1457 BC
Battle of Megido – the first battle to have been recorded in what is accepted as relatively reliable detail.
The Battle of Megido in 1457 BC is considered the earliest battle recorded in reliable detail.
Fought in ancient Canaan, this conflict pitted the forces of Egyptian pharaoh Thutmose III against a coalition of Canaanite vassal states. It is documented in hieroglyphic inscriptions that detail troop movements and tactics. The battle took place near the modern site of Tell el-Mutasellim in Palestine. Thutmose III's victory secured Egyptian dominance in the Levant for decades. The campaign provides valuable insight into Bronze Age warfare and statecraft.
1457 BC
Battle of Megido
battle
69day.year
Defeated by Vitellius' troops at Bedriacum, Roman emperor Otho commits suicide.
After his defeat by Vitellius’ forces in 69 AD, Roman emperor Otho took his own life.
Emperor Otho faced Vitellius’ armies at Bedriacum during the Year of the Four Emperors in April 69 AD. Following his troops' betrayal and the loss of the battle, Otho chose suicide to spare Rome further bloodshed. His death led to Vitellius assuming the imperial purple, intensifying the civil strife. This episode highlights the volatility of Roman imperial succession. It remains a dramatic example of power struggles in the first-century empire.
69
Vitellius
Otho
73day.year
Masada, a Jewish fortress, falls to the Romans after several months of siege, ending the First Jewish–Roman War.
In 73 AD, the Jewish fortress of Masada fell to the Romans, concluding the First Jewish–Roman War.
The siege of Masada lasted for several months as Roman legions built a massive earthen ramp to breach the stronghold. Jewish rebels led by Eleazar ben Ya’ir held out on the plateau above the Dead Sea. Upon entry, Roman soldiers discovered that the defenders had chosen mass suicide over capture. The fall of Masada symbolized both Roman military might and Jewish resistance. It has since become an enduring symbol of courage and tragic loss.
73
Masada
Romans
First Jewish–Roman War
1346day.year
Stefan Dušan, "the Mighty", is crowned Emperor of the Serbs at Skopje, his empire occupying much of the Balkans.
Stefan Dušan was crowned 'Emperor of the Serbs' in Skopje in 1346, creating a powerful Balkan state.
As king of Serbia since 1331, Stefan Dušan expanded his realm to include much of modern-day Albania, Macedonia, and Greece. His coronation in April 1346 elevated Serbia to an empire on par with Byzantium. Dušan enacted the Dušan’s Code, a comprehensive legal system that strengthened central authority. Under his rule, Serbian culture and the Orthodox Church flourished. His legacy shaped Balkan politics for generations.
1346
Stefan Dušan
Emperor of the Serbs
Skopje
his empire
Balkans
1520day.year
The Revolt of the Comuneros begins in Spain against the rule of Charles V.
The Revolt of the Comuneros against Charles V began in Spain in 1520, challenging royal authority.
Discontent among Castilian nobles, towns, and clergy over taxation and foreign influence sparked the uprising. Leaders like Juan de Padilla and María Pacheco rallied citizens to defend local privileges against imperial centralization. Although initial battles saw rebel victories, royal forces eventually suppressed the revolt. The conflict exposed tensions in Charles V's vast Habsburg domains. It marked a significant moment of popular protest in early modern Spain.
1520
Revolt of the Comuneros
Charles V
1582day.year
Spanish conquistador Hernando de Lerma founds the settlement of Salta, Argentina.
Spanish conquistador Hernando de Lerma founded the settlement of Salta in present-day Argentina in 1582.
Named 'Salta la Linda' for its picturesque setting, the town became a key colonial outpost in the Alto Perú trade routes. Lerma chose the location for its fertile valleys and access to the Lerma River. Salta grew as a center of agriculture, livestock, and regional governance under Spanish rule. Its foundation laid the groundwork for a city that remains important in northwestern Argentina. Today, Salta is celebrated for its colonial architecture and Andean culture.
1582
conquistador
Hernando de Lerma
Salta
1746day.year
The Battle of Culloden is fought between the French-supported Jacobites and the British Hanoverian forces commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, in Scotland.
The Battle of Culloden saw Jacobite forces clash with British government troops in Scotland in 1746.
On April 16, 1746, the French-backed Jacobite army under Charles Edward Stuart faced the Duke of Cumberland's Hanoverian forces near Inverness. The poorly coordinated Jacobite assault was repelled in under an hour. The decisive government victory ended the Jacobite rising and led to brutal reprisals in the Highlands. It effectively crushed hopes of restoring the Stuart monarchy. Culloden remains a poignant symbol of Scottish resistance and cultural loss.
1746
Battle of Culloden
Jacobites
Hanoverian
William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland
1780day.year
Franz Friedrich Wilhelm von Fürstenberg founds the University of Münster.
Franz Friedrich Wilhelm von Fürstenberg founded the University of Münster in 1780.
Established by papal and imperial decree, the university aimed to advance theology, law, and the sciences. Fürstenberg’s vision was to modernize education in the Prince-Bishopric of Münster. The new institution attracted scholars from across Europe and became a center of Enlightenment thought. Over the centuries, it expanded into a major public research university. Today, it is known for its strong programs in humanities, natural sciences, and law.
1780
Franz Friedrich Wilhelm von Fürstenberg
University of Münster
1799day.year
French Revolutionary Wars: The Battle of Mount Tabor: Napoleon drives Ottoman Turks across the River Jordan near Acre.
During the French Revolutionary Wars in 1799, Napoleon defeated Ottoman forces at Mount Tabor near Acre.
As part of his Egyptian campaign, Napoleon Bonaparte led French troops against the Ottoman army led by Jazzar Pasha. The fierce engagement on the slopes of Mount Tabor saw the French use cavalry charges to break enemy lines. This victory helped secure the French advance into Ottoman Syria, although progress stalled at Acre. Napoleon’s tactics at Mount Tabor became a textbook example of rapid maneuver warfare. The battle showcased his leadership and the mobility of Revolutionary armies.
1799
French Revolutionary Wars
Battle of Mount Tabor
Napoleon
Ottoman Turks
River Jordan
Acre
1818day.year
The United States Senate ratifies the Rush–Bagot Treaty, limiting naval armaments on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.
In 1818, the U.S. Senate ratified the Rush–Bagot Treaty, limiting naval forces on the Great Lakes.
Negotiated between the United States and Great Britain after the War of 1812, the treaty aimed to demilitarize the US-Canada border. It restricted each side to only a few small vessels on Lake Ontario and the upper Great Lakes. Ratification on April 16, 1818, formalized one of the earliest arms-control agreements. The treaty has endured with few changes, contributing to peaceful relations along the longest undefended border in the world. It set a precedent for future Anglo-American cooperation.
1818
United States Senate
Rush–Bagot Treaty
Great Lakes
Lake Champlain
1838day.year
The French Army captures Veracruz in the Pastry War.
French forces seize the strategic port of Veracruz, marking a key victory in the Pastry War between France and Mexico.
In late 1838, mounting French demands over reparations led to military intervention in Mexico. The French Army landed forces on the Gulf coast and advanced on Veracruz. After a brief siege, French troops captured the fortified port on April 16. This action demonstrated European naval power in the Americas and pressured Mexico to settle claims. The capture of Veracruz ultimately forced the Mexican government to negotiate and pay damages, ending the so-called Pastry War by early 1839. Though limited in scale, the conflict underscored tensions between European powers and newly independent nations.
French Army
captures Veracruz
Pastry War
1847day.year
Shooting of a Māori by an English sailor results in the opening of the Wanganui Campaign of the New Zealand Wars.
An English sailor’s shooting of a Māori man triggers the Wanganui Campaign, a major conflict in the New Zealand Wars.
Tensions between British settlers and local Māori in the Wanganui region escalated when an English sailor shot a Māori in April 1847. Māori chiefs demanded justice, but British authorities failed to respond to their grievances. In retaliation, Māori forces attacked settler positions along the Wanganui River. The resulting Wanganui Campaign saw several engagements between colonial troops and Māori warriors over the next year. This campaign highlighted the broader struggle for land and sovereignty that defined the New Zealand Wars. It remains a significant chapter in New Zealand’s colonial history.
1847
Māori
Wanganui Campaign
New Zealand Wars