1590day.year
Alexander Farnese's army forces Henry IV of France to lift the siege of Paris.
In 1590, Alexander Farnese led Spanish forces to relieve Paris, compelling Henry IV of France to abandon his siege.
In the midst of the French Wars of Religion, Catholic forces sought to prevent the Protestant Henry IV from seizing Paris.
On September 5, 1590, Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, staged a daring relief operation from Spanish-controlled Flanders.
His army pushed through royalist defenses and forced the besieging forces to withdraw, lifting the threat to Paris.
The event bolstered Catholic morale and showcased Farnese's strategic brilliance in siege warfare.
It prolonged the conflict until Henry IV converted to Catholicism in 1593, opening the way for his recognition as king.
1590
Alexander Farnese
Henry IV of France
siege of Paris
1697day.year
War of the Grand Alliance : A French warship commanded by Captain Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville defeated an English squadron at the Battle of Hudson's Bay.
On September 5, 1697, during the War of the Grand Alliance, French captain Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville defeated an English squadron in the Battle of Hudson’s Bay.
In a bid to control the lucrative fur trade, naval forces clashed in the icy waters of Hudson Bay.
Captain Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville, commanding the French ship Pélican, engaged an English squadron near James Bay.
Using superior seamanship and surprise tactics, the French seized the English vessels after fierce combat.
The victory secured French dominance over the bay and disrupted English supply lines to Hudson’s Bay Company posts.
The battle underscored the global reach of European conflicts and the strategic importance of North American resources.
1697
War of the Grand Alliance
Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville
Battle of Hudson's Bay
1781day.year
Battle of the Chesapeake in the American Revolutionary War: The British Navy is repelled by the French Navy, contributing to the British surrender at Yorktown.
French naval forces repel the British at the Battle of the Chesapeake, a decisive action that led to the British surrender at Yorktown.
The Battle of the Chesapeake took place on September 5, 1781, when the French fleet under Admiral de Grasse engaged the British navy commanded by Rear Admiral Thomas Graves. After several hours of exchange, the French succeeded in preventing the British from relieving the besieged army at Yorktown. This strategic victory secured critical supply and communication lines for General George Washington's allied forces. The British navy's failure to break the blockade directly contributed to the eventual surrender of Lord Cornwallis's forces on October 19. Widely regarded as a turning point in the American Revolutionary War, the battle demonstrated the importance of naval power in supporting land operations.
1781
Battle of the Chesapeake
American Revolutionary War
British surrender at Yorktown
1812day.year
War of 1812: The Siege of Fort Wayne begins when Chief Winamac's forces attack two soldiers returning from the fort's outhouses.
Chief Winamac’s forces launch the Siege of Fort Wayne, marking an early conflict in the War of 1812's western theater.
On September 5, 1812, Native American warriors under the leadership of Chief Winamac attacked two U.S. soldiers outside Fort Wayne's outhouses, initiating the Siege of Fort Wayne in present-day Indiana. This engagement formed part of the broader frontier conflicts during the War of 1812 between American forces and various Native American tribes allied with the British. The siege tested the fort's defenses and forced its garrison to ration supplies amid persistent threats. Over the following weeks, the defenders maintained their position until reinforcements arrived. The incident underscored the war's impact on frontier settlements and Indigenous communities. It also highlighted the strategic importance of forts in controlling the Northwest Territory.
1812
War of 1812
Siege of Fort Wayne
Winamac
1839day.year
The United Kingdom declares war on the Qing dynasty of China.
The United Kingdom declares war on China’s Qing dynasty, marking the start of the First Opium War.
On September 5, 1839, following escalating tensions over the illegal opium trade, Britain formally declared war on the Qing dynasty of China. The conflict arose after Chinese authorities, under Commissioner Lin Zexu, seized and destroyed large quantities of opium in Canton. British merchants and the royal government retaliated to protect their trade interests, leading to military campaigns along the Chinese coast. The war highlighted the clash between imperial commerce and Chinese sovereignty, with British naval superiority proving decisive. Hostilities persisted until the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, which ceded Hong Kong to Britain and opened Chinese ports to foreign trade. The First Opium War signaled the beginning of the 'Century of Humiliation' for China.
1839
war
Qing dynasty
1862day.year
American Civil War: The Army of Northern Virginia crosses the Potomac River at White's Ford in the Maryland Campaign.
Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia crosses the Potomac at White’s Ford, advancing into Maryland during the 1862 campaign.
On September 5, 1862, during the American Civil War, General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia crossed the Potomac River at White’s Ford, launching the Maryland Campaign. This maneuver allowed Confederate forces to invade Union territory, aiming to influence Northern public opinion and gather much-needed supplies. The crossing set the stage for the battles of South Mountain and Antietam shortly thereafter. Despite initial Confederate success, logistical challenges and Lincoln’s determination led to a fierce contest at Sharpsburg. The campaign ended without Confederate recognition from European powers, but it marked a critical moment in the war’s strategic landscape. Lee’s incursion into the North demonstrated Confederate boldness but ultimately overstretched Southern resources.
1862
American Civil War
Army of Northern Virginia
Potomac River
White's Ford
Maryland Campaign
1877day.year
American Indian Wars: Oglala Sioux chief Crazy Horse is bayoneted by a United States soldier after resisting confinement in a guardhouse at Fort Robinson in Nebraska.
Sioux leader Crazy Horse is fatally bayoneted by a U.S. soldier at Fort Robinson, ending his resistance.
On September 5, 1877, Oglala Sioux chief Crazy Horse was fatally wounded by bayonet while under guard at Fort Robinson, Nebraska. Arrested after surrendering to U.S. forces, he resisted confinement in the fort’s guardhouse, prompting his violent death. A prominent war leader who fought against U.S. encroachment, Crazy Horse had been instrumental in victories such as the Battle of the Little Bighorn. His death symbolized the final collapse of organized Native American resistance on the Northern Plains. News of his death shocked both Indigenous communities and American settlers. Today, Crazy Horse remains a symbol of Native American resistance and cultural pride.
1877
American Indian Wars
Oglala Sioux
chief
Crazy Horse
bayoneted
Fort Robinson
Nebraska
1905day.year
Russo-Japanese War: In New Hampshire, United States, the Treaty of Portsmouth, mediated by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, ends the war.
The Treaty of Portsmouth, mediated by President Theodore Roosevelt, was signed on September 5, 1905, officially ending the Russo-Japanese War.
On September 5, 1905, representatives of Russia and Japan gathered at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire to sign a treaty brokered by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. The agreement formally ended the Russo-Japanese War, marking the first time an Asian power had defeated a European empire in modern history. Negotiations spanned months of tense diplomacy, with Roosevelt’s mediation earning him the Nobel Peace Prize. The treaty recognized Japan’s interests in Korea and southern Manchuria while ceding territories such as Sakhalin Island to Japan. This landmark accord reshaped the balance of power in East Asia and heralded America’s growing role in international affairs.
1905
Russo-Japanese War
New Hampshire
Treaty of Portsmouth
Theodore Roosevelt
1914day.year
World War I: First Battle of the Marne begins. Northeast of Paris, the French attack and defeat German forces who are advancing on the capital.
On September 5, 1914, the First Battle of the Marne began as French forces launched a counterattack to halt the German advance on Paris during World War I.
Less than a month after World War I began, French and British troops launched a major counteroffensive against the advancing German armies northeast of Paris. The battle, which started on September 5, 1914, caught German forces off guard and forced them to retreat toward the Aisne River. Commanded by General Joseph Joffre, the Allies exploited a gap between the German First and Second Armies to disrupt their Schlieffen Plan. The fierce fighting and quick maneuvers saved Paris from occupation and ended hopes of a swift German victory. The outcome of the First Battle of the Marne set the stage for trench warfare on the Western Front that would endure for years.
1914
World War I
First Battle of the Marne
1937day.year
Spanish Civil War: Llanes falls to the Nationalists following a one-day siege.
Llanes fell to Nationalist forces on September 5, 1937, following a brief siege during the Spanish Civil War.
In early September 1937, Nationalist troops targeted the coastal town of Llanes in the Asturias region. The siege began on September 4 and the town capitulated the next day after intense artillery and infantry assaults. Republican defenders, low on supplies and reinforcements, were overwhelmed by the better-equipped Nationalists. The capture of Llanes secured a strategic port and supply route for Franco’s forces in northern Spain. This victory contributed to the gradual Nationalist domination of the Asturias front and highlighted the brutal urban warfare of the civil conflict.
1937
Spanish Civil War
Llanes
Nationalists
1941day.year
Whole territory of Estonia is occupied by Nazi Germany.
By September 5, 1941, Nazi Germany had completed its occupation of Estonia during World War II.
As part of Operation Barbarossa, German forces advanced into the Baltic states after breaking Soviet defenses. By September 5, 1941, they had fully occupied Estonia, ending Soviet control established in 1940. The occupation brought harsh military administration and the implementation of anti-Jewish and anti-communist policies. Many Estonians faced forced labor, deportations, and executions, while some saw the Germans as liberators from Soviet repression. The German occupation would last until 1944, leaving deep scars on Estonia’s population and landscape.
1941
Estonia is occupied
1942day.year
World War II: Japanese high command orders withdrawal at Milne Bay, the first major Japanese defeat in land warfare during the Pacific War.
On September 5, 1942, Japanese forces were ordered to withdraw from Milne Bay, marking the first major land defeat for Japan in the Pacific War.
During the Battle of Milne Bay, Allied forces of Australian and American troops defended airstrips in Papua New Guinea against Japanese amphibious landings. Fierce jungle combat and well-prepared defensive positions blunted the Japanese advance. By early September, the attackers suffered heavy casualties and supply shortages. On September 5, 1942, Japanese commanders ordered a full withdrawal from the bay area. This retreat represented Japan’s first significant defeat on land in the Pacific, boosting Allied morale and proving the effectiveness of jungle warfare tactics.
1942
World War II
Milne Bay
Pacific War