June 16

Events

632day.year

Yazdegerd III ascends the throne as king (shah) of the Persian Empire. He becomes the last ruler of the Sasanian dynasty (modern Iran).

In 632, Yazdegerd III ascended the Persian throne as the last shah of the Sasanian Empire.
Yazdegerd III ascended the Persian throne in 632 at a young age after the death of his predecessor. He inherited a vast empire stretching from the Euphrates to the Indus. As the final monarch of the Sasanian dynasty, his reign was marked by internal strife and external threats from the emerging Islamic Caliphate. His youth and inexperience challenged his authority and strained relations with powerful nobles. During his rule, the empire faced repeated raids by Arab forces that eroded its stability. Despite efforts to rally resistance, the Sasanian state gradually weakened over the decade. Yazdegerd's eventual flight eastward signaled the end of centuries of Zoroastrian royal authority in Iran. His legacy endures as a symbol of the dynastic decline that transformed the region's history.
632 Yazdegerd III shah Persian Empire Sasanian dynasty Iran
1407day.year

Ming–Hồ War: Retired King Hồ Quý Ly and his son King Hồ Hán Thương of Hồ dynasty are captured by the Ming armies.

In 1407, during the Ming–Hồ War, the retiring King Hồ Quý Ly and his heir were captured by Ming forces, ending Hồ dynasty rule in Vietnam.
The Ming–Hồ War was sparked by Ming China’s campaign to overthrow Vietnam’s Hồ dynasty. In 1407, the retired King Hồ Quý Ly and his son King Hồ Hán Thương were captured by advancing Ming armies. Their capture marked the collapse of Hồ authority and led to direct Ming administration over Đại Việt. The conflict illustrated the Ming dynasty’s ambitions to secure its southern frontier. The fall of the Hồ rulers also ended a brief but significant period of Vietnamese independence. Ming occupation imposed reforms and integrated the region into imperial governance structures. This event reshaped Vietnam’s political landscape and set the stage for subsequent Lê dynasty restoration efforts.
1407 Ming–Hồ War Hồ Quý Ly Hồ Hán Thương Hồ dynasty Ming
1487day.year

Battle of Stoke Field: King Henry VII of England defeats the leaders of a Yorkist rebellion in the final engagement of the Wars of the Roses.

At Stoke Field in 1487, King Henry VII decisively crushed the last major Yorkist rising, effectively ending the Wars of the Roses.
The Battle of Stoke Field took place on June 16, 1487, near Nottinghamshire. King Henry VII’s forces confronted rebel Yorkist nobles who supported Lambert Simnel’s claim to the throne. After fierce fighting, the royal army achieved a decisive victory, capturing or killing many rebel leaders. This battle is considered the final conflict of the Wars of the Roses, a dynastic struggle that plagued England for decades. Henry VII’s triumph solidified the new Tudor dynasty’s hold on the throne. The defeat discouraged further large-scale Yorkist rebellions during his reign. Stoke Field thus marked the beginning of a more stable era in English monarchy and governance.
1487 Battle of Stoke Field Henry VII of England Wars of the Roses
1632day.year

The Plymouth Company granted a land patent to Thomas Purchase, the first settler of Pejepscot, Maine, settling at the site of Fort Andross.

In 1632, the Plymouth Company granted Thomas Purchase a patent to settle at Pejepscot (now Brunswick, Maine), establishing colonization at the site of Fort Andross.
The Plymouth Company, chartered to promote New England colonization, awarded Thomas Purchase a land patent on June 16, 1632. Purchase became the first English settler in the Pejepscot region along the Androscoggin River. He established his homestead at the former French-built Fort Andross. This settlement marked the expansion of colonial presence in what is now Brunswick, Maine. Purchase engaged in trade with Native American tribes and developed agriculture and timber operations. His venture laid the foundations for a permanent community in the region. The grant highlighted early colonial efforts to secure territory and resources in New England. Pejepscot’s growth would influence the broader development of Maine’s coastal settlements.
1632 Plymouth Company Thomas Purchase settler Pejepscot, Maine Fort Andross
1745day.year

War of the Austrian Succession: New England colonial troops under the command of William Pepperrell capture the Fortress of Louisbourg in Louisbourg, New France (Old Style date).

In 1745, New England militia led by William Pepperrell seized the strategic Fortress of Louisbourg from the French during the War of the Austrian Succession.
The 1745 Siege of Louisbourg was a daring colonial expedition against France’s Atlantic stronghold. Under Brigadier William Pepperrell, New England volunteers and Royal Navy ships besieged the fortress for six weeks. Louisbourg controlled access to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and was vital for French colonial trade and defense. After heavy bombardment and cutting off supplies, the French garrison surrendered on June 16, 1745 (Old Style). The victory demonstrated the growing military capability of the American colonies. It also boosted colonial confidence and strained French resources in North America. Although the fortress was returned to France in 1748 by treaty, the siege foreshadowed future Anglo-French struggles in the region.
1745 War of the Austrian Succession New England William Pepperrell Fortress of Louisbourg Louisbourg New France Old Style
1746day.year

War of the Austrian Succession: Austria and Sardinia defeat a Franco-Spanish army at the Battle of Piacenza.

At the Battle of Piacenza in 1746, Austrian and Sardinian armies secured a key victory over Franco-Spanish forces in the War of the Austrian Succession.
The Battle of Piacenza occurred on June 16, 1746, near the city of Piacenza in northern Italy. Austrian and Piedmont-Sardinian troops, commanded by Prince Lobkowitz and the Duke of Richelieu, clashed with a larger Franco-Spanish army. Superior tactics and disciplined infantry allowed the allies to rout their opponents. The victory halted French and Spanish advances into Lombardy and bolstered Habsburg influence in Italy. It was a turning point in the Italian theater of the War of the Austrian Succession. The defeat weakened Bourbon ambitions and preserved Austria’s Italian territories. Piacenza underscored the effectiveness of allied coordination against numerically superior foes.
1746 Sardinia Battle of Piacenza
1755day.year

French and Indian War: The French surrender Fort Beauséjour to the British, leading to the expulsion of the Acadians.

In 1755, British forces captured Fort Beauséjour, prompting the deportation of Acadian inhabitants during the French and Indian War.
The Siege of Fort Beauséjour took place in June 1755 on the Isthmus of Chignecto. British colonial troops, supported by Royal Navy ships, surrounded the fort held by a small French garrison. After several days of bombardment, the French commander capitulated on June 16. The British victory allowed them to secure the border between Nova Scotia and Acadia. Immediately following the surrender, authorities began the mass expulsion of Acadian settlers. Thousands of Acadians were deported to other British colonies, France, and Louisiana. This tragic event, known as the Great Upheaval, reshaped the cultural landscape of the region. The fall of Fort Beauséjour thus marked a decisive moment in colonial North American history.
1755 French and Indian War French Fort Beauséjour expulsion Acadians
1760day.year

French and Indian War: Robert Rogers and his Rangers surprise French held Fort Sainte Thérèse on the Richelieu River near Lake Champlain. The fort is raided and burned.

In 1760, Robert Rogers and his famed Rangers conducted a surprise raid on Fort Sainte Thérèse, burning it to the ground during the French and Indian War.
Rogers' Rangers, an elite colonial militia, were tasked with disrupting French supply lines in 1760. On June 16, they navigated the Richelieu River toward Fort Sainte Thérèse near Lake Champlain. Exploiting surprise and stealth, the Rangers launched a dawn assault that quickly overwhelmed the garrison. After capturing the fort, Rogers ordered its fortifications and buildings to be burned. The raid disrupted French communications and hampered their regional defenses. This operation showcased innovative irregular warfare tactics in the dense wilderness. Rogers' success at Sainte Thérèse paved the way for subsequent British advances toward Montreal later that year.
1760 Robert Rogers Rangers Fort Sainte Thérèse Richelieu River Lake Champlain is raided and burned
1779day.year

American Revolutionary War: Spain declares war on the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Great Siege of Gibraltar begins.

In 1779, Spain declared war on Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War, initiating the protracted Great Siege of Gibraltar.
On June 16, 1779, Spain declared war on Great Britain, joining France against the British in the American Revolutionary War. Spanish and French forces attempted to recapture Gibraltar, a strategically vital British stronghold at the entrance to the Mediterranean. They initiated a blockade and continuous bombardment that developed into the Great Siege of Gibraltar. The siege lasted over three years, involving artillery duels and attempts to invade by land and sea. The defenders, under British command, withstood relentless attacks and maintained supply lines by daring naval missions. Gibraltar's resilience bolstered British naval dominance and demonstrated the strategic value of fortifications. The Great Siege became a defining episode of the war's global scope and Spain's maritime ambitions.
1779 American Revolutionary War declares war Great Siege of Gibraltar
1795day.year

French Revolutionary Wars: In what became known as Cornwallis's Retreat, a British Royal Navy squadron led by Vice Admiral William Cornwallis strongly resists a much larger French Navy force and withdraws largely intact, setting up the French Navy defeat at the Battle of Groix six days later.

In 1795, Admiral William Cornwallis executed a daring retreat under superior French forces during the French Revolutionary Wars, a maneuver known as Cornwallis's Retreat.
During the French Revolutionary Wars, a British squadron under Vice Admiral Sir William Cornwallis encountered a much larger French fleet in the Atlantic. On June 16, 1795, Cornwallis chose to disengage while maintaining his squadron’s formation and morale. His skillful seamanship and feints convinced the French that he was ready to fight, allowing the British ships to withdraw largely intact. This action prevented the destruction of the Royal Navy detachment and preserved British naval strength. Cornwallis’s Retreat bought time for reinforcements and influenced the outcome of the subsequent Battle of Groix six days later. The maneuver was celebrated as an example of tactical mastery and judgment under pressure. It reinforced Cornwallis’s reputation and highlighted the importance of leadership in naval warfare.
1795 French Revolutionary Wars Cornwallis's Retreat Royal Navy William Cornwallis French Navy Battle of Groix
1811day.year

Survivors of an attack the previous day by Tla-o-qui-aht on board the Pacific Fur Company's ship Tonquin, intentionally detonate a powder magazine on the ship, destroying it and killing about 100 attackers.

After an attack on the Pacific Fur Company's ship Tonquin by Tla-o-qui-aht in 1811, its survivors detonated the powder magazine, killing about 100 attackers.
In 1811, amid the Pacific Fur Company's venture on the Pacific Northwest coast, the ship Tonquin came under siege by Tla-o-qui-aht warriors. After fierce fighting aboard, the surviving crew chose to prevent the attackers from capturing the vessel. They loaded the powder magazine and detonated it, obliterating the ship in a massive explosion. The blast killed approximately 100 of the attackers and marked a dramatic end to the Tonquin's fateful voyage. This event underscored the high stakes of the fur trade and clashes between European traders and indigenous peoples.
1811 Tla-o-qui-aht Pacific Fur Company Tonquin destroying it
1815day.year

Battle of Ligny and Battle of Quatre Bras, two days before the Battle of Waterloo.

Two key battles—Ligny and Quatre Bras—were fought on June 16, 1815, setting the stage for the Battle of Waterloo.
On June 16, 1815, two crucial battles unfolded during the final stages of the Napoleonic Wars. At Ligny, Napoleon achieved a tactical victory over the Prussian army, weakening one of his opponents. Simultaneously at Quatre Bras, Wellington's forces managed to hold back French advances in an indecisive clash. These engagements prevented the allies from uniting their armies promptly. Their outcomes set the strategic stage for the decisive Battle of Waterloo two days later.
1815 Battle of Ligny Battle of Quatre Bras Battle of Waterloo