1191day.year
Third Crusade: Battle of Arsuf: Richard I of England defeats Saladin at Arsuf.
In 1191, Richard the Lionheart secured a key victory against Saladin at the Battle of Arsuf during the Third Crusade.
On September 7, 1191, the English King Richard I, known as the Lionheart, engaged Saladin’s forces at Arsuf.
This battle marked one of the few pitched field victories for the Crusader army in the Holy Land.
Richard’s disciplined cavalry charge broke Saladin’s lines, forcing a strategic withdrawal.
Despite limited strategic gains, the victory boosted Crusader morale and solidified Richard’s reputation.
The battle demonstrated the effectiveness of European heavy cavalry tactics against Muslim armies.
It remains a celebrated episode in the storied campaigns of the Crusades.
1191
Third Crusade
Battle of Arsuf
Richard I of England
Saladin
Arsuf
1228day.year
Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II lands in Acre, Israel, and starts the Sixth Crusade, which results in a peaceful restoration of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
In 1228, Emperor Frederick II embarked on the Sixth Crusade, landing at Acre and securing Jerusalem through diplomacy.
On September 7, 1228, Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, landed at Acre to commence the Sixth Crusade.
Unlike previous Crusades, Frederick sought negotiation over direct combat with Muslim rulers.
Through diplomatic efforts and a treaty with Sultan Al-Kamil, he regained Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem.
This peaceful restoration surprised contemporaries accustomed to bloody sieges and battles.
Frederick’s approach highlighted the potential of diplomacy in medieval holy wars.
His return to Europe with relics and territorial gains bolstered his prestige at home.
1228
Frederick II
Acre, Israel
Sixth Crusade
Kingdom of Jerusalem
1652day.year
Around 15,000 Han farmers and militia rebel against Dutch rule on Taiwan.
In 1652, approximately 15,000 Han Chinese farmers and militia rebelled against Dutch colonial rule on Taiwan.
On September 7, 1652, discontented Han settlers rose in rebellion against the Dutch East India Company in Taiwan.
Led by local militia leaders, the uprising was fueled by heavy taxation and restrictions on farming.
The rebels seized several Dutch forts, disrupting colonial administration.
Despite initial successes, the revolt was eventually suppressed by superior Dutch forces.
This early resistance foreshadowed later struggles for control over Taiwan.
The conflict highlighted the complexities of colonial rule and settler-native relations.
1652
Han
rebel
Dutch rule
Taiwan
1695day.year
Henry Every perpetrates one of the most profitable pirate raids in history with the capture of the Grand Mughal ship Ganj-i-Sawai. In response, Emperor Aurangzeb threatens to end all English trading in India.
In 1695, pirate Henry Every captured the ship Ganj-i-Sawai, launching one of history’s most lucrative raids.
On September 7, 1695, pirate captain Henry Every and his crew seized the Ganj-i-Sawai, a treasure-laden vessel of the Mughal Empire.
The raid yielded immense riches, including gold, silver, and precious gems.
News of the attack enraged Emperor Aurangzeb, who threatened to halt all English trade in India.
The incident sparked one of the first international manhunts, with Every’s name becoming notorious across Europe and Asia.
Although Every escaped capture, the raid marked the zenith of Golden Age piracy.
It profoundly impacted maritime policy and colonial commerce in the Indian Ocean.
1695
Henry Every
Ganj-i-Sawai
Aurangzeb
1706day.year
War of the Spanish Succession: Siege of Turin ends, leading to the withdrawal of French forces from North Italy.
The Siege of Turin during the War of the Spanish Succession concluded with a decisive relief by allied forces, forcing the French to evacuate Northern Italy.
On September 7, 1706, after months of blockade, the Siege of Turin reached its climax as Imperial forces under Prince Eugene broke through French lines.
This victory marked a turning point in the War of the Spanish Succession, undermining French dominance in the region.
The French army withdrew from Northern Italy, shifting the balance of power in favor of the Grand Alliance.
The success boosted the reputation of Prince Eugene and strengthened the Habsburg position in Italy.
It also paved the way for subsequent Allied advances, reshaping the geopolitical landscape of early 18th-century Europe.
1706
War of the Spanish Succession
Siege of Turin
1776day.year
According to American colonial reports, Ezra Lee makes the world's first submarine attack in the Turtle, attempting to attach a time bomb to the hull of HMS Eagle in New York Harbor (no British records of this attack exist).
According to colonial reports, Ezra Lee piloted the Turtle in 1776 to carry out history's first submarine attack, targeting HMS Eagle in New York Harbor.
On September 7, 1776, American inventor Ezra Lee operated David Bushnell’s Turtle submersible in an audacious attempt to damage HMS Eagle.
Lee aimed to attach a timed explosive to the British warship’s hull beneath the waterline, marking what colonial sources call the first submarine attack.
Although British records do not acknowledge the incident, the Turtle demonstrated early naval innovation and stealth tactics.
The daring mission highlighted colonial ingenuity during the American Revolutionary War and inspired future submarine development.
Despite its limited success, the operation remains a landmark in naval and military history.
1776
Ezra Lee
submarine
Turtle
time bomb
HMS Eagle
New York Harbor
1778day.year
American Revolutionary War: France invades Dominica in the British West Indies, before Britain is even aware of France's involvement in the war.
In 1778, France launched a surprise invasion of Dominica, marking its first military engagement in the American Revolutionary War's Caribbean theater.
On September 7, 1778, French forces under Admiral d’Estaing seized the island of Dominica from the British without warning.
The attack occurred before Britain officially recognized France's entry into the American Revolutionary War, catching defenders off guard.
Dominica's capture extended the conflict to the Caribbean and disrupted British trade routes.
The invasion demonstrated France’s commitment to challenging British naval power across multiple fronts.
It also emboldened other European powers to join the war, broadening the conflict into a global struggle.
1778
American Revolutionary War
invades Dominica
British West Indies
1812day.year
French invasion of Russia: The Battle of Borodino, the bloodiest battle of the Napoleonic Wars, is fought near Moscow and results in a French victory.
The Battle of Borodino in 1812 was the bloodiest single-day engagement of the Napoleonic Wars, ending in a costly French tactical victory near Moscow.
Fought on September 7, 1812, the Battle of Borodino pitted Napoleon’s Grande Armée against Russian forces under General Kutuzov.
More than 250,000 soldiers clashed in fierce combat, with heavy casualties on both sides.
Although the French held the field, they failed to destroy the Russian army or secure a decisive strategic advantage.
The pyrrhic victory allowed Napoleon to advance to Moscow but depleted his forces and strained supply lines.
The battle foreshadowed the hardships of the French retreat and proved pivotal in the eventual downfall of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia.
1812
French invasion of Russia
Battle of Borodino
Napoleonic Wars
1857day.year
Mountain Meadows massacre: Mormon settlers slaughter most members of a peaceful emigrant wagon train.
In 1857, Mormon militia and allied Native Americans ambushed and massacred a wagon train of emigrants at Mountain Meadows in Utah Territory.
On September 7, 1857, members of the Mormon militia and Paiute allies attacked the Baker–Fancher emigrant wagon train in southern Utah Territory.
Over several days, the attackers killed more than 120 men, women, and children in what became known as the Mountain Meadows massacre.
The atrocity shocked the nation and remains one of the darkest episodes in American frontier history.
The massacre was driven by tensions between Mormon settlers and incoming emigrants amid the Utah War.
Inquiries and cover-ups followed, and decades later, some participants were held accountable by Church and civil authorities.
1857
Mountain Meadows massacre
1860day.year
Unification of Italy: Giuseppe Garibaldi enters Naples.
During the campaign for Italian unification in 1860, Giuseppe Garibaldi triumphantly entered Naples, extending his control over southern Italy.
On September 7, 1860, the Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi and his volunteers captured Naples, a key stronghold of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
This victory followed the successful Expedition of the Thousand, a bold campaign against Bourbon rule in southern Italy.
Garibaldi’s advance galvanized support for the Risorgimento and pressured other Italian states to join unification.
His entry into Naples marked the downfall of the Bourbon monarchy and the consolidation of Italian territories under the House of Savoy.
The event accelerated the process leading to the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.
1860
Unification of Italy
Giuseppe Garibaldi
1863day.year
American Civil War: Union troops under Quincy A. Gillmore capture Fort Wagner in Morris Island after a seven-week siege.
Union forces under General Quincy A. Gillmore captured Fort Wagner on Morris Island after a grueling seven-week siege, marking a significant strategic victory in the American Civil War.
Fort Wagner guarded the southern approach to Charleston harbor, and its capture by Union forces under General Quincy A. Gillmore after a seven-week siege opened the door to operations against the Confederate stronghold. The 54th Massachusetts Infantry, one of the first African American regiments in the Union Army, played a pivotal role in the assaults. Despite heavy casualties, their bravery under fire galvanized support for the Union cause and challenged prevailing prejudices. Union artillery and naval bombardment isolated the fort before ground troops launched coordinated attacks. The siege showcased evolving siege warfare tactics and underscored the importance of controlling key coastal positions. Although Confederate defenders fought fiercely, dwindling supplies and relentless bombardment forced their surrender on September 7. The victory at Fort Wagner bolstered Union morale and highlighted the contributions of Black soldiers to the war effort. In the broader context of the conflict, it represented a turning point in the campaign against Charleston and a testament to the resolve of Union forces.
1863
American Civil War
Quincy A. Gillmore
Fort Wagner
Morris Island
1864day.year
American Civil War: Atlanta is evacuated on orders of Union General William Tecumseh Sherman.
Union General William Tecumseh Sherman ordered the evacuation of Atlanta, a vital Confederate stronghold, marking a turning point in the Atlanta Campaign.
At the height of the American Civil War's Atlanta Campaign, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman orchestrated a strategy of cutting Confederate supply lines and threatening Atlanta's defenses. By early September, Confederate forces under General John Bell Hood were suffering from dwindling supplies and constant pressure. On September 7, Sherman seized the initiative by ordering the evacuation of the city, allowing him to prepare for his famous 'March to the Sea'. The fall of Atlanta dealt a severe blow to the Confederacy's war infrastructure and morale. It ensured President Abraham Lincoln's re-election later that year by demonstrating Union success on the battlefield. Sherman's tactics foreshadowed his later use of 'total war' to undermine the Confederacy's capacity to fight. Atlanta's evacuation marked the beginning of the city's transformation into a key logistical hub for Union operations. The event remains a significant example of strategic maneuvering and the war's impact on civilian centers.
1864
Atlanta
Union
William Tecumseh Sherman