1364day.year
Hundred Years' War: Bertrand du Guesclin and a French army defeat the Anglo-Navarrese army of Charles the Bad at Cocherel.
During the Hundred Years' War in 1364, French forces under Bertrand du Guesclin defeated Charles the Bad’s army at Cocherel.
In the spring of 1364, Bertrand du Guesclin led French troops against an Anglo-Navarrese army commanded by Charles II of Navarre, known as Charles the Bad.
The Battle of Cocherel secured French control over Normandy and thwarted Navarrese ambitions in northern France.
Du Guesclin’s tactical acumen outflanked the enemy, capturing key commanders and demoralizing opposition forces.
This victory bolstered the reputation of du Guesclin and strengthened the position of King Charles V of France.
The outcome marked a turning point in the early phases of the Hundred Years' War.
1364
Hundred Years' War
Bertrand du Guesclin
Charles the Bad
Cocherel
1739day.year
The Battle of Vasai concludes as the Marathas defeat the Portuguese army.
The Marathas defeated the Portuguese army at the Battle of Vasai in 1739, expanding their influence in western India.
In February 1739, Maratha forces led by Chimaji Appa besieged the Portuguese-held Fort Bassein (Vasai).
After months of strategic campaigning, the Marathas captured the fortress, ending centuries of Portuguese dominance.
The victory secured Maratha control over key ports and trade routes along India’s western coast.
It marked a major decline in European colonial power in the region and boosted Maratha prestige.
The conquest of Vasai paved the way for further Maratha expansions into Goa and beyond.
1739
Battle of Vasai
Marathas
Portuguese
1771day.year
The Battle of Alamance, a pre-American Revolutionary War battle between local militia and a group of rebels called The "Regulators", occurs in present-day Alamance County, North Carolina.
A confrontation in 1771 between North Carolina militia and Regulators at Alamance County, foreshadowing the American Revolution.
The Battle of Alamance took place on May 16, 1771 in present-day Alamance County, North Carolina. It was fought between colonial militia forces under Governor William Tryon and a group of frontier settlers known as the Regulators. The Regulators protested corrupt colonial officials and economic hardships. Although the militia secured a swift victory, the battle exacerbated colonial grievances. It foreshadowed the wider conflict of the American Revolutionary War. The defeat disbanded the Regulator movement and led many participants to later join the Patriot cause. Historians regard Alamance as a catalyst for revolutionary sentiment in the colonies.
1771
Battle of Alamance
American Revolutionary War
militia
Regulators
Alamance County, North Carolina
1811day.year
Peninsular War: The allies Spain, Portugal and United Kingdom fight an inconclusive battle against the French at the Albuera. It is, in proportion to the numbers involved, the bloodiest battle of the war.
Allied Spanish, Portuguese, and British forces clash with the French at the Battle of Albuera, suffering heavy casualties.
On May 16, 1811, during the Peninsular War, combined Spanish, Portuguese, and British troops under Marshal William Beresford engaged Marshal Soult's French army at Albuera in southwestern Spain. Despite fierce fighting and high casualties on both sides, the battle was tactically inconclusive. The Allies managed to hold their ground, preventing the French from relieving the siege of Badajoz. The French retreated in good order, viewing the setback as a strategic withdrawal rather than a defeat. In terms of casualties relative to force size, Albuera was one of the bloodiest battles of the entire Peninsular campaign. The fighting showcased the resilience and cooperation of the Allied armies under challenging conditions. Historians note that the battle bolstered Allied morale and hindered further French advances into Portugal.
1811
Peninsular War
Albuera
1812day.year
Imperial Russia signs the Treaty of Bucharest, ending the Russo-Turkish War. The Ottoman Empire cedes Bessarabia to Russia.
Russia and the Ottoman Empire sign the Treaty of Bucharest, ending the Russo-Turkish War and ceding Bessarabia to Russia.
The Treaty of Bucharest was signed on May 16, 1812 between Imperial Russia and the Ottoman Empire, concluding the Russo-Turkish War of 1806–1812. Under its terms, the Ottomans ceded the territory of Bessarabia to Russia, significantly expanding Russian influence in Eastern Europe. Russia agreed to return some previously captured territories and maintain the status quo in the Balkans. The treaty marked a diplomatic victory for Tsar Alexander I, who balanced conflict with Napoleon's looming invasion. It also secured Russia's southwestern frontier and improved its strategic position in the Black Sea. The settlement influenced future Russo-Ottoman relations and regional power dynamics for decades. Many historians view the treaty as a prelude to Russia’s focus on central Europe during the Napoleonic Wars.
1812
Imperial Russia
Treaty of Bucharest
Russo-Turkish War
Ottoman Empire
Bessarabia
1822day.year
Greek War of Independence: The Turks capture the Greek town of Souli.
Ottoman forces capture the mountain stronghold of Souli during the Greek War of Independence.
On May 16, 1822, Ottoman troops seized the mountain town of Souli in northwestern Greece, a key stronghold of the Souliotes during the Greek War of Independence. The capture followed a prolonged siege that weakened the local defenders and cut off their supply lines. Souli had become a symbol of Greek resistance against Ottoman rule since revolts in the late 18th century. Its fall represented a significant loss for the revolutionary forces fighting for Greek sovereignty. Despite the defeat, many Souliotes continued guerrilla warfare against Ottoman forces across the region. The event underscored the brutal nature of the conflict and the high stakes for both sides. Ultimately, the Greek struggle would achieve independence with assistance from European powers later in the war.
1822
Greek War of Independence
Turks
Souli
1834day.year
The Battle of Asseiceira is fought; it was the final and decisive engagement of the Liberal Wars in Portugal.
The Battle of Asseiceira, the final decisive engagement of the Portuguese Liberal Wars, is fought.
On May 16, 1834, liberal constitutionalist forces under the Duke of Terceira clashed with absolutist troops of Dom Miguel at Asseiceira near Santarém, Portugal. The liberals secured a decisive victory, effectively ending the civil conflict known as the Liberal Wars. The outcome forced Miguelite forces to retreat and opened the path for negotiations that would restore constitutional monarchy in Portugal. This battle marked the collapse of absolutist resistance and the triumph of liberal constitutional governance. Following Asseiceira, the Concession of Évora-Monte formalized peace and the political transition. The victory had lasting effects on Portuguese politics, affirming parliamentary rule and civil liberties. Historians consider Asseiceira a pivotal moment in the European wave of liberal revolutions.
1834
Battle of Asseiceira
Liberal Wars
1863day.year
American Civil War: During the Vicksburg campaign, the decisive Union victory by Ulysses S. Grant at the Battle of Champion Hill drives the Confederate army under John C. Pemberton back towards Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant win the Battle of Champion Hill, a turning point in the Vicksburg campaign.
On May 16, 1863, during the Vicksburg campaign of the American Civil War, Major General Ulysses S. Grant’s Army of the Tennessee engaged Confederate forces under Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton at Champion Hill, Mississippi. Grant’s coordinated attacks and superior numbers broke the Confederate defensive line, forcing Pemberton to retreat toward Vicksburg. The victory deprived the Confederacy of a strong defensive position on the Edwards Plateau and tightened the Union siege of Vicksburg. Champion Hill is often cited as the decisive battle that determined the outcome of the Vicksburg campaign. The success boosted Union morale and secured control of the Mississippi River, a strategic objective of the Anaconda Plan. Confederate losses were substantial, and their withdrawal set the stage for the eventual surrender of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863. The battle’s outcome significantly shifted the balance of power in the Western Theater.
1863
American Civil War
Vicksburg campaign
Union
Ulysses S. Grant
Battle of Champion Hill
Confederate army
John C. Pemberton
Vicksburg, Mississippi
1943day.year
The Holocaust: The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising ends.
After a courageous six-week resistance, Jewish fighters in the Warsaw Ghetto see their uprising brutally crushed by Nazi forces.
The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, which began on April 19, 1943, culminates on May 16 with the fall of the ghetto to German troops. Jewish insurgents, vastly outnumbered and outgunned, had held out for weeks against systematic deportations. Led by the Jewish Combat Organization and the Jewish Military Union, fighters displayed remarkable determination despite scarce arms. The Germans employed lethal firepower and explosives to demolish the ghetto buildings, leading to significant civilian casualties. Thousands of Jews are killed during the final assault or sent to extermination camps. The uprising symbolizes the courage and resistance of Holocaust victims against Nazi oppression. Despite its suppression, the revolt inspires future resistance movements and remains a powerful act of defiance in Holocaust history.
1943
The Holocaust
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
1943day.year
Operation Chastise is undertaken by RAF Bomber Command with specially equipped Avro Lancasters to destroy the Mohne, Sorpe, and Eder dams in the Ruhr valley.
RAF Bomber Command launches Operation Chastise, deploying specially designed 'bouncing bombs' to breach the Möhne, Sorpe, and Eder dams in Germany's Ruhr valley.
On May 16, 1943, RAF Bomber Command initiates Operation Chastise under the leadership of Wing Commander Guy Gibson. Using Avro Lancaster bombers equipped with Barnes Wallis’s groundbreaking bouncing bomb, the mission aims to disrupt German industry by targeting three critical dams. The Möhne and Eder dams are successfully breached, causing massive floods and damaging hydroelectric and industrial infrastructure. The Sorpe dam sustains minimal damage due to its earthen construction. The daring raid demonstrates the strategic value of innovative engineering in aerial warfare. Although several aircraft are lost and crew members perish, the operation boosts Allied morale. The raids influence future special operations and remain remembered as the famed 'Dambusters' mission.
1943
Operation Chastise
Avro Lancasters
1954day.year
Beginning of the Kengir uprising in the Gulag.
Soviet prisoners in the Kengir labor camp revolt against oppressive Gulag authorities, temporarily seizing control of the camp.
On May 16, 1954, inmates at the Kengir labor camp in Kazakhstan begin an uprising against the harsh conditions of the Soviet Gulag system. Led by political prisoners and common criminals alike, the revolt quickly escalates as prisoners organize committees and seize key camp facilities. For over a month, the detainees maintain control, demanding fair trials, improved living standards, and an end to forced labor. The Soviet authorities eventually deploy internal security troops and tanks to suppress the rebellion, resulting in significant casualties among prisoners. The Kengir uprising exposes the brutality of Stalinist repression and influences later critiques of the Gulag system. Though brutally crushed, the revolt becomes a symbol of resistance against totalitarian oppression. Reports of the uprising contribute to the gradual de-Stalinization movement that follows after Stalin’s death.
1954
Kengir uprising
Gulag
2003day.year
In Morocco, 33 civilians are killed and more than 100 people are injured in the Casablanca terrorist attacks.
Suicide bombings in Casablanca kill 33 civilians and injure over 100 in a major terrorist attack.
On May 16, 2003, coordinated suicide bombings struck Casablanca’s Maarif district and other locations.
Blast waves devastated cafes and a Spanish restaurant, targeting civilians and foreign interests.
The attacks killed 33 people and wounded more than 100, shocking Morocco and the international community.
Investigations linked the bombers to extremist networks influenced by global jihadist ideologies.
The government launched a nationwide crackdown on militant cells, heightening security measures.
The Casablanca bombings remain one of the deadliest terrorist incidents in Moroccan history.
2003
Morocco
Casablanca terrorist attacks