657day.year
First Fitna: In the Battle of Siffin, troops led by Ali ibn Abu Talib clash with those led by Muawiyah I.
In 657, during the First Fitna, Ali ibn Abi Talib's forces clashed with those of Muawiyah I at the Battle of Siffin, marking a key conflict in early Islamic history.
Fought in 657 near the Euphrates, the Battle of Siffin pitted the supporters of Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib against Muawiyah I's forces.
This clash was a central episode of the First Fitna, the first Islamic civil war.
Despite heavy fighting, neither side achieved a decisive victory, leading to an arbitration process that deepened divisions.
The battle's outcome influenced the emergence of Sunni and Shia sects in Islam.
Its legacy endured in Muslim political and religious discourse for centuries.
657
First Fitna
Battle of Siffin
Ali ibn Abu Talib
Muawiyah I
811day.year
Battle of Pliska: Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros I is killed and his heir Staurakios is seriously wounded.
In 811, at the Battle of Pliska, Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros I was killed and his heir Staurakios gravely wounded by advancing Bulgar forces.
On July 26, 811, the forces of Khan Krum ambushed the Byzantine army at Pliska in Thrace.
Emperor Nikephoros I led a punitive expedition into Bulgar territory but fell into a trap during the retreat.
Nikephoros was killed while trying to reach his encampment; his helm was reportedly repurposed by Krum as a drinking cup.
His son Staurakios survived but suffered severe spinal injuries that forced his abdication.
This crushing defeat weakened Byzantine military prestige and set the stage for internal power struggles.
The battle remains one of the most devastating losses in early Byzantine history.
811
Battle of Pliska
Byzantine Emperor
Nikephoros I
Staurakios
920day.year
Rout of an alliance of Christian troops from Navarre and Léon against the Muslims at the Battle of Valdejunquera.
In 920, Christian forces from Navarre and León were decisively routed by Muslim armies at the Battle of Valdejunquera, underscoring al-Andalus's military strength.
Fought on July 26, 920, at the Valdejunquera pass in the western Pyrenees.
An allied Christian army from Navarre and León attempted a raid into Muslim-held al-Andalus.
The forces were decisively outmaneuvered by troops loyal to the Caliphate of Córdoba.
Heavy casualties led to a chaotic retreat and a temporary setback for the northern kingdoms.
The defeat delayed further Christian advances and underscored the military prowess of the Umayyad defenders.
920
Navarre
Léon
Battle of Valdejunquera
1703day.year
During the Bavarian Rummel the rural population of Tyrol drove the Bavarian Prince-Elector Maximilian II Emanuel out of North Tyrol with a victory at the Pontlatzer Bridge and thus prevented the Bavarian Army, which was allied with France, from marching as planned on Vienna during the War of the Spanish Succession.
In 1703, Tyrolean militia triumphed over Bavarian forces at the Pontlatzer Bridge, safeguarding Vienna during the War of the Spanish Succession.
On July 26, 1703, Tyrolean farmers and militiamen defeated the Bavarian army at Pontlatzer Bridge.
In an event known as the Bavarian Rummel, locals rose against Prince-Elector Maximilian II Emanuel's forces.
Their victory halted a planned advance towards Vienna during the War of the Spanish Succession.
Using intimate knowledge of mountain passes, the Tyroleans ambushed and overwhelmed the invaders.
The triumph became a symbol of regional unity and resistance against foreign occupation.
It helped secure the Habsburg heartland and boosted morale among anti-French coalitions.
1703
Bavarian Rummel
Tyrol
Bavarian
Maximilian II Emanuel
Bavarian Army
France
Vienna
War of the Spanish Succession
1758day.year
French and Indian War: The Siege of Louisbourg ends with British forces defeating the French and taking control of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.
In 1758, British forces captured the fortress of Louisbourg after a prolonged siege, securing control of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence during the French and Indian War.
The Siege of Louisbourg was a major military operation during the French and Indian War, aimed at crippling French naval power in North America. British and colonial troops bombarded the fortress from both land and sea. The fortress guarded the entrance to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and threatened British shipping. After weeks of siege, French defenders surrendered on July 26, 1758. The British victory opened the route for future campaigns against Quebec and Montreal. Control of the gulf secured British supply lines and weakened French presence. It marked a turning point in the struggle for dominance in North America.
1758
French and Indian War
Siege of Louisbourg
Gulf of Saint Lawrence
1814day.year
The Swedish–Norwegian War begins.
Hostilities broke out on July 26, 1814, marking the start of the Swedish–Norwegian War.
In the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, Norway resisted cession from Denmark to Sweden under the Treaty of Kiel. Swedish forces invaded Norway to enforce the treaty, initiating conflict on July 26. Norwegian troops, determined to defend their recently declared constitution, engaged the invaders in several skirmishes. Key battles occurred at Lier and Matrand, where Norwegian resistance proved effective. Despite fierce fighting, Norway’s leadership negotiated the Convention of Moss within months. The agreement allowed Norway to retain its constitution under a personal union with Sweden. This brief war shaped the future relationship between the two kingdoms.
1814
Swedish–Norwegian War
1822day.year
First day of the three-day Battle of Dervenakia, between the Ottoman Empire force led by Mahmud Dramali Pasha and the Greek Revolutionary force led by Theodoros Kolokotronis.
On July 26, 1822, the Battle of Dervenakia began between Ottoman forces under Dramali Pasha and Greek revolutionaries led by Kolokotronis.
As part of the Greek War of Independence, Ottoman troops marched from the Peloponnese to relieve the siege of Tripolitsa. Theodoros Kolokotronis anticipated their route through the narrow Dervenakia pass. Greek forces set ambushes in the rocky terrain, exploiting their knowledge of the landscape. On the first day, skirmishes slowed the Ottoman advance and inflicted significant casualties. The difficult terrain and guerrilla tactics hampered Dramali Pasha’s army. Over the next two days, the Greeks decisively defeated the invaders. This victory boosted Greek morale and protected the revolutionary stronghold in the Peloponnese.
Battle of Dervenakia
Ottoman Empire
Mahmud Dramali Pasha
Greek Revolutionary
Theodoros Kolokotronis
1861day.year
American Civil War: George B. McClellan assumes command of the Army of the Potomac following a disastrous Union defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run.
George B. McClellan assumes command of the Union's Army of the Potomac after the First Battle of Bull Run.
After the Union's defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861, President Lincoln sought new leadership. On July 26, George B. McClellan was appointed commander of the Army of the Potomac. McClellan quickly reorganized and trained the army, improving discipline and morale. He instituted rigorous drilling and established efficient supply lines. His cautious approach earned him the nickname Young Napoleon among the troops. Under his leadership, the Army of the Potomac became a more formidable force for subsequent campaigns.
1861
American Civil War
George B. McClellan
Army of the Potomac
Union
First Battle of Bull Run
1863day.year
American Civil War: Morgan's Raid ends; At Salineville, Ohio, Confederate cavalry leader John Hunt Morgan and 360 of his volunteers are captured by Union forces.
Confederate cavalry leader John Hunt Morgan and 360 volunteers are captured at the end of Morgan's Raid in Ohio.
John Hunt Morgan's daring cavalry raid had penetrated deep into Union territory since June 1863. On July 26, near Salineville, Ohio, Morgan and 360 of his men were surrounded and captured by Union forces. The raid had aimed to divert Union troops and spark insurrection among Northern sympathizers. Its end marked the deepest incursion by Confederate forces into the North. Morgan's capture brought widespread relief to Northern communities. The failure of the raid curtailed similar Confederate operations in the region.
1863
Morgan's Raid
Salineville, Ohio
Confederate
John Hunt Morgan
1897day.year
Anglo-Afghan War: The Pashtun fakir Saidullah leads an army of more than 10,000 to begin a siege of the British garrison in the Malakand Agency of the North West Frontier Province of India.
Pashtun leader Saidullah, known as the Mad Fakir, begins the 1897 siege of the British garrison at Malakand.
On July 26, 1897, the Pashtun leader Saidullah, known as the Mad Fakir, led over 10,000 tribesmen to besiege the British garrison at Malakand. Part of the widespread frontier uprisings of 1897, the siege tested British defenses in the North West Frontier Province. British forces, commanded by Sir Bindon Blood, held out against repeated attacks. The conflict highlighted both tribal resistance to colonial rule and the strategic importance of mountain passes. After several days, relief columns broke the siege, restoring British control. The episode contributed to later reforms in frontier policy.
1897
Anglo-Afghan War
Pashtun
fakir
Saidullah
siege of the British garrison
Malakand Agency
North West Frontier Province
1936day.year
Spanish Civil War: Germany and Italy decide to intervene in the war in support for Francisco Franco and the Nationalist faction.
During the Spanish Civil War, Germany and Italy announced on July 26, 1936, that they would intervene in support of Francisco Franco’s Nationalist forces.
On July 26, 1936, both Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy committed military aid and personnel to support General Francisco Franco’s Nationalist faction in the Spanish Civil War. Germany’s Condor Legion and Italy’s Corpo Truppe Volontarie provided crucial air power, artillery, and ground troops, tipping the balance against the Republican government. This intervention marked one of the first instances of coordinated European fascist aggression, foreshadowing the alliances of World War II. Their involvement escalated the conflict’s intensity and international significance, drawing volunteers and observers from around the globe. The foreign support strengthened Franco’s position and lengthened the war, which would last until 1939. The Spanish Civil War became a proxy battleground for competing ideologies in Europe.
1936
Spanish Civil War
Germany
Italy
Francisco Franco
Nationalist faction
1937day.year
Spanish Civil War: End of the Battle of Brunete with the Nationalist victory.
On July 26, 1937, the Battle of Brunete in the Spanish Civil War ended with a decisive Nationalist victory over Republican forces.
The Battle of Brunete, launched by Republican forces in mid-July 1937, aimed to divert Nationalist pressure on Madrid and relieve northern fronts. After intense fighting characterized by modern artillery barrages and mechanized units, the Nationalist army secured the town of Brunete on July 26. Franco’s troops reclaimed lost ground, inflicting heavy casualties and capturing key positions. Despite initial Republican advances, logistical challenges and superior Nationalist air support turned the tide. The battle demonstrated the brutal nature of modern warfare and foreshadowed tactics used in World War II. The Nationalist victory bolstered Franco’s momentum and dampened Republican morale.
1937
Battle of Brunete