241 BC
First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates: The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing the First Punic War to an end.
The Battle of the Aegates Islands marked Rome’s decisive naval victory that ended the First Punic War in 241 BC.
On March 10, 241 BC, the Roman fleet clashed with and destroyed the Carthaginian navy at the Aegates Islands, securing a pivotal win after years of conflict. This defeat compelled Carthage to sue for peace, bringing the First Punic War to a close. Under the Treaty of Lutatius, Sicily was ceded to Rome and heavy indemnities were imposed on Carthage. The victory established Roman dominance in the western Mediterranean and showcased evolving naval tactics. The success also spurred advancements in Roman shipbuilding and set the stage for future maritime campaigns.
241 BC
First Punic War
Battle of the Aegates
Romans
Carthaginian
298day.year
Roman Emperor Maximian concludes his campaign in North Africa and makes a triumphal entry into Carthage.
Emperor Maximian concludes his North African campaign with a triumphal entry into Carthage in 298 AD.
In the spring of 298 AD, Roman Emperor Maximian completed a military expedition in North Africa aimed at quelling unrest and solidifying imperial authority. After restoring order in key provinces like Tripolitania and Numidia, he entered Carthage in grand triumph before assembled troops and local dignitaries. The ceremony reinforced the strength and unity of the Tetrarchy under Diocletian and Maximian. It showcased Rome’s commitment to securing its southern territories and protecting vital grain supplies. The successful campaign and celebration strengthened frontier defenses and affirmed Maximian’s reputation as a capable commander.
298
Maximian
North Africa
Carthage
1607day.year
Susenyos I defeats the combined armies of Yaqob and Abuna Petros II at the Battle of Gol in Gojjam, making him Emperor of Ethiopia.
Susenyos I secures the Ethiopian throne by defeating rival forces at the Battle of Gol in 1607.
On March 10, 1607, Susenyos I confronted the combined armies of rival claimants Yaqob and Abuna Petros II in the Gojjam region. Backed by firearms and military advisors from Portugal, Susenyos executed decisive cavalry and infantry maneuvers to break enemy lines. His victory at Gol eliminated major opposition and cleared the path to his coronation as Emperor of Ethiopia. The new ruler pursued closer ties with European powers and introduced reforms in military organization. However, his later attempts to align the Ethiopian Church with Rome sparked internal resistance, foreshadowing religious conflicts during his reign.
1607
Susenyos I
Yaqob
Abuna
Gojjam
Emperor of Ethiopia
1814day.year
Emperor Napoleon I is defeated at the Battle of Laon in France.
In 1814, Napoleon I suffers a major defeat at the Battle of Laon, undermining his defense of France.
On 10 March 1814, during the War of the Sixth Coalition, Emperor Napoleon I's forces clashed with Prussian and Russian troops at Laon in northeastern France. The French army, weakened by successive retreats, was positioned on the heights but was outmaneuvered by the coalition forces. The battle saw intense artillery bombardments and infantry assaults that forced the French to withdraw. Napoleon's defeat at Laon further eroded his hold on the French capital, Paris. This setback paved the way for the coalition invasion of France. It marked one of the final blows in the campaign that led to Napoleon's abdication later that year.
1814
Napoleon I
Battle of Laon
1861day.year
El Hadj Umar Tall seizes the city of S�e9gou, destroying the Bamana Empire of Mali.
In 1861, El Hadj Umar Tall captures Ségou, dismantling the Bamana Empire in present-day Mali.
On 10 March 1861, the Toucouleur leader El Hadj Umar Tall seized the city of Ségou, the heart of the Bamana Empire in western Africa. His forces overran the city's defenses after a determined campaign, marking the collapse of one of the region's major pre-colonial states. Umar Tall sought to expand Islamic rule and consolidate power across the western Sudan. The fall of Ségou disrupted established trade networks and political structures. This conquest paved the way for further Toucouleur expansion and eventual encounters with French colonial forces. The event exemplifies the era's dynamic interplay of African states and Islamic scholarship. Its memory endures in Malian history as a turning point before colonial subjugation.
1861
El Hadj Umar Tall
S�e9gou
Bamana Empire
Mali
1944day.year
Greek Civil War: The Political Committee of National Liberation is established in Greece by the National Liberation Front.
The National Liberation Front establishes the Political Committee of National Liberation in Greece, forming a rival government.
During the Greek Civil War on March 10, 1944, the National Liberation Front (EAM) established the Political Committee of National Liberation (PEEA) in territories under its control.
Also known as the "Mountain Government," PEEA aimed to administer liberated areas and implement social reforms.
It challenged the authority of the Greek government-in-exile and British influence in the region.
PEEA introduced measures such as land redistribution, workers’ rights, and educational initiatives.
Its formation deepened the divide between EAM forces and royalist factions, setting the stage for further conflict.
The committee’s activities highlighted the ideological struggle over Greece’s post-war future.
1944
Greek Civil War
Political Committee of National Liberation
National Liberation Front
1945day.year
World War II: The U.S. Army Air Force firebombs Tokyo, and the resulting conflagration kills more than 100,000 people, mostly civilians.
The U.S. Army Air Forces firebomb Tokyo, resulting in a devastating firestorm that killed an estimated 100,000 civilians.
On the night of March 9–10, 1945, the U.S. Army Air Forces launched Operation Meetinghouse, a massive firebombing raid over Tokyo during World War II.
Over 300 B-29 Superfortresses dropped more than 1,500 tons of incendiary bombs on the city’s densely populated areas.
The resulting firestorm engulfed neighborhoods in flames, reducing entire districts to ashes within hours.
Approximately 100,000 civilians perished, making it one of the deadliest air raids in history.
The destruction left more than a million people homeless and sparked debates over the morality of strategic bombing.
This raid marked a turning point in urban firebombing tactics and had lasting consequences for the Japanese home front.
1945
World War II
firebombs Tokyo
1959day.year
Tibetan uprising: Fearing an abduction attempt by China, thousands of Tibetans surround the Dalai Lama's palace to prevent his removal.
Thousands of Tibetans surround the Dalai Lama’s palace in Lhasa to protect him during the Tibetan uprising.
Amid the 1959 Tibetan uprising, on March 10 villagers and monks in Lhasa surrounded the Dalai Lama’s Norbulingka palace to prevent his forced exile by Chinese authorities.
Fearing that Chinese forces aimed to abduct or remove their spiritual leader, the crowd formed a human barrier around the palace grounds.
The tense standoff reflected deep-seated resentment toward Beijing’s rule and fueled hopes for Tibetan autonomy.
The Dalai Lama later escaped to India under a covert operation.
The events underscored the cultural and political struggle between Tibetans and the People’s Republic of China.
March 10 remains commemorated by Tibetan communities worldwide as a symbol of resistance and national identity.
1959
Tibetan uprising
Tibetans
Dalai Lama
1970day.year
Vietnam War: Captain Ernest Medina is charged by the U.S. military with My Lai war crimes.
Captain Ernest Medina is charged by the U.S. military for his role in the My Lai Massacre during the Vietnam War.
On March 10, 1970, Captain Ernest Medina became the first U.S. Army officer charged in connection with the My Lai Massacre, where American troops killed hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in March 1968.
The charges included murder and dereliction of duty for allegedly ordering or failing to stop the killings.
Medina’s trial attracted widespread media attention and intensified scrutiny of U.S. conduct in Vietnam.
His defense claimed he neither ordered nor was aware of the atrocities committed by his men.
Though acquitted of most serious charges, the proceedings underscored the moral and legal challenges faced by military leadership in wartime.
The case remains a pivotal moment in the history of military justice.
1970
Vietnam War
Ernest Medina
My Lai war crimes
1975day.year
Vietnam War: Ho Chi Minh Campaign: North Vietnamese troops attack Ban Mê Thuột in the South on their way to capturing Saigon in the final push for victory over South Vietnam.
North Vietnamese forces launch a major assault on Ban Mê Thuột, initiating the final offensive of the Vietnam War.
During the Ho Chi Minh Campaign on March 10, 1975, North Vietnamese troops launched a decisive attack on the strategic city of Ban Mê Thuột in South Vietnam. This assault marked the beginning of the final push towards Saigon, aiming to overwhelm South Vietnamese defenses. The fall of Ban Mê Thuột disrupted enemy supply lines and demoralized South Vietnamese forces. Following the victory, North Vietnamese units advanced rapidly southward, leading to the eventual collapse of the South Vietnamese government. The campaign showcased North Vietnam's improved military strategy and contributed to the end of the Vietnam War. The capture of Saigon two months later on April 30, 1975, sealed the reunification of Vietnam under communist control.
1975
Ho Chi Minh Campaign
North Vietnamese
attack Ban Mê Thuột
Saigon