On This Day: July 8th

French forces hold Fort Carillon against the British at Ticonderoga, New York.

Reverend Jonathan Edwards preaches to his congregation in Enfield, Connecticut his most famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"; an influence for the First Great Awakening.

An estimated magnitude 8.7 earthquake causes a tsunami that damages more than 1,000 km (620 mi) of Chile's coastline.

The Battle of Dynekilen forces Sweden to abandon its invasion of Norway.

Peter I of Russia defeats Charles XII of Sweden at the Battle of Poltava, thus effectively ending Sweden's status as a major power in Europe.

Charles II of England grants John Clarke a Royal charter to Rhode Island.

Our Lady of Kazan, a holy icon of the Russian Orthodox Church, is discovered underground in the city of Kazan, Tatarstan.

Vasco da Gama sets sail on the first direct European voyage to India.

Roger of Lauria, commanding the Aragonese fleet, defeats an Angevin fleet sent to put down a rebellion on Malta.

The Byzantines defeat the Hungarian army decisively at Sirmium, forcing the Hungarians to sue for peace.