This Day in History
Today: August 7, 2026
461
Roman Emperor Majorian is beheaded near the river Iria in north-west Italy following his arrest and deposition by the magister militum Ricimer.[1]
626
The Avar and Slav armies leave the siege of Constantinople.[2]
768
Pope Stephen III is elected to office, and quickly seeks Frankish protection against the Lombard threat, since the Byzantine Empire is no longer able to help.[3]
936
Coronation of King Otto I of Germany.[4]
1461
The Ming dynasty Chinese military general Cao Qin stages a coup against the Tianshun Emperor.[5]
1479
Battle of Guinegate: French troops of King Louis XI were defeated by the Burgundians led by Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg.[6]
1679
The brigantine Le Griffon becomes the first ship to sail the upper Great Lakes of North America.[7]
1714
The Battle of Gangut: The first important victory of the Russian Navy.[8]
1743
The Treaty of Åbo ended the 1741–1743 Russo-Swedish War.[9][10]
1782
George Washington orders the creation of the Badge of Military Merit to honor soldiers wounded in battle.[11] It is later renamed to the more poetic Purple Heart.
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