634day.year
Siege of Damascus: The Rashidun Arabs under Khalid ibn al-Walid capture Damascus from the Byzantine Empire.
Rashidun forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid captured Damascus, delivering a decisive blow to Byzantine rule in Syria.
In 634 CE, the Rashidun Muslim armies under the command of Khalid ibn al-Walid laid siege to the city of Damascus, then held by the Byzantines. The formidable general directed a strategic blockade and negotiation approach over several weeks. Despite strong city walls and a determined Byzantine garrison, internal dissent and supply shortages weakened resistance. On September 19, a faction within Damascus opened the gates to the Arab forces, leading to a swift occupation. Khalid granted generous terms to the city’s inhabitants, allowing freedom of worship and residence under the dhimmi status. Damascus became the first major urban center to fall in the early Islamic conquests, serving as a vital administrative hub. The capture reshaped the balance of power in the Levant and paved the way for further Arab expansion into Byzantine territories. This victory cemented Khalid’s reputation as one of history’s great military commanders.
634
Siege of Damascus
Khalid ibn al-Walid
1356day.year
Battle of Poitiers: An English army under the command of Edward the Black Prince defeats a French army and captures King John II.
Edward the Black Prince’s forces triumphed at Poitiers, defeating the French and capturing King John II.
In 1356, during the Hundred Years’ War, the English army commanded by Edward, the Black Prince, confronted a larger French force near Poitiers. Utilizing disciplined longbowmen and defensive positioning, the English prevented cavalry charges from breaking their lines. After fierce fighting, they overwhelmed the French knights and took King John II prisoner. This stunning triumph ended with the capture of the French monarch, plunging France into political turmoil. The victory led to the Treaty of Brétigny two years later, forcing France to cede vast territories and pay a hefty ransom. Edward’s tactics and the effectiveness of the longbow solidified English dominance on the battlefield. The battle is remembered as one of the most consequential engagements of the Hundred Years’ War. Its outcome shifted the momentum in favor of the English, shaping the course of medieval European history.
1356
Battle of Poitiers
Edward the Black Prince
1410day.year
End of the Siege of Marienburg: The State of the Teutonic Order repulses the joint Polish—Lithuanian forces.
The Teutonic Order repelled a combined Polish-Lithuanian siege, securing their stronghold at Marienburg.
In 1410, following their bloody defeat at the Battle of Grunwald, the Teutonic Knights retreated to their fortress at Marienburg. A joint Polish-Lithuanian army under King Władysław II Jagiełło laid siege to the castle in July, hoping to shatter the Order’s power. Despite being outnumbered, the Knights relied on the strong fortifications and adept engineering to withstand repeated assaults. The siege dragged on through the summer, with both sides suffering heavy losses. On September 19, the Teutonic defenders launched a successful sortie, inflicting significant casualties and breaking the encirclement. The failure to take Marienburg allowed the Order to regroup and continue the war. This defense preserved the Teutonic State’s survival for another century and influenced subsequent peace negotiations. Historians regard the siege’s end as a turning point that prevented a complete collapse of Teutonic authority in Prussia.
1410
Siege of Marienburg
State of the Teutonic Order
Polish
Lithuanian
1676day.year
Jamestown is burned to the ground by the forces of Nathaniel Bacon during Bacon's Rebellion.
During Bacon’s Rebellion, colonial insurgents led by Nathaniel Bacon set fire to Jamestown, Virginia.
In 1676, discontented settlers in Virginia, frustrated by Governor William Berkeley’s policies toward Native American tribes, rallied under Nathaniel Bacon’s leadership. The rebellion quickly escalated into armed conflict between frontier settlers and colonial authorities. On September 19, Bacon’s forces marched on the capital, Jamestown, and set the colonial seat ablaze. The dramatic burning of the town symbolized deep social and economic grievances among small farmers and indentured servants. Although the rebellion collapsed soon after Bacon’s sudden death from dysentery, it exposed the brittleness of colonial governance. In response, the British Crown restructured Virginia’s administration and altered policies to avert future insurrections. Historians view Bacon’s Rebellion as an early flashpoint in American colonial resistance. The event foreshadowed themes of populist uprisings that would resonate in later revolutionary movements.
1676
Bacon's Rebellion
1777day.year
American Revolutionary War: British forces win a tactically expensive victory over the Continental Army in the First Battle of Saratoga.
British troops achieved a costly victory at Freeman’s Farm during the First Battle of Saratoga.
In the autumn of 1777, British General John Burgoyne advanced south from Canada in hopes of bisecting the rebellious colonies along the Hudson River. On September 19, at Freeman’s Farm near Saratoga, New York, Burgoyne’s troops clashed with American soldiers led by General Horatio Gates. The British infantry and Hessian mercenaries managed to push back the colonial militia, securing control of the battlefield by nightfall. However, heavy casualties and logistical difficulties hampered further advances. Although a tactical victory for the British, the battle weakened Burgoyne’s forces and emboldened American resistance. The engagement set the stage for the decisive American victory at the Second Battle of Saratoga (Bemis Heights) on October 7. The combined American successes at Saratoga convinced France to enter the war, altering the strategic balance. This campaign remains a pivotal moment in the American struggle for independence.
1777
American Revolutionary War
First Battle of Saratoga
1799day.year
French Revolutionary Wars: French-Dutch victory against the Russians and British in the Battle of Bergen.
French and Dutch forces repelled Anglo-Russian attackers at the Battle of Bergen, maintaining control of the Netherlands.
In the autumn of 1799, the War of the Second Coalition saw an Anglo-Russian force attempt to penetrate the Batavian Republic from the north. On September 19, a French army allied with Dutch troops engaged the invading forces at Bergen. Despite concerted assaults, the coalition could not breach the defensive lines and suffered heavy casualties. The defenders held key fortifications and delivered effective counterattacks that stalled the advance. By nightfall, the Russian and British commanders were forced to call off further offensive operations. This victory secured the Dutch coastline and maintained French influence in the region. Though smaller in scale, the Battle of Bergen demonstrated the resilience of the Batavian Republic’s military alliance with France. The outcome contributed to the eventual stabilization of the northern front in 1799.
1799
French Revolutionary Wars
Battle of Bergen
1862day.year
American Civil War: Union troops under William Rosecrans defeat a Confederate force commanded by Sterling Price.
On September 19, 1862, Union forces under Major General William Rosecrans defeated Confederate troops led by Sterling Price during the American Civil War.
On September 19, 1862, Union troops commanded by Major General William Rosecrans engaged Sterling Price’s Confederate force near Iuka, Mississippi. Rosecrans’s coordinated assault dislodged Price’s men and thwarted their campaign to reinforce other Confederate armies in the Western Theater. The victory strengthened Union control in northern Mississippi and boosted Federal morale ahead of the Corinth operations. Price’s army suffered significant casualties and was forced to retreat, limiting Confederate strategic options in the region. The engagement showcased Rosecrans’s tactical skill and contributed to the shifting momentum of the war in favor of the Union.
1862
American Civil War
defeat
1863day.year
American Civil War: The first day of the Battle of Chickamauga, in northwestern Georgia, the bloodiest two-day battle of the conflict, and the only significant Confederate victory in the war's Western Theater.
The Battle of Chickamauga begins on September 19, 1863, in northwestern Georgia, becoming the bloodiest two-day fight of the American Civil War's Western Theater.
On the first day of the Battle of Chickamauga, Union and Confederate armies clashed along dense ridges and wooded terrain near Chickamauga Creek. Commanders on both sides struggled with miscommunications and shifting flanks, leading to fierce hand-to-hand combat. By nightfall, casualties mounted on both sides, foreshadowing the staggering losses to come. Confederate forces under General Braxton Bragg achieved tactical successes, pushing Union troops back toward Chattanooga. The fighting set the stage for the battle's second day, which would rank among the deadliest engagements of the Civil War. Chickamauga highlighted the challenges of command and the brutal reality of warfare in the Western Theater.
1863
Battle of Chickamauga
1864day.year
American Civil War: Union troops under Philip Sheridan defeat a Confederate force commanded by Jubal Early. With over 50,000 troops engaged, it was the largest battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley.
Union forces under General Philip Sheridan defeat Confederate troops led by Jubal Early on September 19, 1864, at the largest battle in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.
As part of the Shenandoah Valley Campaigns, Major General Philip Sheridan launched an assault on Jubal Early’s entrenched positions near Winchester. Engaging over 50,000 men, this battle became the largest in the valley during the American Civil War. Sheridan’s coordinated cavalry and infantry maneuvers overwhelmed Confederate defenses and forced Early into a fighting retreat. The victory disrupted Confederate supply lines and erased Early’s threat to the North. High casualties on both sides underscored the campaign’s intensity. Sheridan’s success at Winchester solidified Union dominance in the strategic valley and hampered Confederate operations in the region.
1864
defeat
Jubal Early
1870day.year
Franco-Prussian War: The siege of Paris begins. The city held out for over four months before surrendering.
The siege of Paris begins on September 19, 1870, as Prussian forces encircle the French capital during the Franco-Prussian War.
Following decisive Prussian victories at Gravelotte and Sedan, German armies encircled Paris on September 19, 1870, initiating a siege that would last over four months. French defenders, under General Trochu, fortified the city's walls and attempted several sorties to break the blockade. Parisians endured shortages of food and fuel, resorting to unconventional supplies to survive winter. Despite international sympathy, relief efforts failed to breach the Prussian lines. The prolonged siege showcased the tactical prowess of Prussian chief of staff Helmuth von Moltke. Ultimately, the French surrender on January 28, 1871, led to the fall of the Second Empire and reshaped European geopolitics.
1870
Franco-Prussian War
siege of Paris
1916day.year
World War I: During the East African Campaign, colonial forces of the Belgian Congo (Force Publique) under the command of Charles Tombeur capture the town of Tabora after heavy fighting.
Belgian colonial forces under Charles Tombeur capture Tabora on September 19, 1916, during World War I’s East African Campaign.
On September 19, 1916, Belgian troops of the Force Publique, led by General Charles Tombeur, stormed and secured the strategic town of Tabora in German East Africa. The victory followed weeks of marching through challenging terrain and skirmishes with German Schutztruppe forces. Control of Tabora disrupted German supply lines and rail connections, weakening their position in the region. The capture boosted Allied morale and demonstrated colonial forces’ effectiveness in global theaters of the war. German colonial administrators and troops retreated southward, ceding significant territory. Tombeur’s campaign exemplified the complex nature of World War I beyond the European fronts.
1916
World War I
capture the town of Tabora
1939day.year
World War II: The Battle of Kępa Oksywska concludes, with Polish losses reaching roughly 14% of all the forces engaged.
The Battle of Kępa Oksywska ends on September 19, 1939, with heavy Polish losses defending against the German invasion in World War II.
After days of fierce fighting around the Oksywie peninsula, Polish defenders surrendered Kępa Oksywska to advancing German forces on September 19, 1939. The engagement, part of the larger defense of the Polish Corridor, inflicted approximately 14% casualties on Polish troops engaged in the battle. Despite limited resources and overwhelming opposition, the defenders held fortified positions and delayed German naval and infantry advances. Civilian populations in nearby Gdynia endured artillery bombardment and disruption. The fall of Kępa Oksywska opened the way for German forces to complete the occupation of Pomerania. This battle underscored the challenges faced by Poland during the September Campaign.
1939
World War II
Battle of Kępa Oksywska