📅 Today in HistoryAugust 7

Roman Emperor Majorian is beheaded near the river Iria in north-west Italy following his arrest and deposition by the magister militum Ricimer.

The Avar and Slav armies leave the siege of Constantinople.

Pope Stephen III is elected to office, and quickly seeks Frankish protection against the Lombard threat, since the Byzantine Empire is no longer able to help.

Coronation of King Otto I of Germany.

The Ming dynasty Chinese military general Cao Qin stages a coup against the Tianshun Emperor.

Battle of Guinegate: French troops of King Louis XI were defeated by the Burgundians led by Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg.

The brigantine Le Griffon becomes the first ship to sail the upper Great Lakes of North America.

The Battle of Gangut: The first important victory of the Russian Navy.

The Treaty of Åbo ended the 1741-1743 Russo-Swedish War.

George Washington orders the creation of the Badge of Military Merit to honor soldiers wounded in battle. It is later renamed to the more poetic Purple Heart.