Historical events that occurred on July 7th
Two Historical Milestones on July 7
July 7 holds historical significance for two major events that took place centuries apart: the posthumous acquittal of Joan of Arc in 1456 and the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937.
On July 7, 1456, Joan of Arc's conviction for heresy was officially overturned by a retrial held in Rouen, France. Joan of Arc, a teenage peasant girl who claimed divine visions, had led French forces to key victories in the Hundred Years’ War before being captured and condemned. The retrial, authorized by Pope Callixtus III, cleared her name and restored her reputation, leading to her eventual canonization as a saint by the Catholic Church [1][2].
The rehabilitation of Joan of Arc was a significant moment in French history, symbolizing the triumph of faith and justice over oppression. After the retrial, French inquisitor-general Jean Bréhal rode to Orléans to mark the good news at a great feast. A copy of the original charges and proceedings from 1431 was ritually torn up [1][2].
On the same date in 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurred near Beijing, which triggered the Second Sino-Japanese War. This conflict marked the beginning of full-scale hostilities between China and Japan, escalating into a major theater of World War II in Asia [1][2]. The Marco Polo Bridge, completed in 1192, caught the eye of the Italian traveler Marco Polo and is now a significant historical site in Sino-Japanese history.
The Second Sino-Japanese War would ultimately result in the death of over 20 million people [1]. The war was a brutal and devastating conflict that lasted for eight years, with far-reaching consequences for both China and Japan.
In 1807, Napoleon Bonaparte met Alexander I near the town of Tilsit on the river Neman. The meeting, which was held on a supposedly neutral raft in the middle of the river, was marked by the French side being adorned with a giant letter N and the Russian side with a colossal A. However, Napoleon and Alexander I appeared firm friends after the peace conference, but the terms were humiliating for Alexander, who agreed to join Napoleon's anti-British Continental System and hand over the Ionian islands to France [1].
In the long run, Alexander I would have the last laugh, as the treaty was a triumph for Napoleon but ultimately proved to be detrimental to his ambitions. The alliance with Napoleon would eventually lead to Alexander's downfall, and the Congress of Vienna in 1815 would undo much of Napoleon's work.
On July 7, 1661, George Fox the younger, a Quaker, writer, and preacher, died at Hurst (now Hurstpierpoint) in Sussex. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a Scottish writer known for his works, including the Sherlock Holmes series, died on the same date in 1930 at his house in Crowborough, East Sussex [1].
References: [1] Encyclopædia Britannica. (2021). Joan of Arc. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joan-of-Arc [2] Encyclopædia Britannica. (2021). Second Sino-Japanese War. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-Sino-Japanese-War [3] Encyclopædia Britannica. (2021). Napoleon I. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Napoleon-I [4] Encyclopædia Britannica. (2021). Alexander I. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-I [5] Encyclopædia Britannica. (2021). Marco Polo Bridge. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Marco-Polo-Bridge [6] Encyclopædia Britannica. (2021). Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gjergj-Kastrioti-Skanderbeg [7] Encyclopædia Britannica. (2021). Joan of Arc: Heresy Trial and Acquittal. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Joan-of-Arc/Heresy-trial-and-acquittal [8] Encyclopædia Britannica. (2021). Second Sino-Japanese War: Causes, Course, and Consequences. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-Sino-Japanese-War/Causes-Course-and-Consequences [9] Encyclopædia Britannica. (2021). Tilsit, Treaties of. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tilsit-Treaties-of [10] Encyclopædia Britannica. (2021). Congress of Vienna. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/event/Congress-of-Vienna [11] Encyclopædia Britannica. (2021). George Fox. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Fox [12] Encyclopædia Britannica. (2021). Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sir-Arthur-Conan-Doyle
Joan of Arc's acquittal in 1456, a significant moment in French history, was a striking contrast to the political turmoil that would erupt centuries later when the Second Sino-Japanese War started on the same date in 1937, marking the entrance of war-and-conflicts into the realm of general-news. In the realm of politics, Napoleon Bonaparte's meeting with Alexander I in 1807, despite the initial amicable appearance, would eventually lead to political disagreements and conflict, demonstrating the complexity and unpredictability of international relations.
