March 01

Events - Wars & Conflicts

1476day.year

Forces of the Catholic Monarchs engage the combined Portuguese-Castilian armies of Afonso V and Prince John at the Battle of Toro.

The Battle of Toro saw the Catholic Monarchs' forces clash with those of Afonso V and Prince John, influencing the outcome of the Castilian succession struggle.
On March 1, 1476, near Toro in present-day Spain, troops loyal to Ferdinand and Isabella engaged the combined forces of Afonso V of Portugal and his son, Prince John. Although the battle was tactically inconclusive, it strategically favored the Catholic Monarchs by bolstering their political claims. The engagement disrupted Portuguese efforts to control Castile and shifted diplomatic momentum toward Ferdinand and Isabella. Ultimately, the conflict played a key role in securing Isabella's position and advancing the unification of Spain under their rule.
1476 Catholic Monarchs Afonso V Prince John Battle of Toro
1562day.year

Sixty-three Huguenots are massacred in Wassy, France, marking the start of the French Wars of Religion.

The massacre at Wassy, where over sixty Huguenots were killed, marked the brutal beginning of the French Wars of Religion.
On March 1, 1562, Catholic forces attacked a gathering of Huguenots in the town of Wassy, France, killing and wounding dozens of Protestants. This atrocity shattered hopes for religious coexistence and ignited the French Wars of Religion. Over the next decades, France plunged into a series of bloody conflicts between Catholics and Huguenots. The massacre at Wassy became a symbol of the era's sectarian violence and the high human cost of religious intolerance in 16th-century Europe.
1562 Huguenots massacred in Wassy, France French Wars of Religion
1815day.year

Napoleon returns to France from his banishment on Elba.

In 1815, Napoleon escaped Elba and returned to France, reigniting his rule during the Hundred Days.
In February 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte escaped exile from the island of Elba and landed on the French mainland. He quickly rallied support from disaffected soldiers and citizens, marching toward Paris. King Louis XVIII fled, and Napoleon reclaimed the throne in what became known as the Hundred Days. His return shattered the post-war settlement of the Congress of Vienna and reignited European conflict. Within months, allied armies mobilized and defeated him at the Battle of Waterloo. This dramatic comeback and final downfall cemented Napoleon's legacy in European history.
1815 Napoleon Elba
1870day.year

Marshal F. S. López dies during the Battle of Cerro Corá thus marking the end of the Paraguayan War.

In 1870, Paraguayan leader Francisco Solano López was killed at Cerro Corá, ending the War of the Triple Alliance.
On March 1, 1870, Paraguayan President Francisco Solano López was killed at the Battle of Cerro Corá. His death marked the end of the devastating War of the Triple Alliance between Paraguay and the allied forces of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. The battle was fought in a remote northern region of Paraguay, where López made his last stand. Paraguay emerged from the conflict nearly destroyed, having lost a significant portion of its population and territory. López's death ended hopes of Paraguayan resistance. The war's aftermath reshaped the balance of power in South America.
1870 F. S. López Battle of Cerro Corá Paraguayan War
1871day.year

The victorious Prussian Army parades through Paris, France, after the end of the Siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War.

In 1871, Prussian troops marched triumphantly through Paris following the city's siege, capping the Franco-Prussian War.
On March 1, 1871, the Prussian Army marched triumphantly through Paris after the city's seven-month siege. The parade celebrated the end of the Franco-Prussian War and France's defeat. Prussian and German forces had encircled the city since September 1870, cutting off supplies and forcing eventual surrender. Emperor Wilhelm I and his generals used the procession to showcase German military might. The event preceded the proclamation of the German Empire at Versailles later that year. It marked a turning point in European politics, cementing German unification.
1871 Prussian Army Siege of Paris Franco-Prussian War
1896day.year

Battle of Adwa: An Ethiopian army defeats an outnumbered Italian force, ending the First Italo-Ethiopian War.

An outnumbered Italian force was defeated by Ethiopian soldiers at the Battle of Adwa, ending the First Italo-Ethiopian War.
The Battle of Adwa took place on March 1, 1896, as the Ethiopian army, led by Emperor Menelik II, confronted an Italian force near the town of Adwa in northern Ethiopia. Despite facing a modern European military, the Ethiopian troops used superior knowledge of the terrain and coordinated assaults to rout the invaders. Italy had sought to impose colonial rule under the Treaty of Wuchale, but Ethiopia resisted fiercely, preserving its sovereignty. The shocking defeat marked the first time an African nation successfully repelled a European power in the colonial era. The outcome secured Ethiopia’s independence, boosted national pride, and inspired anti-colonial movements across the continent. European powers were forced to recognize Ethiopia diplomatically, and Italy’s ambitions in Africa were temporarily checked. The victory at Adwa remains a potent symbol of resistance and unity in Ethiopian history.
1896 Battle of Adwa Ethiopian Italian First Italo-Ethiopian War
1917day.year

The Zimmermann Telegram is reprinted in newspapers across the United States after the U.S. government releases its unencrypted text.

In 1917, U.S. newspapers published the unencrypted Zimmermann Telegram, revealing Germany’s proposal for a military alliance with Mexico.
On March 1, 1917, following a U.S. government decision to reveal its contents, newspapers across America published the unencrypted Zimmermann Telegram sent by Germany’s foreign minister. The telegram had proposed that Mexico ally with Germany against the United States in return for support in reclaiming territories like Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. British intelligence had intercepted and decrypted the message weeks earlier, and its disclosure caused widespread outrage among the American public. President Wilson used the revelation to bolster support for entering World War I on the side of the Allies. The sensational headlines fed into a shift in public opinion away from neutrality, helping secure congressional approval of a U.S. declaration of war on Germany in April 1917. The incident demonstrated the strategic importance of signals intelligence and the power of the press in shaping foreign policy. Today, the Zimmermann Telegram remains a landmark in diplomatic history and the use of cryptography in warfare.
1917 Zimmermann Telegram U.S. government unencrypted text
1921day.year

Following mass protests in Petrograd demanding greater freedom in the RSFSR, the Kronstadt rebellion begins, with sailors and citizens taking up arms against the Bolsheviks.

In 1921, sailors and civilians at the Kronstadt naval base launched an armed uprising against the Bolshevik government in Soviet Russia.
On March 1, 1921, disillusioned sailors, soldiers, and citizens at the Kronstadt naval fortress near Petrograd rose in rebellion against the Bolshevik regime. Their grievances included demands for political freedoms, free elections to soviets, and an end to grain requisitions that had led to widespread famine. The uprising followed mass protests in Petrograd earlier that year, reflecting broader social unrest in post-revolutionary Russia. Despite initial successes in seizing key positions, the rebels were ultimately crushed by Red Army troops under the command of Leon Trotsky. The suppression of the Kronstadt Rebellion resulted in heavy casualties and marked the end of significant armed opposition to Bolshevik rule. In the aftermath, Lenin and the party leadership introduced the New Economic Policy to placate discontent, blending state control with limited market reforms. Historians view the Kronstadt uprising as a poignant symbol of the revolution’s betrayal of its original ideals and a turning point in Soviet politics.
Petrograd RSFSR Kronstadt rebellion Bolsheviks
1942day.year

World War II: Japanese forces land on Java, the main island of the Dutch East Indies, at Merak and Banten Bay (Banten), Eretan Wetan (Indramayu) and Kragan (Rembang).

Japanese troops invade Java at multiple landing sites, marking a crucial phase in Japan’s Dutch East Indies campaign during World War II.
On March 1, 1942, Japanese forces launched coordinated amphibious landings on Java, the heart of the Dutch East Indies, at Merak, Banten Bay, Eretan Wetan, and Kragan. This operation aimed to secure vital oil and rubber resources for Japan's war effort. Dutch and Allied defenders were quickly overwhelmed by the well-planned assault, leading to the fall of Java and formal surrender later that month. The occupation continued until 1945 and fueled independence movements after the war.
1942 Japanese Java Dutch East Indies Merak Banten Bay Banten Indramayu Rembang
1954day.year

Armed Puerto Rican nationalists attack the United States Capitol building, injuring five Representatives.

Puerto Rican nationalists open fire in the U.S. Capitol, wounding five members of Congress in a bid for independence.
On March 1, 1954, four Puerto Rican nationalists entered the United States Capitol and opened fire in the House of Representatives chamber, injuring five lawmakers. The attackers sought to draw attention to Puerto Rico’s political status and demand independence from the United States. They were immediately apprehended, tried, and sentenced to lengthy prison terms. The attack highlighted colonial grievances and influenced subsequent debates on Puerto Rican self-determination.
Armed Puerto Rican nationalists United States Capitol injuring five Representatives
1973day.year

Black September storms the Saudi embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, resulting in the assassination of three Western hostages.

In 1973, the Palestinian group Black September attacked the Saudi embassy in Khartoum, resulting in the killing of three Western diplomats.
On March 1, 1973, members of Black September, a Palestinian militant organization, stormed the Saudi Arabian embassy in Khartoum, Sudan. The assailants seized several foreign diplomats as hostages to press political demands. Despite negotiations, the crisis ended tragically with the execution of three Western hostages: the U.S. Ambassador, and envoys from West Germany and Belgium. This brazen attack shocked the international community and underscored the growing threat of international terrorism during that era. The incident prompted governments to reassess embassy security and intensified global efforts to combat politically motivated violence. It remains a stark example of diplomatic vulnerability and extremist tactics.
1973 Black September Saudi Khartoum Sudan assassination of three Western hostages
1981day.year

Provisional Irish Republican Army member Bobby Sands begins his hunger strike in HM Prison Maze.

IRA prisoner Bobby Sands begins a hunger strike at HM Prison Maze to demand political status for republican inmates.
On March 1, 1981, Bobby Sands, an incarcerated member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, commenced a hunger strike at HM Prison Maze in Northern Ireland. Sands protested the British government’s refusal to grant IRA prisoners political status, demanding recognition as prisoners of war rather than common criminals. His protest drew international attention and galvanized support among Irish nationalists. The strike lasted 66 days, during which Sands was elected to the British Parliament, further elevating his cause. His eventual death on May 5, 1981, intensified the Northern Ireland conflict and spurred global debates on political protest and human rights. Sands’ legacy endures as a symbol of resistance and sacrifice.
1981 Provisional Irish Republican Army Bobby Sands hunger strike HM Prison Maze