997day.year
Battle of Spercheios: Bulgarian forces of Tsar Samuel are defeated by a Byzantine army under general Nikephoros Ouranos at the Spercheios River in Greece.
In 997, Byzantine forces under Nikephoros Ouranos decisively defeated Tsar Samuel's Bulgarian army at the Spercheios River.
On July 16, 997 CE, the Byzantine general Nikephoros Ouranos led a well-organized army against the forces of Tsar Samuel of Bulgaria near the Spercheios River in central Greece.
Employing tactical surprise at dawn, Ouranos' troops crossed the swollen river and attacked the Bulgarian camp, causing heavy losses and the capture of many soldiers.
The victory significantly weakened Samuel's military strength and shifted the balance of power in the Byzantine-Bulgarian wars.
This triumph bolstered Byzantine Emperor Basil II’s efforts to reclaim lost territories and paved the way for future Byzantine expansion in the Balkans.
The Battle of Spercheios remains a notable example of strategic leadership and the effective use of terrain in medieval warfare.
997
Battle of Spercheios
Samuel
Byzantine
Nikephoros Ouranos
Spercheios River
1212day.year
Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa: After Pope Innocent III calls European knights to a crusade, the forces of kings Alfonso VIII of Castile, Sancho VII of Navarre, Peter II of Aragon and Afonso II of Portugal defeat those of the Berber Muslim leader Almohad, thus marking a significant turning point in the Reconquista and in the medieval history of Spain.
In 1212, Christian knights from across Europe defeated the Almohad Caliphate at Las Navas de Tolosa, a turning point in the Reconquista.
On July 16, 1212 CE, an allied Christian army assembled after Pope Innocent III’s call for a crusade clashed with the Almohad forces led by Caliph Muhammad al-Nasir near Las Navas de Tolosa in southern Spain.
Kings Alfonso VIII of Castile, Sancho VII of Navarre, Peter II of Aragon, and Afonso II of Portugal commanded the coalition, which achieved a decisive victory.
The battle broke the military dominance of the Almohad Caliphate on the Iberian Peninsula and marked a major turning point in the centuries-long Reconquista.
By opening the Andalusian heartland to Christian advances, it accelerated the gradual reclamation of territories previously under Muslim rule.
Las Navas de Tolosa remains celebrated as one of medieval Spain’s most significant military triumphs.
1212
Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa
Pope Innocent III
crusade
Alfonso VIII of Castile
Sancho VII of Navarre
Peter II of Aragon
Afonso II of Portugal
Berber
Almohad
Reconquista
medieval history of Spain
1683day.year
Manchu Qing dynasty naval forces under commander Shi Lang defeat the Kingdom of Tungning in the Battle of Penghu near the Pescadores Islands.
In 1683, Qing naval commander Shi Lang crushed the Kingdom of Tungning’s fleet at Penghu, securing Qing dominance over Taiwan.
In 1683, the Manchu Qing dynasty launched a decisive naval campaign to subdue the Kingdom of Tungning, based in Taiwan. Under the expert command of Shi Lang, Qing warships engaged Zheng Keshuang’s forces near the Pescadores Islands. The Battle of Penghu unfolded on July 16, with Qing ships utilizing superior firepower and tactics. After fierce close-quarters fighting, Shi Lang’s fleet overwhelmed Tungning defenders, sinking or capturing many vessels. The victory ended Zheng resistance and forced the surrender of Taiwan the following year. It paved the way for Taiwan’s formal incorporation into the Qing empire. Shi Lang’s triumph remains a landmark in Qing naval history and Sino-Taiwan relations.
1683
Qing dynasty
Shi Lang
Kingdom of Tungning
Battle of Penghu
Pescadores Islands
1779day.year
American Revolutionary War: Light infantry of the Continental Army seize a fortified British Army position in a midnight bayonet attack at the Battle of Stony Point.
During the American Revolutionary War on July 16, 1779, Continental light infantry executed a daring midnight bayonet assault, capturing the British fort at Stony Point.
Under the leadership of General Anthony Wayne, approximately 1,350 light infantrymen of the Continental Army launched a coordinated attack against the fortified British position at Stony Point, New York. Departing in two columns under cover of darkness, American troops maintained strict silence, advancing with bayonets fixed. At around 11:00 p.m., they stormed the redoubt walls, engaging in fierce hand-to-hand combat. The swift and disciplined assault overwhelmed British defenders, resulting in the capture of the strategic Hudson River outpost in under half an hour. The victory provided a much-needed boost to American morale and demonstrated the growing professionalism of the Continental forces. Despite orders later to abandon the post due to logistical challenges, the Battle of Stony Point became celebrated as “Mad Anthony” Wayne’s finest hour. It also served as a training model for future light infantry operations in the war. The battle site is now preserved as a state historic site, commemorating the bold nighttime raid.
1779
American Revolutionary War
Light infantry
Continental Army
British Army
Battle of Stony Point
1861day.year
American Civil War: At the order of President Abraham Lincoln, Union troops begin a 25-mile march into Virginia for what will become the First Battle of Bull Run, the first major land battle of the war.
On July 16, 1861, Union forces under Lincoln’s orders commenced a march into Virginia, setting the stage for the First Battle of Bull Run.
Shortly after the outbreak of the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln ordered 30,000 Union soldiers to advance from Washington, D.C., toward Confederate positions in northern Virginia. The 25-mile march was intended to engage enemy forces and secure supply lines for the capital. Generals Irvin McDowell and Robert Patterson led the columns that moved through sweltering summer heat toward Manassas. Though initially untested, many volunteers were eager to confront Confederate troops near Bull Run Creek. The Union’s slow progress and logistical delays allowed Confederate reinforcements to concentrate at Manassas Junction. This build-up would culminate in the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, a chaotic and bloody struggle. The July 16 march thus set the stage for both armies to fight their first major pitched battle. It exposed unpreparedness on both sides and underscored the war’s eventual scale and brutality.
1861
American Civil War
Abraham Lincoln
march
Virginia
First Battle of Bull Run
1862day.year
American Civil War: David Farragut is promoted to rear admiral, becoming the first officer in United States Navy to hold an admiral rank.
On July 16, 1862, David Farragut became the first U.S. Navy officer promoted to the rank of rear admiral, reshaping naval command structure.
Commodore David Farragut’s elevation to rear admiral marked a fundamental change in U.S. naval hierarchy during the Civil War. Congress created the rank that year to recognize exceptional leadership and to align American ranks with European navies. Farragut had distinguished himself in operations along the Mississippi River and at New Orleans, demonstrating strategic skill and personal bravery. As the senior naval officer, he commanded blockades and coordinated joint Army-Navy expeditions. His promotion set a precedent for higher flag ranks, later including vice admiral and admiral. Farragut’s career culminated at the Battle of Mobile Bay, where his famous command “Damn the torpedoes” secured a critical victory. His service transformed the Navy into a modern fighting force. Today, he is remembered as the first U.S. naval officer to bear a star, forever shaping American maritime tradition.
1862
David Farragut
rear admiral
United States Navy
1927day.year
Augusto César Sandino leads a raid on U.S. Marines and Nicaraguan Guardia Nacional that had been sent to apprehend him in the village of Ocotal, but is repulsed by one of the first dive-bombing attacks in history.
Nicaraguan revolutionary Augusto César Sandino led a raid at Ocotal but was repelled by one of the first dive-bombing attacks in history.
On July 16, 1927, Augusto César Sandino mounted an attack on U.S. Marines and Nicaraguan Guardia Nacional troops stationed in Ocotal. His guerrilla force aimed to challenge American military presence in Nicaragua. In response, U.S. aircraft executed one of the earliest recorded dive-bombing operations, strafing rebel positions with remarkable accuracy. The aerial assault inflicted heavy losses on Sandino’s men, forcing a retreat. This encounter demonstrated the emerging role of air power in modern warfare and shaped future counterinsurgency tactics. Sandino’s resistance, despite the setback, cemented his status as a symbol of national sovereignty in Nicaragua.
1927
Augusto César Sandino
Ocotal
dive-bombing
1942day.year
Holocaust: Vel' d'Hiv Roundup (Rafle du Vel' d'Hiv): The government of Vichy France orders the mass arrest of 13,152 Jews who are held at the Vélodrome d'Hiver in Paris before deportation to Auschwitz.
Vichy France authorities carried out the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup, arresting over 13,000 Jewish men, women and children for deportation.
On July 16, 1942, the Vichy regime in Paris orchestrated the Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup, detaining 13,152 Jewish residents in the cycling stadium of Vélodrome d’Hiver. French police, acting under orders from German occupiers, forcibly arrested families and held them in inhumane conditions before transferring them to transit camps. The vast majority were deported to Auschwitz, where few survived. The event represents one of the most tragic episodes of Holocaust collaboration in Western Europe. It stands as a powerful reminder of the dangers of state-sanctioned persecution and the importance of historical memory.
1942
Holocaust
Vel' d'Hiv Roundup
Vichy France
mass arrest
Vélodrome d'Hiver
Auschwitz
1945day.year
World War II: The heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis leaves San Francisco with parts for the atomic bomb "Little Boy" bound for Tinian Island.
The USS Indianapolis departed San Francisco carrying critical parts for the "Little Boy" atomic bomb destined for Tinian Island.
On July 16, 1945, the USS Indianapolis set sail from San Francisco loaded with components of the “Little Boy” atomic bomb, assembled under the Manhattan Project. Its mission was to deliver the weapon parts to Tinian Island in the Pacific for final assembly and deployment. The operation was shrouded in secrecy and executed under sealed orders. While the departure marked a pivotal logistics effort toward ending World War II, the ship’s later sinking became one of the Navy’s worst maritime disasters. Despite that tragedy, the Indianapolis’s delivery mission directly enabled the bombing of Hiroshima and played a decisive role in Japan’s surrender.
heavy cruiser
USS Indianapolis
Little Boy
Tinian Island
1948day.year
Following token resistance, the city of Nazareth, revered by Christians as the hometown of Jesus, capitulates to Israeli troops during Operation Dekel in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
During Operation Dekel in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Israeli forces captured the city of Nazareth after minimal resistance.
In mid-July 1948, as part of Operation Dekel, Israeli forces advanced through the Galilee to secure key towns and supply lines. The city of Nazareth, historically revered by Christians as Jesus's hometown, offered only token resistance. Israeli troops entered the city on July 16, leading to the swift capitulation of local defenders. The operation was part of a broader strategy to control the Galilean highlands and secure northern borders. Following the city's fall, most of its residents remained, unlike many Palestinian towns which saw widespread displacement. The capture of Nazareth also held symbolic weight, as it underscored the new state's military capabilities amid regional conflict. Today, historians view the event as pivotal in shaping the demographic and political landscape of northern Israel.
1948
Nazareth
Jesus
Israeli
Operation Dekel
1948 Arab–Israeli War
1950day.year
Chaplain–Medic massacre: American POWs are massacred by North Korean Army.
During the Korean War, American medical personnel and chaplains were executed by North Korean forces in the Chaplain–Medic massacre on July 16, 1950.
Following the Battle of Osan in mid-July 1950, North Korean troops captured a group of unarmed American medical staff and chaplains. On July 16, these prisoners of war were systematically executed in what became known as the Chaplain–Medic massacre. Eyewitness accounts and later investigations revealed that men dedicated to providing spiritual and medical care were singled out and killed. The atrocity outraged the U.S. military and influenced stricter enforcement of the Geneva Conventions. In postwar tribunals, North Korean officers were held accountable for ordering the executions. The massacre remains a stark example of wartime brutality against noncombatants. Today, veterans and historians honor the memory of those chaplains and medics who gave their lives in service to others.
1950
Chaplain–Medic massacre
2013day.year
Syrian civil war: The Battle of Ras al-Ayn resumes between the People's Protection Units (YPG) and Islamist forces, beginning the Rojava–Islamist conflict.
The Battle of Ras al-Ayn between the YPG and Islamist forces resumes, marking the start of the Rojava–Islamist conflict in the Syrian civil war.
On July 16, 2013, fighting resumed in the Battle of Ras al-Ayn as part of the Syrian civil war’s northwestern front. The clash pitted the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) against a coalition of Islamist rebel groups seeking control over the strategic border town of Ras al-Ayn. The renewed hostilities marked the beginning of the complex Rojava–Islamist conflict, highlighting the fractured nature of Syrian opposition forces and regional interests. Control of Ras al-Ayn was crucial for supply routes and influence along the Turkey–Syria border. The battle involved urban combat, siege tactics, and artillery exchanges, leading to significant civilian displacement. International observers raised concerns about potential human rights violations amid the fierce fighting. The conflict's outcome shaped the subsequent territorial divisions in northern Syria and influenced Kurdish efforts toward regional autonomy.
Syrian civil war
Battle of Ras al-Ayn
People's Protection Units
Rojava–Islamist conflict