In History, Today on August 13

Tenochtitlán, the capital of the Aztec Empire, falls to Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés, marking the end of the Aztec Empire.

Cardinal Richelieu is appointed as the chief minister to King Louis XIII of France, beginning his influential role in French politics.

The Battle of Blenheim takes place during the War of the Spanish Succession, where the forces of the Grand Alliance, led by the Duke of Marlborough, defeat the French and Bavarian forces.

King Louis XVI of France is formally arrested by the National Assembly, marking a significant step towards the abolition of the monarchy during the French Revolution.

The Spanish-American War effectively ends with the fall of Manila to American forces, although the formal peace treaty is signed later.

Harry Brearley of Sheffield, England, cast the first stainless steel, revolutionizing the steel industry.

Construction of the Berlin Wall begins, dividing East and West Berlin and symbolizing the Cold War's division of East and West Europe.

The Apollo 11 astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, are honored with a ticker-tape parade in New York City following their successful moon landing.

Baseball player Mickey Mantle, a legendary figure in Major League Baseball, passed away.

The 2004 Summer Olympics officially opened in Athens, Greece, marking the return of the Games to their birthplace. The event featured 10,625 athletes from 201 countries competing in 28 sports.

The Copiapó mining accident occurred in Chile, trapping 33 miners 700 meters underground. The miners were eventually rescued after 69 days, in a dramatic operation that captured global attention.

A series of explosions occurred at a container storage station at the Port of Tianjin in China, resulting in 173 deaths and hundreds of injuries. The incident raised concerns about industrial safety standards in China.

Michael Phelps won his 23rd Olympic gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics, solidifying his status as the most decorated Olympian of all time.

Israel and the United Arab Emirates announced a historic peace agreement, known as the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between the two countries. This marked a significant diplomatic shift in the Middle East.