 5 space probe was launched, contributing to international efforts in planetary exploration.

Africa

• 1993: Saint James Church Massacre (South Africa)
  On July 25, 1993, the Saint James Church massacre occurred in Kenilworth, Cape Town, South Africa. This tragic event saw armed attackers storm a church during a service, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. The attack was a stark reminder of the violence that marked the final years of apartheid-era South Africa.
• 1996: Military Coup in Burundi
  On July 25, 1996, a military coup took place in Burundi. Pierre Buyoya deposed President Sylvestre Ntibantunganya, seizing power in a country already troubled by ethnic tensions and civil conflict.
• 2007: Nigeria Sues Tobacco Companies
  On July 25, 2007, the Nigerian federal government filed a landmark lawsuit against three leading tobacco companies, seeking over $40 billion in damages for the cost of treating smoking-related diseases. This legal action reflected growing health advocacy and regulatory efforts in Africa.
• 2008: Kidnapping in Nigeria’s Niger Delta
  On July 25, 2008, two oil workers—one Nigerian and one Filipino—were kidnapped in the Niger Delta, highlighting the ongoing security challenges and unrest in the region.