4 August in history
9 events that happened on 4 August, from 1265 to 1964.
1265 CE 761 years ago
Simon de Montfort is killed at the Battle of Evesham
The future Edward I defeated and killed Simon de Montfort at Evesham, ending the barons' rebellion against Henry III. Montfort's parliaments with elected burgesses outlived him.
✦ Anniversary of the day
1320 CE 706 years ago
The Black Parliament tries plotters against Robert the Bruce
A specially convened parliament at Scone tried William II de Soules, Lord of Liddesdale, and others who had conspired against King Robert I. Soules confessed his treason and was sentenced to life imprisonment; his fellow conspirators were executed.
1356 CE 670 years ago
Edward the Black Prince launches a large-scale mounted raid
An Anglo-Gascon force under Edward the Black Prince began a large-scale chevauchée, or mounted raid, that lasted until 2 October. In the same year the prince captured King John II of France at Poitiers.
1578 CE 448 years ago
Moroccan forces destroy King Sebastian's army at Alcácer Quibir
Near Ksar-el-Kebir, Moroccan forces destroyed the Portuguese army of King Sebastian, who was killed with much of the nobility. Sebastian's death without an heir led to the union of the Portuguese and Spanish crowns in 1580.
1704 CE 322 years ago
Anglo-Dutch forces capture Gibraltar
A fleet under Admiral Sir George Rooke took Gibraltar during the War of the Spanish Succession. Ceded to Britain in 1713, it remains a British territory despite repeated Spanish claims.
1789 CE 237 years ago
France's National Assembly abolishes feudal privileges
In a night session, nobles and clergy renounced their seigneurial rights, tithes and exemptions one after another. The decrees swept away much of the legal framework of the Ancien Régime.
1914 CE 112 years ago
Britain declares war on Germany
When Germany ignored an ultimatum to respect Belgian neutrality, Britain declared war at 11 pm London time. The British Empire's entry turned a continental war into a global one.
1964 CE 62 years ago
US destroyers report a second attack in the Gulf of Tonkin
US warships reported an attack by North Vietnamese boats that probably never happened. Within days Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, authorising Johnson to escalate the Vietnam War.
Born on 4 August 4
Died on 4 August 9
Berengar II of Italyc. 900–966
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicesterc. 1208–1265
Wenceslaus III of Bohemia1289–1306
Galeazzo II Viscontic. 1320–1378
Philip of Saint-Pol1404–1430
Pierre de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnial1698–1778
Hans Christian Andersen1805–1875
Enver Pasha1881–1922
Washington Luís1869–1957
Dates as the sources give them: in the Julian calendar before 1582, and in some countries for longer (Britain until 1752, Russia until 1918). Only people whose day of birth or death the records agree on are listed.