763day.year
Following the Battle of Bakhamra between Alids and Abbasids near Kufa, the Alid rebellion ends with the death of Ibrahim, brother of Isa ibn Musa.
In 763, the Alid rebellion against the Abbasid Caliphate comes to an end after the Battle of Bakhamra near Kufa, marked by the death of Ibrahim, brother of Isa ibn Musa.
The Alids, descendants of Ali ibn Abi Talib, mounted a rebellion against the ruling Abbasid Caliphate in Mesopotamia.
They clashed with Abbasid forces near Kufa in a battle that would determine control of the region.
Despite initial Alid resistance, the Abbasid army prevailed decisively against Ibrahim's troops.
Ibrahim himself was killed in the fighting, effectively ending the uprising.
The victory bolstered Abbasid control and quelled further immediate threats from dynastic challengers.
This battle underscored the Abbasids' determination to maintain central authority during their consolidation of power.
763
Battle of Bakhamra
Alids
Abbasids
Kufa
Isa ibn Musa
1824day.year
The Ashantis defeat British forces in the Gold Coast during the First Anglo-Ashanti War.
On January 21, 1824, Ashanti warriors secure a major victory over British forces in the Gold Coast, marking the outset of the First Anglo-Ashanti War.
Tensions over trade and territorial control led to open conflict between the Ashanti Empire and the British on the Gold Coast.
Ashanti troops engaged and routed a British expeditionary force, demonstrating their military prowess.
The defeat forced the British to rethink their strategy and fortify coastal positions.
This early victory emboldened the Ashanti kingdom's regional influence.
The war would continue for several years, highlighting the clash between African states and European colonial powers.
The encounter set the stage for future colonial campaigns in West Africa.
1824
Ashantis
defeat
Gold Coast
First Anglo-Ashanti War
1919day.year
A revolutionary Irish parliament is founded and declares the independence of the Irish Republic. One of the first engagements of the Irish War of Independence takes place.
On January 21, 1919, Irish revolutionaries convened the first Dáil Éireann, declaring independence and igniting the War of Independence.
Irish republicans assembled in Dublin's Mansion House to form Dáil Éireann, a revolutionary parliament claiming authority over Ireland.
They issued a Declaration of Independence, rejecting British rule and asserting the Irish Republic as a sovereign state.
Simultaneously, armed units of the Irish Republican Army engaged British forces, marking early clashes of the War of Independence.
These initial engagements signaled a shift from political protest to armed struggle, galvanizing public support.
The dual declaration of statehood and armed resistance set the stage for a bitter conflict that would last until 1921.
Dáil Éireann's establishment remains a foundational moment in Ireland's journey to self-determination.
1919
revolutionary Irish parliament
declares the independence
Irish Republic
first engagements
Irish War of Independence
1941day.year
Sparked by the murder of a German officer in Bucharest, Romania the day before, members of the Iron Guard engaged in a rebellion and pogrom killing 125 Jews.
On January 21, 1941, the fascist Iron Guard led a rebellion and pogrom in Bucharest, resulting in the murder of 125 Jews.
Members of Romania's far-right Iron Guard rebelled against the government in Bucharest, igniting violence on this day.
The uprising was triggered by the assassination of a German officer, leading to retaliatory attacks on Jewish neighborhoods.
Over the course of the rebellion, at least 125 Jews were killed in brutal pogroms, and many properties were destroyed.
The events reflected the Iron Guard's anti-Semitic ideology and growing fascist influence in Romania.
Although the rebellion was suppressed within days, it marked a dark escalation in wartime persecution.
This pogrom is remembered as one of the tragic preludes to the Holocaust in Eastern Europe.
1941
Bucharest
Iron Guard
rebellion and pogrom
1942day.year
The Jewish resistance organization, Fareynikte Partizaner Organizatsye, based in the Vilna Ghetto was established.
The Fareynikte Partizaner Organizatsye, a Jewish resistance group in the Vilna Ghetto, was formed on January 21, 1942.
Amid Nazi occupation, Jewish inhabitants of the Vilna Ghetto organized armed resistance against deportations and massacres.
The Fareynikte Partizaner Organizatsye united survivors to plan sabotage, intelligence gathering, and defense actions.
Members trained in small arms and prepared escape routes to nearby forests and partisan camps.
Their formation represented one of the earliest organized Jewish uprisings in occupied Europe.
Despite facing overwhelming odds, they sought to maintain dignity and fight for survival under brutal conditions.
The legacy of the organization is honored as a symbol of courage and resistance during the Holocaust.
1942
Jewish resistance
Fareynikte Partizaner Organizatsye
Vilna Ghetto
1943day.year
As part of Operation Animals, British SOE saboteurs destroy the railway bridge over the Asopos River, and guerrillas of the Greek People's Liberation Army ambush and destroy a German convoy at the Battle of Sarantaporos.
British SOE saboteurs and Greek resistance fighters launched coordinated attacks against German forces under Operation Animals in 1943.
On January 21, 1943, as part of the British Special Operations Executive's Operation Animals, allied operatives targeted Axis supply lines in occupied Greece.
SOE agents successfully destroyed the Asopos River railway bridge, severing a vital German transportation route.
Simultaneously, guerrillas from the Greek People's Liberation Army ambushed a German convoy at Sarantaporos, inflicting heavy losses.
The dual operations disrupted enemy logistics and hampered German regional control.
These coordinated attacks exemplified Allied support for resistance movements in Nazi-occupied Europe.
They remain notable for their daring and impact on the Greek theater of World War II.
1943
Operation Animals
SOE
destroy
Greek People's Liberation Army
Battle of Sarantaporos
1968day.year
Vietnam War, Battle of Khe Sanh: One of the most publicized and controversial battles of the war begins.
The Battle of Khe Sanh, one of the most publicized and controversial engagements of the Vietnam War, began in 1968.
On January 21, 1968, North Vietnamese forces initiated a siege on the U.S. Marine base at Khe Sanh near the Vietnam–Laos border.
The battle endured for 77 days, featuring intense artillery bombardment and fierce infantry engagements.
It became a focal point of international media coverage, shaping perceptions of the Vietnam War.
American forces relied heavily on massive air support, including B-52 bomber strikes, to relieve the base.
Though the Marines eventually held their positions, the strategic value of Khe Sanh remains debated.
The siege impacted U.S. military tactics and influenced public opinion during the conflict.
1968
Vietnam War
Battle of Khe Sanh
2009day.year
Israel withdraws from the Gaza Strip, officially ending a three-week war it had with Hamas. However, intermittent fire by both sides continues in the weeks to follow.
Israel completed its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip on January 21, 2009, officially ending its three-week conflict with Hamas, though intermittent exchanges persisted.
After nearly three weeks of military operations, the Israel Defense Forces withdrew from the Gaza Strip, bringing an end to the hostilities of Operation Cast Lead. The conflict, which began on December 27, 2008, aimed to stop rocket fire from Hamas-controlled Gaza into southern Israel. The ceasefire agreement saw both sides declare an end to offensive actions, but sporadic rocket launches and retaliatory strikes persisted in the following weeks. Civilian and infrastructure damage in Gaza was extensive, drawing international attention to the humanitarian situation. In Israel, communities near the border faced prolonged rocket threats and disruptions to daily life. The withdrawal marked a critical juncture in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, prompting debates over military strategy and peace prospects. Efforts by mediators to negotiate a lasting truce continued in the aftermath of the operation.
2009
Gaza Strip
three-week war
2014day.year
Rojava conflict: The Jazira Canton declares its autonomy from the Syrian Arab Republic.
On January 21, 2014, the Jazira Canton in northeastern Syria declared autonomy from the Syrian Arab Republic amid the broader Rojava conflict.
As part of the Rojava administration's push for local self-governance, the Jazira Canton announced its autonomy in the ethnically diverse Hasakah region. Kurdish-led forces had established control over the area following the Syrian Civil War's outbreak, instituting a system of decentralized councils. The declaration formalized local governance structures based on principles of direct democracy, gender equality, and ethnic inclusion. The move sparked mixed reactions from Damascus, which condemned it as a violation of Syria's territorial integrity. Regional actors and international powers closely monitored the development, weighing the implications for power dynamics in northern Syria. The autonomous administration began implementing its own legal code and security forces, challenging traditional state authority. This event marked a key moment in the evolving political landscape of the Syrian conflict and the emergence of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.
2014
Rojava conflict
Jazira Canton
Syrian Arab Republic