1132day.year
Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily.
A 1132 clash in southern Italy where rival Norman princes fought for territorial control at Nocera.
In July 1132, Ranulf II of Alife led his forces against those of Roger II of Sicily near Nocera. The battle featured heavy cavalry charges and fierce close-quarter combat. Roger’s strategic reserves eventually overwhelmed Ranulf’s army. The victory solidified Roger’s claim over southern Italy and enhanced his reputation. This encounter marked a key moment in the consolidation of Norman power in the region.
1132
Battle of Nocera
Ranulf II of Alife
Roger II of Sicily
1148day.year
Louis VII of France lays siege to Damascus during the Second Crusade.
Louis VII launches a major but ultimately unsuccessful siege of Damascus during the Second Crusade.
During the summer of 1148, King Louis VII of France set his sights on Damascus as part of the Second Crusade. He mobilized a large contingent of French knights and infantry to encircle the city walls. Despite initial progress, the Crusaders struggled with supply issues and stiff resistance from the city's defenders. Internal disagreements among the Crusader leaders further weakened their efforts. After several days of fruitless assaults, Louis VII lifted the siege, marking a turning point in the Crusade’s fortunes. The failed attack on Damascus dampened morale and foreshadowed the Crusaders’ eventual retreat from the Holy Land.
1148
Louis VII of France
siege to Damascus
Second Crusade
1304day.year
Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle: King Edward I of England takes the stronghold using the War Wolf.
King Edward I uses the massive trebuchet 'War Wolf' to capture Stirling Castle in 1304.
In July 1304, during the Wars of Scottish Independence, English forces under Edward I laid siege to Stirling Castle, a key Scottish stronghold. Edward deployed the War Wolf, reputedly the largest trebuchet ever constructed, to batter the castle’s walls. The colossal siege engine reportedly fired stones weighing up to 200 kg, causing widespread panic among the defenders. After days of relentless bombardment, the Scottish garrison negotiated terms and surrendered. The fall of Stirling Castle dealt a severe blow to Scottish resistance and reinforced Edward’s dominance in the war. The dramatic use of the War Wolf became legendary, symbolizing medieval siege warfare at its most formidable.
1304
Wars of Scottish Independence
Fall of Stirling Castle
Edward I of England
War Wolf
1411day.year
Battle of Harlaw, one of the bloodiest battles in Scotland, takes place.
A bloody clash in 1411 where Highland and Lowland forces fought fiercely at Harlaw Moor.
On July 24, 1411, forces led by Donald of Islay, Lord of the Isles, clashed with an army commanded by Alexander Stewart at Harlaw Moor near Inverurie. The battle, fought over claims to the Earldom of Ross, was marked by brutal close combat and heavy casualties on both sides. Despite Donald’s numerical superiority, the Highlanders failed to secure a decisive victory. The engagement ended inconclusively, but halted Donald’s advance into northeastern Scotland. Dubbed 'Red Harlaw' for the bloodshed, the battle became infamous as one of the most savage in medieval Scottish history. It underscored the tensions between Highland and Lowland Scotland during the period.
1411
Battle of Harlaw
1712day.year
War of the Spanish Succession: The French under Marshal Villars win a decisive victory over Eugene of Savoy at Denain.
Marshal Villars leads French forces to a decisive victory at Denain in 1712.
On July 24, 1712, during the War of the Spanish Succession, French Marshal Claude-Louis-Hector de Villars achieved a stunning triumph over Prince Eugene of Savoy at the Battle of Denain. Villars executed a daring surprise attack on the allied Spanish and Austrian positions, breaking their lines and capturing key supply depots. The victory lifted the siege of Landrecies and shifted momentum in favor of France. It undermined the coalition’s capacity to continue offensive operations and paved the way for peace negotiations. The Battle of Denain is often cited as the turning point that saved France from a potentially disastrous defeat. Villars’ leadership at Denain solidified his reputation as one of France’s greatest military commanders.
1712
War of the Spanish Succession
Marshal Villars
decisive victory
Eugene of Savoy
1864day.year
American Civil War: Battle of Kernstown: Confederate General Jubal Early defeats Union troops led by General George Crook in an effort to keep them out of the Shenandoah Valley.
Confederate forces under General Jubal Early defeat Union troops at the Battle of Kernstown, halting their advance into the Shenandoah Valley.
During the American Civil War on July 24, 1864, the Battle of Kernstown saw Confederate General Jubal Early engage Union forces led by General George Crook.
Early aimed to prevent the Federal army from gaining a foothold in the strategically vital Shenandoah Valley.
Despite being outnumbered, Confederate troops executed well-timed flanking maneuvers.
They succeeded in routing Union pickets and forcing a retreat.
The victory secured the valley for the Confederacy, protecting critical agricultural resources.
It also bolstered Southern morale at a time of increasing pressure from Union advances.
The battle demonstrated the tactical skill of Early's command and temporarily hampered Union plans in the region.
1864
American Civil War
Battle of Kernstown
Confederate
General
Jubal Early
Union
George Crook
Shenandoah Valley
1910day.year
The Ottoman Empire captures the city of Shkodër, putting down the Albanian Revolt of 1910.
Ottoman forces seize the city of Shkodër to suppress the 1910 Albanian Revolt.
On July 24, 1910, the Ottoman Empire captured the strategic city of Shkodër during efforts to quell the Albanian Revolt.
The uprising had begun earlier that year as Albanians sought greater autonomy and resisted centralizing Ottoman reforms.
Under the command of Ottoman troops, government forces launched a decisive assault on the city's fortifications.
After fierce fighting, Shkodër fell and the rebellion was largely subdued.
The suppression involved harsh measures, including curfews and property confiscations.
This victory reinforced Ottoman control in the Balkans but fueled further nationalist sentiments.
The revolt highlighted the growing tensions within the empire that would later contribute to its dissolution.
1910
Ottoman Empire
Shkodër
Albanian Revolt of 1910
1943day.year
World War II: Operation Gomorrah begins: British and Canadian aeroplanes bomb Hamburg by night, and American planes bomb the city by day. By the end of the operation in November, 9,000 tons of explosives will have killed more than 30,000 people and destroyed 280,000 buildings.
Operation Gomorrah commenced as Allied forces launched devastating day-and-night bombings of Hamburg in WWII.
On July 24, 1943, Operation Gomorrah began as a coordinated bombing campaign by British RAF and Royal Canadian Air Force at night, followed by U.S. Army Air Forces by day.
The sustained raids targeted Hamburg's industrial and civilian areas, culminating in a destructive firestorm.
By the operation’s end in November, over 9,000 tons of explosives were dropped, killing more than 30,000 people and devastating 280,000 buildings.
The scale of destruction shocked the German population and demonstrated the terrifying power of strategic aerial bombardment.
Operation Gomorrah had profound military and moral implications, influencing subsequent Allied bombing strategies and post-war urban rebuilding efforts.
1943
World War II
Operation Gomorrah
Hamburg
November
1977day.year
End of a four-day-long Libyan–Egyptian War.
On July 24, 1977, a United Nations-brokered ceasefire ended the brief Four-Day War between Libya and Egypt.
The Four-Day War between Libya and Egypt, sparked by territorial disputes and political tensions, concluded on July 24, 1977, with a UN-mediated ceasefire. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had engaged in border skirmishes and aggressive rhetoric since July 21. The conflict threatened regional stability and drew international concern. Under Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim's intervention, both sides agreed to halt hostilities along the Gulf of Sirte. Each country claimed strategic success but acknowledged the high costs of continued fighting. The brief clash underscored the fragility of Arab alliances during the Cold War era. This episode remains a notable chapter in 1970s Middle Eastern geopolitics.
1977
Libyan–Egyptian War
1983day.year
The Black July anti-Tamil riots begin in Sri Lanka, killing between 400 and 3,000. Black July is generally regarded as the beginning of the Sri Lankan Civil War.
On July 24, 1983, anti-Tamil riots known as 'Black July' erupted in Sri Lanka, killing hundreds and igniting a decades-long civil war.
Known as 'Black July,' the violence began in the aftermath of ambush killings of 13 soldiers, triggering widespread anti-Tamil pogroms orchestrated by Sinhalese mobs and alleged security forces. Over the following days, estimated deaths ranged from 400 to 3,000, and tens of thousands of Tamils were displaced as homes, businesses, and temples were razed. The state's failure to protect minority communities and the brutal scale of the attacks intensified ethnic tensions to a breaking point. Black July is widely recognized as the catalytic event that led to the Sri Lankan Civil War, a conflict lasting over 25 years. International condemnation prompted human rights inquiries, but deep-seated grievances continued to fuel insurgency. The riots left a lasting scar on Sri Lanka's social fabric and remain a somber reminder of the consequences of ethnic violence.
1983
Black July
Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan Civil War
1987day.year
US supertanker SS Bridgeton collides with mines laid by IRGC causing a 43-square-meter dent in the body of the oil tanker.
On July 24, 1987, the US-flagged supertanker SS Bridgeton struck a mine laid by Iranian forces in the Persian Gulf, denting its hull during Operation Earnest Will.
As part of the US-led Operation Earnest Will to protect Kuwaiti oil shipments, the SS Bridgeton sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on July 24, 1987. The tanker hit a naval mine laid by Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces, creating a 43-square-meter gash in its side. Though the damage did not cause an oil spill, it exposed the vulnerability of even heavily escorted convoys. The incident prompted the US Navy to intensify mine-clearing operations and deploy additional warships and helicopters equipped for minesweeping. The episode underscored the risks of maritime warfare in confined waters and the strategic significance of the Gulf's oil lanes. Bridgeton's crew and escort fleet persevered, continuing the mission under increased security protocols. The event remains a striking example of low-intensity conflict and naval cat-and-mouse tactics.
1987
SS Bridgeton
collides
IRGC
2001day.year
The Bandaranaike Airport attack is carried out by 14 Tamil Tiger commandos. Eleven civilian and military aircraft are destroyed and 15 are damaged. All 14 commandos are shot dead, while seven soldiers from the Sri Lanka Air Force are killed. In addition, three civilians and an engineer die. This incident slowed the Sri Lankan economy.
On July 24, 2001, 14 Tamil Tiger commandos attacked Bandaranaike International Airport in Sri Lanka, destroying aircraft and killing dozens.
In the early hours of July 24, 2001, 14 well-armed members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam launched a coordinated assault on Bandaranaike International Airport near Colombo.
The attackers destroyed eleven civilian and military aircraft and damaged fifteen more before being cornered by security forces.
All fourteen commandos were killed in the ensuing firefight, along with seven Sri Lanka Air Force personnel.
Three civilians and an airport engineer also lost their lives in the attack.
The sudden strike dealt a severe blow to Sri Lanka’s aviation capacity and tourism industry.
Authorities subsequently tightened security measures at major airports across the country.
2001
Bandaranaike Airport attack
Tamil Tiger
Sri Lanka Air Force
Sri Lankan