On This Day: August 18th

The city of Shamakhi in Safavid Shirvan is sacked.

Father Urbain Grandier, accused and convicted of sorcery, is burned alive in Loudun, France.

The trials of the Pendle witches and Samlesbury witches, one of England's most famous witch trials, begin at the Lancaster Assizes.

John White, the governor of the Roanoke Colony, returns from a supply trip to England and finds his settlement deserted.

The Huguenot King Henry III of Navarre marries the Catholic Margaret of Valois, ostensibly to reconcile the feuding Protestants and Catholics of France.

The first grammar of the Spanish language (Gramática de la lengua castellana) is presented to Queen Isabella I.

The Siege of Málaga ends with the taking of the city by Castilian and Aragonese forces.

The Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle is fought to a draw between the French army and the Flemish militias.

Princess Abe accedes to the imperial Japanese throne as Empress Genmei.

Battle of Marj Rahit: Umayyad partisans defeat the supporters of Ibn al-Zubayr and cement Umayyad control of Syria.