June 10

Events - Wars & Conflicts

1190day.year

Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the river Saleph while leading an army to Jerusalem.

During the Third Crusade in 1190, Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa tragically drowned in the Saleph River while leading his forces to the Holy Land.
Frederick I Barbarossa, Holy Roman Emperor, embarked on the ill-fated Third Crusade to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslim control. In June 1190, the mighty leader attempted to cross the icy waters of the Saleph River (modern-day Göksu) in Anatolia. His armor weighed him down, and he slipped beneath the surface, drowning despite frantic rescue efforts. Barbarossa’s death sent shockwaves through the Crusader ranks, forcing many German knights to return home and weakening the overall campaign. The loss of this charismatic emperor altered the balance of power during the crusade and underscored the perils of medieval warfare and travel.
1190 Third Crusade Frederick I Barbarossa Saleph Jerusalem
1329day.year

The Battle of Pelekanon is the last attempt of the Byzantine Empire to retain its cities in Asia Minor.

In 1329, the Byzantine Empire made its final attempt to defend its Asian territories at the Battle of Pelekanon against the Ottomans.
The Battle of Pelekanon was fought near Nicomedia in Asia Minor as the Byzantine forces under Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos confronted the rising Ottoman Turks. Despite initial confidence, the Byzantines suffered a decisive defeat, with heavy casualties and a disastrous retreat. This loss shattered Byzantine hopes of reclaiming lost ground and marked the end of their military presence in the region. The Ottomans capitalized on the victory to capture key cities and expand into Europe. Pelekanon thus stands as a pivotal moment in medieval history, signaling the twilight of Byzantine power and the ascent of the Ottoman Empire.
1329 Battle of Pelekanon Byzantine Empire Asia Minor
1358day.year

Battle of Mello: The peasant forces of the Jacquerie are crushed by the army of the French nobility.

On June 10, 1358, French nobility decisively crushed the Jacquerie peasant uprising at the Battle of Mello.
The Battle of Mello was the culmination of the Jacquerie, a violent peasant revolt in northern France triggered by economic hardship and warfare. Peasant forces gathered to protest feudal oppression and demanded relief from unfair taxes and violence. The French nobility assembled a well-armed army and confronted the insurgents at Mello. Overwhelmed by superior cavalry and disciplined troops, the peasants were brutally defeated, with many killed or captured. The rebellion’s suppression restored noble dominance and served as a stark example of the brutal realities of medieval class conflict. The Jacquerie’s legacy influenced later social and political thought on peasant rights.
1358 Battle of Mello Jacquerie
1523day.year

Copenhagen is surrounded by the army of Frederick I of Denmark, as the city will not recognise him as the successor of Christian II of Denmark.

Frederick I of Denmark’s forces besieged Copenhagen in 1523 after the city refused to recognize him as the new monarch.
In 1523, following the deposition of Christian II, Frederick I ascended to the Danish throne amid contested succession. The citizens of Copenhagen remained loyal to the former king and refused to pledge fealty to Frederick. To assert his authority, Frederick's army encircled the city with artillery and blockaded supplies. After weeks of siege warfare, Copenhagen capitulated, securing Frederick's position as ruler of Denmark. The event reinforced the power of the monarchy and foreshadowed religious and political changes that would accompany the Protestant Reformation in Scandinavia.
1523 Copenhagen Frederick I of Denmark Christian II of Denmark
1619day.year

Thirty Years' War: Battle of Záblatí, a turning point in the Bohemian Revolt.

The Battle of Záblatí in 1619, part of the Thirty Years’ War, marked a key defeat for the Bohemian Revolt forces.
During the early years of the Thirty Years’ War, Protestant Bohemian estates rose against Habsburg rule in 1618. On June 10, 1619, Imperial forces confronted the rebels at Záblatí in southern Bohemia. The well-trained Catholic army, supported by seasoned commanders, outmaneuvered and overwhelmed the insurgents. The defeat shattered Bohemian hopes of successful revolt and allowed the Habsburgs to reassert control over the kingdom. Záblatí’s outcome had far-reaching consequences, emboldening Catholic forces and escalating the conflict into a wider European war that would last until 1648.
1619 Thirty Years' War Battle of Záblatí Bohemian Revolt
1719day.year

Jacobite risings: Battle of Glen Shiel.

In 1719, government forces defeated Jacobite rebels at the Battle of Glen Shiel in the Scottish Highlands, ending the last major uprising with Spanish support.
The Battle of Glen Shiel took place in the rugged Scottish Highlands on June 10, 1719, as part of the Jacobite risings. Jacobite forces, backed by Spanish allies, sought to restore the House of Stuart to the British throne. British government troops, aided by local militia, repelled the rebels in a fierce engagement. The defeat marked the end of significant foreign intervention in the Jacobite cause. It secured Hanoverian rule in Britain and dampened hopes for further Spanish-supported uprisings.
1719 Jacobite risings Battle of Glen Shiel
1838day.year

Myall Creek massacre: Twenty-eight Aboriginal Australians are murdered.

On June 10, 1838, 28 Aboriginal Australians were brutally murdered by settlers in what became known as the Myall Creek massacre in New South Wales.
The Myall Creek massacre occurred on June 10, 1838, when a group of European settlers attacked an Aboriginal camp near Myall Creek station in New South Wales. Twenty-eight Wirrayaraay men, women, and children were killed and their bodies desecrated. News of the atrocity sparked public outrage. In a landmark trial, some perpetrators were convicted and executed, marking one of the first times settlers were held legally accountable for violence against Indigenous people. The case remains a pivotal moment in Australian history, highlighting colonial injustice and the struggle for Indigenous rights.
1838 Myall Creek massacre Aboriginal Australians
1861day.year

American Civil War: Battle of Big Bethel: Confederate troops under John B. Magruder defeat a much larger Union force led by General Ebenezer W. Pierce in Virginia.

The Battle of Big Bethel was an early clash in the American Civil War where Confederate forces under John B. Magruder repelled a larger Union advance in Virginia.
On June 10, 1861, the Battle of Big Bethel marked one of the first land engagements of the American Civil War. Confederate troops led by Brigadier General John B. Magruder entrenched near Big Bethel Church and successfully repelled a significantly larger Union force commanded by General Ebenezer W. Pierce. Despite being outnumbered, Magruder's well-prepared positions and effective skirmishing tactics inflicted substantial casualties on the attacking Federals. The Union assault was disorganized by difficult terrain and miscommunications, leading to a hasty withdrawal. Although the battle had limited strategic impact, it boosted Confederate morale and highlighted early war challenges faced by Union commanders unfamiliar with southern terrain. The engagement foreshadowed the gritty, small-scale battles that would characterize much of the conflict's early period. Observers on both sides learned hard lessons in coordinating infantry, artillery, and engineers under fire.
1861 American Civil War Battle of Big Bethel Confederate John B. Magruder Union Ebenezer W. Pierce Virginia
1863day.year

During the French intervention in Mexico, Mexico City is captured by French troops.

French forces captured Mexico City during the French intervention in 1863, reinforcing the Second Mexican Empire under Maximilian.
On June 10, 1863, French troops completed their siege of Mexico City as part of Napoleon III's campaign to establish a pro-French monarchy in Mexico. The city's fall forced President Benito Juárez and his republican forces to retreat, leaving the capital under imperial control. The operation combined artillery bombardment with infantry assaults to breach the walls and key defensive positions. Capturing the capital not only symbolized foreign dominance but also shifted the balance of power in favor of Emperor Maximilian I. The event heightened tensions between French-backed authorities and republican partisans, leading to a prolonged conflict that would continue until 1867. International observers decried European intervention in a sovereign nation, while Mexican patriots rallied to the cause of independence. The occupation illustrated the limits of military conquest in winning local allegiance, as resistance continued despite the empire's apparent ascendancy.
1863 French intervention in Mexico French
1864day.year

American Civil War: Battle of Brice's Crossroads: Confederate troops under Nathan Bedford Forrest defeat a much larger Union force led by General Samuel D. Sturgis in Mississippi.

The Battle of Brice's Crossroads saw Confederate cavalry under Nathan Bedford Forrest rout a much larger Union force in Mississippi during the Civil War.
On June 10, 1864, Confederate Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest led around 3,500 cavalrymen against a Union expedition commanded by Brigadier General Samuel D. Sturgis near Baldwyn, Mississippi. Forrest capitalized on his troops’ superior mobility and intimate knowledge of the terrain to launch surprise flanking attacks along narrow forest paths. Union soldiers, hampered by muddy roads and stretched supply lines, were unable to form effective defensive positions. The Confederates broke the Federal lines, inflicting heavy casualties and capturing artillery and wagons before Sturgis ordered a retreat. The decisive victory demonstrated Forrest’s tactical brilliance and underscored the vulnerability of conventional forces to irregular cavalry operations. Despite its relatively small scale, the battle had outsized psychological impact and boosted Confederate morale during a critical phase of the war. The engagement remains studied for its exemplary use of rapid maneuvers and terrain exploitation.
1864 Battle of Brice's Crossroads Nathan Bedford Forrest Samuel D. Sturgis Mississippi
1871day.year

Sinmiyangyo: Captain McLane Tilton leads 109 US Marines in a naval attack on Han River forts on Kanghwa Island, Korea.

Captain McLane Tilton led 109 U.S. Marines in an assault on Han River forts on Kanghwa Island during the 1871 Sinmiyangyo expedition.
On June 10, 1871, as part of the Sinmiyangyo campaign, Captain McLane Tilton and his detachment of 109 U.S. Marines attacked coastal fortifications along Korea's Han River estuary on Kanghwa Island. The operation followed earlier skirmishes that had resulted in American casualties and sought to compel Korea into diplomatic and commercial relations. Marine landing parties disembarked under covering fire from naval vessels, scaling earthen fortifications and engaging Korean defenders in close combat. The engagement demonstrated American naval power projection in East Asia and the effectiveness of combined sea and land operations. Despite tactical success and the capture of key batteries, the expedition failed to secure a treaty or long-term foothold. Korean officials remained resistant to foreign overtures until the late 19th century. The Sinmiyangyo foreshadowed future Western interventions in Korea and the region's strategic importance.
1871 Sinmiyangyo US Marines Han River Kanghwa Island
1898day.year

Spanish–American War: In the Battle of Guantánamo Bay, U.S. Marines begin the American invasion of Spanish-held Cuba.

U.S. Marines landed at Guantánamo Bay on June 10, 1898, launching one of the first major operations of the Spanish–American War.
On June 10, 1898, a contingent of U.S. Marines disembarked at Fisherman's Point on Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, aiming to secure a strategic naval base for the American fleet. Commanded by Captain Bowman H. McCalla, the Marines quickly overran light Spanish defenses and captured key high ground overlooking the bay. The successful landing demonstrated the expeditionary capabilities of the modern U.S. Marine Corps and provided a vital logistics hub for further campaigns against Spanish forces in Cuba and Puerto Rico. Spanish garrisons, unprepared for the speed and coordination of the attack, were compelled to withdraw inland. The occupation of Guantánamo Bay underscored the importance of coaling stations and refueling points in naval warfare and became a model for future American amphibious operations. The achievement bolstered public support back home and signaled the emergence of the United States as a global naval power. Fortifications were rapidly constructed to defend the bay, marking the beginning of a long-term American presence in the region.
1898 Spanish–American War Battle of Guantánamo Bay U.S. Marines Cuba