Northern Crusades: Danish victory at the Battle of Lindanise (modern-day Tallinn) establishes the Danish Duchy of Estonia.

The Northern Crusades were a series of military campaigns undertaken by Christian kingdoms and military orders to convert the pagan peoples of the Baltic region to Christianity and bring them under European Christian control. These crusades took place from the late 12th century to the early 14th century and primarily targeted the Baltic, Finnic, and West Slavic peoples.

Background:
Crusading Movement:

The Northern Crusades were part of the larger crusading movement, which initially focused on the Holy Land but later expanded to include campaigns against non-Christian populations in Europe.
Pagan Baltic Tribes:

The Baltic region was inhabited by various pagan tribes, including the Prussians, Lithuanians, Livonians, and Estonians. These tribes resisted Christianization and European control, leading to a prolonged series of conflicts.
The Danish Involvement:
Danish Ambitions:

Denmark, under King Valdemar II, was one of the Christian powers involved in the Northern Crusades. The Danes aimed to expand their influence and control in the Baltic region.
Estonia:

Estonia was a key target for the Danish crusaders due to its strategic location and the resistance of its pagan inhabitants to Christian conversion.
The Battle of Lindanise:
Date and Location:

The Battle of Lindanise (also known as the Battle of Lyndanisse) took place on June 15, 1219, near the modern city of Tallinn, Estonia. The site was known as Lindanise at the time.
Context:

The battle occurred during the Livonian Crusade, part of the broader Northern Crusades aimed at converting the Baltic pagans to Christianity.
Danish Expedition:

King Valdemar II of Denmark led a large expedition to Estonia, accompanied by his ally, Archbishop Andreas Sunesen of Lund, and other nobles and knights. The expedition sought to establish Danish control and promote Christianity in the region.
The Battle:

The Danish forces set up a camp near Lindanise and began constructing fortifications. On June 15, 1219, the Estonian tribes launched a surprise attack on the Danish camp.
The battle was fierce and initially seemed to favor the Estonians. However, according to legend, the tide turned when a red and white banner, known as the Dannebrog, miraculously fell from the sky. Inspired by this sign, the Danish troops rallied and ultimately defeated the Estonians.
Aftermath:

The victory at Lindanise secured Danish control over northern Estonia. The Danes established the fortress of Castrum Danorum (later known as Tallinn) and began the process of Christianization and consolidation of their rule.
The Dannebrog, the national flag of Denmark, is traditionally believed to have originated from this battle, symbolizing divine favor and victory.
Significance:
Danish Expansion:

The victory at Lindanise marked a significant expansion of Danish influence in the Baltic region. Northern Estonia became part of the Danish realm and remained under Danish control until 1346, when it was sold to the Teutonic Knights.
Christianization:

The battle and subsequent Danish rule contributed to the Christianization of the Estonian population, although the process was gradual and met with resistance.
Legacy:

The Battle of Lindanise is a notable event in Danish history, symbolizing the country’s medieval power and its role in the Northern Crusades. The Dannebrog remains a central symbol of Danish identity and heritage.

Joseph Bonaparte becomes King of Spain.

Joseph Bonaparte, born Giuseppe Buonaparte on January 7, 1768, was a key figure in the history of Europe during the early 19th century. He was the elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French military and political leader who became Emperor of the French. Joseph himself had a notable political career and served as the King of Spain from 1808 to 1813.

When Napoleon became Emperor of the French in 1804, he sought to expand French influence and control over Europe. In 1808, during the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon orchestrated the abdication of the Spanish King Charles IV and installed his brother Joseph as the new monarch of Spain. This move was met with significant resistance from the Spanish people who saw Joseph as a foreign invader and rejected his rule.

Joseph’s reign in Spain was marked by numerous challenges and conflicts. The Spanish people fiercely resisted the French occupation and engaged in a long and brutal guerrilla war known as the Peninsular War. The Spanish resistance, coupled with the intervention of British forces, weakened Joseph’s control over the country and made his rule precarious.

During his time as King of Spain, Joseph implemented several reforms aimed at modernizing the country and centralizing power. He introduced a new legal code, promoted economic development, and attempted to implement administrative and educational reforms. However, these efforts were largely unsuccessful due to the opposition and instability caused by the ongoing war.

In 1813, with Napoleon’s waning power and the French Empire facing multiple military defeats, Joseph abdicated the Spanish throne and returned to France. After Napoleon’s ultimate defeat in 1815, Joseph went into exile in the United States, where he lived primarily in New Jersey. He purchased an estate called “Point Breeze” in Bordentown and became known as Count of Survilliers.

Joseph Bonaparte lived in the United States for nearly two decades, maintaining a relatively low profile and indulging in his passion for art and collecting. He assembled an extensive collection of artworks, books, and artifacts, which he eventually sold to finance his lifestyle.

Joseph Bonaparte died on July 28, 1844, at the age of 76, in Florence, Italy. Despite the controversial nature of his rule in Spain, he left a lasting legacy as a patron of the arts and a collector, contributing to the cultural heritage of both Europe and the United States.

The first human blood transfusion is administered by Dr. Jean-Baptiste Denys.

Charles Goodyear receives a patent for vulcanization, a process to strengthen rubber.

The deadliest tsunami in Japan’s history kills more than 22,000 people.

[rdp-wiki-embed url=’https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1896_Sanriku_earthquake’]

Nik Wallenda becomes the first person to successfully tightrope walk directly over Niagara Falls.

The Second Battle of Petersburg begins during the American Civil War.

During the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant’s Army of the Potomac and Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia collide for the last time as the first wave of Union troops attacks Petersburg, a vital Southern rail center 23 miles south of the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. The two massive armies would not become disentangled until April 9, 1865, when Lee surrendered and his men went home.

In June 1864, in a brilliant tactical maneuver, Grant marched his army around the Army of Northern Virginia, crossed the James River unopposed, and advanced his forces to Petersburg. Knowing that the fall of Petersburg would mean the fall of Richmond, Lee raced to reinforce the city’s defenses. The mass of Grant’s army arrived first. On June 15, the first day of the Battle of Petersburg, some 10,000 Union troops under General William F. Smith moved against the Confederate defenders of Petersburg, made up of only a few thousand armed old men and boys commanded by General P.G.T. Beauregard. However, the Confederates had the advantage of formidable physical defenses, and they held off the overly cautious Union assault. The next day, more Federal troops arrived, but Beauregard was reinforced by Lee, and the Confederate line remained unbroken during several Union attacks occurring over the next two days.

By June 18, Grant had nearly 100,000 at his disposal at Petersburg, but the 20,000 Confederate defenders held on as Lee hurried the rest of his Army of Northern Virginia into the entrenchments. Knowing that further attacks would be futile, but satisfied to have bottled up the Army of Northern Virginia, Grant’s army dug trenches and began a prolonged siege of Petersburg.

Finally, on April 2, 1865, with his defense line overextended and his troops starving, Lee’s right flank suffered a major defeat against Union cavalry under General Phillip Sheridan, and Grant ordered a general attack on all fronts. The Army of Northern Virginia retreated under heavy fire; the Confederate government fled Richmond on Lee’s recommendation; and Petersburg, and then Richmond, fell to the Union. Less than a week later, Grant’s massive army headed off the remnants of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Station, and Lee was forced to surrender, effectively ending the Civil War.

Margaret Jones is hanged in Boston for witchcraft.

A tsunami in Japan kills more than 22,000 people.