838day.year
Battle of Anzen: The Byzantine emperor Theophilos suffers a heavy defeat by the Abbasids.
In 838, Emperor Theophilos’s Byzantine army suffers a crushing defeat at Anzen by the Abbasid Caliphate.
The Battle of Anzen took place in July 838 during the Arab–Byzantine wars, as Emperor Theophilos personally led his forces into Anatolia. The Abbasid army, under generals of Caliph al-Mu'tasim, launched a surprise assault in difficult terrain. Byzantine infantry and cavalry were overwhelmed and forced into a chaotic retreat. This defeat exposed the empire’s vulnerabilities and ended Theophilos’s offensive ambitions. It emboldened the Abbasids to penetrate deeper into Byzantine lands and shaped the balance of power in the region.
838
Battle of Anzen
Theophilos
Abbasids
1099day.year
First Crusade: Godfrey of Bouillon is elected the first Defender of the Holy Sepulchre of The Kingdom of Jerusalem.
On 22 July 1099, Godfrey of Bouillon was chosen as the first Defender of the Holy Sepulchre after the crusaders captured Jerusalem.
Following the successful siege of Jerusalem during the First Crusade, the crusader leaders convened to decide the city’s new governance. They elected Godfrey of Bouillon, a French nobleman renowned for his piety and martial skill, as the Defender of the Holy Sepulchre rather than king. His title reflected respect for the Church’s spiritual authority over the sacred sites. Godfrey established the foundations of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, balancing military rule with religious devotion. His leadership helped secure the crusader state amid a hostile regional environment.
1099
First Crusade
Godfrey of Bouillon
Holy Sepulchre
Kingdom of Jerusalem
1209day.year
Massacre at Béziers: The first major military action of the Albigensian Crusade.
The Massacre at Béziers marks the first major action of the Albigensian Crusade, resulting in widespread slaughter.
On 22 July 1209, Crusader forces under Simon de Montfort besieged the town of Béziers in southern France. Despite the presence of both Cathars and Catholics, the attackers refused to differentiate and ordered the massacre of inhabitants. Contemporary chroniclers report that up to 20,000 people were killed, including civilians and clergy. The brutality sent shockwaves across the region, igniting fear and resistance among the Cathar population. This atrocity became emblematic of the Albigensian Crusade’s harsh campaign against perceived heresy.
1209
Massacre at Béziers
Albigensian Crusade
1298day.year
Wars of Scottish Independence: Battle of Falkirk: King Edward I of England and his longbowmen defeat William Wallace and his Scottish schiltrons outside the town of Falkirk.
At the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, Edward I’s longbowmen decimated William Wallace’s Scottish schiltrons, changing the course of the wars of Scottish independence.
The Battle of Falkirk, fought on 22 July 1298, was a key engagement in the First War of Scottish Independence. King Edward I of England deployed his English and Welsh longbowmen against the tightly packed Scottish schiltron formations led by William Wallace. The devastating volley of arrow fire broke the Scottish lines, forcing a retreat and inflicting heavy casualties. Wallace’s defeat weakened Scottish resistance and led to his resignation as Guardian of Scotland. Despite the setback, the Scots continued their struggle for independence under new leadership.
1298
Wars of Scottish Independence
Battle of Falkirk
Edward I of England
longbowmen
William Wallace
schiltrons
Falkirk
1443day.year
Battle of St. Jakob an der Sihl in the Old Zürich War.
During the Old Zürich War in 1443, the Battle of St. Jakob an der Sihl saw Zurich militia clash with rival Swiss cantons near the city gates.
The Battle of St. Jakob an der Sihl took place on 22 July 1443, amid the Old Zürich War pitting the canton of Zurich against the Swiss Confederation. Zurich’s forces, supported by former Habsburg allies, faced the combined troops of seven cantons near the Sihl river. Despite fierce resistance by Zurich militia within the city’s defenses, the Confederates secured victory. The conflict highlighted internal divisions over territories and loyalties among the Swiss cantons. The battle’s outcome forced Zurich to negotiate harsh terms and shaped the future unity of the Confederation.
1443
Battle of St. Jakob an der Sihl
Old Zürich War
1456day.year
Ottoman wars in Europe: Siege of Belgrade: John Hunyadi, Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary, defeats Mehmet II of the Ottoman Empire.
In 1456, John Hunyadi’s forces lifted the Ottoman siege of Belgrade, dealing a significant defeat to Sultan Mehmet II.
The Siege of Belgrade on 22 July 1456 marked a pivotal defense of the Kingdom of Hungary against Ottoman expansion. Regent John Hunyadi organized a relief army that struck the besieging Ottoman forces led by Sultan Mehmet II. Using innovative fortifications, artillery, and a daring night sortie, the Hungarians broke the siege lines. The victory halted Ottoman advances into Central Europe for decades and boosted Christian morale. It also inspired Pope Callixtus III to institute the noon church bell ringing in commemoration.
1456
Ottoman wars in Europe
Siege of Belgrade
John Hunyadi
Kingdom of Hungary
Mehmet II
Ottoman Empire
1484day.year
Battle of Lochmaben Fair: A 500-man raiding party led by Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany and James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas are defeated by Scots forces loyal to Albany's brother James III of Scotland; Douglas is captured.
The Battle of Lochmaben Fair in 1484 saw Duke of Albany’s raiding force defeated by loyalist Scots, leading to the capture of James Douglas.
On 22 July 1484, supporters of Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany, launched a surprise raid at the Lochmaben Fair in southern Scotland. The raiding party, including James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas, clashed with forces loyal to King James III. The loyalists quickly rallied and routed the invaders, capturing Douglas in the process. The defeat weakened Albany’s position and reinforced the king’s authority in the tumultuous Scottish nobility. This skirmish exemplified the power struggles that defined late 15th-century Scotland.
1484
Battle of Lochmaben Fair
Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany
James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas
James III of Scotland
1499day.year
Battle of Dornach: The Swiss decisively defeat the army of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor.
At the Battle of Dornach in 1499, Swiss Confederates decisively defeated Emperor Maximilian I’s army, securing Swiss autonomy.
The Battle of Dornach, fought on 22 July 1499, concluded the Swabian War between the Swiss Confederacy and the forces of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. Swiss pikemen and halberdiers exploited their mobility and knowledge of the terrain to rout the imperial troops near Dornach, Switzerland. The victory led to the Peace of Basel, which recognized Swiss autonomy from the Holy Roman Empire. This triumph established the reputation of Swiss infantry as Europe's elite and solidified a sense of national identity. It also marked a turning point in European power dynamics at the close of the 15th century.
1499
Battle of Dornach
Swiss
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
1594day.year
The Dutch city of Groningen defended by the Spanish and besieged by a Dutch and English army under Maurice of Orange, capitulates.
The city of Groningen capitulates to Maurice of Orange's besieging Dutch and English army after Spanish defenders withdraw.
In 1594, the strategic Dutch city of Groningen was under Spanish control during the Eighty Years' War. A combined Dutch and English force led by Maurice of Orange laid siege to the city to wrest control from the Spanish Habsburgs. After weeks of bombardment and trench warfare, breaches appeared in the city walls and the defenders endured severe shortages. The outnumbered Spanish garrison negotiated terms of surrender as food and ammunition ran critically low. Groningen's capitulation marked a key victory for the Dutch revolt and shifted momentum in favor of the United Provinces. The success enhanced Maurice's military reputation and brought the Dutch closer to securing their independence.
1594
Groningen
Maurice of Orange
1797day.year
Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Battle between Spanish and British naval forces during the French Revolutionary Wars. During the Battle, Rear-Admiral Nelson is wounded in the arm and the arm had to be partially amputated.
Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson leads a British assault on Santa Cruz de Tenerife but is wounded, resulting in the loss of his arm.
During the French Revolutionary Wars on July 22, 1797, British naval forces under Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson attacked the Spanish port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Nelson attempted a bold amphibious landing but met fierce resistance and challenging terrain. In the heat of battle, he was struck in the arm by grapeshot, necessitating a partial amputation. Although the British forces were repelled and forced to withdraw, Nelson’s personal bravery became legendary. His recovery and return to command solidified his reputation and laid the groundwork for his later victories, including at Trafalgar.
1797
Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
French Revolutionary Wars
Nelson
1802day.year
Emperor Gia Long conquers Hanoi and unified Viet Nam, which had experienced centuries of feudal warfare.
Emperor Gia Long captures Hanoi, completing the unification of Vietnam after centuries of feudal conflict.
On July 22, 1802, Nguyen Anh, who took the name Emperor Gia Long, seized Hanoi and proclaimed the reunification of Vietnam. This victory ended decades of civil war among rival dynasties and regional warlords. Gia Long centralized authority by reorganizing the administration along Confucian principles and implementing significant reforms. He established the Nguyễn Dynasty and moved the imperial capital to Huế, which would remain Vietnam’s seat of power for over a century. The unification under Gia Long brought relative stability and opened the nation to increased foreign trade, laying foundations for the modern Vietnamese state.
1802
Gia Long
Hanoi
Viet Nam
1805day.year
Napoleonic Wars: War of the Third Coalition: Battle of Cape Finisterre: An inconclusive naval action is fought between a combined French and Spanish fleet under Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve of France and a British fleet under Admiral Robert Calder.
An inconclusive naval battle off Cape Finisterre occurs between French-Spanish and British fleets during the Napoleonic Wars.
On July 22, 1805, a combined French and Spanish fleet under Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve engaged a British squadron commanded by Admiral Robert Calder off Cape Finisterre. Part of the wider War of the Third Coalition, both sides vied for naval supremacy in the Atlantic. Foggy conditions and cautious tactics prevented a decisive outcome, with both fleets sustaining damage but losing no ships. Villeneuve’s fleet ultimately retreated to port, delaying plans to support Napoleon’s invasion of Britain. Although tactically inconclusive, the battle influenced subsequent naval maneuvers and underscored the strategic importance of sea control in Napoleonic warfare.
1805
Napoleonic Wars
War of the Third Coalition
Battle of Cape Finisterre
Pierre-Charles Villeneuve
Robert Calder