1268day.year
The Battle of Wesenberg is fought between the Livonian Order and Dovmont of Pskov.
The Battle of Wesenberg in 1268 saw the Livonian Order clash with the forces of Dovmont of Pskov in a significant medieval engagement.
The Battle of Wesenberg took place in 1268 between the Northern Crusader Livonian Order and the forces led by Dovmont of Pskov. Located in present-day Estonia, the conflict was part of ongoing regional power struggles in the Baltic region. Dovmont, a prince known for his defensive tactics, successfully held off the Livonian knights. The battle demonstrated the resilience of Pskovian forces against foreign crusader incursions. It reinforced Dovmont’s reputation as a skilled military leader and shaped Pskov’s medieval history.
1268
Battle of Wesenberg
Livonian Order
Dovmont
Pskov
1332day.year
Amda Seyon I, Emperor of Ethiopia begins his campaigns in the southern Muslim provinces.
In 1332, Emperor Amda Seyon I launched campaigns into Ethiopia’s southern Muslim provinces, expanding his empire through decisive military actions.
In 1332, Emperor Amda Seyon I of Ethiopia embarked on a series of military campaigns into the southern Muslim provinces. Motivated by both religious and territorial ambitions, his forces advanced deep into the Ifat Sultanate and surrounding regions. These campaigns aimed to secure trade routes, assert imperial authority, and spread Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. Amda Seyon’s expeditions were marked by swift cavalry maneuvers and strong logistical organization. His successes solidified the Ethiopian Empire’s dominance in the Horn of Africa during the 14th century.
1332
Amda Seyon I
Emperor of Ethiopia
Muslim
1637day.year
Eighty Years' War: Off the coast of Cornwall, England, a Spanish fleet intercepts an important Anglo-Dutch merchant convoy of 44 vessels escorted by six warships, destroying or capturing 20 of them.
During the Eighty Years’ War in 1637, a Spanish fleet intercepted and decimated an Anglo-Dutch convoy off the coast of Cornwall.
During the Eighty Years’ War in 1637, a Spanish fleet intercepted an important Anglo-Dutch merchant convoy off the coast of Cornwall, England. The convoy consisted of 44 vessels carrying vital goods and was escorted by six warships. The Spanish forces succeeded in capturing or destroying 20 of these ships, dealing a blow to Anglo-Dutch trade. This naval engagement demonstrated Spain’s enduring maritime capabilities despite setbacks in Europe. The action impacted the balance of naval power in the English Channel and North Sea.
1637
Eighty Years' War
Cornwall
Spanish
intercepts
Anglo
Dutch
1781day.year
Fourth Anglo-Dutch War: Captain Thomas Shirley opens his expedition against Dutch colonial outposts on the Gold Coast of Africa (present-day Ghana).
Captain Thomas Shirley began an expedition against Dutch outposts on the Gold Coast in 1781 during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War.
In 1781, Captain Thomas Shirley led a British expedition against Dutch colonial outposts along the Gold Coast of Africa, present-day Ghana. Part of the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, the campaign targeted forts key to the African slave trade and gold commerce. Shirley’s forces captured several fortified positions, weakening Dutch influence in the region. The operations underscored the global reach of European conflicts during the late 18th century. The campaign influenced subsequent shifts in colonial power along the West African coast.
1781
Fourth Anglo-Dutch War
opens his expedition
Dutch colonial outposts
Gold Coast
Ghana
1797day.year
French Revolutionary Wars: Sir Ralph Abercromby and a fleet of 18 British warships invade Trinidad.
In 1797, British forces under Sir Ralph Abercromby launched an invasion of Trinidad as part of the French Revolutionary Wars.
In 1797, as part of the French Revolutionary Wars, Sir Ralph Abercromby led a British fleet to invade the Spanish-held island of Trinidad. The operation aimed to weaken Spanish colonial power and secure strategic Caribbean positions. Abercromby’s squadron of 18 warships and supporting troops faced minimal resistance upon landing. The capture of Trinidad expanded British influence in the region and disrupted Spanish trade routes. The expedition exemplified the global dimensions of European wars at the close of the 18th century.
1797
French Revolutionary Wars
Ralph Abercromby
British
invade
Trinidad
1814day.year
Napoleonic Wars: The Battle of Montereau.
A major engagement during the War of the Sixth Coalition where Napoleon Bonaparte scored a victory at Montereau on February 18, 1814.
The Battle of Montereau occurred on February 18, 1814, during the War of the Sixth Coalition. Napoleon led his army against Austrian and Württemberg forces near Montereau in northern France. His victory forced the Allies to retreat across the Seine River and temporarily halted their advance toward Paris. The engagement showcased Napoleon's tactical skill in organizing a rapid concentration of forces for a decisive counterattack. Despite this success, it ultimately proved insufficient to stop the coalition armies from invading France. The battle marks one of the last notable victories of Napoleon before his abdication in April 1814.
1814
Napoleonic Wars
Battle of Montereau
1878day.year
John Tunstall is murdered by outlaw Jesse Evans, sparking the Lincoln County War in Lincoln County, New Mexico.
The murder of rancher John Tunstall by outlaw Jesse Evans ignites the Lincoln County War in New Mexico.
On February 18, 1878, John Tunstall, an English-born rancher and merchant, was shot and killed by members of the Jesse Evans Gang in Lincoln County, New Mexico. His death triggered the Lincoln County War, a violent feud among rival business factions, lawmen, and hired guns in the frontier territory. The conflict involved notable figures such as Billy the Kid and culminated in a series of gunfights and vendettas. Local authorities were unable to maintain order as alliances shifted and bloodshed escalated. The war highlighted the lawlessness of the American West in the late 19th century and influenced its mythos. The violence finally subsided after federal intervention and the arrest of key participants.
1878
John Tunstall
outlaw
Jesse Evans
Lincoln County War
Lincoln County, New Mexico
1900day.year
Second Boer War: Imperial forces suffer their worst single-day loss of life on Bloody Sunday, the first day of the Battle of Paardeberg.
British forces suffer heavy casualties on Bloody Sunday during the Battle of Paardeberg in the Second Boer War.
On February 18, 1900, the first day of the Battle of Paardeberg in South Africa, British imperial troops endured their worst single-day loss of life in the Second Boer War. The engagement, known as Bloody Sunday, saw Boer defenders repulse repeated British assaults across open ground. The heavy casualties shocked the British public and raised questions about military tactics and leadership. Despite the initial setback, British commanders eventually encircled the Boer forces, leading to their surrender days later. The battle marked a turning point in the conflict, showcasing both the determination of the Boer fighters and the resolve of the British Empire. Paardeberg became a symbol of sacrifice and military controversy in turn-of-the-century warfare.
1900
Second Boer War
Bloody Sunday
Battle of Paardeberg
1915day.year
U-boat Campaign: The Imperial German Navy institutes unrestricted submarine warfare in the waters around Great Britain and Ireland.
Germany institutes unrestricted submarine warfare against Allied shipping near Britain and Ireland.
On February 18, 1915, the Imperial German Navy commenced a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare in the waters surrounding Great Britain and Ireland. This decision empowered U-boats to sink merchant and passenger vessels without warning, aiming to cut off supplies to the Allies. German commanders believed that decisive submarine action could force Britain to capitulate before the United States entered the war. The campaign led to significant shipping losses and heightened tensions with neutral countries, particularly the United States. Warnings and diplomatic protests escalated as civilian ships became targets, culminating in incidents like the sinking of the Lusitania. Unrestricted warfare played a critical role in altering public opinion and drawing new powers into World War I.
1915
U-boat Campaign
1938day.year
Second Sino-Japanese War: During the Nanking Massacre, the Nanking Safety Zone International Committee is renamed "Nanking International Rescue Committee", and the safety zone in place for refugees falls apart.
During the Nanking Massacre, the International Rescue Committee renames itself as the Nanking International Rescue Committee as the safety zone collapses.
On February 18, 1938, amidst the atrocities of the Nanking Massacre, the Nanking Safety Zone International Committee adopted a new name: the Nanking International Rescue Committee.
This committee of Western expatriates and missionaries had established a demilitarized refuge to protect Chinese civilians from Japanese assault.
Under relentless bombardment and violence, the safety zone's informal protections eroded, leaving refugees increasingly vulnerable.
The renaming reflected efforts to organize relief operations even as Japanese troops intensified their brutal campaign.
Historical accounts testify to the humanitarian courage of those who remained to aid survivors despite overwhelming danger.
1938
Second Sino-Japanese War
Nanking Massacre
Nanking
1942day.year
World War II: The Imperial Japanese Army begins the systematic extermination of perceived hostile elements among the Chinese in Singapore.
The Imperial Japanese Army begins the systematic extermination of perceived hostile elements among the Chinese population in Singapore.
On February 18, 1942, following the fall of Singapore, Japanese forces initiated a campaign targeting Chinese residents suspected of anti-Japanese sentiments.
This operation involved secret arrests, mass executions, and enforced disappearances orchestrated by the Kempetai military police.
Thousands of civilians were tortured and killed in what became known as the Sook Ching massacre.
The campaign aimed to eliminate resistance and intimidate the local population under Japanese occupation.
Sook Ching remains one of the darkest chapters of World War II in Southeast Asia, with lingering scars on Singaporean collective memory.
1942
World War II
Imperial Japanese Army
systematic extermination
Chinese in Singapore
1943day.year
World War II: The Nazis arrest the members of the White Rose movement.
The Nazis arrest members of the White Rose resistance group in Munich.
On February 18, 1943, Gestapo agents apprehended key members of the White Rose, a student-led resistance movement against Nazi rule.
Founded by siblings Sophie and Hans Scholl at the University of Munich, the group distributed leaflets calling for passive opposition.
Their writings condemned the regime's crimes and urged Germans to reject totalitarianism and persecution.
Following their arrest, participants faced swift trials and many were executed, becoming martyrs for liberty.
The White Rose legacy inspired future generations to value courage and moral conviction in the face of oppression.
1943
Nazis
White Rose