January 25

Events - Wars & Conflicts

750day.year

In the Battle of the Zab, the Abbasid rebels defeat the Umayyad Caliphate, leading to the overthrow of the dynasty.

Abbasid forces crush the Umayyad Caliphate at the Battle of the Zab, paving the way for a new dynasty in the Islamic world.
On January 25, 750, the Abbasid rebel army, led by Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah, clashed with Umayyad forces near the Great Zab River. The decisive Abbasid victory shattered the military strength of the Umayyad Caliphate. Marwan II was forced into flight and later killed, ending over a century of Umayyad rule. The Abbasids established their capital at Baghdad, ushering in a cultural and scientific golden age. This shift redefined political and religious authority across the Middle East.
750 Battle of the Zab Abbasid Umayyad Caliphate
1573day.year

Battle of Mikatagahara: In Japan, Takeda Shingen defeats Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Takeda Shingen inflicts a major defeat on Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Mikatagahara during Japan's Sengoku period.
On January 25, 1573, Takeda Shingen led his renowned cavalry to victory against the forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu near Mikatagahara in Mikawa Province. The Takeda army's strategic use of terrain and coordinated assaults overwhelmed the Tokugawa troops. Ieyasu was forced to withdraw and regroup, marking a significant setback in his bid for dominance. The victory enhanced Shingen's reputation as one of the era's preeminent warlords. This clash influenced subsequent alliances and battles that ultimately shaped Japan's path to unification.
1573 Battle of Mikatagahara Takeda Shingen Tokugawa Ieyasu
1704day.year

The Apalachee massacre: A combined British and Muscogee force from the Province of Carolina destroys the main fortified mission of Ayubale, breaking Spain's hold on Spanish Florida.

In 1704, British and Muscogee forces sacked the Ayubale mission in Spanish Florida, inflicting heavy losses and weakening Spanish colonial power.
In 1704, during Queen Anne’s War, a British-Colonial and Muscogee alliance attacked and destroyed the fortified mission of Ayubale in Spanish Florida. Known as the Apalachee massacre, the assault resulted in the deaths or capture of hundreds of Indigenous inhabitants and the collapse of Spain’s mission network. British forces from the Province of Carolina sought to undermine Spanish influence by targeting their religious and cultural outposts. The destruction of Ayubale shattered Spain’s hold on the region, forcing surviving Apalachee to flee into the wilderness or join other communities. The event marked a turning point in the struggle for control over the Southeast colonial frontier. It foreshadowed further conflicts between European powers and Native American tribes in the years to come.
1704 Apalachee massacre Muscogee Province of Carolina mission Spanish Florida
1787day.year

Shays' Rebellion: The rebellion's largest confrontation, outside the Springfield Armory, results in the killing of four rebels and the wounding of twenty.

In 1787, the climax of Shays’ Rebellion occurred outside Springfield Armory, where armed farmers clashed with militia, leaving several dead and wounded.
In January 1787, the most significant clash of Shays’ Rebellion unfolded outside the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts. Led by Captain Daniel Shays, armed farmers protesting economic oppression and high taxes confronted state militia. The skirmish resulted in the deaths of four rebels and injuries to many more, highlighting the fragile authority of the Articles of Confederation. The uprising exposed weaknesses in the young nation’s ability to maintain order and protect property rights. Fear of further insurrections convinced leaders to call the Constitutional Convention later that year. Ultimately, Shays’ Rebellion influenced the creation of a stronger federal government under the U.S. Constitution.
1787 Shays' Rebellion Springfield Armory
1932day.year

Second Sino-Japanese War: The Chinese National Revolutionary Army begins the defense of Harbin.

Chinese forces began defending Harbin against Japanese invasion during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
On January 25, 1932, the National Revolutionary Army fortified positions around Harbin in response to Japanese aggression. This confrontation was part of the larger conflict that erupted after the Mukden Incident in September 1931. Chinese defenders erected barricades and deployed artillery to slow the advancing Imperial Japanese Army. Despite valiant resistance, Chinese forces lacked sufficient armaments and reinforcements. The battle highlighted the disparity in military capacity between China and Japan. The defense of Harbin galvanized Chinese national sentiment and international attention to the conflict.
1932 Second Sino-Japanese War Chinese National Revolutionary Army defense of Harbin
1932day.year

Alt Llobregat insurrection suppressed in Central Catalonia, Spain.

Spanish authorities crushed the Alt Llobregat labor uprising in Catalonia during social unrest.
In late January 1932, miners in Central Catalonia’s Alt Llobregat region launched a protest demanding better wages and working conditions. On January 25, government forces moved in to suppress the insurrection with infantry and artillery. Dozens of protesters were killed or wounded as clashes erupted in mining towns like Manresa and Sallent. The crackdown marked one of the first major labor confrontations during Spain’s Second Republic. Although the uprising was quelled, it underscored deep economic and social divisions in pre–civil war Spain. The events foreshadowed the larger national turmoil leading to the Spanish Civil War.
Alt Llobregat insurrection Central Catalonia Spain
1942day.year

World War II: Thailand declares war on the United States and United Kingdom.

In 1942, Thailand declared war on the United States and the United Kingdom, aligning with Japan during World War II.
On January 25, 1942, the Thai government under Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram declared war on the United States and the United Kingdom. This decision came shortly after Japan’s rapid expansion in Southeast Asia and its invasion of Thailand. Thailand sought to preserve its sovereignty through alliance with Japan’s Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. The declarations allowed Japanese troops to use Thai territory for military operations against Allied forces. The move sparked internal resistance and recognition of the Free Thai Movement. After the war, Thailand repudiated the declarations and was treated as a victim of aggression by the victorious Allies. This episode remains a complex chapter in Thailand’s modern political history.
1942 World War II Thailand declares war
1945day.year

World War II: The Battle of the Bulge ends.

The Battle of the Bulge, Germany’s last major offensive on the Western Front, concluded on January 25, 1945.
The Battle of the Bulge raged from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945, in the dense Ardennes Forest of Belgium and Luxembourg. Hitler’s surprise offensive aimed to split Allied forces and capture the port of Antwerp. Facing harsh winter conditions, American, British, and other Allied troops withstood initial German advances. Famous standouts included the 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne and General Patton’s Third Army relief efforts. By late January, Allied numerical superiority and air power forced a German retreat. The failure of this offensive depleted Germany’s reserves and accelerated the end of WWII in Europe. Historians view the battle as a turning point that sealed the fate of the Third Reich.
1945 Battle of the Bulge
1969day.year

Brazilian Army captain Carlos Lamarca deserts in order to fight against the military dictatorship, taking with him ten machine guns and 63 rifles.

Brazilian Army Captain Carlos Lamarca deserts with weapons to join anti-dictatorship guerrillas in opposition to Brazil’s military regime.
On January 25, 1969, Captain Carlos Lamarca of the Brazilian Army deserted his post, taking with him ten machine guns and 63 rifles. A trained paratrooper, Lamarca had become disillusioned with the military dictatorship ruling Brazil since 1964. His defection marked one of the most dramatic acts of resistance by a serving officer against the regime. Lamarca joined leftist guerrilla groups in an attempt to fight for democracy and social justice. His actions inspired segments of the opposition but also led to a fierce government crackdown on dissidents. Lamarca’s life on the run took him deep into the Brazilian interior as he planned armed resistance. He remained a symbol of the armed struggle against authoritarian rule until his death in 1971.
1969 Brazilian Army Carlos Lamarca military dictatorship
1995day.year

The Norwegian rocket incident: Russia almost launches a nuclear attack after it mistakes Black Brant XII, a Norwegian research rocket, for a US Trident missile.

In 1995, Russia nearly launched a nuclear strike after mistaking a Norwegian research rocket for a hostile missile.
On January 25, 1995, a routine Black Brant XII research rocket launched from Norway triggered a Cold War scare when Russian early-warning radars misidentified it as a US Trident missile. Russian leadership prepared to retaliate, raising the nuclear alert level and nearly ordering a counterstrike. The alarm was only lifted when Russian officers cross-checked radar data with tracking officers in North America. This tense episode highlighted the dangers of miscommunication and false alarms in the nuclear age. The incident remains a stark reminder of how human and technical errors can bring nations to the brink of catastrophe.
1995 Norwegian rocket incident nuclear Black Brant XII Norwegian research rocket Trident missile
1998day.year

A suicide attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on Sri Lanka's Temple of the Tooth kills eight and injures 25 others.

A suicide attack by the Tamil Tigers at Sri Lanka’s sacred Temple of the Tooth in 1998 killed eight people and injured dozens.
On January 25, 1998, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam carried out a suicide bombing at the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The assault targeted one of Buddhism’s holiest shrines, killing eight worshippers and injuring 25 more. The attack shocked the nation and highlighted the brutal tactics of the LTTE in their struggle for Tamil independence. Security measures around religious sites were intensified following the incident. The bombing remains a tragic example of how cultural and religious symbols can become targets in violent conflicts.
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Sri Lanka Temple of the Tooth
2003day.year

Invasion of Iraq: A group of people leave London, England, for Baghdad, Iraq, to serve as human shields, intending to prevent the U.S.-led coalition troops from bombing certain locations.

During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, a group of protesters traveled to Baghdad to serve as human shields against coalition bombing.
On January 25, 2003, a group of peace activists departed London for Baghdad, aiming to act as human shields at potential target sites. Their goal was to deter the U.S.-led coalition from bombing civilian infrastructure and minimize civilian casualties. The volunteers occupied power stations, bridges, and communication centers, drawing international media attention. While some reported safe passage and respectful treatment, others claimed they faced harassment and uncertainty. The human shields experiment highlighted the lengths to which anti-war protesters would go to prevent military action and spurred debates on nonviolent intervention.
2003 Invasion of Iraq Baghdad serve as human shields coalition