On This Day in History

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Today's Historical Events

These are real historical events sourced from Wikipedia's On This Day archive. Each one happened on this exact calendar date, across different centuries and every part of the world.

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History in 60 Seconds

Short videos covering one significant historical event each, told through archival imagery and narration. A new video goes up every day alongside the daily article.

Coronation of Justin I — July 10, 518
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Coronation of Justin I — July 10, 518

Anastasius' death leads to Justin I's coronation as Byzantine Emperor in Constantinople...

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African Union Establishment — July 9, 2002
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African Union Establishment — July 9, 2002

Thabo Mbeki leads the newly formed African Union in Durban, South Africa, on July 9, 20...

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The Byzantines defeat the Hungarian army decisively ...
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The Byzantines defeat the Hungarian army decisively ...

Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos' forces defeat Hungarians at Sirmium on July 8, 116...

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Haitian President Jovenel Moïse is assassinated — Ju...
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Haitian President Jovenel Moïse is assassinated — Ju...

On July 7 2021, Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in his Port‑au‑Prince ...

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Mindaugas is crowned King of Lithuania — July 6, 1253
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Mindaugas is crowned King of Lithuania — July 6, 1253

On July 6, 1253, Mindaugas was crowned King of Lithuania, an event that marked the begi...

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Election of Pope Celestine V — July 5, 1294
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Election of Pope Celestine V — July 5, 1294

Pope Nicholas IV's death led to a 2-year impasse, ending with Pietro Angelerio's electi...

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Click any date on the calendar to browse historical events, famous birthdays, and notable deaths from that day. Move between months to explore thousands of years of recorded history.

On This Day, July 12

  • 2024: Gazpromavia Flight 9608 crashes in Russia's Kolomensky District near Kolomna, killing three.
  • 2013: Six people are killed and 200 injured in a French passenger train derailment in Brétigny-sur-Orge.
  • 2012: Syrian Civil War: Government forces target the homes of rebels and activists in Tremseh and kill anywhere between 68 and 150 people.
  • 2012: A tank truck explosion kills more than 100 people in Okobie, Nigeria.
  • 2007: U.S. Army Apache helicopters engage in airstrikes against armed insurgents in Baghdad, Iraq, where civilians are killed; footage from the cockpit is later leaked to the Internet.

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