1344day.year
A Latin Christian fleet defeats a Turkish fleet in the battle of Pallene during the Smyrniote crusades.
A Latin Christian fleet triumphs over the Turkish navy at Pallene in 1344, marking a pivotal victory in the Smyrniote Crusades.
On May 13, 1344, as part of the Smyrniote Crusades, a Latin Christian naval force engaged and overcame a Turkish fleet near Pallene. The Crusader armada skillfully penetrated the Turkish line, securing a decisive victory. This battle helped protect Smyrna and surrounding territories from Ottoman influence. It demonstrated evolving naval tactics and the strategic importance of controlling Aegean waters. The triumph boosted morale among Christian states and delayed Turkish expansion in the region.
1344
Latin Christian
battle of Pallene
Smyrniote crusades
1568day.year
Mary, Queen of Scots, is defeated at the Battle of Langside, part of the civil war between Queen Mary and the supporters of her son, James VI.
Mary, Queen of Scots, suffers defeat at the Battle of Langside in 1568, ending her campaign to regain control of Scotland.
On May 13, 1568, Mary, Queen of Scots, led her forces in battle at Langside near Glasgow against the army loyal to her son, James VI. Following her forced abdication in favor of her infant son, Mary sought to regain her throne but met strong resistance. The decisive defeat at Langside shattered her hopes of restoring her authority in Scotland. She fled southward and sought refuge in England, landing near Workington. Mary’s arrival in England set in motion events that would lead to her long captivity under Queen Elizabeth I, altering the course of British history.
1568
Mary, Queen of Scots
Battle of Langside
civil war between Queen Mary and the supporters of her son, James VI.
1612day.year
Sword duel between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro on the shores of Ganryū Island. Kojiro dies at the end.
Legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi defeats Sasaki Kojiro in a famed duel on Ganryū Island in 1612.
On May 13, 1612, two of Japan’s most celebrated swordsmen faced each other in a one-on-one duel on Ganryū Island. Miyamoto Musashi, known for his unorthodox two-sword style, challenged Sasaki Kojiro, famed for his deadly 'swallow cut.' Musashi arrived late and used a wooden sword carved from an oar, catching Kojiro off guard. The swift and unexpected strike to Kojiro’s skull proved fatal, ending the duel decisively. Musashi’s victory cemented his legend and highlighted his innovative martial tactics. The duel has been immortalized in Japanese literature and art as a symbol of strategy, skill, and the samurai spirit.
1612
Miyamoto Musashi
Sasaki Kojiro
1654day.year
A Venetian fleet under Admiral Cort Adeler breaks through a line of galleys and defeats the Turkish navy.
Admiral Cort Adeler’s Venetian fleet breaks the Ottoman galley line and secures victory in 1654.
On May 13, 1654, during the ongoing Venetian–Ottoman conflicts, Admiral Cort Adeler led a squadron of Venetian galleys into battle against a larger Ottoman fleet. Utilizing superior seamanship and tactical formations, the Venetians penetrated the Turkish line. The victory at sea disrupted Ottoman supply routes and demonstrated the effectiveness of Venetian naval reforms. This engagement bolstered Venetian morale and maritime prestige in the eastern Mediterranean. The success also prolonged the Republic’s resistance against Ottoman expansion. Cort Adeler’s leadership was celebrated in Venice and inspired further maritime innovations.
1654
Cort Adeler
1804day.year
Forces sent by Yusuf Karamanli of Tripoli to retake Derna from the Americans attack the city.
Tripoli’s ruler Yusuf Karamanli launches an attack on Derna in 1804 to reclaim it from American forces during the First Barbary War.
On May 13, 1804, Tripoli’s ruler Yusuf Karamanli dispatched troops to recapture the port city of Derna from a U.S. Marine and mercenary garrison. The city had fallen to American forces earlier in the year in a daring expedition. The assault aimed to reassert Karamanli control over the coast and disrupt American supply lines. Fierce combat ensued, highlighting the challenges of amphibious operations in North Africa. Despite initial successes, the attackers faced stiff resistance and suffered heavy losses. The engagement at Derna became a notable episode in America’s first overseas military intervention and influenced subsequent diplomatic negotiations.
1804
Yusuf Karamanli
retake Derna
1846day.year
Mexican–American War: The United States declares war on the Federal Republic of Mexico following a dispute over the American annexation of the Republic of Texas and a Mexican military incursion.
In 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico, igniting the Mexican–American War over territorial disputes following Texas annexation.
President James K. Polk officially asked Congress for a declaration of war on May 13, 1846, citing Mexico’s attack on U.S. forces north of the Rio Grande. The conflict arose after the U.S. annexed the Republic of Texas in 1845, which Mexico still considered its territory. Polk’s administration argued that Mexico had breached American sovereignty and sought to defend national honor. The war ultimately led to U.S. victory and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. Under the treaty, Mexico ceded vast territories including present-day California, Arizona, and New Mexico. The outcome reshaped the continent and fueled debates over slavery in the newly acquired lands.
1846
Mexican–American War
United States
declares war
Federal Republic of Mexico
annexation
Republic of Texas
incursion
1861day.year
American Civil War: Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom issues a "proclamation of neutrality" which recognizes the Confederacy as having belligerent rights.
Queen Victoria issued a proclamation of neutrality in the American Civil War, officially recognizing the Confederacy’s belligerent rights in 1861.
On May 13, 1861, Queen Victoria declared that Britain would remain neutral in the unfolding Civil War in the United States. This proclamation granted the Confederate States of America the status of a belligerent power under international law. By doing so, Britain signaled it would not supply warships or arms to either side but acknowledged the Confederacy’s legal standing. The declaration was controversial and strained relations with the Union government. It reflected Britain’s desire to protect its commercial interests and maintain balance. The neutrality set a precedent for other European powers and influenced diplomatic discussions throughout the conflict.
1861
American Civil War
proclamation of neutrality
1862day.year
Southern slave Robert Smalls steals the steamboat Planter, spirits it through Confederate lines and hands it to the United States Navy, who quickly commission it as the gunboat USS Planter and appoint Smalls as captain, thus making him the first black man to command a United States ship.
In 1862, Robert Smalls commandeered the Confederate steamboat Planter and delivered it to Union forces, becoming the first black captain of a U.S. warship.
On the night of May 12–13, 1862, enslaved pilot Robert Smalls seized the Confederate steamer Planter in Charleston, South Carolina, and navigated it through enemy defenses to the Union blockade. Smalls freed his family and other enslaved crew members, delivering valuable intelligence and the vessel itself to Union authorities. Recognizing his bravery and skill, the U.S. Navy commissioned the ship as the USS Planter and appointed Smalls as its captain. His achievement made him the first African American to command a United States naval vessel. Smalls went on to serve with distinction in the Civil War and later became a politician advocating for civil rights. His daring act became a powerful symbol of resistance and African American agency.
1862
Robert Smalls
Confederate
USS Planter
1940day.year
World War II: Germany's conquest of France begins, as the German army crosses the Meuse. Winston Churchill makes his "blood, toil, tears, and sweat" speech to the House of Commons.
In 1940, German forces crossed the Meuse River, beginning the conquest of France. On the same day, Winston Churchill addressed the House of Commons with his famed 'blood, toil, tears, and sweat' speech.
On May 13, 1940, the Wehrmacht launched its offensive across the Meuse River, marking the start of the Fall of France. Utilizing rapid panzer-led maneuver warfare, German forces penetrated French defenses with overwhelming speed. The breach set the stage for the encirclement of Allied armies and the eventual occupation of Northern France. In London, newly appointed Prime Minister Winston Churchill addressed the House of Commons for the first time. He pledged unyielding resistance, famously vowing 'blood, toil, tears, and sweat' to prepare the nation for the trials ahead. This speech galvanized British morale amid the darkening prospects of war. Churchill's stirring rhetoric became emblematic of British resolve throughout WWII.
1940
World War II
Germany's conquest of France
Meuse
Winston Churchill
blood, toil, tears, and sweat
House of Commons
1943day.year
World War II: Operations Vulcan and Strike force the surrender of the last Axis troops in Tunisia.
In 1943, Allied Operations Vulcan and Strike led to the surrender of the last Axis forces in Tunisia, concluding the North African Campaign.
On May 13, 1943, Allied forces launched Operations Vulcan and Strike against the remaining Axis defenders in Tunisia. The coordinated British, American, and French assaults overwhelmed German and Italian positions in northern Tunisia. After intense fighting in key sectors around Medjez el Bab, Axis commander General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim capitulated. The surrender marked the end of the Tunisia Campaign and opened the way for the Allied invasion of Sicily. Losses were heavy on both sides, but the victory secured Allied control of North Africa. This triumph boosted Allied morale and paved the way for the next phase in the Mediterranean theatre.
1943
Operations Vulcan and Strike
1945day.year
World War II: Yevgeny Khaldei's photograph Raising a Flag over the Reichstag is published in Ogonyok magazine.
In 1945, Yevgeny Khaldei's iconic photograph Raising a Flag over the Reichstag was published in Ogonyok magazine, capturing the Soviet victory in Berlin.
On May 13, 1945, Ogonyok magazine published Yevgeny Khaldei's legendary photograph Raising a Flag over the Reichstag. Taken days earlier during the Battle of Berlin, the image shows Soviet soldiers hoisting the red banner atop the partially destroyed Reichstag building. The photograph symbolized the end of the Nazi regime and the Soviet triumph in the war's climactic battle. Khaldei enhanced the scene by adding elements like extra smoke to heighten its dramatic impact. The publication propelled the image to worldwide fame, making it one of the most enduring photographs of World War II. It became an emblem of victory and resilience, reproduced in countless textbooks and exhibitions.
1945
Yevgeny Khaldei
Raising a Flag over the Reichstag
Ogonyok
1948day.year
Arab–Israeli War: The Kfar Etzion massacre occurs, a day prior to the Israeli Declaration of Independence.
On May 13, 1948, during the Arab–Israeli War, Arab forces massacred Jewish residents of the Kfar Etzion kibbutz, a day before Israel declared independence.
On May 13, 1948, Arab irregular units attacked the Kfar Etzion kibbutz located between Jerusalem and Hebron. After fierce resistance, approximately 120 Jewish defenders and civilians were killed or captured; many were executed in the aftermath. The massacre occurred just hours before David Ben-Gurion's declaration of the State of Israel on May 14. News of the atrocity galvanized Jewish forces and influenced international opinion on the emerging conflict. The brutal event underscored the ferocity of the fighting in Mandatory Palestine's final days. Kfar Etzion was later rebuilt after the Six-Day War, and memorials now honor the victims of the massacre.
1948
Arab–Israeli War
Kfar Etzion massacre
Israeli Declaration of Independence