537day.year
Siege of Rome: King Vitiges attempts to assault the northern and eastern city walls, but is repulsed at the Praenestine Gate, known as the Vivarium, by the defenders under the Byzantine generals Bessas and Peranius.
In 537, King Vitiges of the Ostrogoths laid siege to Rome’s northern and eastern walls. His forces were repelled by Byzantine defenders led by Generals Bessas and Peranius at the Praenestine Gate.
The Siege of Rome in 537 was a major engagement of the Gothic War between the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire and the Ostrogothic Kingdom. King Vitiges led the Gothic forces in an assault on Rome’s northern and eastern fortifications, aiming to recapture the city. The defenders, commanded by Byzantine generals Bessas and Peranius, focused their defense at the Praenestine Gate, also known as the Vivarium. Intense fighting erupted as siege engines and escalades were met with Greek fire and steadfast resistance. Vitiges’s repeated attempts failed to breach the walls, forcing the siege to stall. This successful defense maintained Byzantine control of Rome and prevented the Ostrogoths from gaining a symbolic victory. The event highlighted the strategic importance of Rome and the resilience of its defenses.
537
Siege of Rome
Vitiges
city walls
Praenestine Gate
Vivarium
Byzantine
Bessas
Peranius
717day.year
Battle of Vincy between Charles Martel and Ragenfrid.
Frankish leader Charles Martel defeated the forces of Ragenfrid at the Battle of Vincy. This victory solidified Martel’s control over the Frankish realms.
The Battle of Vincy in 717 was a pivotal clash during the power struggles of the early Frankish kingdoms. Charles Martel, representing the Austrasian faction, confronted Ragenfrid, the mayor of the palace of Neustria, near the modern-day region of Cambrai. Martel achieved a decisive victory, routing the Neustrian forces and capturing their camp. This triumph allowed Charles to assert dominance over the Frankish territories and suppress rival claims. It marked the beginning of the Carolingian ascendancy that would later reshape Western European politics. The outcome of Vincy set the stage for Martel’s later successes, including the Battle of Tours in 732. His consolidation of power laid the groundwork for the eventual establishment of the Carolingian Empire.
717
Battle of Vincy
Charles Martel
Ragenfrid
1801day.year
The Battle of Alexandria is fought between British and French forces near the ruins of Nicopolis near Alexandria in Egypt.
During the French Revolutionary Wars, British forces led by Sir Ralph Abercromby defeated the French near Alexandria, Egypt. The Battle of Alexandria marked a critical step in the British campaign to expel French troops from Egypt.
On March 21, 1801, British and French armies clashed near the ruins of Nicopolis, outside Alexandria, as part of the Egyptian campaign. General Sir Ralph Abercromby commanded the British expeditionary force sent to oust Napoleon’s troops. The battle involved intense infantry engagements on sandy plains, with heavy casualties on both sides. Abercromby was mortally wounded during the fighting but retained command, and his officers pressed on to secure victory. The French forces eventually withdrew to Alexandria, which surrendered months later. This victory reopened British control of the eastern Mediterranean and cut off French access to India. The campaign had far-reaching consequences for European power dynamics and imperial ambitions.
1801
Battle of Alexandria
British
French
Alexandria
Egypt
1814day.year
Napoleonic Wars: Austrian forces repel French troops in the Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube.
In 1814, during the Napoleonic Wars, Austrian forces halted Napoleon's French troops at the Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube.
The Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube took place on March 21, 1814, as part of the Six Days' Campaign in the waning months of the Napoleonic Wars. Austrian and Allied forces engaged the retreating French army in northeastern France. Despite being outnumbered, the Austrian defenders held firm and inflicted significant casualties. The clash forced Napoleon to continue his strategic withdrawal toward Paris. This engagement demonstrated the resilience of the Coalition armies and hastened the final downfall of the French Empire.
1814
Napoleonic Wars
Austrian
French
Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube
1821day.year
Greek War of Independence: Greek revolutionaries seize Kalavryta.
Greek revolutionaries captured the mountain town of Kalavryta, boosting their campaign against Ottoman rule.
On March 21, 1821, insurgent forces in the Greek War of Independence stormed and took control of Kalavryta in the Peloponnese. The seizure of this strategic town disrupted Ottoman communication lines and offered a symbolic victory to the rebels. Fighters secured local support and resources, strengthening their resolve. The success at Kalavryta galvanized further uprisings across the Greek territories. This event marked one of the early triumphs that would eventually lead to Greek independence.
1821
Greek War of Independence
Kalavryta
1918day.year
World War I: The first phase of the German spring offensive, Operation Michael, begins.
Germany launched Operation Michael, the first phase of its 1918 Spring Offensive, aiming to break Allied lines before American troops fully arrived.
On March 21, 1918, German forces initiated Operation Michael, the opening thrust of the Spring Offensive on the Western Front. Utilizing innovative stormtrooper tactics and intense artillery barrages, they achieved rapid advances and inflicted heavy losses on British units. The initial gains reached up to forty miles, creating a critical breach in Allied defenses. However, logistical strains and exhausted troops soon stalled the offensive. The failure of Operation Michael weakened Germany's strategic position and paved the way for the Allied Hundred Days Offensive, which ultimately ended the war.
1918
World War I
German spring offensive
Operation Michael
1937day.year
Ponce massacre: Nineteen unarmed civilians in Ponce, Puerto Rico are gunned down by police in a terrorist attack ordered by the US-appointed Governor, Blanton Winship.
The Ponce massacre occurred in 1937 when police opened fire on a peaceful Puerto Rican nationalist march, killing nineteen civilians.
On March 21, 1937, a peaceful march led by the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party commemorating the abolition of slavery turned deadly in Ponce. Following orders from the US-appointed governor Blanton Winship, local police opened fire on unarmed demonstrators. Nineteen people lost their lives and over two hundred were wounded in what became known as the Ponce massacre. The atrocity sparked outrage on the island and abroad, fueling the independence movement. An American commission later condemned the governor’s actions, but no officials were held accountable. The massacre remains a pivotal and tragic chapter in Puerto Rico’s history. It highlighted tensions over colonial rule and the struggle for civil rights under US governance.
1937
Ponce massacre
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Blanton Winship
1943day.year
Wehrmacht officer Rudolf von Gersdorff plots to assassinate Adolf Hitler by using a suicide bomb, but the plan falls through; von Gersdorff is able to defuse the bomb in time and avoid suspicion.
In 1943, Wehrmacht officer Rudolf von Gersdorff attempted a suicide bombing to assassinate Adolf Hitler but narrowly escaped detection after the plan failed.
Rudolf von Gersdorff was a German army officer who secretly opposed the Nazi regime. On March 21, 1943, he volunteered to carry out a suicide bombing during a Hitler exhibition in Berlin, concealing explosives on his person. The plan relied on a ten-minute fuse, but Hitler departed earlier than expected, foiling the assassination attempt. Gersdorff managed to defuse the bomb in a public restroom minutes before detonation, avoiding suspicion by blending back into the crowd. Although he survived, his defiance remained undiscovered for years due to strict Gestapo oversight. His plot exemplified the risks taken by members of the German resistance. Gersdorff’s story has since become emblematic of internal opposition within Hitler’s military ranks.
1943
Wehrmacht
Rudolf von Gersdorff
Adolf Hitler
1945day.year
World War II: British troops liberate Mandalay, Burma.
British forces liberated Mandalay in Burma on March 21, 1945, advancing Allied control during World War II.
As part of the larger Burma Campaign, British and Indian forces launched operations to retake central Burma from Japanese occupation. On March 21, 1945, troops entered Mandalay after heavy fighting along the Irrawaddy River. The city’s capture was a strategic victory that disrupted Japanese supply lines and communications. Allied engineers rebuilt bridges and restored transportation routes, enabling further advances toward Rangoon. The liberation boosted Allied morale and paved the way for Burma’s full liberation later that year. Local populations welcomed the Allied troops, though the conflict left many areas devastated. The fall of Mandalay marked a turning point in the Southeast Asian theater of World War II.
1945
World War II
Mandalay
Burma
1945day.year
World War II: Operation Carthage: Royal Air Force planes bomb Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. They also accidentally hit a school, killing 125 civilians.
During Operation Carthage in 1945, RAF bombers targeted Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen but accidentally hit a school, causing significant civilian casualties.
Operation Carthage was a low-level RAF air raid carried out on March 21, 1945, to destroy the Gestapo headquarters housed in the Shellhus building in Copenhagen. The mission aimed to free Danish resistance prisoners and disrupt Gestapo operations. Pilots navigated challenging urban terrain and faced anti-aircraft defenses. Although the Gestapo building was heavily damaged, debris from bomb impacts ignited a nearby school, the Institut Jeanne d’Arc. Tragically, 125 civilians, including children, lost their lives in the unintended strike. The raid remains controversial for its high civilian toll despite its military success. It underscored the ethical dilemmas of precision bombing in densely populated areas during World War II.
Operation Carthage
Royal Air Force
Gestapo
Copenhagen
1945day.year
World War II: Bulgaria and the Soviet Union successfully complete their defense of the north bank of the Drava River as the Battle of the Transdanubian Hills concludes.
On March 21, 1945, Bulgarian and Soviet forces completed the defense of the north bank of the Drava River, ending the Battle of the Transdanubian Hills in World War II.
The Battle of the Transdanubian Hills was a critical defensive engagement in the closing months of World War II. Bulgarian and Soviet armies held strategic positions along the Drava River against Axis forces. Intense combat and challenging terrain made the north bank a pivotal battleground. On March 21, 1945, the defenders successfully repelled enemy offensives and secured the river line. This victory prevented Axis forces from advancing into Hungary and the Balkans. The battle’s conclusion bolstered Allied momentum in Central Europe. The operation showcased effective coordination between Bulgarian and Soviet units. It marked one of the final pushes before the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany.
Bulgaria
Soviet Union
Drava
Battle of the Transdanubian Hills
1968day.year
Battle of Karameh in Jordan between the Israel Defense Forces and the combined forces of the Jordanian Armed Forces and PLO.
On March 21, 1968, the Battle of Karameh unfolded in Jordan as Israeli forces clashed with Jordanian troops and the PLO in a tense Cold War-era conflict.
The Battle of Karameh was a pivotal engagement between the Israel Defense Forces and a coalition of Jordanian military units and Palestinian guerrillas. Israeli forces launched a retaliatory strike following PLO attacks on their territory. The fighting focused on the town of Karameh and its strategic military base along the Jordan River. Despite superior equipment, Israeli troops faced fierce resistance, leading to heavy casualties on both sides. The battle boosted PLO morale and elevated the organization’s status in the Arab world. Jordanian forces also claimed a symbolic victory, having defended their sovereignty. International observers watched closely as the conflict intensified regional tensions. Karameh remains a significant historical moment in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
1968
Battle of Karameh
Jordan
Israel Defense Forces
Jordanian Armed Forces
PLO