1510day.year
The Prince of Anhua rebellion begins when Zhu Zhifan kills all the officials invited to a banquet and declares his intent on ousting the powerful Ming dynasty eunuch Liu Jin during the reign of the Zhengde Emperor.
Prince of Anhua’s revolt erupted in chaos as Zhu Zhifan slaughtered officials, challenging Ming dynasty power.
On May 12, 1510, Zhu Zhifan, the Prince of Anhua, initiated a rebellion against the Ming court.
During a banquet, he had court officials murdered to protest the dominance of eunuch Liu Jin.
Liu Jin’s influence over the Zhengde Emperor had provoked widespread resentment.
The uprising briefly seized local strongholds before imperial forces suppressed it.
This revolt exposed the volatile relations between imperial princes and eunuch administrators.
The aftermath strengthened Liu Jin’s authority but foreshadowed continued court conflicts.
1510
Prince of Anhua rebellion
Zhu Zhifan
Ming dynasty
Liu Jin
Zhengde Emperor
1588day.year
French Wars of Religion: Henry III of France flees Paris after Henry I, Duke of Guise, enters the city and a spontaneous uprising occurs.
Amid the French Wars of Religion, King Henry III fled Paris as the Duke of Guise’s forces sparked an uprising.
On May 12, 1588, during the tumult of the French Wars of Religion, Henry III abandoned Paris.
Henry I, Duke of Guise, had entered the city, rallying Catholic League supporters.
A spontaneous uprising forced the king to seek refuge at Blois.
This confrontation intensified the struggle between royal authority and extremist factions.
It foreshadowed the Day of the Barricades and further civil strife.
The incident marked a critical turning point in France’s religious and political conflicts.
1588
French Wars of Religion
Henry III of France
Henry I, Duke of Guise
spontaneous uprising
1780day.year
American Revolutionary War: In the largest defeat of the Continental Army, Charleston, South Carolina is taken by British forces.
In 1780 during the American Revolutionary War, British forces captured Charleston, South Carolina, dealing the Continental Army its greatest defeat.
The capture of Charleston in May 1780 dealt a severe blow to the Continental Army. British forces, under General Sir Henry Clinton, laid siege to the city for over two weeks. The fall of Charleston marked the largest American defeat of the war, resulting in the loss of thousands of Continental soldiers and critical supplies. This victory strengthened British control over the southern colonies and disrupted Patriot plans. It forced American leaders to rethink their Southern Strategy and redeploy their forces. The event shifted momentum in the British favor for the remainder of the war in the South.
1780
American Revolutionary War
Continental Army
Charleston, South Carolina
is taken
1797day.year
War of the First Coalition: Napoleon Bonaparte conquers Venice.
Napoleon Bonaparte conquered Venice in 1797 during the War of the First Coalition, ending the Venetian Republic.
In May 1797, Napoleon Bonaparte's Italian campaign reached a decisive moment at Venice. French troops entered the city, ending over a millennium of Venetian independence. The conquest of Venice demonstrated Napoleon's military genius and strategic acumen. It paved the way for the Treaty of Campo Formio, which reorganized northern Italy and confirmed French gains. The fall of the Venetian Republic signaled the decline of old ruling orders in Europe. This event reshaped the political map of the Italian peninsula and highlighted the rise of revolutionary France.
1797
War of the First Coalition
Napoleon Bonaparte
Venice
1808day.year
Finnish War: Swedish-Finnish troops, led by Captain Karl Wilhelm Malmi, conquer the city of Kuopio from Russians after the Battle of Kuopio.
In 1808, during the Finnish War, Swedish-Finnish troops led by Karl Wilhelm Malmi captured Kuopio from Russian forces.
During the Finnish War of 1808–1809, Captain Karl Wilhelm Malmi led Swedish-Finnish forces in a key victory at Kuopio. The Battle of Kuopio ended with the capture of the city from Russian control, boosting Swedish-Finnish morale. Control of Kuopio disrupted Russian supply lines in eastern Finland and hindered their operations. The engagement illustrated the strategic importance of inland waterways and regional strongholds. It foreshadowed the war's eventual outcome and subsequent territorial changes. The victory at Kuopio remains a notable example of coordinated infantry and artillery tactics in the conflict.
1808
Finnish War
Kuopio
Battle of Kuopio
1821day.year
The first major battle of the Greek War of Independence against the Turks is fought in Valtetsi.
The first major battle of the Greek War of Independence was fought at Valtetsi in 1821, marking a key uprising against Ottoman rule.
The Battle of Valtetsi was the first major engagement of the Greek War of Independence. Greek revolutionaries fortified the village against Ottoman troops in May 1821. Their success demonstrated effective local organization and guerrilla tactics. The victory at Valtetsi inspired further uprisings across the Peloponnese and galvanized support. It marked a turning point in the struggle for Greek independence and boosted morale among Greek forces. This early triumph also attracted international attention to the Greek cause.
1821
Greek War of Independence
Turks
fought
Valtetsi
1862day.year
American Civil War: Union Army troops occupy Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Union forces occupied Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1862 during the American Civil War.
In May 1862, Union forces under General Benjamin Butler occupied Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as part of their campaign to control the Mississippi River. Securing the city weakened Confederate defenses and disrupted supply routes in the Gulf region. The occupation provided the Union with a strategic base for further operations in the Deep South. It also bolstered Union morale by demonstrating progress in the Western Theater. Confederate forces retreated, consolidating around critical river positions. This action contributed to the broader Anaconda Plan aimed at splitting the Confederacy.
1862
American Civil War
Union Army
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
1863day.year
American Civil War: Battle of Raymond: Two divisions of James B. McPherson's XVII Corps turn the left wing of Confederate General John C. Pemberton's defensive line on Fourteen Mile Creek, opening up the interior of Mississippi to the Union Army during the Vicksburg Campaign.
In 1863’s Battle of Raymond, Union forces under James B. McPherson flanked Confederate lines, paving the way for the Vicksburg Campaign.
In May 1863, two divisions of Major General James B. McPherson's XVII Corps struck Confederate forces at Raymond, Mississippi. The Union flanking maneuver broke Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton's defensive line along Fourteen Mile Creek. This victory opened the interior of Mississippi to the Union advance toward Vicksburg. The Battle of Raymond demonstrated effective coordination and surprise tactics in hostile terrain. It set the stage for the subsequent siege of Vicksburg, crucial for controlling the Mississippi River. Control of this area was vital to the Union's strategic objectives in the Western Theater.
1863
Battle of Raymond
James B. McPherson
XVII Corps
Confederate
John C. Pemberton
Fourteen Mile Creek
Mississippi
Union Army
Vicksburg Campaign
1864day.year
American Civil War: The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House: Union troops assault a Confederate salient known as the "Mule Shoe", with some of the fiercest fighting of the war, much of it hand-to-hand combat, occurring at "the Bloody Angle" on the northwest.
Union troops assaulted the Confederate Mule Shoe salient at Spotsylvania Court House in 1864, resulting in brutal close-quarters combat at the "Bloody Angle".
The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House featured intense fighting at the Confederate Mule Shoe salient in May 1864 during Grant's Overland Campaign. Union troops launched repeated assaults against the fortified position, leading to fierce hand-to-hand combat. The prolonged engagement at the "Bloody Angle" lasted nearly 24 hours under constant musket and artillery fire. Casualties on both sides were among the highest of the Civil War, reflecting the battle's brutal nature. The confrontation exemplified trench warfare tactics and the war's escalating violence. Despite heavy losses, Union forces continued their push toward Richmond.
1864
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
1865day.year
American Civil War: The Battle of Palmito Ranch: The first day of the last major land action to take place during the Civil War, resulting in a Confederate victory.
On May 12, 1865, the Battle of Palmito Ranch marked the final major land engagement of the American Civil War, ending in a Confederate victory.
Fought along the banks of the Rio Grande near Brownsville, Texas, this engagement occurred over two days at the war's end. Despite General Lee's surrender at Appomattox two weeks earlier, delayed communications allowed both Union and Confederate forces to clash. Confederate troops under Colonel John Salmon 'Rip' Ford repelled Union Colonel Theodore H. Barrett's attempts to cut off trade across the Mexican border. The battle demonstrated the confusion at war's end and remains the last land battle of the Civil War. Its outcome did little to change the war's conclusion but held symbolic significance in Confederate memory.
1865
Battle of Palmito Ranch
1885day.year
North-West Rebellion: The four-day Battle of Batoche, pitting rebel Métis against the Canadian government, comes to an end with a decisive rebel defeat.
On May 12, 1885, the four-day Battle of Batoche concluded in a decisive defeat for the Métis forces, effectively ending the North-West Rebellion.
Fought along the South Saskatchewan River, government troops led by Major-General Frederick Middleton engaged Métis defenders under Gabriel Dumont at Batoche, the provisional Métis capital. After days of artillery bombardment and infantry assaults, the defenders exhausted their ammunition and water supplies. The collapse of Métis resistance led to Louis Riel's capture and subsequent trial for treason. The defeat cemented Canadian authority over the Northwest Territories and ushered in new policies regarding Indigenous and Métis land rights. Its legacy influenced future debates on minority protections and western expansion.
1885
North-West Rebellion
Battle of Batoche
Métis
1942day.year
World War II: Second Battle of Kharkov: In eastern Ukraine, Red Army forces under Marshal Semyon Timoshenko launch a major offensive from the Izium bridgehead, only to be encircled and destroyed by the troops of Army Group South two weeks later.
Red Army launches a major offensive at Kharkov, only to be encircled and crushed by German Army Group South.
On May 12, 1942, Soviet forces under Marshal Semyon Timoshenko attacked from the Izium bridgehead toward Kharkov in eastern Ukraine.
Initially successful, the Red Army advanced quickly but overextended its supply lines and flanks.
By May 24, German Army Group South executed a pincer movement, trapping the Soviet troops in a deadly encirclement.
The disastrous defeat resulted in tens of thousands of Soviet casualties and prisoners.
This battle highlighted the importance of mobile defense and marked a temporary setback for Soviet strategic initiatives on the Eastern Front.
1942
World War II
Second Battle of Kharkov
Red Army
Semyon Timoshenko
Izium
Army Group South