1173day.year
The widow Stamira sacrifices herself in order to raise the siege of Ancona by the forces of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
Widow Stamira's selfless act ignites the spirit of Ancona's defenders, leading to the lifting of Frederick Barbarossa's siege.
In 1173, during Emperor Frederick Barbarossa's siege of the Italian port city of Ancona, a local woman known only as Stamira carried burning wood under the cover of darkness to destroy a key siege machine. Her daring mission succeeded in collapsing the enemy tower but cost her life. Her sacrifice rallied the city's defenders, who seized the moment to attack and force Barbarossa's army to abandon the siege. This heroic episode has become a symbol of Ancona's resilience and civic pride. Stamira is remembered in local folklore and commemorated in monuments for her singular courage.
1173
Stamira
Ancona
Frederick Barbarossa
1449day.year
Tumu Crisis: The Mongols capture the Emperor of China.
Mongol forces capture China's emperor during the Tumu Crisis, delivering a dramatic blow to the Ming dynasty.
On September 1, 1449, the Oirat Mongols achieved one of their most stunning victories at the Battle of Tumu Fortress, capturing Emperor Yingzong of Ming China. The unexpected defeat shocked the imperial court, leading to a crisis of legitimacy and power struggles in Beijing. Mongol leader Esen Taishi's triumph exposed vulnerabilities in the Ming military and led to severe repercussions for high-ranking officials. The emperor's captivity disrupted diplomatic relations and forced the Ming dynasty to negotiate for his return. The Tumu Crisis remains one of the most significant military disasters in Chinese history, reshaping Ming governance and border policies.
1449
Tumu Crisis
Mongols
Emperor of China
1529day.year
The Spanish fort of Sancti Spiritu, the first one built in modern Argentina, is destroyed by indigenous people.
The first Spanish fort in modern Argentina, Sancti Spiritu, is destroyed by indigenous forces resisting colonial expansion.
Established early in 1527 on the Paraná River, the fort of Sancti Spiritu marked Spain’s initial foothold in what is now Argentina. On September 1, 1529, local indigenous warriors launched a coordinated attack that overwhelmed the garrison and razed the fort to the ground. This uprising demonstrated the fierce resistance of native populations against European incursion and colonization. The loss forced Spanish explorers to reevaluate their strategies for settlement and alliance-building in the region. Sancti Spiritu’s fate stands as a reminder of the complex encounters between conquistadors and indigenous peoples during the Age of Exploration.
1529
Sancti Spiritu
Argentina
1644day.year
Battle of Tippermuir: James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose defeats the Earl of Wemyss's Covenanters, reviving the Royalist cause.
Royalist forces under James Graham, Marquess of Montrose, defeat Covenanters at Tippermuir, bolstering the royal cause in Scotland.
On September 1, 1644, at the Battle of Tippermuir near Perth, James Graham, the 1st Marquess of Montrose, led his Royalist army to a decisive victory against the Covenanter forces commanded by the Earl of Wemyss. Despite being outnumbered, Montrose's bold tactics and superior cavalry proved devastating in the rolling fields of Tippermuir. This triumph revived the waning hopes of King Charles I's supporters in Scotland and paved the way for further Royalist campaigns. The battle demonstrated Montrose's military genius and his ability to inspire loyalty among Highland clans. It remains one of the most celebrated engagements of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
1644
Battle of Tippermuir
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
Earl of Wemyss
Covenanters
Royalist
1645day.year
English Civil War. Scottish Covenanter forces abandon their month-long Siege of Hereford, a Cavalier stronghold, on news of Royalist victories in Scotland.
Scottish Covenanter forces lift their month-long siege of Hereford, reacting to Royalist victories in Scotland during the English Civil War.
On September 1, 1645, Scottish Covenanter troops ended their prolonged siege of the royalist-held city of Hereford upon hearing news of Montrose's recent victories in Scotland. The Covenanters had aimed to secure a key stronghold in the Welsh Marches but withdrew in order to reinforce their armies north of the border. This strategic retreat underscored the interconnected nature of the English and Scottish theatres in the wider conflict. It also highlighted the shifting alliances and rapid movements that characterized the mid-war campaigns. The lifting of the siege allowed Royalist forces to maintain their positions in western England, prolonging the struggle.
1645
English Civil War
Scottish
Covenanter
Siege of Hereford
Cavalier
1774day.year
Massachusetts Bay colonists rise up in the bloodless Powder Alarm.
In 1774, colonists in Massachusetts Bay stage the Powder Alarm, a bloodless protest against British searches for gunpowder.
Tensions between American colonists and British authorities escalate when Loyalist troops search for arms near Boston.
News of the raids sparks a rapid mobilization of Massachusetts militia, who march on Boston roads in what becomes known as the Powder Alarm.
Although the confrontation avoids violence, it deepens mistrust and demonstrates colonial readiness to defend their rights.
The incident foreshadows the larger conflicts of the American Revolution, showing how rumors and local action can ignite rebellion.
The Powder Alarm solidifies networks of communication among patriots, paving the way for the Committees of Correspondence and united resistance.
1774
Massachusetts Bay
Powder Alarm
1862day.year
American Civil War: Battle of Chantilly: Confederate Army troops defeat a group of retreating Union Army troops in Chantilly, Virginia.
In 1862, during the American Civil War, Confederate forces defeat retreating Union troops at the Battle of Chantilly in Virginia.
Also known as the Battle of Ox Hill, the engagement takes place on a stormy September day near Chantilly.
Confederate Generals Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson and James Longstreet launch assaults on Union forces under Major General John Pope.
The fighting results in a Confederate tactical victory, but both sides suffer significant casualties, including the deaths of Union generals Stevens and Kearny.
The battle solidifies Confederate momentum following Second Bull Run and prompts Pope’s retreat toward Washington, D.C.
Chantilly highlights the war’s brutal nature and the high stakes of leadership on both sides of the conflict.
1862
American Civil War
Battle of Chantilly
Confederate Army troops
Union Army troops
Chantilly, Virginia
1864day.year
American Civil War: The Confederate Army General John Bell Hood orders the evacuation of Atlanta, ending a four-month siege by General William Tecumseh Sherman.
In 1864, Confederate General John Bell Hood orders the evacuation of Atlanta, ending a four-month siege by Union forces under Sherman.
Following prolonged investment by Union General William T. Sherman, Confederate forces under John Bell Hood abandon Atlanta’s defenses.
The evacuation occurs under cover of darkness, allowing Hood’s army to withdraw safely to avoid encirclement.
Sherman’s capture of Atlanta deals a severe blow to Confederate morale and proves pivotal for Northern public opinion.
The fall of the city bolsters President Lincoln’s reelection prospects and underscores the strategic importance of rail hubs.
Sherman’s subsequent March to the Sea further demonstrates Union capacity for total warfare and deep penetration into Southern territory.
1864
Confederate Army
John Bell Hood
Atlanta
siege
William Tecumseh Sherman
1870day.year
Franco-Prussian War: The Battle of Sedan is fought, resulting in a decisive Prussian victory.
A pivotal clash of the Franco-Prussian War where Prussian forces decisively defeated the French, marking a turning point in European history.
On September 1, 1870, the Battle of Sedan took place near the Meuse River in northeastern France.
Prussian forces, led by King Wilhelm I and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, encircled the French Army commanded by Emperor Napoleon III.
The superior Prussian artillery and efficient troop movements forced the French to surrender, capturing over 17,000 soldiers and Napoleon III himself.
This defeat led to the collapse of the Second French Empire and the establishment of the Third Republic in France.
The victory accelerated the unification of Germany and reshaped the balance of power in Europe.
1870
Franco-Prussian War
Battle of Sedan
Prussian
1880day.year
The army of Mohammad Ayub Khan is routed by the British at the Battle of Kandahar, ending the Second Anglo-Afghan War.
British forces defeat Mohammad Ayub Khan’s army at Kandahar, bringing an end to the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1880.
On September 1, 1880, British troops under Major-General Roberts engaged and decisively defeated the forces of Mohammad Ayub Khan outside Kandahar, Afghanistan.
The British campaign, which had faced setbacks earlier, reversed its fortunes with this victory.
Ayub Khan’s defeat dismantled Afghan resistance and forced his withdrawal, effectively ending the Second Anglo-Afghan War.
The outcome secured British influence over Afghanistan’s foreign affairs while allowing the region to maintain nominal independence.
This battle is noted for its impact on British military tactics and imperial policy in Central Asia.
1880
Mohammad Ayub Khan
Battle of Kandahar
Second Anglo-Afghan War
1939day.year
World War II: Germany and Slovakia invade Poland, beginning the European phase of World War II.
German and Slovak forces invade Poland, igniting the European theater of World War II on September 1, 1939.
On September 1, 1939, Germany launched a blitzkrieg invasion of Poland, swiftly advancing with coordinated air and armored divisions.
Slovak troops joined the assault from the south, aiding the Wehrmacht in overpowering Polish defenses.
This joint invasion prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany, marking the official start of World War II in Europe.
The campaign showcased the devastating effectiveness of modern mechanized warfare and air power.
Poland’s fall within weeks highlighted the speed of the German war machine and reshaped global geopolitics for years to come.
1939
World War II
Germany
Slovakia
invade Poland
1944day.year
World War II: Launch of Operation Ratweek, complicating German retreat.
Allied forces launch Operation Ratweek to harass retreating German troops, disrupting their withdrawal in 1944.
On September 1, 1944, the Allies initiated Operation Ratweek, a coordinated campaign of air and ground attacks against retreating German forces.
The operation targeted supply lines, bridges, and troop movements as the Wehrmacht retreated across Western Europe.
Fighter-bombers from the Royal Air Force and the U.S. Army Air Forces bombed railheads and convoys to slow German logistics.
Ground units, including the French Resistance, ambushed retreating columns, further eroding German capacity to regroup.
Operation Ratweek significantly hindered the German withdrawal, paving the way for the Allied advance into Germany.
1944
World War II
Operation Ratweek