1146day.year
Bernard of Clairvaux preaches his famous sermon in a field at Vézelay, urging the necessity of a Second Crusade. Louis VII is present, and joins the Crusade.
In 1146, Bernard of Clairvaux’s stirring sermon at Vézelay ignites Europe’s call for a Second Crusade, with King Louis VII pledging his support.
Cistercian abbot Bernard of Clairvaux addresses a vast assembly in a Burgundian field, framing the liberation of Jerusalem as a holy duty. His eloquence moves King Louis VII of France to swear an oath and lead the expedition. The sermon effectively launches the Second Crusade, rallying knights, nobles, and commoners alike. Thousands pledge to journey to the Holy Land, inspired by Bernard’s vision of chivalry and Christian duty. Despite high hopes for a swift victory, the crusading armies later face severe hardships and strategic setbacks. Bernard’s oration remains a defining moment in medieval religious and military history.
1146
Bernard of Clairvaux
Vézelay
Second Crusade
Louis VII
1174day.year
A conspiracy against Saladin, aiming to restore the Fatimid Caliphate, is revealed in Cairo, involving senior figures of the former Fatimid regime and the poet Umara al-Yamani. Modern historians doubt the extent and danger of the conspiracy reported in official sources, but its ringleaders will be publicly executed over the following weeks.
In 1174, a plot to overthrow Saladin and reinstate the Fatimid Caliphate is exposed in Cairo, leading to the execution of its alleged ringleaders.
Cairo becomes the scene of a purported conspiracy by former Fatimid officials and poet Umara al-Yamani to dethrone Saladin. Chroniclers portray the scheme as a significant threat to the newly established Ayyubid dynasty. Modern scholarship, however, questions how organized or dangerous the plot truly was. Regardless, Saladin orders swift justice, staging public executions of the accused leaders. This crackdown consolidates his rule and deters further dissent. The incident underscores the turbulent transition from Shiite Fatimid to Sunni Ayyubid governance in Egypt.
1174
conspiracy
Saladin
Fatimid Caliphate
Cairo
Umara al-Yamani
1774day.year
American Revolution: The Kingdom of Great Britain orders the port of Boston, Massachusetts closed pursuant to the Boston Port Act.
In 1774, Parliament enacts the Boston Port Act, sealing Boston Harbor and escalating colonial unrest on the eve of revolution.
As part of the Intolerable Acts, the Boston Port Act punishes Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party by blocking all trade until damages are paid. The closure cripples the city’s economy, affecting merchants, sailors, and laborers. Colonists decry the measure as an assault on their rights and liberties. Solidarity committees form across the Thirteen Colonies, sending supplies and political support to Boston. The crisis propels delegates to convene the First Continental Congress later that year. The Act thus transforms local protest into a united movement for independence.
1774
American Revolution
Kingdom of Great Britain
Boston
Massachusetts
Boston Port Act
1814day.year
The Sixth Coalition occupies Paris after Napoleon's Grande Armée capitulates.
After the Grande Armée capitulated, the Sixth Coalition occupied Paris, marking the end of Napoleon's rule.
In March 1814, after weeks of fierce campaigning across Europe, Napoleon's Grande Armée was forced to capitulate. The armies of the Sixth Coalition, comprised of Russia, Prussia, Austria, Sweden, the United Kingdom and other allies, marched into Paris. This occupation signified the collapse of Napoleon's first empire. Paris fell without significant resistance, and Coalition troops took control of the city. The occupation led directly to Napoleon's abdication and his exile to Elba. It also set the stage for the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy under Louis XVIII. This event marked a decisive turning point in European history.
1814
Sixth Coalition
occupies Paris
Napoleon
Grande Armée
1899day.year
Philippine–American War: Malolos, capital of the First Philippine Republic, is captured by American forces.
American forces captured Malolos, the capital of the First Philippine Republic, during the Philippine–American War.
In March 1899, amid the Philippine–American War, American troops advanced on Malolos, the newly declared capital of the First Philippine Republic. The capture followed a series of engagements as US forces sought to assert control over the archipelago after the Spanish-American War. Despite resistance from Filipino insurgents commanded by President Emilio Aguinaldo, American units overwhelmed the city's defenses. Malolos fell on March 31, signaling a decisive shift in the conflict's momentum. The occupation disrupted the Philippine government's operations and forced Aguinaldo to relocate. This event highlighted the complexities of American colonial policy and the Filipino struggle for self-governance. The fall of Malolos deepened hostilities and shaped the war's brutal course over the following years.
1899
Philippine–American War
Malolos
First Philippine Republic
is captured by American forces
1918day.year
Massacre of ethnic Azerbaijanis is committed by allied armed groups of Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Bolsheviks. Nearly 12,000 Azerbaijani Muslims are killed.
In 1918, allied Armenian and Bolshevik forces massacred nearly 12,000 Azerbaijani Muslims during ethnic violence in the Caucasus.
Amid the turmoil of World War I and the Russian Revolution, allied forces of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Bolsheviks attacked Azerbaijani civilians. Nearly 12,000 Azerbaijani Muslims were killed in and around Baku. The violence was fueled by ethnic tensions and political rivalries in the collapsing Russian Empire. Survivors fled or were displaced, and the massacre deepened mistrust between communities. The events of March 31, 1918 are remembered as one of the darkest episodes in the region’s history.
1918
Massacre of ethnic Azerbaijanis
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Bolsheviks
Azerbaijani
1939day.year
Events preceding World War II in Europe: Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain pledges British military support to the Second Polish Republic in the event of an invasion by Nazi Germany.
In 1939, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain pledged British military support to Poland, ending Britain’s policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany.
On March 31, 1939, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain formally guaranteed military support to Poland in the event of a German invasion. This pledge marked the end of Britain’s policy of appeasement toward Adolf Hitler’s aggression. Chamberlain’s commitment was intended to deter further expansion by Nazi Germany. When Germany invaded Poland on September 1, World War II officially began with Britain and France declaring war. The guarantee to Poland underscored the high stakes of European diplomacy in 1939.
1939
Events preceding World War II in Europe
Neville Chamberlain
Second Polish Republic
Nazi Germany
1942day.year
World War II: Japanese forces invade Christmas Island, then a British possession.
In 1942, Japanese forces invaded Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, capturing the British-held territory and its phosphate resources.
On March 31, 1942, Japanese forces invaded Christmas Island, then a British territory in the Indian Ocean. The small garrison was quickly overwhelmed by Japanese cruiser and minelayer units. The occupation aimed to control phosphate resources and sever Allied communication cables. Christmas Island remained under Japanese control until September 1945, affecting local governance and industry. After the war, the island returned to British administration and its phosphate mines resumed operation.
1942
World War II
Japanese forces invade Christmas Island
1945day.year
World War II: A defecting German pilot delivers a Messerschmitt Me 262A-1, the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft, to the Americans, the first to fall into Allied hands.
A German Luftwaffe pilot defects in March 1945, bringing the Messerschmitt Me 262A-1, the world's first operational jet-powered fighter, into American hands.
In 1945, toward the end of World War II, a German pilot defected to Allied territory with a Messerschmitt Me 262A-1.
The Me 262 was the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft, representing a major leap in aviation technology.
Prior to this, jet propulsion in combat was untested by the Allies.
By delivering the aircraft intact, the pilot provided invaluable intelligence on Nazi Germany's cutting-edge designs.
American engineers and military planners studied the jet's performance and engineering to inform future aircraft development.
This event marked the Allies' first hands-on examination of operational jet fighter capabilities, influencing post-war aviation.
1945
German
Messerschmitt Me 262A-1
jet-powered
fighter aircraft
1991day.year
The Warsaw Pact formally disbands.
The Warsaw Pact military alliance was officially dissolved on March 31, 1991.
Formed in 1955 as a counterbalance to NATO, the Warsaw Pact united the Soviet Union with its Eastern European satellite states. As Communist regimes collapsed across the region, the alliance lost much of its cohesion and purpose. On March 31, 1991, representatives met in Prague to sign the formal dissolution agreement. The disbanding marked the end of decades of military cooperation under Soviet leadership. This act symbolized the collapse of the Eastern Bloc and the conclusion of Cold War divisions in Europe. Former member nations subsequently embarked on independent political and defense paths in the post-Soviet era.
Warsaw Pact
1992day.year
The USS Missouri, the last active United States Navy battleship, is decommissioned in Long Beach, California.
The USS Missouri, the last active US Navy battleship, was decommissioned on March 31, 1992.
Commissioned in June 1944, USS Missouri earned fame as the site of Japan's formal surrender in World War II. The battleship later served in the Korean War and saw action during the Gulf War after a major modernization. By the early 1990s, advances in naval warfare rendered traditional battleships obsolete. On March 31, 1992, Missouri was decommissioned in Long Beach, California, ending the era of American battleships. The vessel was preserved as a museum ship at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, allowing visitors to explore its storied decks. USS Missouri remains a powerful symbol of 20th-century naval history and victory.
1992
USS Missouri
United States Navy
battleship
Long Beach, California
2004day.year
Iraq War in Anbar Province: In Fallujah, Iraq, four American private military contractors working for Blackwater USA, are killed after being ambushed.
In 2004, four Blackwater USA contractors were ambushed and killed in Fallujah during the Iraq War's Anbar campaign.
On March 31, 2004, four American private military contractors employed by Blackwater USA were ambushed in Fallujah, Iraq.
They were escorting a supply convoy when insurgent forces opened fire, killing all aboard.
Their deaths sparked outrage and intensified U.S. military operations in the region.
The incident led to the First Battle of Fallujah, known as Operation Vigilant Resolve.
It highlighted the risks faced by private security firms in conflict zones and fueled debates on their roles.
The ambush underscored the escalating insurgency in Anbar Province and challenges for coalition forces.
2004
Iraq War in Anbar Province
Fallujah
private military contractors
Blackwater USA
ambushed