585 BC
A solar eclipse occurs, as predicted by the Greek philosopher and scientist Thales, while Alyattes is battling Cyaxares in the Battle of the Eclipse, leading to a truce. This is one of the cardinal dates from which other dates can be calculated. It is also the earliest event of which the precise date is known.
In 585 BC, Greek philosopher Thales predicts a solar eclipse that interrupts the Battle of the Eclipse between Alyattes and Cyaxares, leading to a truce.
Greek philosopher and scientist Thales is said to have predicted the solar eclipse of May 28, 585 BC. The eclipse occurs during the Battle of the Eclipse between the Lydian king Alyattes and the Median king Cyaxares. Stunned by the sudden darkness, the warring armies call a truce and negotiate peace. This event becomes a pivotal reference point in ancient chronology, allowing historians to anchor other dates. It is also recognized as the earliest historical event for which an exact date is known, highlighting Thales' contributions to early scientific thought.
585 BC
solar eclipse
Thales
Alyattes
Cyaxares
621day.year
Battle of Hulao: Li Shimin, the son of the Chinese emperor Gaozu, defeats the numerically superior forces of Dou Jiande near the Hulao Pass (Henan). This victory decides the outcome of the civil war that followed the Sui dynasty's collapse in favour of the Tang dynasty.
In 621, Prince Li Shimin wins the Battle of Hulao Pass, crushing Dou Jiande’s larger army and securing a decisive victory for the Tang dynasty.
During the civil war that followed the fall of the Sui dynasty, Li Shimin, son of Emperor Gaozu, confronts the forces of warlord Dou Jiande near Hulao Pass in Henan. Despite being outnumbered, Tang troops use superior tactics and leadership to rout the enemy. This victory at Hulao Pass effectively ends resistance to the nascent Tang dynasty. The triumph solidifies Li Shimin's reputation as a military strategist and paves the way for his eventual ascension as Emperor Taizong. The outcome shapes the future of Chinese imperial rule and marks a turning point in the early Tang era.
621
Battle of Hulao
Li Shimin
Gaozu
Dou Jiande
Hulao Pass
Henan
civil war
Sui dynasty
Tang dynasty
1242day.year
Avignonet massacre: A group of Cathars, with the probable connivance of Count Raymond VII of Toulouse, murdered the inquisitor William Arnaud and eleven of his companions.
In 1242, Cathar sympathizers ambush and kill inquisitor William Arnaud and his companions at Avignonet, deepening the conflict between heretics and the Catholic Church.
The Avignonet massacre occurs when a group of Cathars, possibly aided by Count Raymond VII of Toulouse, attacks and slays the Dominican inquisitor William Arnaud and eleven of his associates. The ambush takes place near Avignonet in southern France amid growing tensions over the Albigensian Crusade. This violent act signals the fierce resistance of the Cathar movement against papal authority. It escalates the brutal campaign to eradicate heresy in the Languedoc region. The massacre underscores the deadly stakes of religious conflict in medieval Europe and the lengths to which both sides would go in the name of faith.
1242
Avignonet massacre
Cathars
Raymond VII of Toulouse
William Arnaud
1588day.year
The Spanish Armada, with 130 ships and 30,000 men, sets sail from Lisbon, Portugal, heading for the English Channel. (It will take until May 30 for all ships to leave port.)
In 1588, the Spanish Armada sets sail from Lisbon with over 130 ships and 30,000 men, aiming to invade England and reverse Protestant gains.
Ordered by King Philip II of Spain, the Armada departs Lisbon on May 28, 1588, embarking on a formidable naval expedition against England. Consisting of 130 warships and support vessels carrying some 30,000 soldiers and sailors, the fleet's mission is to secure control of the English Channel for an invasion. The Armada's departure marks the culmination of escalating religious and political tensions between Catholic Spain and Protestant England. Adverse weather, logistical challenges, and the agility of the English navy soon hamper the fleet's progress. Although the Armada initially appears unstoppable, the campaign ultimately fails, reshaping the balance of naval power in Europe.
1588
Spanish Armada
Lisbon
English Channel
1644day.year
English Civil War: Bolton Massacre by Royalist troops under the command of James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby.
On May 28, 1644, Royalist forces under the Earl of Derby massacre civilians and garrison troops in Bolton during the English Civil War.
The Bolton Massacre occurs when Royalist soldiers commanded by James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, storm the Parliamentarian-held town of Bolton in Lancashire. Over the course of two days, the attackers kill up to 1,600 defenders and noncombatants in one of the war's most notorious atrocities. The brutal action underscores the ferocity and personal vendettas that characterized the English Civil War. Parliamentarian morale is shaken by the massacre's scale and brutality. The event becomes emblematic of the conflict's bitter divisions and the heavy toll exacted on local communities.
1644
English Civil War
Bolton Massacre
Royalist
James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby
1754day.year
French and Indian War: In the first engagement of the war, Virginia militia under the 22-year-old Lieutenant colonel George Washington defeat a French reconnaissance party in the Battle of Jumonville Glen in what is now Fayette County in southwestern Pennsylvania.
In 1754, a young Lieutenant Colonel George Washington leads Virginia militia to victory against a French reconnaissance party at the Battle of Jumonville Glen.
In the opening clash of the French and Indian War, 22-year-old George Washington and his Virginia militia ambush a French reconnaissance force at Jumonville Glen in southwestern Pennsylvania. The surprise attack results in the death of the French commander Joseph Coulon de Jumonville and several of his men. This skirmish escalates regional tensions into a wider conflict between Britain and France over North American territories. Washington's leadership and the engagement's diplomatic fallout contribute significantly to his emerging reputation. The battle's aftermath sets the stage for a protracted struggle that will shape the future of the continent.
1754
French and Indian War
Virginia
militia
Lieutenant colonel
George Washington
Battle of Jumonville Glen
Fayette County
Pennsylvania
1802day.year
In Guadeloupe, 400 rebellious slaves, led by Louis Delgrès, blow themselves up rather than submit to Napoleon's troops.
In 1802, Louis Delgrès and 400 rebellious slaves in Guadeloupe choose mass suicide by explosion over surrender to Napoleon’s forces.
During France's attempt to reassert colonial control over Guadeloupe, former French revolutionary Louis Delgrès leads a band of 400 enslaved people in armed resistance. On May 28, 1802, facing overwhelming odds against Napoleon's troops, Delgrès and his followers detonate their fort's powder magazine. The explosion kills many resisters and stands as a desperate act of defiance against reimposed slavery. Delgrès' sacrifice becomes a symbol of the fight for freedom and human dignity. The event highlights the brutal realities of colonial repression and the enduring struggle against oppression in the Caribbean.
1802
Guadeloupe
Louis Delgrès
Napoleon
1871day.year
The Paris Commune falls after two months.
After a two-month rule, the revolutionary Paris Commune is suppressed on May 28, 1871, ending a radical experiment in worker-led government.
The Paris Commune rises after France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and the collapse of the Second Empire. On May 28, 1871, government troops retake the city in a final assault during the Bloody Week (La Semaine Sanglante). The suppression results in thousands of deaths and the arrest of many working-class insurgents and civilians. The Commune's radical policies, including workers' control of industry and secular education, leave a lasting influence on socialist and anarchist movements. Its fall marks a tragic end to one of modern history's most famous uprisings and continues to inspire debates on democracy and social justice.
1871
Paris Commune
1905day.year
Russo-Japanese War: The Battle of Tsushima ends with the destruction of the Russian Baltic Fleet by Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō and the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō's fleet decisively defeats the Russian Baltic Fleet at the Battle of Tsushima, shifting the balance in the Russo-Japanese War.
On May 28, 1905, the naval Battle of Tsushima concluded when Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō led the Imperial Japanese Navy to a crushing victory over the Russian Baltic Fleet in the Tsushima Strait. This decisive engagement shattered Russia's naval power, with most of its ships sunk or captured. The battle demonstrated the effectiveness of modern naval tactics, wireless communications, and well-trained crews. Japan's triumph at Tsushima forced Russia to seek peace, leading to the Treaty of Portsmouth later that year. The outcome marked the first time an Asian power had defeated a European empire in a major conflict, altering global perceptions of naval supremacy and geopolitical influence.
1905
Russo-Japanese War
Battle of Tsushima
Baltic Fleet
Admiral
Tōgō Heihachirō
Imperial Japanese Navy
1940day.year
World War II: Belgium surrenders to Nazi Germany to end the Battle of Belgium.
Belgium surrenders to Nazi Germany, ending the Battle of Belgium during World War II.
On May 28, 1940, King Leopold III of Belgium signed an armistice with Nazi Germany at Wijnendale, bringing the 18-day Battle of Belgium to a close. The surrender allowed German forces to occupy Belgian territory and sever the Allies’ northern flank. The Belgian government-in-exile relocated to London, while the civilian population endured harsh occupation measures. Resistance movements formed to oppose German rule, contributing to the broader Allied war effort. Belgium remained under occupation until liberation in 1944, with the events of 1940 shaping its wartime and postwar history.
1940
World War II
Nazi Germany
Battle of Belgium
1940day.year
World War II: Norwegian, French, Polish and British forces recapture Narvik in Norway. This is the first Allied infantry victory of the War.
Allied infantry units recapture the strategic port town of Narvik in Norway, marking their first victory on land in World War II.
On May 28, 1940, during the early stages of World War II, joint Norwegian, French, Polish, and British forces launched a coordinated counterattack to reclaim Narvik from German occupation.
After intense fighting in harsh Arctic conditions, Allied infantry units successfully pushed back the Axis defenders.
This victory marked the first time Allied ground forces had defeated German troops in the war.
The Battle of Narvik had begun on April 9, and its conclusion bolstered Allied morale despite the rapid German advances elsewhere.
Although the strategic importance of Narvik’s iron ore shipments was diminishing for Germany, the recapture demonstrated the Allies’ ability to conduct multinational operations.
Despite holding the town only briefly, the battle became a symbol of international cooperation and resistance against aggression.
recapture
Narvik
1958day.year
Cuban Revolution: Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement, heavily reinforced by Frank Pais Militia, overwhelm an army post in El Uvero.
Fidel Castro’s 26th of July Movement and Frank Pais’s militia overpower government troops at El Uvero in a pivotal engagement of the Cuban Revolution.
On May 28, 1958, rebel forces of Fidel Castro’s 26th of July Movement, bolstered by the Frank Pais Militia, launched a surprise assault on the Cuban Army post at El Uvero.
The insurgents used guerrilla tactics to breach defenses and quickly overran the garrison, seizing weapons and supplies.
The victory at El Uvero provided a significant boost to rebel morale and recruitment efforts across Oriente Province.
It also demonstrated the growing operational strength and coordination of Castro’s forces.
Despite heavy government reprisals in the aftermath, the engagement marked a turning point in the rural guerrilla war against Fulgencio Batista’s regime.
The battle became emblematic of the revolutionary momentum that would culminate in Batista’s overthrow the following year.
1958
Cuban Revolution
Fidel Castro
26th of July Movement