This Day In History, July 18th.

Five Historical Events That Happened on July 18th.

  • Legend has it that the Great Fire of Rome, which allegedly broke out on July 18, 64 AD, burned for six days. Much of the city was destroyed, and Nero, the Roman Emperor, is supposed to have played music as Rome burnt.

  • Jews were expelled from England in 1290 AD. Over 200 years of Jewish existence in England came to an end when King Edward I of England issued the Edict of Expulsion on July 18, 1290, ordering all Jews to leave the country within three months.

  • The second wife of King Henry VIII of England, Anne Boleyn, was put to death in the Tower of London on July 18, 1536, for her alleged involvement in adultery, incest, and treason.

  • First Vatican Council, which brought together Roman Catholic bishops from all over the world on July 18, 1870, declared the concept of papal infallibility, which maintains that the pope is shielded from mistake when he speaks on questions of religion and morality.

  • 1918 AD: World War I: On July 18, 1918, German forces began a significant attack against Allied soldiers in the Second Battle of the Marne, which marked the pivotal moment in the war's outcome in favor of the Allies.

64 AD: The Great Fire of Rome: According to legend, the Great Fire of Rome began on July 18, 64 AD, and raged for six days. It destroyed much of the city, and the Roman Emperor Nero is said to have fiddled while Rome burned.

It is important to remember that the legend of Nero playing music while Rome burnt is probably a fable. The myth that Nero played an instrument while the city was on fire has any historical validity because the fiddle or violin was not created until centuries after Nero's rule. However, it is accurate to say that the Great Fire of Rome was a huge occurrence that altered the course of the history of the city.

1290 AD: Expulsion of Jews from England: On July 18, 1290, King Edward I of England issued the Edict of Expulsion, which ordered all Jews to leave England within three months, thereby ending over 200 years of Jewish presence in England.

King Edward I of England issued the Edict of deportation on July 18, 1290, ordering the deportation of all Jews from England within three months. Around 16,000 Jews from England were forcibly deported as a result of the decision; they were not permitted to take their possessions with them. The almost 200-year-long Jewish presence in England came to an end with this, and it wasn't until the middle of the 17th century that Jews were permitted to return and create a lasting community.

1536 AD: Execution of Anne Boleyn: On July 18, 1536, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII of England, was executed at the Tower of London on charges of adultery, incest, and treason.

Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII of England, was executed at the Tower of London on May 19, 1536. She was accused of adultery, incest, and treason, and was found guilty after a trial that is widely considered to have been rigged. Her execution was carried out by beheading with a sword, and it was a significant event in the history of England, as it marked the downfall of one of the most powerful and influential women of the Tudor era.

1870 AD: The First Vatican Council: On July 18, 1870, the First Vatican Council, a gathering of Roman Catholic bishops from around the world, proclaimed the doctrine of papal infallibility, which holds that the pope is preserved from error when he speaks on matters of faith and morals.

Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church from all over the globe gathered in Rome from December 1869 to July 1870 for the First Vatican Council. The declaration of the concept of papal infallibility, which maintains that the pope is shielded from mistake when he speaks on questions of faith and morality, was one of the Council's most important achievements. This doctrine has remained divisive over time because some people believe it to be an excessive concentration of authority in the hands of the pope. It is nevertheless a crucial component of Catholic theory and teaching.

1918 AD: World War I: On July 18, 1918, German forces launched a major offensive against Allied troops in the Second Battle of the Marne, which marked the turning point of World War I in favor of the Allies.

Between July 15 and August 6, 1918, a significant World War I conflict known as the Second conflict of the Marne took place. German forces began a significant attack against Allied soldiers near the Marne River in France on July 18, 1918. The German onslaught was ultimately thwarted by the Allies, who mounted a strong resistance. The fight, which was the final significant German attack of the war, marked the turning point of World War I in favor of the Allies. The engagement was important because it was the first time American forces had a substantial impact on a European combat, which boosted Allied spirits and contributed to their final triumph.

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This Day In History, July 19th.

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This Day In History, July 17th.