On this day: 13 August

Octavian holds the first of three consecutive triumphs in Rome to celebrate the victory over the Dalmatian tribes.

Emperor Justinian I issues a Pragmatic Sanction in which he organises the renewed Roman rule over the recently re-conquered Italy. All privileges granted to Romans under the Gothic rule until 538 are confirmed, confiscated estates restored and the participation of the Roman Church in civil government increased.

Maurice was crowned as Byzantine emperor, succeeding Tiberius II Constantine.

Emperor Louis II of Italy and Empress Engelberga are captured by Prince Adelchis of Benevento.

Count Reginar I of Hainault rises against Zwentibold of Lotharingia and slays him near present-day Susteren.

The Treaty of Noyon between France and Spain is signed. Francis I of France recognizes Charles's claim to Naples, and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, recognizes Francis's claim to Milan.

After an extended siege, forces led by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés capture Tlatoani Cuauhtémoc and conquer the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.

Union of Brittany and France: The Duchy of Brittany is absorbed into the Kingdom of France.

Buddhist monks from Kyoto, Japan's Enryaku-ji temple set fire to 21 Nichiren temples throughout Kyoto in what will be known as the Tenbun Hokke Disturbance.

The French king Louis XIII appoints Cardinal Richelieu as prime minister.

Sweden and Denmark sign the Peace of Brömsebro.

Bach led the Thomanerchor in Leipzig in the first performance of the chorale cantata, Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott, BWV 101.

Battle of Mišar during the Serbian Revolution begins. The battle ends two days later with a Serbian victory over the Ottomans.

A performance of Das Rheingold (scene pictured) opened the first performance of Richard Wagner's Ring cycle at the inaugural Bayreuth Festival, attended by emperors and other composers.

William Gray of Hartford, Connecticut is granted United States Patent Number 408,709 for "Coin-controlled apparatus for telephones."

Spanish–American War: Spanish and American forces engage in a mock battle for Manila, after which the Spanish commander surrendered in order to keep the city out of Filipino rebel hands.

Carl Gustav Witt discovers 433 Eros, the first near-Earth asteroid to be found.

Norwegians vote to end the union with Sweden.

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) is established as a public company in Germany.

Opha May Johnson became the first woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps.

Polish–Soviet War: The Battle of Warsaw begins and will last till August 25. The Red Army is defeated.

Second Sino-Japanese War: The Battle of Shanghai begins.

Major General Eugene Reybold of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorizes the construction of facilities that would house the "Development of Substitute Materials" project, better known as the Manhattan Project.

Radio Pakistan broadcasts the "Qaumī Tarāna", the national anthem of Pakistan for the first time.

The Central African Republic declares independence from France.

Cold War: East Germany closes the border between the eastern and western sectors of Berlin to thwart its inhabitants' attempts to escape to the West, and construction of the Berlin Wall is started. The day is known as Barbed Wire Sunday.

The Apollo 11 astronauts enjoy a ticker-tape parade in New York City. That evening, at a state dinner in Los Angeles, they are awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Richard Nixon.

The animated TV comedy South Park airs its very first episode.

The Act on National Flag and Anthem was adopted, formally establishing the Hinomaru and "Kimigayo" as the Japanese national flag and anthem, respectively.

Merely 22 hours after Tropical Storm Bonnie struck the U.S. state of Florida, Hurricane Charley inflicted further damage to the region (example pictured).

Russo-Georgian War: Russian units occupy the Georgian city of Gori.

After being boarded by Canadian authorities, MV Sun Sea docked in British Columbia and the 492 Sri Lankan Tamil refugee claimants on board were placed in detention.

Israel–United Arab Emirates relations are formally established.