February 22

Events - Wars & Conflicts

1316day.year

The Battle of Picotin, between Ferdinand of Majorca and the forces of Matilda of Hainaut, ends in victory for Ferdinand.

At the Battle of Picotin in 1316, Ferdinand of Majorca defeats Matilda of Hainaut's forces, consolidating his claim in the Morea region.
In February 1316, rival dynastic claims came to blows at Picotin in the Peloponnese region. Ferdinand of Majorca led his Aragonese army against the garrison loyal to Matilda of Hainaut. After intense combat, Ferdinand secured a decisive victory on February 22. This triumph strengthened his bid to control the Principality of Achaea. The outcome shifted regional power dynamics and influenced subsequent crusading politics in Greece. It exemplified the feudal rivalries that characterized late medieval Europe.
1316 Battle of Picotin Ferdinand of Majorca Matilda of Hainaut
1495day.year

King Charles VIII of France enters Naples to claim the city's throne.

French King Charles VIII marches into Naples in 1495 to press his dynastic claim to the throne.
In February 1495, Charles VIII of France led his army across Italy toward Naples. He aimed to enforce his inheritance rights to the Kingdom of Naples against rival Aragonese claims. Entering the city on February 22, Charles established French control over southern Italy. This bold move ignited the Italian Wars, drawing in Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Papal States. The campaign transformed Renaissance Italy into a battleground for European powers. Charles’s invasion reshaped the geopolitical map of the Mediterranean.
1495 Charles VIII of France Naples
1744day.year

War of the Austrian Succession: The Battle of Toulon causes several Royal Navy captains to be court-martialed, and the Articles of War to be amended.

Following the Battle of Toulon in 1744, several Royal Navy captains face court-martial and the Articles of War are revised.
During the War of the Austrian Succession, British and Franco-Spanish fleets clashed off Toulon in February 1744. The British command hesitated to press the attack, resulting in an inconclusive engagement. In the aftermath, Admiralty authorities court-martialed several Royal Navy captains for their conduct in battle. The controversy highlighted ambiguities in naval regulations and officers’ duties. As a result, the Articles of War were amended to clarify expectations and responsibilities. These changes reshaped Royal Navy discipline and future fleet engagements.
1744 War of the Austrian Succession Battle of Toulon Royal Navy court-martialed Articles of War
1770day.year

British customs officer Ebenezer Richardson fires blindly into a crowd during a protest in North End, Boston, fatally wounding 11-year-old Christopher Seider; the first American fatality of the American Revolution.

In 1770, a British customs officer fires into a Boston crowd, killing 11-year-old Christopher Seider—the Revolution’s first fatality.
On February 22, 1770, colonial tensions in Boston surged over British customs enforcement. In the North End, officer Ebenezer Richardson fired into an angry protest crowd. Eleven-year-old Christopher Seider was struck and later died from his wounds. Seider’s death ignited colonial outrage and became a rallying point for patriot leaders. His funeral procession drew immense public support and helped galvanize revolutionary sentiment. This tragic incident foreshadowed the violent clashes that would erupt later that year.
1770 North End, Boston Christopher Seider American Revolution
1797day.year

The last Invasion of Britain begins near Fishguard, Wales.

The last attempted invasion of Britain lands near Fishguard, Wales, in 1797, marking a brief French incursion.
In late February 1797, a French expeditionary force under Colonel William Tate landed near Fishguard in southwest Wales. Their objective was to distract British troops and inspire Welsh rebellion against London. Local militia and civilian volunteers resisted fiercely, preventing French forces from advancing. Facing logistical difficulties and stiff opposition, the invaders surrendered on February 24. This skirmish, remembered as the Last Invasion of Britain, had minimal strategic impact. It remains a curious episode in the wider context of the French Revolutionary Wars.
1797 last Invasion of Britain Fishguard
1847day.year

Mexican–American War: The Battle of Buena Vista: Five thousand American troops defeat 15,000 Mexican troops.

American forces triumphed over a significantly larger Mexican army at the Battle of Buena Vista during the Mexican–American War.
On February 22, 1847, Major General Zachary Taylor led 5,000 United States troops against 15,000 Mexican soldiers under General Santa Anna near Buena Vista, Mexico. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the American forces held their defensive lines and inflicted heavy casualties. The intense fighting saw artillery and infantry clashes across difficult terrain. This decisive victory bolstered U.S. morale and elevated Taylor's national standing, paving the way for his future presidency. The Battle of Buena Vista remains one of the most celebrated engagements of the Mexican–American War.
1847 Mexican–American War Battle of Buena Vista Mexican
1862day.year

American Civil War: Jefferson Davis is officially inaugurated for a six-year term as the President of the Confederate States of America in Richmond, Virginia. He was previously inaugurated as a provisional president on February 18, 1861.

Jefferson Davis is inaugurated for a six-year term as President of the Confederate States in Richmond amid the American Civil War.
On February 22, 1862, Jefferson Davis officially began his six-year term as President of the Confederate States of America in Richmond, Virginia. Previously serving as provisional president since 1861, Davis assumed full executive powers to lead the Confederacy's war effort. The inauguration took place against the backdrop of the American Civil War, with Southern states seeking independence. Davis's administration faced immense challenges organizing armies, financing the conflict, and securing international recognition. His presidency would become synonymous with the Confederate cause until its collapse in 1865.
1862 American Civil War Jefferson Davis President of the Confederate States of America Richmond, Virginia
1899day.year

Filipino forces led by General Antonio Luna launch counterattacks for the first time against the American forces during the Philippine–American War. The Filipinos fail to regain Manila from the Americans.

General Antonio Luna's Filipino forces launch their first major counterattack against American troops during the Philippine–American War.
On February 22, 1899, Filipino forces under General Antonio Luna launched their first concentrated counteroffensive against U.S. Army positions outside Manila during the Philippine–American War. Despite initial successes in local skirmishes, the Filipinos were unable to dislodge the entrenched American units. The engagement demonstrated Luna's tactical leadership and highlighted the challenges of conventional warfare against a well-equipped foreign army. Although the counterattacks failed to reclaim Manila, they galvanized Filipino resistance and became a symbol of national determination. The conflict would continue until 1902, profoundly affecting U.S.-Philippine relations.
1899 Filipino forces Antonio Luna launch counterattacks for the first time Philippine–American War
1942day.year

World War II: President Franklin D. Roosevelt orders General Douglas MacArthur out of the Philippines as the Japanese victory becomes inevitable.

Facing overwhelming Japanese advances, President Roosevelt orders General MacArthur to withdraw from the Philippines during World War II.
On February 22, 1942, with Japanese troops advancing rapidly across the Pacific, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued orders for General Douglas MacArthur to evacuate the Philippines. MacArthur’s withdrawal was seen as essential to preserve Allied command leadership in the Pacific theater. His departure northward to Australia allowed him to reorganize remaining forces and plan counteroffensives. The evacuation marked a somber moment for American and Filipino defenders who had endured relentless enemy assaults. MacArthur’s subsequent promise, “I shall return,” became a rallying cry for liberation. This event underscored the challenges facing the Allies in the early months of the Pacific War.
1942 World War II Franklin D. Roosevelt Douglas MacArthur out of the Philippines
1943day.year

World War II: Members of the White Rose resistance, Sophie Scholl, Hans Scholl, and Christoph Probst are executed in Nazi Germany.

Sophie and Hans Scholl, along with Christoph Probst, are executed for their non-violent resistance against Nazi Germany as part of the White Rose movement.
On February 22, 1943, the German resistance group known as the White Rose suffered a tragic blow when its founders, siblings Sophie and Hans Scholl, and fellow member Christoph Probst, were beheaded in Munich. The group had circulated leaflets calling for passive resistance and denouncing Nazi atrocities. Arrested earlier that month after distributing anti-regime pamphlets at the University of Munich, they faced a swift trial by the People’s Court. Their execution galvanized other Germans to question the moral costs of tyranny. Although the White Rose was short-lived, its members became enduring symbols of courage and conscience in the face of oppression.
1943 White Rose Sophie Scholl Hans Scholl Christoph Probst Nazi Germany
1944day.year

World War II: American aircraft mistakenly bomb the Dutch towns of Nijmegen, Arnhem, Enschede and Deventer, resulting in 800 dead in Nijmegen alone.

USAAF bombers accidentally strike Dutch towns including Nijmegen, causing significant civilian casualties during World War II.
On February 22, 1944, in a tragic case of mistaken targeting, Allied B-24 Liberators and fighter-bombers dropped bombs on several Dutch towns believed to be under German control. Nijmegen suffered the worst devastation, with roughly 800 civilians killed and hundreds more injured. Arnhem, Enschede, and Deventer also endured damage and loss of life as fires swept through residential areas. The incident sparked outrage among the Dutch population and led to tighter Allied protocols for target identification. Despite apologies and compensation efforts after the war, the bombings left a lasting scar on the affected communities and underscored the inherent dangers of wartime air operations.
1944 mistakenly bomb Nijmegen Arnhem Enschede Deventer
1944day.year

World War II: The Soviet Red Army recaptures Krivoi Rog.

Soviet forces reclaim the strategic industrial city of Krivoi Rog from German occupation during a major 1944 counteroffensive.
As part of the Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive, the Soviet Red Army launched a fierce campaign to push German forces westward on February 22, 1944. Krivoi Rog, an important iron ore mining and steel production center, was liberated after intense street-by-street fighting. The recapture disrupted Axis supply lines and bolstered Soviet morale on the Eastern Front. Key armored and infantry divisions spearheaded the assault, overcoming fortified positions and harsh winter conditions. This victory paved the way for further advances into Ukraine and contributed to the eventual collapse of German defenses in the region.
Red Army Krivoi Rog