1395day.year
Battle of Rovine: The Wallachians defeat an invading Ottoman army.
In 1395, Wallachian forces ambushed and defeated the invading Ottoman army at the Battle of Rovine.
The Battle of Rovine was fought on May 17, 1395, between Wallachian Voivode Mircea the Elder and the forces of Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I. Located near the marshy terrain of Rovine, the Wallachians used the landscape to their advantage, inflicting heavy losses on the Ottomans. This decisive victory halted Ottoman expansion into Wallachia for several years and bolstered Mircea's reputation as a defender of Christian Europe. Despite being outnumbered, the Wallachians executed effective defensive tactics. The engagement became a symbol of national resistance in Romanian history and showcased the volatile power dynamics in the Balkans.
1395
Battle of Rovine
Wallachians
Ottoman
1648day.year
An allied French and Swedish army defeats Imperial and Bavarian forces in the Battle of Zusmarshausen.
In 1648, an allied French and Swedish army defeated Imperial and Bavarian forces at the Battle of Zusmarshausen, near the end of the Thirty Years' War.
Fought on May 17, 1648, near Zusmarshausen in Bavaria, allied French and Swedish troops under Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne and Carl Gustaf Wrangel clashed with Imperial and Bavarian forces led by Matthias Gallas. The allies executed a coordinated attack with superior artillery, routing their opponents and opening the path to Augsburg. As one of the final pitched battles of the Thirty Years' War, this victory weakened Habsburg power in Germany and accelerated the peace negotiations leading to the Peace of Westphalia. The engagement is remembered for its combined operations and strategic impact on European politics.
1648
Battle of Zusmarshausen
1756day.year
Seven Years' War formally begins when Great Britain declares war on France.
On May 17, 1756, Great Britain declared war on France, officially launching the global conflict known as the Seven Years' War.
Great Britain’s declaration of war against France on May 17, 1756, marked the formal start of the Seven Years' War, a global struggle over colonial and territorial supremacy. In North America, known as the French and Indian War, British and colonial forces clashed with French troops and their Indigenous allies. Simultaneously, theaters of conflict opened in Europe, West Africa, the Caribbean, and India. The war reshaped colonial empires, leading to British dominance in Canada and significant gains in India. The extensive military campaigns and financial strains on European powers set the stage for future revolutions. Often hailed as the first 'world war,' its outcomes influenced geopolitics for decades.
1756
Seven Years' War
Great Britain
France
1760day.year
French forces besieging Quebec retreat after the Royal Navy arrives to relieve the British garrison.
French troops lift the siege of Quebec as British naval reinforcements arrive.
During the French and Indian War, French forces had besieged the British-held city of Quebec, aiming to reclaim control over New France. On May 17, 1760, a squadron of the Royal Navy broke the siege lines, forcing the French to withdraw. This strategic naval intervention secured British dominance in the region and marked a turning point in North American colonial power struggles. The retreat ended a protracted siege and preserved the British garrison, shaping the future of Canada. The event demonstrated the critical impact of naval power on land campaigns.
1760
besieging Quebec
Royal Navy
1863day.year
American Civil War: During the Vicksburg campaign, Union forces under John A. McClernand defeat a Confederate rearguard and capture around 1,700 men at the Battle of Big Black River Bridge.
Union forces under McClernand defeat Confederate rearguard and capture 1,700 men at the Battle of Big Black River Bridge.
During the Vicksburg campaign of the American Civil War, Major General John A. McClernand led Union troops in an assault on Confederate positions at the Big Black River Bridge on May 17, 1863. The swift victory routed the defenders and resulted in the capture of around 1,700 Confederate soldiers. This triumph opened the road to Vicksburg, strategic stronghold on the Mississippi River. The engagement boosted Northern morale and tightened the Union blockade of the Confederacy. It was a crucial step toward the eventual surrender of Vicksburg and the division of the Confederacy.
American Civil War
Vicksburg campaign
Union
John A. McClernand
Confederate
Battle of Big Black River Bridge
1937day.year
Spanish Civil War: The Largo Caballero government resigns in the wake of the Barcelona May Days, leading Juan Negrín to form a government, without the anarcho-syndicalist CNT, in its stead.
In the Spanish Civil War, the Largo Caballero government resigns and Juan Negrín forms a new administration excluding the CNT.
On May 17, 1937, the government of Francisco Largo Caballero collapsed following violent clashes in Barcelona known as the May Days, which pitted anarchist CNT members against communist and socialist forces. The internal strife weakened the Republican side, prompting President Manuel Azaña to invite Juan Negrín to form a new cabinet. Negrín’s administration notably excluded representatives of the anarcho-syndicalist CNT, aiming for greater centralization of the war effort. This political shift deepened divisions within the anti-fascist coalition. While intended to streamline command, it also alienated key Republican factions. The reorganization foreshadowed further challenges in maintaining unity against Franco’s Nationalists until the Republic’s eventual fall in 1939.
1937
Spanish Civil War
Largo Caballero
Barcelona May Days
Juan Negrín
anarcho-syndicalist
CNT
1940day.year
World War II: Germany occupies Brussels, Belgium.
German forces occupy Brussels during the Battle of Belgium in World War II.
On May 17, 1940, following a rapid advance through the Low Countries, German Wehrmacht troops entered and occupied Brussels, the capital of Belgium. The fall of Brussels marked a decisive moment in the Battle of Belgium, leading to the Belgian government’s decision to surrender two days later. Occupying forces imposed curfews and began instituting military administration over the city. The loss of Brussels demonstrated the effectiveness of Germany’s blitzkrieg tactics. Civilians experienced shortages and restrictions under occupation until liberation in September 1944. The event underscored the swift and overwhelming nature of early World War II campaigns in Western Europe.
1940
World War II
occupies Brussels
1943day.year
World War II: Dambuster Raids commence by No. 617 Squadron RAF.
No. 617 Squadron RAF launches the famous Dambuster Raids against German dams during World War II.
On May 17, 1943, the newly formed No. 617 Squadron of the Royal Air Force carried out Operation Chastise, targeting the Möhne and Edersee dams in Germany’s Ruhr Valley. Equipped with Barnes Wallis’s innovative bouncing bombs, the squadron executed precision low-level attacks under the cover of night. The raid breached the Möhne and Edersee dams, causing significant flooding and disrupting vital industrial infrastructure. Despite heavy losses among aircrew, the mission showcased remarkable engineering ingenuity and piloting skill. The operation dealt a blow to German water supply and hydroelectric power, although full strategic impact was debated. The Dambuster Raids became legendary, inspiring books, films, and a legacy of special-operations tactics in aerial warfare.
1943
Dambuster Raids
No. 617 Squadron RAF
1967day.year
Six-Day War: President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt demands dismantling of the peace-keeping UN Emergency Force in Egypt.
During the Six-Day War on May 17, 1967, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser demanded the withdrawal of the United Nations Emergency Force from Egypt, escalating tensions in the region.
In the tense aftermath of regional hostilities, President Nasser called for the removal of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) stationed in the Sinai Peninsula. This demand, issued on May 17, 1967, was part of broader Egyptian actions including the blockades of the Straits of Tiran and military mobilization. Nasser viewed UNEF as an impediment to Egypt's sovereignty and aimed to assert control over Sinai. The withdrawal of international peacekeepers removed a buffer between Egyptian and Israeli forces, contributing directly to the outbreak of the Six-Day War less than two weeks later. Israel responded to the growing threat by launching pre-emptive air strikes on June 5, 1967, initiating hostilities that reshaped Middle Eastern geopolitics. The conflict resulted in rapid territorial gains for Israel and has had enduring impacts on Arab-Israeli relations.
1967
Six-Day War
President
Gamal Abdel Nasser
Egypt
UN Emergency Force
1974day.year
The Troubles: Thirty-three civilians are killed and 300 injured when the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) detonates four car bombs in Dublin and Monaghan, Ireland.
On May 17, 1974, car bombs planted by the Ulster Volunteer Force exploded in Dublin and Monaghan, killing 33 people and injuring over 300.
On a single afternoon on May 17, 1974, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) coordinated four car bomb attacks in Dublin and Monaghan, marking the deadliest attack of the Troubles both inside Ireland and abroad. The explosions killed 33 civilians and injured more than 300, causing widespread devastation in busy city streets. Despite urgent inquiries, questions remain about collusion and the adequacy of security responses. The bombings deepened sectarian tensions and heightened fears across the Republic of Ireland. Survivors and families of victims have campaigned for transparency and justice for decades. The tragedy remains a poignant reminder of the extended conflict that afflicted Northern Ireland and its impact beyond the border.
1974
The Troubles
Thirty-three civilians are killed
Ulster Volunteer Force
Dublin
Monaghan
Ireland
1974day.year
Police in Los Angeles raid the Symbionese Liberation Army's headquarters, killing six members, including Camilla Hall.
On May 17, 1974, Los Angeles Police raided the Symbionese Liberation Army headquarters, killing six members including Camilla Hall.
In the early hours of May 17, 1974, Los Angeles Police Department officers surrounded a house occupied by the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), a radical left-wing group. After a brief but intense shootout and a fire engulfing the building, six SLA members, including former social worker Camilla Hall, died in the blaze. The raid concluded a tense standoff that followed the group’s infamous kidnapping of heiress Patty Hearst. Authorities recovered weapons, propaganda materials, and evidence of planning for further attacks. The incident signaled the waning of the SLA’s active operations and marked a turning point in law enforcement’s approach to domestic terrorism. Public reactions were mixed, with debates over police tactics and civil liberties emerging alongside relief at the group’s dismantling.
Police in Los Angeles
Symbionese Liberation Army
Camilla Hall
1980day.year
On the eve of presidential elections, Maoist guerrilla group Shining Path attacks a polling location in Chuschi (a town in Ayacucho), starting the Internal conflict in Peru.
On May 17, 1980, the Maoist guerrilla group Shining Path attacked a polling station in Chuschi, Ayacucho, marking the start of Peru’s internal armed conflict.
On the eve of Peru’s presidential election on May 17, 1980, the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) orchestrated its first major act of violence by attacking a polling station in the town of Chuschi, Ayacucho. The assault involved burning ballot boxes and confronting local police, signaling the group’s ideological rejection of Peru’s electoral process. This violent incident is widely considered the opening salvo of the decades-long internal conflict that claimed tens of thousands of lives. The Peruvian government responded with military deployments and emergency measures, but the insurgency soon expanded into rural and urban regions alike. The Shining Path’s brutal tactics and anti-establishment rhetoric destabilized the country and strained civil institutions. The conflict left a lasting scar on Peruvian society and has prompted ongoing efforts at truth and reconciliation.
Maoist
guerrilla
Shining Path
Chuschi
Ayacucho
Internal conflict in Peru