July 04

Events - Wars & Conflicts

362 BC

Battle of Mantinea: The Thebans, led by Epaminondas, defeated the Spartans.

In 362 BC, at the Battle of Mantinea, Theban general Epaminondas led his troops to a decisive victory over Sparta, altering the balance of power in ancient Greece.
The Battle of Mantinea took place in 362 BC during the Theban–Spartan conflict. Epaminondas, the innovative Theban commander, employed an oblique phalanx formation to great effect. The Theban forces achieved a decisive triumph, routing the Spartan army and ending Spartan dominance in the Peloponnese. Both sides suffered heavy losses, but Thebes emerged as the leading Greek power. This battle demonstrated new tactical approaches that would influence Hellenistic warfare for generations.
362 BC Battle of Mantinea Thebans Epaminondas Spartans
1187day.year

The Crusades: Battle of Hattin: Saladin defeats Guy of Lusignan, King of Jerusalem.

On July 4, 1187, Saladin’s forces decisively defeated King Guy of Lusignan at the Battle of Hattin, paving the way for the Muslim reconquest of Jerusalem.
The Battle of Hattin was a pivotal engagement in the Crusades, fought near the Sea of Galilee. Saladin’s tactical encirclement and denial of water supply shattered the Crusader ranks. King Guy of Lusignan and many of his knights were captured or killed during the conflict. This defeat directly led to the fall of Jerusalem later in 1187. Hattin underscored Saladin’s military prowess and revitalized Muslim unity across the Levant.
1187 Crusades Battle of Hattin Saladin Guy of Lusignan King of Jerusalem
1253day.year

Battle of West-Capelle: John I of Avesnes defeats Guy of Dampierre.

In 1253, John I of Avesnes secured victory over Guy of Dampierre at the Battle of West-Capelle, influencing power dynamics in Flanders.
The confrontation at West-Capelle was part of a dynastic struggle for control over Flanders. John I of Avesnes, claiming rights through marriage and lineage, clashed with the Dampierre faction. His victory on July 4, 1253, affirmed Avesnes influence in key territories. Guy of Dampierre’s defeat weakened his political position and led to further feudal disputes. The battle reflects the shifting alliances and rivalries of 13th-century European nobility.
1253 John I of Avesnes Guy of Dampierre
1333day.year

Genkō War: Forces loyal to Emperor Go-Daigo seize Tōshō-ji during the Siege of Kamakura. Hōjō Takatoki and other members of the Hōjō clan commit suicide, ending the rule of the Kamakura shogunate.

In 1333, the Genkō War climaxed as Emperor Go-Daigo’s forces captured Tōshō-ji, leading to the fall of the Hōjō clan and the end of the Kamakura shogunate.
The Genkō War pitted imperial loyalists against the powerful Hōjō regents who controlled the shogunate. During the Siege of Kamakura, attackers breached the gates of Tōshō-ji, a Hōjō stronghold. Facing defeat, Hōjō Takatoki and many clan members committed ritual suicide (seppuku). Their deaths on July 4 marked the collapse of the Kamakura military government. The event restored direct imperial rule under Emperor Go-Daigo and ushered in a tumultuous era.
1333 Genkō War Emperor Go-Daigo Tōshō-ji Siege of Kamakura Hōjō Takatoki Hōjō clan rule Kamakura shogunate
1359day.year

Francesco II Ordelaffi of Forlì surrenders to the Papal commander Gil de Albornoz.

In 1359, Francesco II Ordelaffi capitulated to Pope Innocent VI’s commander Gil de Albornoz, bringing Forlì under papal influence.
Francesco II Ordelaffi, ruler of Forlì, had resisted the temporal authority of the Papal States. Under military pressure from Cardinal Gil de Albornoz, he surrendered the city on July 4, 1359. This capitulation restored direct papal control over the strategic fortress town. Albornoz’s campaign was part of a broader effort to reassert papal temporal power in central Italy. The event highlights the dynamic interplay of military force and diplomacy in the medieval Papacy.
1359 Francesco II Ordelaffi Forlì Gil de Albornoz
1456day.year

Ottoman–Hungarian wars: The Siege of Nándorfehérvár (Belgrade) begins.

In 1456, the Ottoman Empire laid siege to the fortress of Nándorfehérvár (modern Belgrade), marking a key moment in the Ottoman–Hungarian wars.
The Siege of Nándorfehérvár began on July 4, 1456, as Sultan Mehmed II aimed to conquer the crucial stronghold guarding the gateway to Central Europe. The fortress, held by Hungarian defenders under John Hunyadi, withstood intense bombardment and assault. Despite being outnumbered, the garrison's resilience and supply lines held firm. The battle showcased early use of artillery on both sides and the strategic importance of river crossings. Relief forces from neighboring kingdoms eventually lifted the siege at great cost. The conflict influenced European military tactics and delayed Ottoman expansion for decades. Nándorfehérvár's defense became legendary in Hungarian history.
1456 Ottoman–Hungarian wars Siege of Nándorfehérvár (Belgrade)
1610day.year

The Battle of Klushino is fought between forces of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and Russia during the Polish–Russian War, after which Polish troops entered Moscow.

During the Polish–Russian War, Polish forces achieved a decisive victory at the Battle of Klushino and marched triumphantly into Moscow.
On July 4, 1610, the Battle of Klushino saw a numerically smaller Polish–Lithuanian force under Hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski defeat the Russian army near the village of Klushino. Utilizing superior cavalry tactics and discipline, the Commonwealth troops captured key fortifications and artillery positions. The defeat shattered Russia's defenses and led to widespread desertions among Russian nobles. Within weeks, Polish troops advanced into Moscow, installing a rival tsar in a bid to influence Russian politics. The engagement underscored the military prowess of the Commonwealth’s winged hussars. It also precipitated the Polish-Muscovite War’s next phase and influenced Eastern European power dynamics. The battle remains celebrated in Polish military history for its tactical brilliance.
1610 Battle of Klushino Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Russia Polish–Russian War
1778day.year

American Revolutionary War: US forces under George Clark capture Kaskaskia during the Illinois campaign.

In the Illinois campaign of the Revolutionary War, George Rogers Clark captures the key settlement of Kaskaskia from British control.
On July 4, 1778, Colonel George Rogers Clark led a force of Virginia militia in a daring river expedition to seize Kaskaskia, then a French-British settlement on the Mississippi frontier. Moving through challenging terrain, Clark's troops surprised the garrison and persuaded settlers to surrender without bloodshed. The fall of Kaskaskia gave the Americans control over the Illinois country and weakened British influence among local tribes. Clark's victory boosted morale and secured the western frontier for the American cause. It also laid the groundwork for the future state of Illinois. President Theodore Roosevelt later hailed Clark's Illinois campaign as one of the most brilliant feats of small-unit warfare. The capture of Kaskaskia remains a celebrated chapter in early American military history.
1778 American Revolutionary War George Clark Kaskaskia Illinois campaign
1863day.year

American Civil War: Siege of Vicksburg: The Confederate army in Vicksburg, Mississippi surrenders to Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant after 47 days of siege, contributing to the Union capture of the Mississippi River.

After a 47-day siege, Confederate forces at Vicksburg surrender to Ulysses S. Grant, sealing Union control of the Mississippi River.
On July 4, 1863, the besieged Confederate garrison at Vicksburg formally surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant after enduring weeks of bombardment and blockade. This victory gave the Union complete command of the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy in two and crippling Southern supply lines. The fall of Vicksburg, alongside the Union triumph at Gettysburg, is often cited as a turning point in the American Civil War. Grant's methodical siege tactics demonstrated his strategic prowess and propelled him to the rank of Lieutenant General. The capture boosted Northern morale and underscored the Union's growing dominance in the war.
1863 American Civil War Siege of Vicksburg Confederate Vicksburg, Mississippi Union Ulysses S. Grant Mississippi River
1863day.year

American Civil War: Union forces repulse a Confederate army at the Battle of Helena in Arkansas. The battle thwarts a Rebel attempt to relieve pressure on the besieged city of Vicksburg, and paves the way for the Union capture of Little Rock.

Union troops repel Confederate attacks at Helena, Arkansas, hindering relief efforts for Vicksburg and paving the way to Little Rock.
On July 4, 1863, Union defenders successfully repulsed Confederate assaults during the Battle of Helena on the Mississippi River in Arkansas. The Confederates aimed to break the siege of Vicksburg by diverting Union forces and securing a strategic foothold. Despite fierce fighting and significant casualties on both sides, Union artillery and well-fortified positions held firm. The failure of the Confederate attack eliminated any realistic chance of relieving Vicksburg and bolstered Union operations in the region. Shortly afterward, Union forces advanced on Little Rock, leading to its capture in September and further consolidating Northern control over Arkansas.
Battle of Helena Little Rock
1863day.year

American Civil War: Retreat from Gettysburg: The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Lee withdraws from the battlefield after losing the Battle of Gettysburg, signaling an end to his last invasion of the North.

Following defeat at Gettysburg, Robert E. Lee's Confederate army retreats, ending the final major invasion of the North.
On July 4, 1863, after a bloody three-day battle at Gettysburg, General Robert E. Lee ordered his Army of Northern Virginia to withdraw toward Williamsport, Maryland. The defeat marked the end of Lee's ambitious campaign into Union territory and inflicted irreparable losses on Confederate manpower. Confederate soldiers struggled to regroup and replace lost equipment during the retreat. The Union victory at Gettysburg, coupled with the fall of Vicksburg, shifted momentum decisively in favor of the North. Lee's retreat underscored the resilience of the Union army and foreshadowed the Confederacy's eventual decline.
Retreat from Gettysburg Army of Northern Virginia Robert E. Lee withdraws from the battlefield Battle of Gettysburg invasion North
1879day.year

Anglo-Zulu War: The Zululand capital of Ulundi is captured by British troops and burned to the ground, ending the war and forcing King Cetshwayo to flee.

British forces capture and raze Ulundi, ending the Anglo-Zulu War and forcing King Cetshwayo into exile.
On July 4, 1879, British colonial troops stormed and captured Ulundi, the capital of the Zulu Kingdom, after defeating Zulu warriors in a decisive battle. The burning of Ulundi effectively ended organized Zulu resistance and compelled King Cetshwayo to seek refuge. The outcome solidified British control over the region and annexed Zululand into the Cape Colony. This victory followed the British adoption of superior weaponry and disciplined formations after early setbacks in the war. The annexation dramatically altered the social and political landscape of southern Africa and marked a turning point in British imperial expansion.
1879 Anglo-Zulu War Ulundi Cetshwayo