What is July 8?
{{calendar}} {{day}} == Events == === Up to 1900 === * [[1099]] &ndash; [[First Crusade]]: 15,000 starving [[Christianity|Christian]] [[soldier]]s march in a religious procession around [[Jerusalem]] as its [[Islam|Muslim]] defenders look on. * [[1283]] &ndash; [[War]] of the [[Sicily|Sicilian]] Vespers: [[Roger of Lauria]], commanding the [[Aragon]]ese fleet, defeats an [[Anjou|Angevin]] fleet sent to put down a rebellion on [[Malta]] in the [[Battle]] of [[Malta]]. * [[1497]] &ndash; [[Vasco da Gama]] sets sail for his first voyage to [[India]]. * [[1579]] &ndash; Our Lady of [[Kazan]], a holy icon of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]], is discovered underground in the city of [[Kazan]], [[Tatarstan]]. * [[1663]] &ndash; [[Charles II of England]] grants John Clarke a Royal Charter to [[Rhode Island]]. * [[1709]] &ndash; [[Great Northern War]]: [[Battle]] of [[Poltava]] – [[Peter I of Russia]] defeats [[Charles XIII of Sweden]] at [[Poltava]], ending [[Sweden]]'s role as a major [[Europe]]an power. * [[1716]] &ndash; [[Great Northern War]]: The [[Navy|naval]] [[Battle]] of Dynekilen takes place. * [[1730]] &ndash; A magnitude 7.8 [[earthquake]] causes a [[tsunami]] that damages 1,000 [[kilometer]]s of [[Chile]]'s coastline. * [[1760]] &ndash; [[French and Indian War]]: [[Battle of Restigouche]] – British forces defeat the French in the last [[battle]] in [[New France]]. * [[1776]] &ndash; The [[Declaration of Independence]] is read out for the first time and the [[Liberty Bell]] is rung, in [[Philadelphia]]. * [[1808]] &ndash; [[Joseph Bonaparte]] approves the [[Bayonne]] Statute, a royal charter intended as the basis for his rule as [[King]] of [[Spain]]. * [[1822]] &ndash; [[Chippewas]] turn over a large section of land in present-day [[Ontario]] over to the [[United Kingdom]]. * [[1853]] &ndash; US Commodore [[Matthew C. Perry]] arrives at Edo Bay (present-day [[Tokyo]]) with a [[treaty]] requesting [[trade]]. * [[1859]] &ndash; [[Charles XV of Sweden]]/IV of Norway becomes [[King]] of [[Sweden]]–[[Norway]]. *