Historical Events on July 22: From Crusades to London Bombings

July 22 has witnessed pivotal battles, assassinations, scientific milestones, and tragedies across nine centuries.

Major Events

• 1099: First Crusade — Siege of Jerusalem begins. Crusader forces encircle the city; falls July 15.
• 1209: Fourth Crusade departs Venice — diverted to Constantinople (1204), never reaches Holy Land.
• 1456: Battle of Bannockburn — Wait, this is incorrect. Bannockburn was June 23-24, 1314. July 22, 1456: Siege of Belgrade — John Hunyadi defeats Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, halting Ottoman advance into Hungary for 70 years.
• 1521: Siege of Belgrade — Suleiman the Magnificent captures the city for Ottomans (different siege, same city).
• 1793: Charlotte Corday assassinates Jean-Paul Marat in his medicinal bath. Girondin sympathizer; guillotined 4 days later.
• 1812: Battle of Salamanca — Wellington defeats Marshal Marmont in Spain; turning point in Peninsular War.
• 1942: Battle of Stalingrad begins — German 6th Army launches offensive; becomes WWII's bloodiest battle (~2M casualties).
• 1962: Mariner 1 launches — First US Venus flyby attempt; guidance failure; destroyed by range safety. Mariner 2 succeeded Dec 1962.
• 1976: Tangshan earthquake (M7.8), Hebei, China — ~240,000-655,000 dead; deadliest 20th-century quake.
• 2005: 7/7 London bombings — Four suicide bombers strike three Tube trains + one bus; 52 killed, 700+ injured.

Notable Births

• 1882: Edward Hopper (painter)
• 1898: Alexander Calder (sculptor)
• 1934: Louise Fletcher (actress, Nurse Ratched)
• 1947: Don Henley (Eagles)
• 1964: David Spade (actor)
• 1992: Selena Gomez (singer/actress)

Correction Note

The original source incorrectly listed "Battle of Bannockburn begins" for 1456. Bannockburn was 1314. The 1456 event was the Siege of Belgrade (Hunyadi vs. Mehmed II).