363day.year
Roman emperor Julian is killed during the retreat from the Sasanian Empire.
Emperor Julian is mortally wounded during his army’s retreat from the Sasanian Empire, marking a rare imperial death in battle.
In AD 363, Roman Emperor Julian’s ambitious campaign against the Sasanian Empire falters.
As the Roman forces withdraw, Julian is struck by a projectile and succumbs to his wounds.
He becomes the first Roman emperor to die on foreign soil in a Persian campaign.
The sudden loss leaves the army leaderless and forces a hasty retreat.
His successor, Jovian, negotiates a peace that cedes key territories to Persia.
Julian’s demise halts his efforts to restore paganism in the empire.
This event underscores the perils of rugged warfare and leadership in hostile lands.
363
Julian
Sasanian Empire
1243day.year
Mongols defeat the Seljuk Turks at the Battle of Köse Dağ.
Mongol forces achieve a decisive victory over the Seljuk Turks at Köse Dağ, reshaping Anatolian power dynamics.
On June 26, 1243, the Mongol army led by Baiju Noyan overwhelms the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum at Köse Dağ.
The Seljuks, weakened by internal conflicts, cannot withstand the Mongols’ swift cavalry tactics.
This crushing defeat forces the Seljuk Turks into vassalage under Mongol overlordship.
Anatolia’s political landscape transforms as regional leaders submit or are displaced.
The battle marks the decline of Seljuk dominance and paves the way for Turkic migrations.
Mongol rule introduces new administrative structures and trade routes.
This pivotal clash alters the course of Middle Eastern and Islamic history.
1243
Seljuk Turks
Battle of Köse Dağ
1460day.year
War of the Roses: Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, and Edward, Earl of March, land in England with a rebel army and march on London.
During the War of the Roses, Yorkist leaders Warwick and Edward land in England and advance on London with rebellious forces.
On June 26, 1460, Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick, and Edward, Earl of March, disembark from Calais with a formidable Yorkist army.
They commence a bold march toward London, aiming to overthrow the Lancastrian regime.
Their campaign intensifies the dynastic struggle between the Houses of York and Lancaster.
Supported by local garrisons and sympathetic nobles, the Yorkists rapidly gain ground.
The advance sets the scene for the critical Battle of Northampton later that summer.
Warwick’s strategic leadership and Edward’s royal claim galvanize their cause.
This expedition marks a decisive chapter in one of England’s most tumultuous civil wars.
1460
War of the Roses
Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
Edward, Earl of March
1522day.year
Ottomans begin the second Siege of Rhodes.
Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent launched the second Ottoman siege of Rhodes, targeting the island stronghold of the Knights Hospitaller.
After their failed attempt in 1480, the Ottomans returned to Rhodes under Suleiman the Magnificent with a formidable fleet and artillery. The siege began on June 26, 1522, as Ottoman forces encircled the island and bombarded its fortifications. The Knights Hospitaller, led by Grand Master Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam, held out under intense pressure. Disease and relentless cannon fire weakened the defenders over months of fighting. Facing overwhelming odds, the Knights negotiated terms of surrender in December, securing safe passage to Sicily. The fall of Rhodes expanded Ottoman control in the eastern Mediterranean and underscored Suleiman's military prowess.
1522
Siege of Rhodes
1579day.year
Livonian campaign of Stephen Báthory begins.
King Stephen Báthory of Poland-Lithuania launched his Livonian campaign to reclaim key Baltic territories from Russia.
Elected King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1575, Stephen Báthory sought to reverse Russian gains from the Livonian War. On June 26, 1579, he began the campaign by assembling a modernized army with heavy artillery and mercenaries. His forces aimed to retake fortified cities such as Polotsk and Reval. Through swift assaults and effective siege tactics, Báthory recaptured Polotsk by autumn. The campaign shifted the balance of power in the Baltic, forcing Russia to negotiate. Though fighting continued, his successes led to the Truce of Jam Zapolski in 1582. The agreement restored most Livonian lands to the Commonwealth and marked a diplomatic victory for Báthory's reign.
1579
Livonian campaign of Stephen Báthory
1723day.year
After a siege and bombardment by cannon, Baku surrenders to the Russians.
Russian forces captured the strategic port of Baku after a fierce siege and artillery bombardment, extending their southern frontier.
During the Russo-Persian War of 1722–1723, Peter the Great aimed to assert Russian influence along the Caspian Sea coast. Russian troops laid siege to Baku, a vital seaport under Persian control, commencing on June 26, 1723. The defenders faced relentless cannon fire that breached their walls and weakened their resistance. Cut off from relief and supplies, Baku’s leaders negotiated surrender to avoid further destruction. The city formally became part of the Russian Empire, securing a key trading hub and fortress. This victory paved the way for the Treaty of Saint Petersburg later that year, which ceded vast Persian territories. Baku’s incorporation marked a significant shift in regional power dynamics.
1723
Baku surrenders
1740day.year
A combined force of Spanish, free blacks and allied Indians defeat a British garrison at the Siege of Fort Mose near St. Augustine during the War of Jenkins' Ear.
A combined force of Spanish troops, free black militia, and allied Native Americans recaptured Fort Mose from British control near St. Augustine.
After British forces seized Fort Mose in 1740, Spain assembled a diverse army including free African settlers and local indigenous tribes. Under Governor Manuel de Montiano, they advanced on the fort on June 26, 1740. The Spanish-led group conducted a surprise attack that overwhelmed the British garrison. The victory at Fort Mose was significant as it involved one of the earliest free black militias in North America. It bolstered Spanish defenses around St. Augustine and discouraged further British incursions. The event highlighted the complex alliances between European powers, escaped slaves, and Native Americans. Today, Fort Mose stands as a symbol of African American military service and the struggle for freedom in colonial America.
1740
Siege of Fort Mose
St. Augustine
War of Jenkins' Ear
1794day.year
French Revolutionary Wars: Battle of Fleurus marks the first successful military use of aircraft and turns the tide of the War of the First Coalition.
The French army achieved a pivotal victory at Fleurus, famously using a tethered observation balloon for the first time in warfare.
On June 26, 1794, during the War of the First Coalition, French forces under General Jean-Baptiste Jourdan faced Austrian and allied troops near Fleurus in present-day Belgium. For the first time in military history, the French deployed the observation balloon l'Entrepreneur to direct artillery fire and monitor enemy movements. Observers in the balloon relayed vital intelligence that helped coordinate French attacks. Despite initial setbacks, the French army broke the coalition lines and forced a retreat. This triumph secured control over the Austrian Netherlands and boosted Revolutionary France’s strategic position. The innovative use of aerial reconnaissance heralded a new era in military technology. The nickname 'the battle that made the balloon sing' captures its lasting impact on warfare tactics.
1794
French Revolutionary Wars
Battle of Fleurus
War of the First Coalition
1848day.year
End of the June Days Uprising in Paris.
The June Days Uprising in Paris, part of the 1848 revolution, ends as government forces suppress the insurgents.
Part of the broader 1848 revolutions sweeping Europe, the June Days Uprising erupted in Paris as workers protested economic hardship and the closure of national workshops.
Over three days of intense street fighting, government forces under General Louis-Eugène Cavaignac regained control of the city.
Thousands of insurgents were killed, wounded, or deported, dealing a heavy blow to the working-class movement.
The brutal suppression marked a decisive shift toward conservative policies and the stabilization of the French Second Republic.
The uprising's end on June 26 signaled both the failure of radical social demands and the enduring legacy of class conflict in modern France.
1848
June Days Uprising
1917day.year
World War I: The American Expeditionary Forces begin to arrive in France. They will first enter combat in the Battle of Hamel on July 4.
American Expeditionary Forces arrive in France during World War I, marking the U.S. entry into European combat operations.
Under General John J. Pershing's command, the American Expeditionary Forces began landing in France on June 26, 1917.
Thousands of U.S. troops arrived at ports like Saint-Nazaire to prepare for their first major engagement on the Western Front.
Their presence marked a turning point in World War I, bolstering war-weary Allied armies against the Central Powers.
American units underwent intensive training before entering combat at the Battle of Hamel on July 4, demonstrating effective combined-arms tactics.
The AEF's arrival signaled the United States' full-scale entry into European combat operations.
1917
World War I
American Expeditionary Forces
1918day.year
World War I: Allied forces under John J. Pershing and James Harbord defeat Imperial German forces under Wilhelm, German Crown Prince in the Battle of Belleau Wood.
In the Battle of Belleau Wood, Allied troops under Pershing and Harbord rout German Crown Prince Wilhelm’s forces in a key WWI victory.
On June 26, 1918, Allied forces commanded by Generals John J. Pershing and James Harbord launched an assault on Belleau Wood.
American Marines, supported by French artillery, attacked well-entrenched German units under Crown Prince Wilhelm.
After days of fierce combat marked by close-quarters fighting, the Allies secured control of the woods, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy.
The victory became a defining moment for the U.S. Marine Corps and demonstrated American resolve on the Western Front.
Belleau Wood's success helped halt the German Spring Offensive and paved the way for the Allied Hundred Days Offensive.
1918
Allied forces
John J. Pershing
James Harbord
Imperial German forces
Wilhelm, German Crown Prince
Battle of Belleau Wood
1924day.year
The American occupation of the Dominican Republic ends after eight years.
After eight years of military occupation, the United States formally ends its control of the Dominican Republic.
After eight years of U.S. military occupation initiated to stabilize finances and suppress rebellions, control formally ended on June 26, 1924.
Authority was transferred to a democratically elected Dominican government under President Horacio Vásquez.
The withdrawal was influenced by changing U.S. policies under President Coolidge and growing Dominican nationalism.
American forces had built roads, schools, and reformed the fiscal system, leaving a mixed legacy in the Caribbean.
This transition marked the return of sovereignty to the Dominican Republic and shaped its political developments in the 20th century.
1924
American occupation of the Dominican Republic