982day.year
King Otto II and his Frankish army are defeated by the Muslim army of al-Qasim at Cape Colonna, Southern Italy.
In 982, King Otto II's Frankish forces suffer a crushing defeat at Cape Colonna in Southern Italy against the Muslim army led by al-Qasim.
In July 982, the Holy Roman Emperor Otto II led a campaign into southern Italy to assert his authority over the Lombard principalities and Byzantine territories. At Cape Colonna, his Frankish army encountered a well-prepared Muslim force under the command of al-Qasim. The Muslim cavalry executed a strategic flanking maneuver that overwhelmed Otto’s troops. This defeat halted the emperor’s ambitions in the region and underscored the resilience of Muslim polities in southern Italy. The battle marked a turning point in Italian politics, limiting northern influence and strengthening local Muslim emirates along the coast.
982
Otto II
al-Qasim at Cape Colonna
1420day.year
Battle of Vítkov Hill, decisive victory of Czech Hussite forces commanded by Jan Žižka against Crusade army led by Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor.
Czech Hussite forces under Jan Žižka achieve a decisive victory at Vítkov Hill, repelling Emperor Sigismund’s crusader army in 1420.
On July 14, 1420, during the early phase of the Hussite Wars, the crusading army of Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund launched an assault on the strategic heights of Vítkov Hill near Prague. Jan Žižka, leading the Hussite defenders, organized a bold defense using wagons, artillery, and tight formations. The well-fortified position and Žižka’s tactical genius shattered the morale of the imperial forces. This resounding triumph bolstered the Hussite movement, ensured Prague’s safety, and established Žižka’s reputation as an innovative military commander in medieval Europe.
1420
Battle of Vítkov Hill
Jan Žižka
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
1430day.year
Joan of Arc, taken by the Burgundians in May, is handed over to Pierre Cauchon, the bishop of Beauvais.
In 1430, Joan of Arc is handed over by her Burgundian captors to Bishop Pierre Cauchon, setting the stage for her infamous trial.
Following her capture at Compiègne in May 1430, Joan of Arc was held by Burgundian forces allied with the English. On July 14, her captors transferred her to the ecclesiastical custody of Pierre Cauchon, the Bishop of Beauvais, who was sympathetic to English interests. Cauchon would soon convene a church court to try Joan for heresy and witchcraft. This transfer marked the beginning of a legal proceeding that would lead to her tragic execution and eventual martyrdom. Joan’s faith and military achievements would later become emblematic of French national identity.
1430
Joan of Arc
Pierre Cauchon
Beauvais
1596day.year
Anglo-Spanish War: English and Dutch troops sack the Spanish city of Cádiz before leaving the next day.
During the Anglo-Spanish War in 1596, an Anglo-Dutch force sacks the Spanish port city of Cádiz in a bold coastal raid.
On July 14, 1596, an expedition commanded by Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, and Sir Edward Howard sailed into the Bay of Cádiz. English and Dutch troops stormed the fortifications, overcame the Spanish defenders, and looted warehouses, ships, and armaments. Despite fierce resistance, the allied force burned much of the city and inflicted a significant blow to Spanish prestige and maritime power. The raid demonstrated Anglo-Dutch naval cooperation and exposed vulnerabilities in Spain’s Atlantic defenses, influencing subsequent military engagements in the Anglo-Spanish War.
1596
Anglo-Spanish War
sack the Spanish city of Cádiz
1808day.year
The Finnish War: the Battle of Lapua is fought.
Swedish and Russian forces clashed at the Battle of Lapua during the Finnish War of 1808–1809.
The Battle of Lapua was fought on July 14, 1808, as part of the broader conflict between Sweden and Russia over control of Finland. Russian troops under General Barclay de Tolly faced Swedish defenders commanded by General Adlercreutz. The Russians achieved a decisive victory, forcing the Swedes to retreat and securing a strategic crossing over the Lapua River. This engagement eroded Swedish resistance and paved the way for further Russian advances toward Vaasa and coastal Finland. The battle highlighted the challenges of logistical support and harsh terrain in Nordic warfare. It contributed to the eventual Russian annexation of Finland under the Treaty of Fredrikshamn in 1809.
1808
Finnish War
Battle of Lapua
1900day.year
Armies of the Eight-Nation Alliance capture Tientsin during the Boxer Rebellion.
Forces of the Eight-Nation Alliance captured Tientsin during the Boxer Rebellion in China.
Amid the anti-foreigner Boxer Rebellion, troops from Britain, France, Russia, Japan, the United States, Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary joined to form the Eight-Nation Alliance. On July 14, 1900, these international forces stormed the city of Tientsin (Tianjin), overcoming Chinese Boxer militias and Qing imperial troops. The capture secured a vital base for relieving the besieged foreign legations in Beijing. The allied advance relied on coordinated assaults, modern artillery, and riverine operations along the Hai River. Casualties were heavy on both sides, marking one of the rebellion's bloodiest engagements. The victory demonstrated the reach of colonial powers in China and deepened national resentment that would shape the country's future reforms.
1900
Eight-Nation Alliance
capture
Tientsin
Boxer Rebellion
1916day.year
Battle of Delville Wood begins as an action within the Battle of the Somme, lasting until 3 September 1916.
Battle of Delville Wood begins on July 14, 1916, as a brutal engagement within the larger Battle of the Somme during World War I.
On July 14, 1916, British and South African forces launched an assault on Delville Wood as part of the Battle of the Somme.
The fighting in the dense forest turned into intense close-quarters combat, with heavy casualties on both sides.
The 1st South African Infantry Brigade was ordered to capture and hold the wood at all costs, leading to days of fierce resistance.
German counterattacks and artillery bombardments made relief and resupply almost impossible.
After three weeks of continuous fighting, the Allies secured the wood but suffered devastating losses.
The Battle of Delville Wood remains a symbol of bravery and sacrifice in South African military history.
1916
Battle of Delville Wood
Battle of the Somme
1950day.year
Korean War: beginning of the Battle of Taejon.
The Battle of Taejon begins during the Korean War on July 14, 1950, marking a major engagement between U.S. and North Korean forces.
On July 14, 1950, United States and Republic of Korea forces engaged North Korean troops near the city of Taejon (now Daejeon).
The Battle of Taejon was one of the first large-scale confrontations of the Korean War.
American forces, including elements of the 24th Infantry Division, attempted to delay the North Korean advance toward Seoul.
Despite determined resistance, the U.S. troops were eventually forced to withdraw after sustaining heavy casualties.
The fall of Taejon opened the pathway for North Korean forces to capture the South Korean capital.
The battle demonstrated the challenges of early UN operations and the brutal nature of the conflict.
1950
Korean War
Battle of Taejon
2016day.year
A man ploughs a truck into a Bastille Day celebration in Nice, France, killing 86 people and injuring another 434 before being shot by police.
A vehicle was driven into Bastille Day crowds in Nice, France, killing 86 people and injuring hundreds in a terror attack.
On July 14, 2016, during Bastille Day celebrations in Nice, a man drove a heavy truck into crowds along the Promenade des Anglais.
The attack resulted in 86 fatalities and left over 430 people injured in one of France's deadliest peacetime tragedies.
Police eventually neutralized the assailant, ending the 42-minute rampage as fireworks were underway.
The incident prompted national mourning and led the French government to extend its state of emergency.
It also sparked international condemnation and a reexamination of security measures at large public gatherings.
The Nice attack remains a stark reminder of the persistent threat of extremist violence.
2016
ploughs a truck into a Bastille Day celebration in Nice, France