In History, Today on July 17

The French, led by Joan of Arc, achieved a decisive victory at the Battle of Castillon, effectively ending the Hundred Years' War.

The first Masonic Grand Lodge, the Premier Grand Lodge of England, was founded in London, marking the beginning of modern Freemasonry.

Catherine the Great became the Empress of Russia following the assassination of her husband, Peter III.

The Champ de Mars massacre occurred in Paris when the National Guard fired on a crowd of republican protesters, killing dozens.

Congress authorized the use of paper currency in the United States for the first time with the passage of the Currency Act.

The first permanent transatlantic telegraph cable was successfully completed, allowing for faster communication between Europe and North America.

The Romanov family, the last imperial dynasty of Russia, was executed by Bolsheviks in Yekaterinburg, marking a significant turning point in the Russian Revolution.

The Spanish Civil War began as a military uprising against the Republican government started in Spanish Morocco.

The Port Chicago disaster occurred when a munitions explosion killed 320 people at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in California.

Disneyland, the first Disney theme park, opened in Anaheim, California, marking a significant moment in entertainment history.

The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, the first international human spaceflight mission, was launched, marking a significant moment in US-Soviet cooperation during the Cold War.

TWA Flight 800 exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York, killing all 230 people on board.

A Concorde jet crashes shortly after takeoff from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, killing all 109 people on board and four people on the ground.

The 27th G8 summit is held in Genoa, Italy, marked by large anti-globalization protests and violent clashes with police.

Twitter, a social media platform, is launched publicly, eventually becoming one of the largest social networking services worldwide.

TAM Airlines Flight 3054 crashes upon landing at Congonhas Airport in São Paulo, Brazil, resulting in the deaths of all 187 passengers and crew on board, as well as 12 people on the ground.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 is shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. The incident escalates tensions in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists.

A series of coordinated suicide bombings occur in the northeastern Nigerian towns of Gombe and Damaturu, attributed to Boko Haram, resulting in numerous casualties.

A coup attempt in Turkey fails as forces loyal to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan regain control.