June 22

Events

217 BC

Battle of Raphia: Ptolemy IV Philopator of Egypt defeats Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucid kingdom.

In 217 BC, Ptolemy IV defeats Antiochus III at the Battle of Raphia, securing Ptolemaic dominance in the eastern Mediterranean.
On June 22, 217 BC, the armies of Ptolemy IV and Antiochus III clashed near modern-day Rafah. Ptolemy's use of war elephants and disciplined phalanxes turned the tide against the Seleucid forces. The decisive victory solidified Egypt's control over Coele-Syria and marked the height of Ptolemaic power. Antiochus III retreated, delaying Seleucid expansion into the Levant. The battle demonstrated the strategic importance of elephant corps in Hellenistic warfare and influenced later military tactics.
217 BC Battle of Raphia Ptolemy IV Philopator Antiochus III the Great Seleucid kingdom
168 BC

Battle of Pydna: Romans under Lucius Aemilius Paullus defeat Macedonian King Perseus who surrenders after the battle, ending the Third Macedonian War.

In 168 BC, Roman legions under Lucius Aemilius Paullus rout King Perseus at Pydna, ending the Third Macedonian War.
On June 22, 168 BC, Roman legions under Lucius Aemilius Paullus clashed with King Perseus's phalanx at Pydna. The Roman manipular system exploited gaps in the Macedonian formation, breaking its cohesion. Perseus's forces were routed, and the king fled before ultimately surrendering. This decisive victory ended the Third Macedonian War and dismantled the Macedonian kingdom. Rome then annexed or reorganized Macedonian territories into client republics, cementing its eastern dominance.
168 BC Battle of Pydna Romans Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonian Perseus Third Macedonian War
431day.year

The Council of Ephesus, the third ecumenical council, begins, dealing with Nestorianism.

In 431 AD, the Council of Ephesus convenes to resolve the Nestorian controversy and define Christological doctrine.
On June 22, 431 AD, bishops from across the Christian world assembled in Ephesus for the third ecumenical council. The primary debate centered on Nestorianism and the relationship between Christ's divine and human natures. Led by Cyril of Alexandria, the council condemned Nestorius and affirmed Mary as 'God-bearer'. The rulings shaped orthodox Christian theology and led to enduring schisms within the church. Its legacy endures in ongoing Christological discussions and the authority of ecumenical councils.
431 Council of Ephesus ecumenical council Nestorianism
813day.year

Battle of Versinikia: The Bulgars led by Krum defeat the Byzantine army near Edirne. Emperor Michael I is forced to abdicate in favor of Leo V the Armenian.

In 813, Khan Krum's Bulgar forces defeat Emperor Michael I's Byzantine army at Versinikia, forcing Michael's abdication.
On June 22, 813, near Adrianople, Bulgar troops under Khan Krum engaged the Byzantine army commanded by Emperor Michael I. Utilizing terrain advantages and well-coordinated infantry, the Bulgars overwhelmed the Byzantine lines. The crushing defeat shattered Byzantine morale and forced Michael I to abdicate in favor of Leo V. Krum's victory expanded Bulgar power in the Balkans and secured new territorial gains. The battle highlighted the shifting balance of medieval power between the Bulgars and Byzantium.
813 Battle of Versinikia Bulgars Krum Byzantine Edirne Michael I Leo V the Armenian
910day.year

The Hungarians defeat the East Frankish army near the Rednitz River, killing its leader Gebhard, Duke of Lotharingia (Lorraine).

In 910, Hungarian cavalry ambushes and defeats the East Frankish army at the Rednitz River, killing Duke Gebhard.
On June 22, 910, Hungarian cavalry forces ambushed the East Frankish army led by Duke Gebhard near the Rednitz River. Swift mounted archers harried the Frankish formations, causing chaos and breaking their lines. Duke Gebhard was killed in action, plunging the Frankish nobility into turmoil. The decisive victory secured Hungarian raiding routes and underscored the effectiveness of steppe warfare. In response, King Louis the Child negotiated truces and sought military reforms.
910 Hungarians East Frankish Rednitz River Gebhard Lotharingia
1527day.year

Fatahillah expels Portuguese forces from Sunda Kelapa, now regarded as the foundation of Jakarta.

In 1527, Fatahillah expels the Portuguese from Sunda Kelapa, founding Jayakarta, the precursor to Jakarta.
On June 22, 1527, Javanese commander Fatahillah led indigenous forces to expel the Portuguese from Sunda Kelapa. He renamed the port Jayakarta, meaning 'complete victory,' laying the foundation for modern Jakarta. The triumph marked the decline of Portuguese influence in the Indonesian archipelago. Fatahillah's use of artillery and naval tactics demonstrated sophisticated local military organization. Jayakarta soon flourished as a key trading hub on Southeast Asia's spice routes.
1527 Fatahillah Portuguese Sunda Kelapa Jakarta
1593day.year

Battle of Sisak: Allied Christian troops defeat the Ottomans.

In 1593, Christian forces under Tamás Erdődy repel the Ottomans at Sisak, halting their advance into Central Europe.
On June 22, 1593, a Christian league of Habsburg, Croatian, and allied troops defended Sisak against an Ottoman siege. Under Ban Tamás Erdődy's leadership, the defenders used fortifications and artillery to repel the attackers. The Ottoman defeat halted further incursions into Central Europe and boosted Christian morale. Pope Clement VIII responded by calling a new Holy League to counter Ottoman expansion. The battle is remembered as a turning point in the Long Turkish War.
1593 Battle of Sisak Ottomans
1633day.year

The Holy Office in Rome forces Galileo Galilei to recant his view that the Sun, not the Earth, is the center of the Universe in the form he presented it in, after heated controversy.

In 1633, Galileo is forced by the Roman Inquisition to recant his heliocentric theory, marking a clash of science and church.
On June 22, 1633, Galileo Galilei faced the Roman Inquisition and was compelled to recant his heliocentric theory. Under the threat of torture, he abjured his view that the Earth revolved around the Sun. His Dialogue on the Two Chief World Systems was banned, and he was placed under house arrest. The event marked a profound conflict between emerging scientific evidence and ecclesiastical authority. Galileo's struggle later became emblematic of the fight for intellectual freedom.
1633 Holy Office Galileo Galilei recant
1774day.year

The British pass the Quebec Act, setting out rules of governance for the colony of Quebec in British North America.

In 1774, the Quebec Act redefines governance and religious rights in Quebec, sparking colonial controversy.
On June 22, 1774, the British Parliament passed the Quebec Act to organize governance in the Province of Quebec. The act expanded the colony's boundaries and permitted the free practice of Catholicism under French civil law. English criminal law was retained, and administration was placed under a governor and appointed council. Aimed at securing French Canadian loyalty, it angered American colonists and was deemed an Intolerable Act. The legislation influenced the legal and cultural development of Canada and fueled colonial unrest.
1774 Quebec Act Quebec
1783day.year

A poisonous cloud caused by the eruption of the Laki volcano in Iceland reaches Le Havre in France.

In 1783, volcanic gases from Iceland's Laki eruption create a poisonous cloud over Le Havre, affecting climate and health.
On June 22, 1783, a cloud of sulfurous gases from Iceland's Laki eruption drifted over Le Havre. The poisonous haze caused acid rain, respiratory illnesses, and livestock deaths in northern France. Laki's massive sulfur dioxide emissions created the 'Laki haze' that shrouded Europe for months. Contemporary accounts described dimmed sunlight, bizarre weather, and a strong smell of sulfur. This event stands as one of the most significant volcanic disasters of the 18th century, revealing volcanic impacts on climate and health.
1783 eruption Laki Iceland Le Havre
1793day.year

Haitian Revolution: The Battle of Cap-Français ends with French Republican troops and black slave insurgents capturing the city.

Republican and insurgent forces captured Cap-Français, marking a key victory in the Haitian Revolution.
The Battle of Cap-Français was a pivotal clash in the Haitian Revolution, fought on June 22, 1793. French Republican troops joined black slave insurgents to lay siege to the fortified city on the northern coast. Their combined forces overcame the defenders after intense fighting and artillery bombardment. The fall of Cap-Français (now Cap-Haïtien) cut off a major port and supply route for the colonial regime. This victory galvanized the revolutionary movement and inspired further insurgencies across Saint-Domingue. It underscored the determination of enslaved peoples to fight for freedom and alter the balance of power in the Caribbean.
1793 Haitian Revolution Battle of Cap-Français
1807day.year

In the Chesapeake–Leopard affair, the British warship HMS Leopard attacks and boards the American frigate USS Chesapeake.

The British warship HMS Leopard attacked the USS Chesapeake in a controversial naval incident off the American coast.
The Chesapeake–Leopard affair occurred on June 22, 1807, when HMS Leopard pursued and fired upon the American frigate USS Chesapeake. The British crew then boarded the Chesapeake in search of alleged deserters from the Royal Navy. This act of maritime aggression outraged the United States public and government, stoking tensions with Britain. President Thomas Jefferson responded with trade embargoes in an attempt to avoid full-scale war. The incident exposed the fragility of American neutrality and contributed to the rising hostilities that eventually led to the War of 1812.
1807 Chesapeake–Leopard affair HMS Leopard USS Chesapeake