March 11

Events - Wars & Conflicts

1387day.year

Battle of Castagnaro: Padua, led by John Hawkwood, is victorious over Giovanni Ordelaffi of Verona.

In 1387, Padua's forces led by English mercenary John Hawkwood defeated Verona's Giovanni Ordelaffi at the Battle of Castagnaro.
The Battle of Castagnaro was fought on 11 March 1387, during the wars between northern Italian city-states. Sir John Hawkwood, commanding Paduan troops, staged a masterful ambush near the River Bacchiglione. Verona’s defender, Giovanni Ordelaffi, was caught off guard, leading to a decisive Paduan victory. The triumph solidified Hawkwood’s reputation as one of the era’s most skilled condottieri. It shifted the regional balance of power and influenced the military tactics of Italian city-states.
1387 Battle of Castagnaro Padua John Hawkwood Giovanni Ordelaffi Verona
1641day.year

Guaraní forces living in the Jesuit reductions defeat bandeirantes loyal to the Portuguese Empire at the Battle of Mbororé in present-day Panambí, Argentina.

In 1641, Guaraní warriors from Jesuit missions defeated Portuguese bandeirantes at the Battle of Mbororé in present-day Argentina.
At Panambí in modern Argentina, Guaraní defenders from Jesuit reductions repelled the Portuguese Empire’s bandeirantes on 11 March 1641. Led by mission-trained chiefs, they employed fortifications and guerrilla tactics against better-armed mercenaries. The victory secured the autonomy of Jesuit communities and hindered Portuguese expansion in the Río de la Plata region. It showcased the military organization of indigenous allies and the protective reach of Jesuit missions. The battle remains a symbol of indigenous resistance and collaboration in colonial Latin America.
1641 Guaraní Jesuit reductions bandeirantes Portuguese Empire Battle of Mbororé Panambí, Argentina
1795day.year

The Battle of Kharda is fought between the Maratha Confederacy and the Nizam of Hyderabad, resulting in Maratha victory.

On 11 March 1795, the Maratha Confederacy defeated the Nizam of Hyderabad at the Battle of Kharda in India.
The Battle of Kharda was fought on 11 March 1795 between the Maratha Confederacy and the Nizam of Hyderabad. Maratha forces under Peshwa Madhavrao II outmaneuvered the Nizam’s troops, securing a decisive victory. The triumph forced the Nizam to concede territory and pay heavy indemnities, expanding Maratha influence. It was one of the last major battles before the Marathas faced British power in subsequent decades. The outcome underscored the Confederacy’s military strength at its peak.
1795 Battle of Kharda Maratha Confederacy Nizam of Hyderabad
1845day.year

Flagstaff War: Unhappy with translational differences regarding the Treaty of Waitangi, chiefs Hōne Heke, Kawiti and Māori tribe members chop down the British flagpole for a fourth time and drive settlers out of Kororāreka, New Zealand.

Chiefs Hōne Heke and Kawiti led Māori fighters to cut down the British flagstaff at Kororāreka in 1845, sparking the Flagstaff War.
On 11 March 1845, Māori chiefs Hōne Heke and Kawiti felled the British flagstaff in Kororāreka, New Zealand, for the fourth time. They protested differences in English and Māori interpretations of the Treaty of Waitangi’s sovereignty clauses. The act ignited the Flagstaff War, leading to clashes between colonial forces and Northern Māori warriors. It highlighted the growing tensions over land, authority, and colonial governance in New Zealand. The conflict became a seminal event in the country’s early colonial history.
1845 Flagstaff War Treaty of Waitangi Hōne Heke Kawiti Māori Kororāreka
1861day.year

American Civil War: The Constitution of the Confederate States of America is adopted.

The Confederate States of America adopt their constitution, formalizing their secession from the Union.
On March 11, 1861, delegates from seven seceded Southern states ratified the Confederate Constitution, establishing a government separate from the United States. Modeled partly on the U.S. Constitution, it emphasized states’ rights and enshrined the protection of slavery. The new Confederacy, led by President Jefferson Davis, sought to legitimize its sovereignty on the brink of war. Its founding document codified the legal basis for secession and deepened the national divide that sparked the Civil War. Although it remained effective until 1865, the Confederate Constitution’s legacy is closely tied to the conflict over slavery. The document’s adoption remains a pivotal moment in American history, reflecting the era’s political tensions and regional loyalties.
1861 American Civil War Constitution of the Confederate States of America
1892day.year

The Saint-Germain bombing ushers France into the Ère des attentats (1892-1894).

A bombing at Saint-Germain-en-Laye marks the start of France’s ‘Ère des attentats’ campaign by anarchists.
On March 11, 1892, a homemade bomb detonated at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, targeting symbols of the French state. This act of violence inaugurated the ‘Ère des attentats,’ a period of anarchist bombings and political assassinations. Over the next two years, similar attacks spread fear across Paris and other cities in the Third Republic. Authorities responded with stricter security measures, expanded police powers, and harsher anti-anarchist laws. The era exposed deep social and political tensions in France, highlighting debates over inequality and state repression. Historians regard the ‘Ère des attentats’ as a pivotal chapter in the emergence of modern political terrorism.
1892 Saint-Germain bombing Ère des attentats
1917day.year

World War I: Mesopotamian campaign: Baghdad falls to Anglo-Indian forces commanded by General Frederick Stanley Maude.

Anglo-Indian forces capture Baghdad from the Ottomans during the Mesopotamian campaign of WWI.
On March 11, 1917, British and Indian troops under General Frederick Stanley Maude entered Baghdad, seizing it from Ottoman rule. This victory marked a strategic turning point in the Mesopotamian campaign of World War I. Control of Baghdad secured critical supply lines and protected vital oil fields in the Persian Gulf region. The successful advance was achieved through coordinated infantry assaults and river flotillas along the Tigris River. By undermining Ottoman authority, the campaign accelerated the empire’s eventual collapse in the Middle East. Baghdad remained under British administration until Iraq’s establishment as a kingdom in 1921.
1917 World War I Mesopotamian campaign Baghdad falls Anglo-Indian Frederick Stanley Maude
1941day.year

World War II: United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Lend-Lease Act into law, allowing American-built war supplies to be shipped to the Allies on loan.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Lend-Lease Act in 1941, enabling American war supplies to be lent to the Allies during World War II.
On March 11, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Lend-Lease Act into law, marking a decisive step away from US neutrality in World War II. The legislation authorized the United States to loan military equipment and supplies to Allied nations under threat from Axis forces. Over the course of the war, billions of dollars' worth of tanks, aircraft, ships, and weapons were transferred to Britain, the Soviet Union, China, and other allies. Lend-Lease not only bolstered the defense capabilities of these nations but also laid the groundwork for the United States' postwar global leadership. The program continued until 1945, playing a critical role in sustaining the Allied war effort and hastening the defeat of the Axis powers.
1941 World War II Franklin D. Roosevelt Lend-Lease Allies
1945day.year

World War II: The Imperial Japanese Navy attempts a large-scale kamikaze attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet anchored at Ulithi atoll in Operation Tan No. 2.

In 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched Operation Tan No. 2, a mass kamikaze strike against the US Pacific Fleet at Ulithi Atoll.
On March 11, 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy mounted Operation Tan No. 2, dispatching waves of kamikaze aircraft against the US Pacific Fleet anchored at Ulithi Atoll. The mission aimed to inflict damage on the Fifth Fleet and disrupt Allied operations in the Western Pacific. Despite the scale of the attack, US defenses were on alert and shot down many suicide planes before they could reach their targets. Only a handful of Japanese aircraft succeeded in breaching the fleet's protective screen, causing limited damage. The operation reflected Japan's desperate strategy in the war's final months, relying on kamikaze tactics to offset dwindling resources. It underscored the high human cost of the conflict's closing days and the fierce resolve on both sides.
1945 Imperial Japanese Navy kamikaze U.S. Pacific Fleet Ulithi Operation Tan No. 2
1945day.year

World War II: The Empire of Vietnam, a short-lived Japanese puppet state, is established.

In 1945, Japan established the Empire of Vietnam as a puppet state during the closing months of World War II.
On March 11, 1945, Imperial Japan proclaimed the creation of the Empire of Vietnam under Emperor Bao Dai, replacing French colonial rule. This puppet state was part of Japan's strategy to secure resources and loyalty in Indochina as World War II turned against the Axis. Although nominally independent, the Empire remained under Japanese military control until Japan's surrender in August. The short-lived regime fostered Vietnamese nationalist aspirations, indirectly setting the stage for the country's push for true independence. Following Japan's defeat, the French attempted to reassert authority, leading to the First Indochina War. The 1945 Empire of Vietnam thus became a key episode in Vietnam's tumultuous path to sovereignty.
Empire of Vietnam puppet state
1946day.year

Rudolf Höss, the first commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp, is captured by British troops.

In 1946, British forces capture Rudolf Höss, the first commandant of Auschwitz, bringing a key Nazi war criminal to justice.
Rudolf Höss, architect and commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp, was taken into custody by British troops on March 11, 1946. After evading capture for months, Höss was arrested in Flensburg, Germany, where he had assumed a false identity. His testimony at the Nuremberg Trials provided chilling insights into the mechanics of the Holocaust and industrialized mass murder. Höss later faced trial in Poland and was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity. He was executed on April 16, 1947, at the site of Auschwitz, symbolizing a measure of justice for millions of victims. His capture underlined the Allies' commitment to holding perpetrators accountable in the aftermath of World War II.
1946 Rudolf Höss Auschwitz concentration camp
1977day.year

The 1977 Hanafi Siege: Around 150 hostages held in Washington, D.C., by Hanafi Muslims are set free after ambassadors from three Islamic nations join negotiations.

During the 1977 Hanafi Siege in Washington, D.C., about 150 hostages were released after Islamic ambassadors negotiated with the hostage-takers.
On March 11, 1977, the Hanafi Siege in Washington, D.C., reached a turning point when around 150 hostages were freed by their captors. The siege, carried out by armed members of the Hanafi Muslim sect, targeted embassies and a television station to protest perceived injustices. Negotiations involved ambassadors from Egypt, Iran, and Pakistan, who appealed to the group's religious and political motivations. Their diplomatic intervention secured the release of most hostages without further bloodshed and prevented a potential escalation. After ten tense days, the remaining captors surrendered peacefully, ending one of the capital's most dramatic sieges. The incident highlighted the complexities of domestic terrorism and the potential of international diplomacy in crisis resolution.
1977 1977 Hanafi Siege Hanafi Islamic