1713day.year
Great Northern War: The Russian Navy led by Admiral Fyodor Apraksin land both at Katajanokka and Hietalahti during the Battle of Helsinki.
During the Great Northern War in 1713, Russian forces landed at Katajanokka and Hietalahti, initiating the Battle of Helsinki.
On May 10, 1713, Admiral Fyodor Apraksin led the Russian Baltic fleet in coordinated landings at Katajanokka and Hietalahti on the outskirts of Helsinki. Russian troops encountered minimal resistance and compelled Swedish defenders to withdraw from the unprepared coastal positions. The occupation of Helsinki provided a strategic base for Russian advances deeper into Finland. Over the coming days, the city's fortifications were dismantled or burned to deny their use to Swedish forces. The victory showcased Russia's growing naval and amphibious warfare capabilities. Finland remained under Russian occupation until a brief Swedish counterattack later in the Great Northern War. The battle reshaped the power dynamics in the Baltic region.
1713
Great Northern War
Russian Navy
Fyodor Apraksin
Katajanokka
Hietalahti
Battle of Helsinki
1775day.year
American Revolutionary War: A small Colonial militia led by Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold captures Fort Ticonderoga.
In 1775, Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold led Patriot forces to capture Fort Ticonderoga, gaining vital artillery for the American Revolutionary War.
On May 10, 1775, a small colonial militia commanded by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold surprised the British garrison at Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain. The capture yielded a significant cache of cannons and munitions crucial for the Continental Army. This daring operation boosted Patriot morale and control over a strategic waterway. Despite facing limited resources, the raiders executed a swift, almost bloodless victory. The seized artillery would later be transported to Boston to break the British siege. Fort Ticonderoga's fall marked one of the first offensive successes for the Patriots. It demonstrated early American resolve in the fight for independence.
1775
American Revolutionary War
Ethan Allen
Benedict Arnold
captures Fort Ticonderoga
1796day.year
War of the First Coalition: Napoleon wins a victory against Austrian forces at Lodi bridge over the Adda River in Italy. The Austrians lose some 2,000 men.
Napoleon Bonaparte achieved a decisive victory at the Battle of Lodi on May 10, 1796, solidifying his military reputation.
On May 10, 1796, at the Lodi bridge over the Adda River in northern Italy, General Napoleon Bonaparte led the French Army of Italy against entrenched Austrian positions. Despite facing heavy fire and formidable defenses, French troops executed a daring assault under Napoleon's direct command. The Austrians suffered around 2,000 casualties, retreating in disarray. This triumph solidified Napoleon's reputation as an innovative and courageous leader. It accelerated his advancement within the French military and political hierarchy. The victory at Lodi also boosted French morale and helped secure critical control over Lombardy. Historians view this battle as a key moment in Napoleon's rise to power.
1796
War of the First Coalition
Napoleon
victory
Austrian
Lodi
Adda River
1801day.year
First Barbary War: The Barbary pirates of Tripoli declare war on the United States of America.
The Barbary pirates of Tripoli declared war on the United States, igniting the First Barbary War and challenging American naval resolve.
On May 10, 1801, the rulers of Tripoli, part of the Barbary States along North Africa's Mediterranean coast, formally declared war on the young United States. The conflict arose from U.S. refusal to pay increased tribute to Barbary corsairs who preyed on American merchant ships. This declaration triggered the First Barbary War, America's first significant overseas military engagement. President Thomas Jefferson dispatched naval forces to the region, initiating a series of blockades and engagements. The war tested the fledgling U.S. Navy's capabilities and resolve. It culminated in treaties that curtailed piratical demands and established naval presence abroad. This conflict laid the foundation for American maritime policy in the Mediterranean.
1801
First Barbary War
Barbary pirates
Tripoli
1833day.year
A revolt broke out in southern Vietnam against Emperor Minh Mang, who had desecrated the deceased mandarin Le Van Duyet.
A revolt erupted in southern Vietnam against Emperor Minh Mang after the desecration of the respected mandarin Le Van Duyet.
On May 10, 1833, discontented southern Vietnamese officials and regional elites rose in open rebellion against Emperor Minh Mang. Their anger centered on the emperor's posthumous punishment of Le Van Duyet, a highly esteemed mandarin and former governor of Cochinchina. Minh Mang accused Duyet's followers of corruption and desecrated his tomb, sparking widespread outrage. The revolt aimed to protect regional autonomy and honor traditional loyalties. Although the insurgents initially secured control of key provinces, they eventually faced defeat by imperial forces. The uprising underscored deep political and cultural divisions within the Nguyễn dynasty. Its suppression tightened central authority but left a legacy of southern resistance.
1833
revolt
Minh Mang
Le Van Duyet
1857day.year
Indian Rebellion of 1857: In India, the first war of Independence begins. Sepoys mutiny against their commanding officers at Meerut.
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began with a sepoy mutiny in Meerut, igniting the first major uprising against British rule.
On May 10, 1857, Indian soldiers in the British East India Company's army, known as sepoys, revolted at the garrison in Meerut after grievances over military practices and cultural insensitivity. The mutineers executed several British officers and marched towards Delhi, rallying widespread support from local rulers and civilians. Their actions sparked a broader insurrection that spread across northern and central India. The rebellion challenged the East India Company's authority and exposed deep-seated tensions over land rights, taxation, and colonial governance. In response, British forces launched a harsh campaign of reconquest, marked by brutal reprisals and sieges. Though the revolt was eventually suppressed in 1858, it led to significant reforms. The British Crown dissolved the East India Company and assumed direct control over India, reshaping the subcontinent's political landscape.
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Sepoys
Meerut
1865day.year
American Civil War: In Kentucky, Union soldiers ambush and mortally wound Confederate raider William Quantrill, who lingers until his death on June 6.
Union forces ambush Confederate guerrilla leader William Quantrill in Kentucky, leaving him fatally wounded in the waning days of the Civil War.
On May 10, 1865, Union forces in Kentucky launched a daring ambush against William Quantrill, a notorious Confederate guerrilla leader responsible for multiple raids across Missouri and Kansas. The skirmish left Quantrill mortally wounded, though he would linger for nearly a month before succumbing to his injuries on June 6. Born William Clarke Quantrill, he led raiding parties infamous for brutal attacks on Union sympathizers. His wounding marked the end of one of the Civil War's most feared irregular commanders. The ambush reflected the Union's efforts to neutralize guerrilla warfare that threatened supply lines and civilian populations. This decisive encounter foreshadowed the final collapse of Confederate resistance in the border states. Quantrill's legacy remains controversial, emblematic of the war's violence beyond formal battlefields.
1865
Kentucky
raider
William Quantrill
June 6
1940day.year
World War II: German fighters accidentally bomb the German city of Freiburg.
In a tragic friendly-fire incident, German aircraft mistakenly bomb Freiburg.
During the early hours of May 10, 1940, Luftwaffe pilots en route to French targets misidentified Freiburg im Breisgau as a military objective and dropped bombs on the civilian city. The raid caused significant damage to homes, churches, and infrastructure, disrupting daily life and sparking outrage among residents. This rare case of German forces attacking their own territory underscored the fog of war and challenges of targeting accuracy at the time. The event remains a poignant reminder of the unintended consequences of aerial warfare.
1940
World War II
Freiburg
1940day.year
World War II: Winston Churchill is appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following the resignation of Neville Chamberlain. On the same day, Germany invades France, The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom occupies Iceland.
Winston Churchill becomes UK Prime Minister as Germany invades Western Europe and Britain seizes Iceland.
On May 10, 1940, Winston Churchill replaced Neville Chamberlain as Prime Minister, bringing a defiant spirit to Britain at a critical juncture in World War II. That same day, Germany launched its blitzkrieg into France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg in Operation Fall Gelb. To secure Atlantic routes, Britain occupied Iceland to prevent German control. Churchill’s appointment marked the start of his resolute wartime leadership, symbolized by his famous pledge to fight on beaches and never surrender, setting the tone for Britain's resistance against the Axis advance.
Winston Churchill
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Neville Chamberlain
occupies Iceland
1941day.year
World War II: The House of Commons in London is damaged by the Luftwaffe in an air raid.
The German Luftwaffe bombards the House of Commons during a WWII air raid on London.
On May 10, 1941, German bombers targeted London’s political heart, striking the Palace of Westminster and causing extensive damage to the House of Commons chamber. The raid occurred amid the Blitz, when nightly bombings sought to break British morale. Although the hall was wrecked, parliamentary proceedings continued elsewhere, demonstrating Britain’s resilience. The attack became a powerful symbol of the struggle for democracy against fascist aggression, and the chamber was painstakingly restored after the war.
1941
House of Commons
Luftwaffe
air raid
1941day.year
World War II: Rudolf Hess parachutes into Scotland to try to negotiate a peace deal between the United Kingdom and Nazi Germany.
Deputy Führer Rudolf Hess makes a solo flight to Scotland in an unsanctioned peace mission.
In a dramatic and unauthorized move on May 10, 1941, Rudolf Hess flew a Messerschmitt to Scotland and parachuted near Eaglesham, hoping to meet the Duke of Hamilton and negotiate peace between Britain and Nazi Germany. Captured by British authorities, Hess claimed to act on personal initiative and was deemed mentally unstable. His flight embarrassed Hitler, who denounced him as disturbed, and Hess was interned for the war’s duration. The episode remains one of World War II’s most enigmatic solo missions.
Rudolf Hess
Nazi Germany
1942day.year
World War II: The Thai Phayap Army invades the Shan States during the Burma Campaign.
Thailand’s Phayap Army crosses into British-controlled Shan States as part of the Burma Campaign.
On May 10, 1942, the Thai Phayap Army, allied with Imperial Japan, launched an offensive into the Shan States of British Burma. Aiming to secure territory and resources, Thai forces advanced into key border areas, collaborating with Japanese units. Their incursion disrupted Allied supply lines and strained local populations. Although Thailand sought territorial gains, the operation exposed the complexities of regional alliances and contributed to the wider theater of the Southeast Asian conflict during World War II.
1942
Phayap Army
Shan States
Burma Campaign