June 22

Events - Wars & Conflicts

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
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
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
1812day.year

France declares war on Russia, starting Napoleon's invasion.

Napoleon officially declared war on Russia, launching his massive invasion of the Russian Empire.
On June 22, 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte formally declared war on Russia, marking the beginning of one of history's largest military campaigns. The Grande Armée, numbering over 600,000 troops from across Europe, crossed the Niemen River into Russian territory. The invasion aimed to enforce the Continental System and compel Tsar Alexander I to comply with French economic blockades of Britain. Despite early advances, supply shortages, harsh weather, and scorched earth tactics weakened the French forces. The campaign would ultimately culminate in devastating losses for Napoleon and signal a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars.
1812 declares war on Russia Napoleon's invasion
1813day.year

War of 1812: After learning of American plans for a surprise attack on Beaver Dams in Ontario, Laura Secord sets out on a thirty kilometres (19 mi) journey on foot to warn Lieutenant James FitzGibbon.

Canadian heroine Laura Secord trekked thirty kilometres to warn British forces of an impending American attack during the War of 1812.
On June 22, 1813, Laura Secord embarked on a perilous thirty-kilometre journey through dense woods after overhearing American soldiers' plans for a surprise attack at Beaver Dams. Braving difficult terrain and the risk of capture, she reached Lieutenant James FitzGibbon and alerted British and Mohawk forces. Thanks to her warning, the defenders prepared an ambush that led to a decisive British victory. Secord's courageous act became legendary in Canadian history as a symbol of loyalty and bravery. Her story highlights the critical role of individual determination in wartime intelligence and the broader conflict between Britain and the United States.
1813 War of 1812 Ontario Laura Secord James FitzGibbon
1898day.year

Spanish–American War: In a chaotic operation, 6,000 men of the U.S. Fifth Army Corps begins landing at Daiquirí, Cuba, about 16 miles (26 km) east of Santiago de Cuba. Lt. Gen. Arsenio Linares y Pombo of the Spanish Army outnumbers them two-to-one, but does not oppose the landings.

The U.S. Fifth Army Corps launched its first amphibious landing at Daiquirí, Cuba, facing little opposition.
On June 22, 1898, during the Spanish–American War, approximately 6,000 American troops of the Fifth Army Corps executed an amphibious landing at Daiquirí, Cuba. Despite being significantly outnumbered by Lt. Gen. Arsenio Linares y Pombo's Spanish forces, the invaders met no organized resistance. The successful landing provided a strategic foothold sixteen miles east of Santiago de Cuba. This operation demonstrated the growing capabilities of U.S. expeditionary forces and highlighted challenges in Spanish colonial defense. Daiquirí became a key staging area for the subsequent siege of Santiago, which ultimately led to Spain's defeat in Cuba.
1898 Spanish–American War U.S. Fifth Army Corps Daiquirí Santiago de Cuba Arsenio Linares y Pombo Spanish Army
1911day.year

Mexican Revolution: Government forces bring an end to the Magonista rebellion of 1911 in the Second Battle of Tijuana.

Government troops defeated the Magonista rebels at the Second Battle of Tijuana, ending one of the final uprisings against the provisional Mexican government.
On 22 June 1911, federal forces loyal to President Francisco Madero engaged and defeated the Magonista rebels in Tijuana, effectively ending the 1911 uprising. The Magonistas, inspired by anarchist leaders Ricardo and Enrique Flores Magón, had sought radical social reforms before seizing the frontier city. Their defeat demonstrated the provisional government's military strength and ability to maintain order. Although the rebellion was quelled, the anarchist ideas and social ambitions of the Magonistas continued to influence Mexico's revolutionary politics. The battle underscored the complex and often competing currents that shaped the Mexican Revolution.
Mexican Revolution Magonista rebellion of 1911 Second Battle of Tijuana