324day.year
Constantine the Great decisively defeats Licinius in the Battle of Chrysopolis, establishing Constantine's sole control over the Roman Empire.
Constantine the Great wins a decisive victory at the Battle of Chrysopolis.
This triumph secures his position as sole ruler of the Roman Empire.
After years of civil wars, Constantine faced Licinius at Chrysopolis on the Asian side of the Bosphorus.
On September 18, 324 AD, Constantine's forces exploited infantry and cavalry coordination to rout Licinius's army.
The victory ended the rivalry and left Constantine as the uncontested emperor of both East and West.
Licinius was initially spared but later executed under suspicion of plotting rebellion.
Constantine's sole rule ushered in reforms, including the promotion of Christianity and administrative reorganization.
This battle effectively concluded the Tetrarchic power-sharing system, reshaping the Roman Empire's leadership.
324
Constantine the Great
Battle of Chrysopolis
1048day.year
Battle of Kapetron between a combined Byzantine-Georgian army and a Seljuq army.
A coalition of Byzantine and Georgian forces confronts the Seljuq army at Kapetron.
This clash highlights the growing Seljuq threat on the empire's eastern frontier.
In 1048, a joint Byzantine-Georgian force met the Seljuq Turks near Kapetron in northwestern Anatolia.
The Seljuqs, under Sultan Tughril Beg's lieutenants, aimed to raid Byzantine territories.
Commanders included the future Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos on the Byzantine side.
The battle saw fierce cavalry engagements on the plains around modern-day Tosya.
While both sides claimed tactical successes, the encounter underscored the Seljuqs' rising power.
This clash foreshadowed larger conflicts culminating in the Battle of Manzikert in 1071.
1048
Battle of Kapetron
Seljuq
1066day.year
Norwegian king Harald Hardrada lands with Tostig Godwinson at the mouth of the Humber River and begins his invasion of England.
Norwegian King Harald Hardrada and Tostig Godwinson land at the Humber River to launch their English invasion.
Their arrival marks the start of one of 1066’s pivotal campaigns.
On September 18, 1066, Harald Hardrada, King of Norway, arrived at the mouth of the Humber River.
He was joined by Tostig Godwinson, exiled brother of English King Harold Godwinson.
The combined forces aimed to claim the English throne through military conquest.
They quickly marched inland, capturing York and devastating the surrounding region.
This invasion set the stage for the decisive Battle of Stamford Bridge one week later.
Hardrada’s campaign marked the largest Viking assault on England in centuries.
1066
Harald Hardrada
Tostig Godwinson
1454day.year
Thirteen Years' War: In the Battle of Chojnice, the Polish army is defeated by the Teutonic knights.
The Teutonic Knights ambush and rout the Polish forces at Chojnice during the Thirteen Years’ War.
This defeat stalls Poland’s initial campaign against the Order.
The Thirteen Years' War erupted in 1454 as the Prussian Confederation sought help against Teutonic rule.
On September 18, 1454, at Chojnice (Konitz), the Teutonic Knights ambushed the Polish army.
Under the command of Grand Master Ludwig von Erlichshausen, the knights utilized heavy cavalry charges.
The Polish forces suffered devastating losses and were forced into a hasty retreat.
This defeat dashed Poland’s initial momentum and prolonged the conflict by several years.
The war ultimately ended in 1466 with the Second Peace of Thorn, altering the balance of power in the region.
1454
Thirteen Years' War
Battle of Chojnice
Teutonic knights
1759day.year
French and Indian War: The Articles of Capitulation of Quebec are signed.
The Articles of Capitulation of Quebec were signed, marking the surrender of French forces to the British in the French and Indian War.
On September 18, 1759, British and French representatives signed the Articles of Capitulation of Quebec, formally ending French military resistance in the city. Under its terms, French troops were granted the honors of war and allowed to withdraw to France with personal arms. The document secured British control over Quebec following the pivotal Battle of the Plains of Abraham. It effectively concluded the French and Indian War in the region, paving the way for British dominance in North America. The capitulation also guaranteed the protection of civilian inhabitants and property under British rule. This transfer set the stage for the development of modern Canada under British administration.
1759
French and Indian War
Articles of Capitulation of Quebec
1812day.year
The 1812 Fire of Moscow dies down after destroying more than three-quarters of the city. Napoleon returns from the Petrovsky Palace to the Moscow Kremlin, spared from the fire.
The devastating fire of Moscow during Napoleon's invasion destroyed over three-quarters of the city, dramatically altering its fate.
In the summer of 1812, as Napoleon's Grande Armée occupied Moscow, a massive fire broke out on September 18 and raged for days. Fueled by dry conditions and wooden structures, the blaze consumed more than three-quarters of the city, including the Kremlin's outlying buildings. Russian authorities reportedly ordered the city to be abandoned and fires to be set to deny resources to the French. Napoleon moved into the smoked ruins of the Petrovsky Palace before taking up residence in the spared Kremlin. The destruction left tens of thousands homeless and deprived the French army of winter quarters. This calamity proved disastrous for Napoleon, contributing to his army's eventual retreat and collapse. The 1812 fire remains a dramatic episode in the history of Moscow and the Napoleonic Wars.
1812
The 1812 Fire of Moscow
Petrovsky Palace
1860day.year
Second Opium War: Battle of Zhangjiawan: Now heading towards Beijing after having recently occupied Tianjin, the allied Anglo-French force engages and defeats a larger Qing Chinese army at Zhangjiawan.
Allied British and French forces defeated a larger Qing army at the Battle of Zhangjiawan, advancing toward Beijing in the Second Opium War.
On September 18, 1860, during the Second Opium War, Anglo-French forces engaged Qing troops at Zhangjiawan, near Beijing. Commanded by Lord Elgin and General Charles Cousin-Montauban, the allies sought to secure a direct route to the Chinese capital. Despite facing a numerically superior Qing army, the disciplined European troops outmaneuvered and routed the Chinese forces. The victory opened the way for the allies to occupy Beijing and press for favorable peace terms. It underscored the growing military imbalance between Western powers and the Qing dynasty. Following the battle, British and French envoys marched into Beijing, culminating in the Treaty of Tianjin's enforcement. The engagement at Zhangjiawan thus played a critical role in shaping modern Sino-Western relations.
1860
Second Opium War
Battle of Zhangjiawan
Beijing
Tianjin
Anglo
French
Qing Chinese
Zhangjiawan
1863day.year
American Civil War: The Battle of Chickamauga begins between Confederate and Union forces. It involves the second highest amount of casualties for any American Civil War battle apart from Gettysburg.
The Battle of Chickamauga, the deadliest Civil War battle after Gettysburg, opens on September 18, 1863.
Fought in northwest Georgia, the Battle of Chickamauga began on September 18, 1863, between Confederate forces under General Braxton Bragg and Union troops led by General William Rosecrans.
Over two days, fierce combat erupted in dense forests, resulting in nearly 35,000 casualties—the second highest toll of the Civil War after Gettysburg.
Despite initial Union gains, Confederate counterattacks forced a Union retreat to Chattanooga.
This victory provided the Confederacy with strategic breathing room in the Western Theater.
The battle's outcome would shape subsequent campaigns, including the Siege of Chattanooga.
Chickamauga remains a poignant reminder of the war's immense human cost.
1863
American Civil War
Battle of Chickamauga
American Civil War
Gettysburg
1864day.year
American Civil War: John Bell Hood begins the Franklin–Nashville Campaign in an unsuccessful attempt to draw William Tecumseh Sherman back out of Georgia.
General John Bell Hood launches the Franklin–Nashville Campaign on September 18, 1864, aiming to divert Union forces in Georgia.
On September 18, 1864, Confederate General John Bell Hood commenced the Franklin–Nashville Campaign to challenge Union General William T. Sherman.
Hood hoped to draw Sherman north from Georgia by threatening Union supply lines in Tennessee.
The campaign included the bloody Battle of Spring Hill and culminated in the disastrous Battle of Franklin, inflicting heavy Confederate losses.
Despite bold maneuvers, Hood failed to pull Sherman from the March to the Sea and suffered crippling casualties.
The campaign weakened the Army of Tennessee and hastened the Confederacy’s collapse in the Western Theater.
Historians often cite it as a turning point reflecting the limits of Confederate offensives late in the war.
1864
John Bell Hood
Franklin–Nashville Campaign
William Tecumseh Sherman
Georgia
1931day.year
Imperial Japan instigates the Mukden incident as a pretext to invade and occupy Manchuria.
On September 18, 1931, Japanese forces staged the Mukden Incident, using it as a pretext to launch a full-scale invasion of Manchuria.
Japanese military personnel detonated explosives near the South Manchuria Railway to fabricate an attack by Chinese dissidents. The staged Mukden Incident provided the justification for Imperial Japan to rapidly invade and occupy key areas of Manchuria. Within days, Japanese troops had seized strategic cities and established the puppet state of Manchukuo. This act of aggression further strained relations with Western powers and the League of Nations. The League’s condemnation failed to halt Japan’s expansionist ambitions, emboldening militarists within Tokyo. The incident marked a significant escalation in Japanese imperialism and foreshadowed broader conflict in East Asia.
1931
Mukden incident
invade and occupy Manchuria
1939day.year
World War II: The Polish government of Ignacy Mościcki flees to Romania.
As German and Soviet forces invaded in 1939, President Ignacy Mościcki and the Polish government sought refuge in Romania.
Following the dual invasion of Poland by Germany and the Soviet Union in September 1939, President Ignacy Mościcki evacuated Warsaw to avoid capture. The Polish government crossed into Romania with the aim of reorganizing abroad and continuing resistance. Although interned by Romanian authorities, Polish leaders quickly established a government-in-exile to rally Allied support. This relocation preserved the continuity of Poland’s political authority despite occupation. The exiled administration played a crucial role in organizing military units abroad and maintaining diplomatic recognition. The event highlighted the resilience of the Polish state in the face of overwhelming aggression during World War II.
1939
World War II
Ignacy Mościcki
1939day.year
World War II: The radio show Germany Calling begins transmitting Nazi propaganda.
The Nazi propaganda program "Germany Calling" began broadcasting to Allied countries in 1939, aiming to undermine enemy morale.
Launched by the German Foreign Ministry on September 18, 1939, "Germany Calling" targeted audiences in the British Empire and the United States with English-language broadcasts. The show combined music, news, and commentary designed to spread misinformation and sow doubt among Allied civilians. Announcers adopted familiar conversational tones to lend credibility to Nazi messaging and amplify defeatist sentiments. As a tool of psychological warfare, the program sought to weaken resolve on the home front and disrupt Allied unity. "Germany Calling" remained on air for the duration of World War II, influencing radio propaganda tactics in subsequent conflicts. Its legacy underscores the power of mass communication in shaping public opinion during wartime.
Germany Calling