636day.year
Battle of Yarmouk: Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of the Levant away from the Byzantine Empire, marking the first great wave of Muslim conquests and the rapid advance of Islam outside Arabia.
In 636, Arab forces under Khalid ibn al-Walid secured a decisive victory at the Battle of Yarmouk, wresting control of the Levant from the Byzantine Empire.
The Battle of Yarmouk took place over six days in August 636 near the Golan Heights. Commanded by Khalid ibn al-Walid, the Rashidun cavalry outmaneuvered the Byzantines in a masterful campaign. The defeat shattered Byzantine authority in Syria and advanced the Muslim conquest beyond Arabia. It marked a turning point in early Islamic expansion and opened the Levant to Muslim rule. The victory demonstrated Khalid's tactical genius and boosted the morale of Arab forces. Following the battle, major cities like Damascus fell without significant resistance. Yarmouk remains one of the most celebrated military achievements in Islamic history.
636
Battle of Yarmouk
Arab
Khalid ibn al-Walid
Levant
Byzantine Empire
Muslim
Islam
Arabia
917day.year
Battle of Acheloos: Tsar Simeon I of Bulgaria decisively defeats a Byzantine army.
In 917, Tsar Simeon I of Bulgaria delivered a crushing defeat to Byzantine forces at the Battle of Acheloos, asserting Bulgarian dominance in the Balkans.
The Battle of Acheloos occurred on August 20, 917 near the Achelous River (modern Devoll, Albania). Simeon I commanded a well-prepared Bulgarian army that exploited the terrain to ambush the Byzantines. The Byzantine commander Leo Phokas suffered devastating losses, and the empire's northern frontier was left vulnerable. The victory solidified Simeon's reputation as a powerful ruler and expanded Bulgarian influence. It ushered in a golden age for the Bulgarian Empire, marked by cultural and economic growth. Byzantine attempts at counteroffensives sporadically failed to reverse the loss. Acheloos stands as one of the most significant medieval Balkan battles.
917
Battle of Acheloos
Simeon I of Bulgaria
Byzantine
1191day.year
Richard I of England initiates the Massacre at Ayyadieh, leaving 2,600–3,000 Muslim hostages dead.
In 1191 during the Third Crusade, King Richard I ordered the massacre of thousands of Muslim prisoners at Ayyadieh, a brutal event that shocked contemporaries.
After negotiating with Saladin for the release of Christian captives, Richard the Lionheart agreed to exchange Muslim prisoners. When Saladin delayed the prisoner exchange, Richard ordered the execution of 2,600 to 3,000 Muslim captives at Ayyadieh. The gruesome massacre enraged the Muslim world and hardened attitudes on both sides. Though a tactical move, it tarnished Richard's reputation and complicated further negotiations. Chroniclers recorded the horror of the event, which became a symbol of the Crusades' brutality. The massacre at Ayyadieh remains one of the most infamous episodes of medieval warfare.
1191
Richard I of England
Massacre at Ayyadieh
1467day.year
The Second Battle of Olmedo takes places as part of a succession conflict between Henry IV of Castile and his half-brother Alfonso, Prince of Asturias.
On August 20, 1467, forces of King Henry IV of Castile faced off against those of his half-brother Alfonso in the Second Battle of Olmedo during a dynastic conflict.
The battle took place near Olmedo in central Spain as part of a succession dispute within the Trastámara dynasty. Henry IV's loyalists, led by notable nobles, clashed with troops supporting Alfonso, Prince of Asturias. Despite fierce fighting, neither side achieved a decisive victory, and both armies withdrew with heavy losses. The stalemate prolonged political instability and factional tension in Castile. However, Henry IV managed to maintain his throne, though his authority remained challenged thereafter. The encounter exemplified the internal strife that characterized late medieval Spanish politics. The Second Battle of Olmedo underscored the fragility of royal succession in 15th-century Europe.
1467
Second Battle of Olmedo
Henry IV of Castile
Alfonso, Prince of Asturias
1519day.year
Philosopher and general Wang Yangming defeats Zhu Chenhao, ending the Prince of Ning rebellion against the reign of the Ming dynasty's Zhengde Emperor.
In 1519, the Chinese philosopher-general Wang Yangming crushed the Prince of Ning’s rebellion, ending a significant uprising against the Ming dynasty.
Wang Yangming, renowned for his later philosophical teachings, led imperial forces to confront Zhu Chenhao's rebellion in the Prince of Ning affair. The rebel army had seized Nanjing and declared defiance against the Zhengde Emperor. Demonstrating both military acumen and moral leadership, Wang executed rapid maneuvers that forced the insurgents into disarray. By August 20, his troops secured the final decisive victories, capturing rebel leaders. The swift suppression reaffirmed the authority of the central government. The success bolstered Wang's reputation and influenced his development of the 'unity of knowledge and action' doctrine. The Prince of Ning rebellion thus became a pivotal moment in both his military and intellectual career.
1519
Wang Yangming
Zhu Chenhao
Prince of Ning rebellion
Ming dynasty
Zhengde Emperor
1648day.year
The Battle of Lens is the last major military confrontation of the Thirty Years' War, contributing to the signing of the Peace of Westphalia in October that year.
On August 20, 1648, the French army under Louis II de Bourbon, Prince of Condé, won the Battle of Lens, the last major clash of the Thirty Years' War.
The Battle of Lens saw French forces confront a Spanish army near the town of Lens in northern France. Commanded by the Great Condé, the French achieved a decisive victory, inflicting heavy casualties on the Spanish infantry and cavalry. The triumph bolstered French prestige and weakened Habsburg influence in Europe. As the final significant engagement of the Thirty Years' War, Lens paved the way for peace negotiations. The subsequent Peace of Westphalia, signed in October 1648, reshaped the political map of Europe. This battle underscored the rise of France as a dominant continental power. Scholars consider Lens a turning point that accelerated the multi-state equilibrium in 17th-century Europe.
1648
Battle of Lens
Thirty Years' War
Peace of Westphalia
1707day.year
The first Siege of Pensacola comes to an end with the failure of the British to capture Pensacola, Florida.
The first Siege of Pensacola in 1707 ended in defeat for the British, who failed to capture the Spanish-held port in Florida.
During the War of the Spanish Succession, British forces launched a siege on the Spanish fort at Pensacola, Florida.
The operation aimed to weaken Spain's control of the Gulf Coast and expand British influence in North America.
The British laid siege for several weeks but were hampered by logistical challenges and tough Spanish defenses.
Spanish garrison commanders skillfully repelled repeated assaults and maintained supply lines.
In August 1707, the British finally abandoned the siege and withdrew, marking a rare setback in their colonial campaigns.
The event highlighted the strategic importance of Pensacola and shaped subsequent regional conflicts.
1707
Siege of Pensacola
Pensacola, Florida
1710day.year
War of the Spanish Succession: A multinational army led by the Austrian commander Guido Starhemberg defeats the Spanish-Bourbon army commanded by Alexandre Maître, Marquis de Bay in the Battle of Saragossa.
In the Battle of Saragossa in 1710, an Austrian-led multinational army decisively defeated the Spanish-Bourbon forces during the War of the Spanish Succession.
On August 20, 1710, Allied forces under Austrian commander Guido Starhemberg met the Spanish-Bourbon army near Zaragoza.
The battle formed part of the larger War of the Spanish Succession over the Spanish throne.
Starhemberg's coalition included troops from Britain, the Dutch Republic, and several German states.
Through coordinated cavalry charges and effective artillery use, the Allies broke the enemy lines.
Spanish-Bourbon commander Alexandre Maître, Marquis de Bay, was forced to retreat in disarray.
The victory bolstered the Allied position in northeastern Spain and raised hopes of advancing on Madrid.
Despite this success, the war continued for several more years before ending in 1714.
1710
War of the Spanish Succession
Guido Starhemberg
Alexandre Maître, Marquis de Bay
Battle of Saragossa
1794day.year
Northwest Indian War: United States troops force a confederacy of Shawnee, Mingo, Delaware, Wyandot, Miami, Ottawa, Chippewa, and Potawatomi warriors into a disorganized retreat at the Battle of Fallen Timbers.
American forces defeated a Native American confederacy at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, effectively ending major hostilities in the Northwest Indian War.
On August 20, 1794, United States General Anthony Wayne led the Legion of the United States against a confederacy of Native American tribes.
The battle took place near present-day Maumee, Ohio, along the Maumee River.
The confederacy, composed of Shawnee, Miami, Wyandot, and other tribes, aimed to resist American expansion.
Wayne's well-trained troops advanced in disciplined lines and outflanked the Native warriors.
The decisive American victory broke the confederacy's power in the region.
This outcome paved the way for the Treaty of Greenville in 1795 and opened the Northwest Territory to settlement.
The Battle of Fallen Timbers marked a turning point in U.S. frontier history.
1794
Northwest Indian War
Shawnee
Mingo
Delaware
Wyandot
Miami
Ottawa
Chippewa
Potawatomi
Battle of Fallen Timbers
1864day.year
Bakumatsu: Kinmon incident: The Chōshū Domain attempts to expel the Satsuma and Aizu Domains from Japan's imperial court.
In the Kinmon incident of 1864, the Chōshū Domain attempted to seize power at Japan's imperial court, escalating tensions during the Bakumatsu period.
On August 20, 1864, troops from the Chōshū Domain marched on Kyoto, seeking to expel rival domains from the imperial court.
This confrontation, known as the Kinmon incident, reflected the volatile political climate of late Tokugawa Japan.
Supporters of the Aizu and Satsuma Domains defended the imperial palace gates against the attackers.
Heavy gunfire and skirmishes erupted in the streets of Kyoto.
The Chōshū forces were eventually repelled by combined domain armies and shogunate troops.
The failed coup intensified divides that would soon lead to the Meiji Restoration.
The Kinmon incident remains a key moment in the downfall of the Tokugawa shogunate.
1864
Bakumatsu
Kinmon incident
Chōshū Domain
Satsuma
Aizu Domains
1914day.year
World War I: Brussels is captured during the German invasion of Belgium.
During World War I, German forces captured Brussels on August 20, 1914, dealing a significant blow to Belgian resistance and securing a strategic position.
As part of the German Schlieffen Plan, the invasion of Belgium began in August 1914. On the morning of August 20, German troops entered Brussels after Belgian defenses were overcome. The fall of the Belgian capital not only opened the way for further advances into France but also galvanized Allied outrage over German aggression. Occupation forces requisitioned buildings and suppressed local dissent, marking the beginning of four years of German rule. Belgian government and King Albert I retreated to the unoccupied portions of the country to continue resistance. The capture of Brussels underscored the grim reality of total war on civilian populations in Europe.
1914
World War I
Brussels
German invasion of Belgium
1940day.year
World War II: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill makes the fourth of his famous wartime speeches, containing the line "Never was so much owed by so many to so few".
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivers his celebrated 'Never was so much owed by so many to so few' speech to the House of Commons on August 20, 1940.
Amid the Battle of Britain, Winston Churchill addressed Parliament to honor the Royal Air Force pilots defending the UK from German air assaults. He famously told MPs that 'Never was so much owed by so many to so few', capturing the nation’s gratitude and resolve during its darkest hour. Delivered on August 20, 1940, the speech bolstered civilian morale and reinforced Churchill’s reputation for stirring oratory. He praised the courage of the RAF while reminding the public of the ongoing threat posed by the Luftwaffe. The address became emblematic of British resilience and contributed to the 'finest hour' narrative that defined Churchill’s wartime leadership. It remains one of the most quoted lines in military history and a symbol of collective sacrifice.
World War II
British Prime Minister
Winston Churchill
Never was so much owed by so many to so few