April 25

Events

404 BC

Admiral Lysander and King Pausanias of Sparta blockade Athens and bring the Peloponnesian War to a successful conclusion.

In 404 BC, Spartan commander Lysander and King Pausanias blockaded Athens, forcing its surrender and ending the Peloponnesian War.
By deploying a naval blockade at the entrance to Piraeus, Admiral Lysander choked off the grain supply to Athens. Combined forces under King Pausanias tightened the siege, leaving the Athenians no choice but to capitulate. This decisive victory marked the end of a 27-year conflict between Athens and Sparta. It shifted the balance of power in ancient Greece, ushering in Spartan hegemony. The aftermath saw Athens stripped of its walls and fleet, and the brief rule of the Spartan-imposed Thirty Tyrants. This conclusion of the Peloponnesian War reshaped the political landscape of the classical world.
404 BC Lysander Pausanias of Sparta Peloponnesian War
775day.year

The Battle of Bagrevand puts an end to an Armenian rebellion against the Abbasid Caliphate. Muslim control over the South Caucasus is solidified and its Islamization begins, while several major Armenian nakharar families lose power and their remnants flee to the Byzantine Empire.

The 775 Battle of Bagrevand crushed an Armenian uprising against the Abbasid Caliphate, cementing Muslim rule in the South Caucasus.
Armed clashes at Bagrevand saw Abbasid forces decisively defeat Armenian rebels fighting to restore local autonomy. The victory ended the power of prominent nakharar families, leading many aristocrats to flee to the Byzantine Empire. Following the battle, the Abbasids solidified their control over the region and initiated policies that encouraged Islamization. This shift in power altered the cultural and religious landscape of the South Caucasus for centuries to come. Bagrevand stands as a turning point in Armenian history, marking the decline of indigenous noble dynasties.
775 Battle of Bagrevand Armenian Abbasid Caliphate South Caucasus nakharar Byzantine Empire
799day.year

After mistreatment and disfigurement by the citizens of Rome, Pope Leo III flees to the Frankish court of king Charlemagne at Paderborn for protection.

In 799, Pope Leo III fled Rome after being attacked by nobles and sought the protection of Charlemagne at Paderborn.
Conflict with hostile Roman aristocrats led to Pope Leo III being assaulted and disfigured, undermining his authority in Rome. Fearing for his life, he crossed the Alps and arrived at Charlemagne’s court in Paderborn in October 799. There, the Frankish king provided security and political support, restoring Leo’s standing within the Church. This alliance strengthened ties between the Papacy and the Carolingian Empire, shaping the future of Western Christendom. The event set the stage for Charlemagne’s eventual coronation as Emperor of the Romans in 800 AD. It also underscored the growing influence of secular rulers in ecclesiastical affairs.
799 disfigurement Pope Leo III Frankish Charlemagne Paderborn
1134day.year

The name Zagreb was mentioned for the first time in the Felician Charter relating to the establishment of the Zagreb Bishopric around 1094.

The name Zagreb appears for the first time in 1134 in the Felician Charter related to the founding of the Zagreb Bishopric.
Issued in 1134, the Felician Charter recorded the establishment of a bishopric at a settlement known as Zagreb around 1094. This document provides the earliest written evidence of the city’s name in medieval sources. The charter reflects the region’s integration into the Kingdom of Hungary and the growth of ecclesiastical administration. Over the centuries, Zagreb evolved from a religious center into the political and cultural capital of Croatia. Today, the city stands as a testament to its medieval origins and enduring historical significance.
1134 Zagreb
1607day.year

Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar.

On April 25, 1607, during the Eighty Years’ War, a Dutch fleet destroyed the anchored Spanish squadron at Gibraltar, securing naval supremacy.
The Dutch flotilla, commanded by Admiral Jacob van Heemskerk, launched a surprise attack on the Spanish fleet anchored at Gibraltar. Utilizing fireships and coordinated maneuvers, the Dutch overwhelmed the Spanish vessels before they could raise sail. The victory dealt a serious blow to Spanish maritime power in the Mediterranean and boosted Dutch morale. It underscored the rising influence of the Dutch Republic in European naval warfare. The battle’s outcome helped secure supply lines and trade routes vital to the burgeoning Dutch colonial enterprise.
1607 Eighty Years' War destroys Gibraltar
1644day.year

Transition from Ming to Qing: The Chongzhen Emperor, the last Emperor of Ming China, commits suicide during a peasant rebellion led by Li Zicheng.

In 1644, the Chongzhen Emperor of Ming China took his own life as peasant rebel forces led by Li Zicheng overtook Beijing, ending the Ming dynasty.
Li Zicheng’s rebel army breached Beijing’s defenses amid widespread famine and social unrest. Facing defeat, the Chongzhen Emperor retreated to Coal Hill and chose suicide over capture. His death marked the collapse of the Ming dynasty after nearly three centuries of rule. Within months, Manchu forces seized the capital, inaugurating the Qing dynasty. This dynastic shift transformed China’s political order and set the stage for two centuries of Manchu rule. The event symbolizes the fragility of imperial authority during periods of popular upheaval.
1644 Transition from Ming to Qing Chongzhen Emperor Ming China Li Zicheng
1707day.year

A coalition of Britain, the Netherlands and Portugal is defeated by a Franco-Spanish army at Almansa (Spain) in the War of the Spanish Succession.

The 1707 Battle of Almansa saw Bourbon forces defeat an allied British, Dutch, and Portuguese army, proving pivotal in the War of the Spanish Succession.
Fought near the town of Almansa in eastern Spain, the battle pitted the Duke of Berwick’s Bourbon army against an allied coalition. Superior cavalry charges and disciplined infantry tactics overwhelmed the allies under the Earl of Galway. The resounding Bourbon victory secured Philip V’s claim to the Spanish throne in the region. It led to the royal courts of Valencia and Aragon accepting Bourbon rule and undermined allied hopes for a favorable negotiated settlement. Almansa is remembered as a decisive encounter that shaped the balance of power in early 18th-century Europe.
1707 Almansa War of the Spanish Succession
1792day.year

Highwayman Nicolas J. Pelletier becomes the first person executed by guillotine.

Nicolas J. Pelletier became the first person executed by guillotine in France on April 25, 1792, heralding a new era of capital punishment.
As the French Revolution introduced legal reforms, the guillotine was promoted as a swift and egalitarian method of execution. Highwayman Nicolas J. Pelletier, convicted of robbery and murder, was the first to face this device on the Place de Grève in Paris. The macabre spectacle attracted large crowds curious about the revolutionary justice system. Pelletier’s execution set a grim precedent as the guillotine became a symbol of both reform and terror. Over the following years, thousands more would meet their end beneath its blade during the Reign of Terror.
1792 Highwayman Nicolas J. Pelletier guillotine
1792day.year

"La Marseillaise" (the French national anthem) is composed by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle.

In 1792, Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle composed "La Marseillaise", which would become the enduring national anthem of France.
Stationed in Strasbourg, Rouget de Lisle penned 'Chant de guerre pour l’armée du Rhin' to inspire Revolutionary troops. The rousing melody and fervent lyrics quickly spread among volunteers from Marseille who adopted it during their march on Paris. Renamed 'La Marseillaise', the song was officially declared France’s national anthem in 1795. Its stirring call to arms and themes of liberty resonated throughout Europe during the age of revolution. Today, 'La Marseillaise' remains a powerful symbol of French national identity and republican ideals.
La Marseillaise national anthem Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
1808day.year

Dano-Swedish War of 1808–1809: The Battle of Trangen took place at Trangen in Flisa, Hedemarkens Amt, between Swedish and Norwegian troops.

The 1808 Battle of Trangen saw Norwegian forces ambush a Swedish column in dense forests, marking a key clash in the Dano-Swedish War.
Norwegian forces under Captain Bernhard Ditlef von Krogh concealed themselves along the Trangen pass to surprise an advancing Swedish column. The tight terrain and coordinated volleys inflicted heavy losses on the Swedes and forced a chaotic retreat. This tactical victory boosted Norwegian morale and demonstrated the effectiveness of guerrilla tactics. The engagement formed part of the larger Dano-Swedish conflict, which arose from shifting alliances during the Napoleonic Wars. Battles like Trangen highlighted local resistance efforts that shaped Scandinavian military history.
1808 Dano-Swedish War of 1808–1809 Battle of Trangen Flisa Hedemarkens Amt
1829day.year

Charles Fremantle arrives in HMS Challenger off the coast of modern-day Western Australia prior to declaring the Swan River Colony for the British Empire.

Commander Charles Fremantle lands in Western Australia to claim territory for the British Empire and set the foundation for the Swan River Colony.
In April 1829, Commander Charles Fremantle aboard HMS Challenger reached the west coast of Australia. He formally claimed land along the Swan River in the name of King George IV. This declaration initiated British settlement efforts in what would become Western Australia. The Swan River Colony attracted pioneers seeking land grants and economic opportunity. Fremantle’s proclamation marked a key moment in Australia’s colonial expansion and imperial strategy. The settlement later evolved into the city of Perth and shaped the region’s political development.
1829 Charles Fremantle HMS Challenger Western Australia Swan River Colony British Empire
1846day.year

Thornton Affair: Open conflict begins over the disputed border of Texas, triggering the Mexican–American War.

A skirmish known as the Thornton Affair erupts along the Rio Grande, igniting the Mexican–American War.
On April 25, 1846, U.S. Dragoons under Major Seth Thornton clashed with Mexican cavalry near the Rio Grande. The incident arose from competing claims over Texas’ southern border following its annexation by the United States. President James K. Polk used reports of the attack to secure a war declaration from Congress. The ensuing Mexican–American War lasted two years and resulted in significant territorial gains for the U.S. Hosts of battles from California to Mexico City reshaped North America’s map and influenced future U.S.–Mexico relations.
1846 Thornton Affair Texas Mexican–American War