24 July in history
9 events that happened on 24 July, from 1132 to 1974.
1132 CE 894 years ago
Count Ranulf of Alife defeats Roger II of Sicily at Nocera
At Nocera, also called Scafati, King Roger II of Sicily fought his first major battle and suffered the first of his two major defeats, at the hands of Count Ranulf II of Alife, the husband of his sister Matilda.
1148 CE 878 years ago
Louis VII and Conrad III lay siege to Damascus
During the Second Crusade, the armies of Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany, with that of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, laid siege to Damascus. The siege failed after four days, ending in a crusader defeat.
1411 CE 615 years ago
Donald, Lord of the Isles, fights the Earl of Mar at Harlaw
Near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, Donald, Lord of the Isles, pressing his wife's claim to the earldom of Ross, led a Highland army against forces raised by Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar. The battle was indecisive, and Donald withdrew west.
1534 CE 492 years ago
Jacques Cartier plants a cross at Gaspé and claims it for France
Jacques Cartier raised a nine-metre wooden cross at Gaspé Bay bearing the arms of the King of France. The gesture began French claims to the St Lawrence region that became New France.
1567 CE 459 years ago
Mary, Queen of Scots is forced to abdicate
Imprisoned at Lochleven, Mary was compelled to abdicate in favour of her one-year-old son, crowned James VI five days later. She fled to England in 1568 and was executed in 1587.
✦ Anniversary of the day
1847 CE 179 years ago
Brigham Young's Mormon pioneers enter the Salt Lake Valley
After a long trek from Illinois, Brigham Young's vanguard company entered the Great Salt Lake Valley; he reportedly declared 'This is the right place'. Salt Lake City became the centre of the Latter-day Saints.
1911 CE 115 years ago
Hiram Bingham reaches the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu
Guided by local farmer Melchor Arteaga, Yale lecturer Hiram Bingham climbed to Machu Picchu, already known to local families. His photographs made the Inca site world-famous.
1974 CE 52 years ago
Supreme Court orders Nixon to hand over the Watergate tapes
In United States v. Nixon the Supreme Court ruled 8-0 that the president must surrender the tapes. Their contents destroyed his remaining support, and he resigned 16 days later.
Born on 24 July 3
Died on 24 July 3
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.