Medal of Honor Created: Congress Honors the Bravest
Congress authorizes the Medal of Honor to recognize soldiers who distinguish themselves through gallantry in action. This single legislative act created the nation's highest military decoration, establishing a permanent standard for valor that continues to define American service today.
July 12, 1862
164 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on July 12
Titus's legions smashed through Jerusalem's battered walls three days after breaching the perimeter, unleashing a fire that consumed the Second Temple. This des…
Æthelstan forces Constantine II of Scotland to pledge against allying with Viking kings, effectively ending Scottish support for northern invaders and establish…
King Æthelstan of England secured the submission of Scotland's Constantine II, Wales' Hywel Dda, and northern leaders Ealdred and Owain at a meeting that ended …
The surrender of Saladin's garrison in 1191 marked the end of a two-year siege of Acre during the Third Crusade. This event is important as it represented a sig…
Saladin’s garrison surrendered Acre to King Philip II of France, concluding a brutal two-year siege that claimed thousands of lives. This victory secured a vita…
Pope Benedict XII issued the papal bull Fulgens sicut stella matutina on July 12, 1335, to enforce stricter discipline within the Cistercian Order. This decree …
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