1312 BC
Mursili II launches a campaign against the Kingdom of Azzi-Hayasa.
Hittite king Mursili II initiates a military campaign against the Kingdom of Azzi-Hayasa in northeastern Anatolia.
Mursili II, ruler of the Hittite Empire, launched a major expedition against the neighboring Kingdom of Azzi-Hayasa around 1312 BC. Azzi-Hayasa, located in the mountainous regions of northeastern Anatolia, posed a persistent challenge to Hittite authority. Mursili’s campaign aimed to secure key trade routes and subdue rebellious local tribes. Ancient Hittite records celebrate this operation as a showcase of military strength and strategic acumen. The victory extended Hittite control further east and reinforced the empire’s dominance in the region for generations.
1312 BC
Mursili II
launches a campaign
Azzi-Hayasa
637day.year
The Battle of Moira is fought between the High King of Ireland and the Kings of Ulster and Dál Riata. It is claimed to be the largest battle in the history of Ireland.
The Battle of Moira pits the High King of Ireland against the allied kings of Ulster and Dál Riata in the largest engagement of early Irish history.
In AD 637, the Battle of Moira erupted on the plains of County Down as forces loyal to the High King of Ireland clashed with an alliance led by the kings of Ulster and Dál Riata. Chroniclers claim this was the largest recorded battle in early Irish history, possibly involving tens of thousands of warriors. Its causes stemmed from dynastic rivalries and competition for regional supremacy. Fierce combat with spears, swords, and chariots defined the day-long engagement. Though exact outcomes are debated, tradition credits the High King with a hard-fought victory. The battle’s legacy endured in Irish saga literature and influenced power structures across the island.
637
Battle of Moira
High King of Ireland
Ulster
Dál Riata
843day.year
The Vikings sack the French city of Nantes.
Viking raiders sack the city of Nantes, leaving a trail of destruction during the turmoil of 9th-century Francia.
In AD 843, seafaring Viking bands descended upon Nantes, then a key city in the Frankish West. Exploiting the fractured political landscape of the Carolingian realms, the Norsemen breached river defenses and looted churches, homes, and markets. Contemporary accounts describe widespread fires and the capture of prisoners for ransom or slavery. The sack of Nantes exemplified the broader Viking incursions that plagued coastal and riverine settlements across Europe. In its aftermath, local lords fortified their positions, and the Countship of Nantes became a focal point of resistance. The event underscored the vulnerability of early medieval kingdoms to maritime raiders.
843
Nantes
972day.year
Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces, takes place.
Polish forces achieve their first documented victory against German knights at the Battle of Cedynia.
In AD 972, Duke Mieszko I of Poland confronted forces of the Holy Roman Empire near Cedynia, along the Oder River. This clash, known as the Battle of Cedynia, marked the first recorded military triumph of the Piast dynasty. Chronicler Thietmar of Merseburg provides one of the few contemporary accounts of the engagement. Mieszko’s forces successfully repelled the invaders, securing Poland’s western frontier. The victory fortified Mieszko’s rule and enhanced his prestige among neighboring powers. Cedynia remains celebrated as a foundational moment in the emergence of the Polish state.
972
Battle of Cedynia
1128day.year
Battle of São Mamede, near Guimarães: Forces led by Afonso I defeat forces led by his mother Teresa of León and her lover Fernando Pérez de Traba.
Afonso I defeats his mother’s faction at the Battle of São Mamede, paving the way for Portuguese independence.
In AD 1128, on the fields outside Guimarães, forces led by Afonso Henriques clashed with troops loyal to his mother, Countess Teresa of León, and her ally Fernando Pérez de Traba. The Battle of São Mamede stemmed from a dynastic power struggle over the County of Portugal. Afonso’s victory effectively ended his mother’s regency and asserted his authority. This triumph is often regarded as the birth of the Portuguese nation under Afonso I’s leadership. Following the battle, Afonso consolidated his rule and took the title Prince of Portugal. The event set the stage for the Kingdom of Portugal’s formal independence in subsequent decades.
1128
Battle of São Mamede
Guimarães
Afonso I
Teresa of León
Fernando Pérez de Traba
1230day.year
The Siege of Jaén begins, in the context of the Spanish Reconquista.
King Ferdinand III of Castile begins the Siege of Jaén as part of the Spanish Reconquista.
In AD 1230, King Ferdinand III of Castile laid siege to the fortified city of Jaén in Andalusia, targeting the Muslim-controlled stronghold. The Siege of Jaén formed a key component of the broader Reconquista campaign to reclaim Iberian territories. Castilian forces encircled the city walls, employing siege engines and cutting off supply routes. Despite initial resistance, the siege hampered Jaén’s ability to sustain its defenders. Although the city did not capitulate until 1246, the early phases demonstrated Castile’s growing military prowess. Ferdinand’s persistent offensives ultimately reshaped the political map of medieval Spain.
1230
Siege of Jaén
1314day.year
First War of Scottish Independence: The Battle of Bannockburn concludes with a decisive victory by Scottish forces led by Robert the Bruce.
Robert the Bruce secures Scottish independence with a decisive victory at the Battle of Bannockburn.
In AD 1314, Robert the Bruce’s army faced King Edward II’s forces near Stirling Castle in a pivotal engagement of the First War of Scottish Independence. The Battle of Bannockburn demonstrated the effectiveness of Scottish schiltron formations against English cavalry. Over two days of fierce combat, the Scots routed the numerically superior English army. Bruce’s victory bolstered Scottish morale and undermined English claims over Scotland. The outcome forced Edward II to lift the siege of Stirling and retreat south of the border. Bannockburn remains celebrated as a symbol of Scottish national identity and military ingenuity.
1314
First War of Scottish Independence
Battle of Bannockburn
Robert the Bruce
1340day.year
Hundred Years' War: Battle of Sluys: The French fleet is almost completely destroyed by the English fleet commanded personally by King Edward III.
King Edward III’s fleet nearly annihilates the French navy at the naval Battle of Sluys.
In AD 1340, during the early phase of the Hundred Years’ War, King Edward III personally commanded an English fleet against the French near the port of Sluys. The naval battle occurred in the narrow channel off the Flemish coast, restricting French maneuverability. English ships, equipped with long-range archers, decimated enemy vessels in close-quarters fighting. The near-total destruction of the French fleet secured English control of the Channel. This victory enabled subsequent troop landings on the continent and shaped the course of the prolonged conflict. The Battle of Sluys stands as one of the first major naval engagements in medieval European warfare.
1340
Hundred Years' War
Battle of Sluys
Edward III
1535day.year
The Anabaptist state of Münster is conquered and disbanded.
In 1535, a combined army of Catholic and Lutheran princes captured Münster, ending the radical Anabaptist regime.
After months of siege, the city of Münster fell to forces of Catholic and Lutheran princes determined to crush the Anabaptist rebellion. Led by the self-proclaimed 'King' Jan van Leiden, the Münsterites had established communal property and revolutionary social reforms. The brutal siege, which began in 1534, ended when the walls were breached and the defenders surrendered. The victors executed the Anabaptist leaders and reinstated traditional clerical authority, dispersing the movement's followers. The fall of Münster sent shockwaves through Europe, curbing radical Protestant factions and reinforcing the religious status quo. This event remains a stark example of the period's deadly intertwining of faith and power during the Reformation.
1535
Anabaptist
Münster
1571day.year
Miguel López de Legazpi conquers Manila for Spain, modern day capital of the Philippines.
On June 24, 1571, Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi captured Manila, laying the foundation for Spanish rule in the Philippines.
Miguel López de Legazpi led Spanish forces to seize the fortified settlement of Maynila on Luzon Island, renaming it Manila and establishing it as the capital of the Spanish East Indies. This victory created a crucial hub for the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade, connecting Asia with the Americas. Legazpi negotiated with local rulers and organized a colonial administration, ushering in over three centuries of Spanish influence in the archipelago. The conquest facilitated the spread of Christianity, the introduction of European governance, and significant cultural exchanges. Manila's transformation into a bustling colonial port reshaped regional geopolitics and commerce in Southeast Asia.
1571
Miguel López de Legazpi
Manila
Philippines
1593day.year
The Dutch city of Geertruidenberg held by the Spanish, capitulates to a besieging Dutch and English army led by Maurice of Nassau.
In 1593, the Spanish-held city of Geertruidenberg surrendered to Dutch and English forces under Maurice of Nassau during the Eighty Years’ War.
A coalition army commanded by Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange, besieged Geertruidenberg, a strategic city in the Low Countries, pressing Spanish defenders to their limits. Employing innovative siege tactics and coordinated artillery fire, Maurice's forces breached the walls and forced the garrison to negotiate terms of capitulation. This victory disrupted Spanish supply lines and bolstered the morale of the Dutch Republic. The fall of Geertruidenberg marked a significant turning point in the protracted struggle for Dutch independence. It demonstrated the effectiveness of modern military engineering and the growing prowess of the Protestant-led alliance against Spanish Habsburg rule.
1593
Geertruidenberg
capitulates to a besieging Dutch and English
Maurice of Nassau
1622day.year
Battle of Macau: The Dutch make a failed attempt to capture Macau.
In 1622, Dutch forces launched a failed assault on Macau, unable to dislodge the Portuguese defenders.
On June 24, 1622, a fleet of Dutch warships attempted to surprise the fortified Portuguese colony of Macau, aiming to break Portugal's monopoly on China trade. Portuguese defenders, joined by Macau's local militia and Jesuit missionaries, mounted a fierce resistance both in the city streets and harbor. Despite the Dutch numerical advantage, the assault faltered amid heavy cannon fire and close-quarters combat. The Portuguese victory secured Macau's strategic position as a gateway for European merchants into East Asia. This defeat marked the end of Dutch attempts to dominate Macau and underscored the importance of colonial fortifications. The Battle of Macau remains a defining episode in the contest for colonial supremacy in the 17th century.
1622
Battle of Macau
Macau