January 24

Events - Wars & Conflicts

914day.year

Start of the First Fatimid invasion of Egypt.

The First Fatimid invasion of Egypt began, marking the start of Fatimid ambitions to control the rich and strategic region.
On January 24, 914, the Fatimid Caliphate launched its first invasion of Egypt under the leadership of General al-Qa'im. The Fatimids, an Ismaili Shi'a dynasty based in North Africa, sought to overthrow Sunni Abbasid control in Egypt and establish their own rule. The invasion force crossed the Libyan desert, facing supply challenges and resistance from local garrisons loyal to the Abbasids. Despite initial successes capturing frontier towns, the campaign ultimately stalled due to logistical issues and strong defensive responses. The incursion set the stage for future attempts by the Fatimids, who would eventually conquer Egypt in 969. This first invasion demonstrated both the strategic importance of Egypt and the enduring contest between rival caliphates for supremacy in the Islamic world.
914 First Fatimid invasion of Egypt
1651day.year

Arauco War: Spanish and Mapuche authorities meet in the Parliament of Boroa renewing the fragile peace established at the parliaments of Quillín in 1641 and 1647.

Spanish and Mapuche leaders met at the Parliament of Boroa, renewing a tenuous peace in the long-running Arauco War.
On January 24, 1651, representatives of the Spanish colonial authorities and the Mapuche people gathered at Boroa in southern Chile to negotiate the terms of a renewed armistice. This meeting followed earlier agreements at Quillín in 1641 and 1647 but faced challenges due to ongoing frontier skirmishes and mutual distrust. The Parliament of Boroa reaffirmed boundaries, prisoner exchanges, and tribute arrangements intended to stabilize the uneasy coexistence. While the peace held for several years, it ultimately proved fragile, as both sides resumed conflict over land and autonomy. The event highlighted the complexities of colonial diplomacy and indigenous resistance in early modern South America. It also underscored the Mapuche’s resilience in defending their territory against Spanish encroachment.
1651 Arauco War Mapuche Parliament of Boroa 1641
1758day.year

During the Seven Years' War the leading burghers of Königsberg submit to Elizabeth of Russia, thus forming Russian Prussia (until 1763).

Bürgers of Königsberg pledged allegiance to Empress Elizabeth, creating Russian Prussia during the Seven Years’ War.
On January 24, 1758, amid the broader conflict of the Seven Years’ War, the city council and leading burghers of Königsberg declared their submission to Empress Elizabeth of Russia. This act established a Russian protectorate over East Prussia, alternately called Russian Prussia, displacing Prussian authority under Frederick the Great. The arrangement allowed Russian troops to occupy key fortresses and secure supply lines for the Eastern Front. Local elites acquiesced in hopes of preserving civic privileges and avoiding wartime devastation. However, the Russian occupation was deeply unpopular with many Prussians and strained relations with the Orthodox-ruled occupiers. The episode demonstrated the ebb and flow of territorial control in Europe’s most comprehensive 18th-century conflict.
1758 Seven Years' War Königsberg Elizabeth of Russia Russian Prussia
1817day.year

Crossing of the Andes: Many soldiers of Juan Gregorio de las Heras are captured during the action of Picheuta.

During the liberation campaign, many of General Juan Gregorio de las Heras’s troops were captured at the action of Picheuta as they crossed the Andes.
On January 24, 1817, as part of the Venezuelan and Argentine struggle for independence, General Juan Gregorio de las Heras led a column across the Andes toward Chile. At the small mountain pass of Picheuta, poorly supplied and fatigued, his soldiers encountered Spanish royalist patrols. Surprised by the enemy and hampered by harsh winter conditions, many patriots were captured or forced to retreat. Despite the setback, the main army under José de San Martín pressed on and would achieve victory at the Battle of Chacabuco in February. The action of Picheuta highlighted the daunting logistical and human challenges of the Andean crossing. It also underscored the resolve of the independence fighters in their campaign against colonial rule.
1817 Crossing of the Andes Juan Gregorio de las Heras action of Picheuta
1900day.year

Second Boer War: Boers stop a British attempt to break the Siege of Ladysmith in the Battle of Spion Kop.

During the Second Boer War in 1900, Boer forces repelled a British assault at Spion Kop, thwarting the relief of the Siege of Ladysmith.
On January 24, 1900, Boer defenders successfully repulsed a British offensive at Spion Kop, a strategic hill overlooking Ladysmith in Natal. The British aimed to break the Siege of Ladysmith, where troops had been besieged for months. A grueling firefight in freezing conditions led to heavy casualties on both sides. Miscommunication and difficult terrain hampered British advances, forcing them to withdraw. The Boers maintained control of the heights, prolonging the siege. The battle highlighted the challenges of modern warfare and the resilience of Boer guerrilla tactics. It became one of the most famous and bloody confrontations of the Second Boer War. Spion Kop remains a symbol of bravery and tactical complexity in military history.
1900 Second Boer War Boers Siege of Ladysmith Battle of Spion Kop
1915day.year

World War I: British Grand Fleet battle cruisers under Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty engage Rear-Admiral Franz von Hipper's battle cruisers in the Battle of Dogger Bank.

In 1915, British and German battle cruisers clashed at the Battle of Dogger Bank during World War I, marking a significant North Sea engagement.
On January 24, 1915, battle cruisers of the British Grand Fleet under Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty engaged Rear-Admiral Franz von Hipper's German squadron off the Dogger Bank. Intelligence intercepts allowed the Royal Navy to ambush the German force, leading to a fierce and fast-paced sea battle. HMS Lion inflicted heavy damage on the German flagship SMS Blücher, sinking her, while both sides sustained significant casualties and ship damages. The encounter underscored the importance of signals intelligence and gunnery coordination in modern naval warfare. British victory boosted morale at home but revealed flaws in ship communication. The battle influenced future naval strategies and ship design leading up to the Battle of Jutland. Today, the Battle of Dogger Bank is studied as a formative engagement in early naval warfare.
1915 World War I Grand Fleet David Beatty Franz von Hipper Battle of Dogger Bank
1942day.year

World War II: The Allies bombard Bangkok, leading Thailand, then under Japanese control, to declare war against the United States and United Kingdom.

During World War II, Allied forces bombed Bangkok in 1942, prompting Thailand to declare war on the United States and the United Kingdom.
On January 24, 1942, Allied aircraft launched a strategic bombing raid on Bangkok to disrupt Japanese-controlled supply routes. The air strikes marked a significant extension of the Allies' campaign in Southeast Asia. In response, the Thai government, under Japanese pressure, formally declared war on both the United States and the United Kingdom. The declaration solidified Thailand's role as a Japanese ally during the war. The bombing and subsequent diplomatic shift intensified Allied operations in the region. Civilians in Bangkok faced further hardship as the conflict escalated on Thai soil.
1942 World War II bombard Bangkok
1943day.year

World War II: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill conclude a conference in Casablanca.

In 1943, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill concluded the Casablanca Conference to plan Allied strategy in World War II.
Between January 14 and 24, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill met in Casablanca, Morocco, to discuss the next phases of the Allied war effort. The conference produced the famous declaration demanding unconditional surrender from the Axis powers. Key military strategies, including the invasions of Sicily and Italy, were outlined. Though Soviet leader Joseph Stalin did not attend, the meeting shaped overall Allied coordination. The outcomes reinforced cooperation between the United States and Britain and set the stage for future European operations.
1943 Franklin D. Roosevelt Winston Churchill conference in Casablanca
1960day.year

Algerian War: Some units of European volunteers in Algiers stage an insurrection known as the "barricades week", during which they seize government buildings and clash with local police.

During the Algerian War in 1960, European volunteers in Algiers staged the 'barricades week', seizing government buildings and clashing with police.
From January 24, 1960, to early February, units of European settlers in Algiers erected barricades and seized key government offices in what became known as the 'barricades week'. The insurrection aimed to pressure France to maintain Algeria as part of its colonial empire. Clashes between the volunteers and local police resulted in casualties and heightened political tensions. The uprising convinced the French government to deploy additional troops and reconsider colonial policy. Though eventually suppressed, the episode underscored deep divisions between the European and Algerian populations. It marked a pivotal moment in the struggle that would lead to Algerian independence in 1962.
1960 Algerian War Algiers
1968day.year

Vietnam War: The 1st Australian Task Force launches Operation Coburg against the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong during wider fighting around Long Bình and Biên Hòa.

In 1968, Australia's 1st Task Force launched Operation Coburg against North Vietnamese forces around Long Bình and Biên Hòa during the Vietnam War.
On January 24, 1968, the Australian Army's 1st Task Force commenced Operation Coburg, aiming to disrupt North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong units near Saigon. The operation extended until March and involved coordinated patrols, artillery support, and air reconnaissance. Allied forces sought to prevent enemy infiltration ahead of the Tet Offensive. Fierce battles around Long Bình and Biên Hòa tested the Task Force's logistics and combat effectiveness. Operation Coburg succeeded in delaying enemy movements but incurred casualties on both sides. The mission demonstrated the increasing complexity of allied operations in the Vietnam conflict.
1968 Vietnam War 1st Australian Task Force Operation Coburg North Vietnamese Army Viet Cong Long Bình Biên Hòa
1972day.year

Japanese Sgt. Shoichi Yokoi is found hiding in a Guam jungle, where he had been since the end of World War II.

Japanese Sergeant Shoichi Yokoi was discovered in a Guam jungle in 1972, hiding since the end of World War II.
On January 24, 1972, former Japanese soldier Shoichi Yokoi was found by local fishermen in the jungles of Guam, where he had survived for 28 years. Unaware or unwilling to believe that World War II had ended, Yokoi subsisted on bananas, coconuts, and small animals. He constructed a secret underground shelter to evade capture and remained hidden from both American and local authorities. His discovery made international headlines and highlighted the human costs of prolonged conflict and isolation. Upon his return to Japan, Yokoi was hailed as both a hero and a symbol of unyielding loyalty. His story has been recounted in documentaries and remains a poignant reminder of the war's enduring impact.
1972 Shoichi Yokoi Guam since the end of World War II
1977day.year

The Atocha massacre occurs in Madrid during the Spanish transition to democracy.

On January 24, 1977, gunmen carried out a massacre at the Atocha law offices in Madrid during Spain's transition to democracy. The deadly attack shocked the nation and galvanized public support for democratic reforms.
On January 24, 1977, a group of far-right extremists stormed the Atocha law office in Madrid and opened fire on labor lawyers, killing five individuals. The atrocity occurred amidst Spain's fragile shift from Francisco Franco's authoritarian regime toward a constitutional democracy. This brutal act provoked widespread outrage and mass demonstrations across Spain, uniting disparate political factions in condemnation. The victims were defending workers' rights, symbolizing the broader struggle for social justice. The massacre accelerated political dialogue, influencing the legalization of the Communist Party and democratic reforms. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators. In the aftermath, the event became a symbol of the fight against the remnants of dictatorship. It highlighted the challenges of reconciling a polarized society while pursuing peaceful political transformation.
1977 Atocha massacre occurs in Madrid