A closer look at key historic events that took place on July 13:
Live Aid was a dual-venue benefit concert organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure. The event took place simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, attracting an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion across 150 nations. It featured performances by top musical acts such as Queen, U2, David Bowie, and Madonna, raising over $125 million for famine relief in Ethiopia.
In 1977, the Ethiopian-Somali War begins
The Ethiopian-Somali War, also known as the Ogaden War, began in July 1977 when Somalia invaded the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. The conflict was driven by Somali President Siad Barre’s ambition to unite all Somali-speaking regions under Greater Somalia. Despite initial Somali advances, Ethiopia, bolstered by Soviet and Cuban support, eventually repelled the Somali forces, leading to a ceasefire in March 1978.
In 1939, Frank Sinatra records his first single
Sinatra recorded “From the Bottom of My Heart,” with the Harry James Orchestra. This recording marked the beginning of Sinatra’s illustrious career in music, which would later earn him the title of “The Voice” and establish him as one of the most influential and best-selling musical artists of all time. Despite the single’s limited commercial success, it set the stage for Sinatra’s rise to stardom.
In 1878, the Treaty of Berlin is signed
The Treaty of Berlin was signed on July 13 at the end of the Congress of Berlin. This treaty was aimed at reorganizing the countries of the Balkans following the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 and revising the earlier Treaty of San Stefano. The agreement redrew the map of Southeastern Europe, significantly reducing the territory of the Ottoman Empire and recognizing the independence or autonomy of several Balkan states, including Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro.
In 1814, the National military police of Italy is created
The Carabinieri was established by King Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia on July 13. Initially created as a corps of elite troops to serve both military and civil police roles, the Carabinieri have since become a key component of Italy’s law enforcement and national security structure.
In 1793, French revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat is assassinated
Jean-Paul Marat, a leader of the radical Montagnard faction and a radical journalist, was assassinated by Charlotte Corday. Marat, known for his fiery writings and influential role in the Reign of Terror, was murdered in his bath by Corday, who believed that his death would bring peace to France. Instead, Marat’s assassination turned him into a martyr for the revolutionary cause, further intensifying the revolutionary fervor.
In 1713, Spain and Britain sign one of the treaties of Utrecht
The Treaties of Utrecht helped end the War of the Spanish Succession. This series of agreements redistributed European territories, with Spain ceding Gibraltar and Minorca to Britain, recognizing the latter’s sovereignty over the Asiento (slave trade) agreement. The treaties significantly altered the balance of power in Europe, marking the rise of the British Empire as a dominant global force.
