August 14 is a day filled with exciting history. Many important things happened on this day over the years. Also, some very interesting people were born on August 14. In this article, we’ll learn about five big events that happened on August 14 in different years. We’ll also meet five famous people who were born on this day. By the end, you’ll see how August 14 has been an important day in history.
Historical Events of August 14
A. Battle of Bothnagowan, 1040
On August 14, 1040, a big fight happened in Scotland. This fight was called the Battle of Bothnagowan. It was between two cousins who both wanted to be king. Their names were Duncan I and Macbeth.
Duncan I was already the king of Scotland. Macbeth wanted to take his place. They fought in a battle, and Duncan I died. This made Macbeth the new king of Scotland.
Many people know about Macbeth from a famous play by William Shakespeare. In the play, Macbeth kills Duncan while he’s sleeping. But in real life, Duncan died in battle against Macbeth.
This battle was very important for Scotland’s history. It changed who was in charge of the country. Macbeth became king and ruled Scotland for 17 years after this battle.
B. Kublai Khan’s Fleet Destroyed, 1281
On August 14, 1281, something big happened near Japan. Kublai Khan, who was the leader of the Mongol Empire, tried to attack Japan. He sent a huge fleet of 3,500 ships to invade the country.
Kublai Khan had already tried to invade Japan once before, but it didn’t work. This was his second try. He thought his big fleet would win for sure this time.
But nature had other plans. A very strong storm called a typhoon hit the fleet. The storm was so powerful that it destroyed all of Kublai Khan’s ships. This storm saved Japan from being invaded.
The Japanese people called this storm “kamikaze,” which means “divine wind.” They believed the storm was sent by their gods to protect them. This event stopped the Mongols from trying to invade Japan again.
C. Columbus Lands at the Orinoco, 1498
On August 14, 1498, a famous explorer named Christopher Columbus made an important discovery. He landed at the mouth of the Orinoco River. This river is in what we now call Venezuela.
This was Columbus’s third trip across the Atlantic Ocean. On his first two trips, he had only reached islands in the Caribbean. But this time, he reached the mainland of South America.
The Orinoco River is very big and important. When Columbus saw how much fresh water was flowing into the ocean, he thought he might have found a huge continent.
This discovery was very important. It helped Europeans learn more about the New World. It led to more exploration of South America in the years that followed.
D. Elizabeth I Refuses Sovereignty of Netherlands, 1585
On August 14, 1585, Queen Elizabeth I of England made a big decision. The people of the Netherlands asked her to be their ruler, but she said no.
At this time, the Netherlands was fighting for independence from Spain. They thought having Elizabeth as their queen would help them. Elizabeth was known as a strong Protestant ruler, and the Netherlands was also Protestant.
But Elizabeth decided not to accept. She had a few reasons:
1. She didn’t want to make Spain angrier at England.
2. She thought ruling another country would be too hard.
3. She wanted to focus on making England stronger.
Even though she didn’t become their queen, Elizabeth did help the Netherlands in their fight against Spain. This decision showed how careful Elizabeth was in dealing with other countries.
E. First Dutch Expedition Returns, 1597
On August 14, 1597, an important Dutch fleet came back home to Holland. This fleet was led by a man named Cornelis de Houtman. It was the first Dutch fleet to visit Java, which is now part of Indonesia.
This trip was very important for the Dutch. It showed them the way to the spice islands of Indonesia. Spices were very valuable in Europe at this time.
The trip wasn’t easy. Many of the sailors got sick or died. But the ones who made it back brought valuable information about the route to Java.
This expedition started a new era for the Dutch. They began to send more ships to Asia for trade. Over time, this led to the Dutch becoming a powerful trading nation.
Famous Birthdays on August 14
A. Johan Willem Friso, 1687
Johan Willem Friso was born on August 14, 1687. He was an important person in Dutch history.
Biography Table:
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Born | August 14, 1687 |
| Died | July 14, 1711 |
| Title | Prince of Orange, Prince of Nassau-Dietz |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Important Event | Became heir to William III of England |
Johan Willem Friso became the Prince of Orange in 1702. This was an important title in the Netherlands. He was also named as the heir to William III, who was king of England.
Sadly, Johan Willem Friso died young. He drowned in 1711 when he was only 23 years old. Even though his life was short, he played an important role in Dutch royal history.
B. Pope Pius VII, 1742
Pius VII was born on August 14, 1742. He later became the head of the Catholic Church.
Biography Table:
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Born | August 14, 1742 |
| Died | August 20, 1823 |
| Birth Name | Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti |
| Title | Pope |
| Country | Italy |
| Important Event | Signed agreement with Napoleon Bonaparte |
Before becoming Pope, Pius VII was a monk and then a bishop. He became Pope in 1800, during a difficult time for the Church.
One of the biggest challenges Pius VII faced was dealing with Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon was a powerful French leader who had taken control of much of Europe. Pius VII had to work hard to protect the Church’s interests.
Pius VII is remembered for his courage in standing up to Napoleon. He also helped to rebuild the Church after a time of great trouble.
C. Hans Christian Ørsted, 1777
Hans Christian Ørsted was born on August 14, 1777. He was a famous scientist from Denmark.
Biography Table:
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Born | August 14, 1777 |
| Died | March 9, 1851 |
| Country | Denmark |
| Field | Physics and Chemistry |
| Famous For | Discovering electromagnetism |
Ørsted made a very important discovery in science. He found out that electricity and magnetism are connected. This discovery is called electromagnetism.
Before Ørsted, people thought electricity and magnetism were separate things. His work showed that they’re actually related. This discovery changed how scientists thought about these forces.
Ørsted also did important work in chemistry. He helped to improve how we understand chemical reactions. His discoveries are still important in science today.
D. Doc Holliday, 1851
Doc Holliday was born on August 14, 1851. He became a famous figure in the American Old West.
Biography Table:
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Born | August 14, 1851 |
| Died | November 8, 1887 |
| Full Name | John Henry Holliday |
| Occupation | Dentist, Gambler, Gunfighter |
| Country | United States |
| Famous For | Gunfight at the O.K. Corral |
Doc Holliday started his adult life as a dentist. But he got tuberculosis, a serious lung disease. He moved west hoping the dry air would help his health.
In the West, Holliday became known as a gambler and gunfighter. He made friends with a lawman named Wyatt Earp. Together, they were part of the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881.
Even though he died young, Doc Holliday became a legend of the Old West. Many books and movies have been made about his life.
E. Francis Ford, 1881
Francis Ford was born on August 14, 1881. He became an important figure in early American movies.
Biography Table:
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Born | August 14, 1881 |
| Died | September 5, 1953 |
| Occupation | Actor, Film Director |
| Country | United States |
| Famous For | Early Western films, brother of director John Ford |
Francis Ford started working in movies when they were still silent – they had no sound. He acted in many films and also directed some.
Ford was known for making Western movies. These were stories about cowboys and life in the American West. He helped make this type of movie popular.
Later in his career, Ford acted in movies directed by his younger brother, John Ford. John became one of the most famous directors in Hollywood history.
Takeaway
August 14 has been an important day in history. We’ve seen big battles, like the one where Macbeth became king of Scotland. We’ve learned about explorers like Christopher Columbus finding new lands. And we’ve met interesting people born on this day, from scientists to Wild West legends.
These events and people from August 14 have all left their mark on history. They show us how one single day can be connected to so many important moments and lives. Whether it’s a storm stopping an invasion or a scientist making a big discovery, August 14 has seen it all.
References:
1. “Macbeth, King of Scotland.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2021.
2. Turnbull, Stephen. “The Mongol Invasions of Japan 1274 and 1281.” Osprey Publishing, 2010.
3. Morison, Samuel Eliot. “Admiral of the Ocean Sea: A Life of Christopher Columbus.” Little, Brown and Company, 1942.
4. Ridley, Jasper. “Elizabeth I: The Shrewdness of Virtue.” Viking, 1988.
5. Israel, Jonathan I. “Dutch Primacy in World Trade, 1585–1740.” Clarendon Press, 1989.
6. Rowen, Herbert H. “The Princes of Orange: The Stadholders in the Dutch Republic.” Cambridge University Press, 1988.
7. Hales, E.E.Y. “The Emperor and the Pope: The Story of Napoleon and Pius VII.” Doubleday, 1961.
8. Dibner, Bern. “Oersted and the Discovery of Electromagnetism.” Blaisdell Publishing Co., 1962.
9. Roberts, Gary L. “Doc Holliday: The Life and Legend.” John Wiley & Sons, 2006.
10. Eyman, Scott. “Print the Legend: The Life and Times of John Ford.” Simon & Schuster, 1999.
