533day.year
A Byzantine expeditionary fleet under Belisarios sails from Constantinople to attack the Vandals in Africa, via Greece and Sicily.
In AD 533, Byzantine general Belisarios led a fleet from Constantinople to challenge the Vandal Kingdom in North Africa.
Emperor Justinian I dispatched General Belisarios with a powerful navy and army in 533. The expedition force sailed through Greece and Sicily to secure supply lines. Belisarios landed near modern Tunisia and engaged the Vandal forces. He achieved quick victories in key battles such as the Battle of Ad Decimum. This campaign aimed to restore Roman control over former Western Empire territories. By the end of the year, the Vandals were largely defeated and their kingdom collapsed. This marked the beginning of the Byzantine reconquest of North Africa.
533
Belisarios
attack the Vandals
1529day.year
French forces are driven out of northern Italy by Spain at the Battle of Landriano during the War of the League of Cognac.
In 1529, Spanish forces decisively defeated the French at the Battle of Landriano, driving them out of northern Italy during the War of the League of Cognac.
The Battle of Landriano took place on June 21, 1529, near Pavia in northern Italy. Spain, allied with the Holy Roman Empire, engaged French troops seeking dominance in Italy. Under Cardinal Fernando de Alvarez de Toledo, the Spanish army executed a well-coordinated attack. The French forces were overwhelmed and forced to retreat across the Alps. This victory effectively ended French ambitions in Italy for a generation. It led directly to the Treaty of Cambrai, also known as the 'Ladies' Peace.' The outcome solidified Habsburg influence and reshaped European power dynamics in the Renaissance era.
1529
French
Spain
Battle of Landriano
War of the League of Cognac
1582day.year
Sengoku period: Oda Nobunaga, the most powerful of the Japanese daimyōs, is forced to commit suicide by his own general Akechi Mitsuhide.
On June 21, 1582, the powerful warlord Oda Nobunaga was betrayed by his general Akechi Mitsuhide and forced to commit seppuku at Honnō-ji temple.
During Japan's turbulent Sengoku period, Oda Nobunaga emerged as a dominant daimyō aiming to unify the country. While staying at Honnō-ji temple in Kyoto, he was surprised by a rebellion led by his trusted general, Akechi Mitsuhide. Trapped and outnumbered, Nobunaga chose ritual suicide to avoid capture and dishonor. His death shocked the nation and momentarily halted his unification campaign. Mitsuhide briefly seized power but was defeated shortly after by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Hideyoshi avenged Nobunaga and continued the mission of unification, eventually leading to the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate. The incident remains one of the most dramatic betrayals in Japanese history.
1582
Sengoku period
Oda Nobunaga
daimyōs
forced to commit suicide
Akechi Mitsuhide
1621day.year
Execution of 27 Czech noblemen on the Old Town Square in Prague as a consequence of the Battle of White Mountain.
After the Battle of White Mountain, 27 Czech noblemen were executed in Prague's Old Town Square on June 21, 1621.
The execution of 27 Bohemian nobles on June 21, 1621, was a brutal reprisal following the Habsburg victory at the Battle of White Mountain. The condemned were leaders of the Protestant revolt during the early stages of the Thirty Years' War. In a public spectacle, they were beheaded or quartered before gathered crowds in Old Town Square. This act of retribution aimed to crush dissent and enforce Catholic hegemony in Bohemia. It marked the end of religious tolerance and began decades of Habsburg absolutism. The event left a lasting scar in Czech collective memory and symbolized a turning point in Central European history. Today, memorial crosses in the square commemorate the fallen nobles.
1621
Execution of 27 Czech noblemen
Battle of White Mountain
1798day.year
Irish Rebellion of 1798: The British Army defeats Irish rebels at the Battle of Vinegar Hill.
At the Battle of Vinegar Hill in 1798, British forces routed Irish rebels in County Wexford, dealing a decisive blow to the uprising.
On June 21, 1798, the Battle of Vinegar Hill was fought near Enniscorthy in County Wexford as part of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. British government forces under General Lake attacked the rebels’ fortified camp in one of the largest engagements of the uprising. The numerically superior and better-equipped British troops outflanked the Irish positions, forcing widespread retreat. Rebel casualties were heavy, with thousands killed or captured in the aftermath. This defeat effectively ended organized resistance in the south of Ireland. Although scattered guerrilla actions persisted, the loss at Vinegar Hill marked a turning point in the rebellion. The battle’s legacy lived on as a symbol of Irish resistance against British rule.
1798
Irish Rebellion of 1798
Battle of Vinegar Hill
1813day.year
Peninsular War: Wellington defeats Joseph Bonaparte at the Battle of Vitoria.
In 1813, the Duke of Wellington’s allied army defeated French forces led by Joseph Bonaparte at the Battle of Vitoria, a pivotal clash in the Peninsular War.
On June 21, 1813, near Vitoria in northern Spain, the Duke of Wellington’s allied army confronted French forces led by Joseph Bonaparte. Wellington coordinated British, Portuguese, and Spanish troops to attack fortified French positions from multiple directions. Superior logistics and disciplined infantry allowed the allies to break through defensive works and capture key supply depots. French casualties were significant, and Joseph Bonaparte’s army retreated in disarray. The victory opened the way for allied advances toward Madrid and hastened the decline of Napoleonic control in Spain. Vitoria became one of Wellington’s greatest triumphs, showcasing his tactical brilliance. The battle is regarded as a turning point in the Peninsular War.
1813
Peninsular War
Battle of Vitoria
1824day.year
Greek War of Independence: Egyptian forces capture Psara in the Aegean Sea.
Egyptian forces under Ibrahim Pasha captured the Greek island of Psara in 1824, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of civilian life during the War of Independence.
On June 21, 1824, Egyptian forces under Ibrahim Pasha launched a surprise attack on the Greek-held island of Psara in the Aegean Sea. The defenders, lacking equal numbers and artillery, were quickly overwhelmed despite determined resistance. The island’s towns were set ablaze, and civilians suffered greatly under violence and looting. Thousands were killed, and many survivors fled aboard makeshift vessels. The fall of Psara dealt a severe blow to the naval strength of the Greek revolutionaries. However, reports of the massacre stirred international outrage and bolstered philhellenic support in Europe. The event remains a tragic chapter in Greece’s struggle for independence.
1824
Greek War of Independence
Psara
1826day.year
Maniots defeat Egyptians under Ibrahim Pasha in the Battle of Vergas.
In the Battle of Vergas in 1826, Maniot fighters repelled Egyptian troops under Ibrahim Pasha, halting an enemy advance in the Peloponnese.
On June 21, 1826, in the mountainous region of the Mani peninsula, local Greek fighters known as the Maniots faced Egyptian troops under Ibrahim Pasha. Despite being outnumbered and contending with a professional army, the Maniots exploited their knowledge of the terrain to mount a fierce defense. Using guerrilla tactics, they halted the enemy advance and inflicted significant casualties. The Egyptians eventually withdrew, abandoning their campaign in the Peloponnese. This victory boosted Greek morale at a critical stage of the war. It demonstrated the effectiveness of local resistance and contributed to sustaining the broader Greek independence movement.
1826
Maniots
Battle of Vergas
1864day.year
American Civil War: The Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road begins.
The Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road began in 1864 as Union forces sought to sever Confederate supply lines to Petersburg during the American Civil War.
On June 21, 1864, during the American Civil War, Union forces under Major General Gouverneur K. Warren commenced the Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road near Petersburg, Virginia. The Union objective was to cut the Confederate supply line along the Weldon Railroad. Intense fighting erupted around well-fortified earthworks as both sides sought control of strategic rail connections. Union troops managed to seize portions of the road but were unable to destroy the line completely. Confederate defenders launched counterattacks that stabilized their positions, leading to a stalemate. Although the battle did not achieve its primary goal, it foreshadowed the protracted siege tactics that would characterize the later Petersburg operations. The engagement demonstrated the emerging importance of trench fortifications and railroad logistics in modern warfare.
1864
American Civil War
Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road
1898day.year
The United States captures Guam from Spain. The few warning shots fired by the U.S. naval vessels are misinterpreted as salutes by the Spanish garrison, which was unaware that the two nations were at war.
In 1898, U.S. naval forces peacefully seized Guam when the Spanish garrison, unaware of the war’s outbreak, mistook warning shots for salutes and surrendered.
On June 21, 1898, during the Spanish-American War, U.S. Navy Captain Henry Glass sailed into Apra Harbor and presented an ultimatum to the Spanish governor of Guam. Unaware that war had been declared, the Spanish fired a ceremonial shot, which the Americans interpreted as a hostile act. In response, the U.S. forces demanded surrender, which was granted without further resistance. The bloodless capture of Guam provided the United States with a strategic coaling station and naval base in the Pacific. The incident highlighted communication delays and confusion common in 19th-century conflicts. It marked the beginning of American colonial influence in the Asia-Pacific region and set a precedent for future U.S. territorial acquisitions.
1898
captures Guam
1900day.year
Boxer Rebellion: China formally declares war on the United States, Britain, Germany, France and Japan, as an edict issued from the Empress Dowager Cixi.
Empress Dowager Cixi formally declared war against eight foreign powers in 1900, escalating the Boxer Rebellion into an international conflict.
On June 21, 1900, Empress Dowager Cixi issued an imperial decree formally declaring war on eight foreign powers: the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Japan, Russia, Italy, and Austria-Hungary. This action was a response to mounting anti-foreign and anti-Christian sentiments fueled by the Boxer Rebellion. The edict empowered Qing troops and Boxer militia to attack foreign legations and missionaries across northern China. In turn, the Eight-Nation Alliance mobilized forces to relieve besieged missions in Beijing, turning the rebellion into an international conflict. The declaration intensified hostilities and exacerbated diplomatic tensions over spheres of influence in China. The war culminated in the Boxer Protocol of 1901, imposing heavy reparations and foreign military occupation. This episode significantly weakened the Qing dynasty and reshaped China’s relationship with Western powers.
1900
Boxer Rebellion
Empress Dowager Cixi
1919day.year
Admiral Ludwig von Reuter scuttles the German fleet at Scapa Flow, Orkney. The nine sailors killed are the last casualties of World War I.
German Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter scuttles the interned High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow on June 21, 1919, marking the final naval action of World War I.
After the November 1918 armistice, the German fleet lay interned at Scapa Flow pending a peace treaty. Believing the British intended to seize the ships, Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter ordered the scuttling on June 21, 1919. Over fifty vessels sank as crews opened seacocks and flooded compartments. Nine sailors died in the chaotic operation, marking the war's final casualties. The dramatic destruction denied the Allies possession of German battleships and stunned Europe. Wrecks later became diving attractions and enduring symbols of the Great War's end. The scuttling remains a poignant coda to World War I's naval history.
Ludwig von Reuter
scuttles the German fleet
Scapa Flow
Orkney
World War I