1066day.year
At the Battle of Fulford, Harald Hardrada defeats earls Morcar and Edwin.
In 1066, Viking leader Harald Hardrada achieved victory at the Battle of Fulford, defeating the English earls Morcar and Edwin near York.
In September 1066, Harald Hardrada of Norway launched an invasion of northern England. On September 20th, at Fulford Gate near York, he faced the English earls Morcar of Northumbria and Edwin of Mercia. Despite fierce resistance, Hardrada's battle-hardened forces overwhelmed the English levies. The victory secured control of Yorkshire and opened the way to York. However, this triumph would be short-lived. Just days later, Hardrada would be defeated at Stamford Bridge by King Harold Godwinson. The Battle of Fulford is remembered as one of the last great Viking victories in England and had a significant impact on the events of 1066.
1066
Battle of Fulford
1187day.year
Saladin begins the Siege of Jerusalem.
In 1187, Sultan Saladin initiated the Siege of Jerusalem, seeking to reclaim the city from Crusader rule after his victory at Hattin.
By September 1187, following his decisive victory at the Battle of Hattin, Sultan Saladin turned his attention to the Crusader stronghold of Jerusalem. On September 20th, he began a well-coordinated siege of the city walls. Saladin's forces employed siege engines, mining tactics, and relentless pressure to cut off supplies to the defenders. The Christian defenders, though determined, faced overwhelming numbers and dwindling resources. After several weeks, the city capitulated, marking a pivotal turning point in the Crusader-Muslim conflict. The fall of Jerusalem stunned European powers and prompted the launch of the Third Crusade under Richard the Lionheart. Saladin’s victory reshaped medieval Christian-Muslim relations and left a lasting legacy on both cultures.
1187
Saladin
Siege of Jerusalem
1260day.year
The Great Prussian Uprising among the old Prussians begins against the Teutonic Knights.
In 1260, Baltic Prussian tribes launched the Great Prussian Uprising against the expansion of the Teutonic Knights.
The Great Prussian Uprising began on September 20th, 1260, when Old Prussian tribes united to resist the Teutonic Order’s growing power in their homeland. Led by indigenous nobles, the rebels sought to reclaim ancestral lands and preserve their pagan traditions. The revolt followed years of missionary activity, military campaigns, and fortress construction by the Knights. Early successes saw the insurgents besieging several Teutonic castles and disrupting enemy supply lines. However, the Knights eventually called for reinforcements from the Holy Roman Empire and allied orders, shifting the tide. Intense battles and protracted sieges ensued, causing widespread devastation across the region. Although the uprising was ultimately suppressed by 1274, it demonstrated native resilience and delayed full Teutonic control of Prussia.
1260
Great Prussian Uprising
1602day.year
The Spanish-held Dutch town of Grave capitulates to a besieging Dutch and English army under the command of Maurice of Orange.
In 1602, the fortress town of Grave surrendered to an Anglo-Dutch force led by Maurice of Orange during the Eighty Years' War.
On September 20th, 1602, the Spanish garrison at Grave, a strategic town in the Dutch Republic, capitulated after a protracted siege by Dutch and English troops under Prince Maurice of Orange. The fall of Grave disrupted Spanish supply lines and bolstered the morale of the Dutch rebels. Maurice’s use of coordinated artillery bombardments and trench warfare showcased his military innovation. The victory marked a pivotal moment in the Eighty Years' War, shifting momentum towards the Protestant cause. Following the siege, Maurice consolidated control over key regions, strengthening the Dutch position. Grave’s capture exemplified the evolving nature of early modern siegecraft and alliance warfare.
1602
Grave
capitulates to a besieging Dutch and English army
Maurice of Orange
1792day.year
French troops stop an allied invasion of France at the Battle of Valmy.
In 1792, French Revolutionary soldiers halted an allied invasion at the Battle of Valmy, safeguarding the nascent French Republic.
After the revolution, Prussian and Austrian forces advanced into France, aiming to restore the monarchy.
At Valmy, artillery commander François Kellermann delivered a decisive volley that stunned the enemy.
General Dumouriez exploited this moment to organize a counterattack, forcing the allies to retreat.
The unexpected victory boosted the morale of French troops and citizens.
Valmy is widely regarded as a turning point that ensured the Revolution's survival and inspired republican movements across Europe.
1792
Battle of Valmy
1835day.year
The decade-long Ragamuffin War starts when rebels capture Porto Alegre in Brazil.
In 1835, discontented gaúcho rebels sparked the Ragamuffin War by seizing Porto Alegre, challenging Brazil's imperial rule.
Socioeconomic grievances over high taxes and unfair cattle tariffs drove southern landowners to revolt against Emperor Dom Pedro II.
Led by figures like Bento Gonçalves, the rebels proclaimed the Riograndense Republic in Rio Grande do Sul.
The capture of Porto Alegre on the opening day demonstrated the rebels' coordination and resolve.
The conflict dragged on for a decade, marked by shifting alliances and attempted peace deals.
Although the rebellion officially ended in 1845, its legacy influenced Brazil's federalist structure and regional identity.
1835
Ragamuffin War
Porto Alegre
1854day.year
Crimean War: British and French troops defeat Russians at the Battle of Alma.
On 1854, British and French forces secured a pivotal victory at the Battle of Alma, marking the first major clash of the Crimean War.
Allied armies under Lord Raglan and General St. Arnaud advanced toward Sevastopol via the Alma River valley.
Russian defenders, commanded by Prince Paskevich, held strong high-ground positions along the river’s terraces.
After fierce infantry assaults and enduring artillery barrages, the allies broke through Russian lines.
The battle exposed logistical challenges but demonstrated allied coordination.
Alma set the stage for the prolonged siege of Sevastopol and highlighted the war's brutal nature.
1854
Crimean War
Battle of Alma
1857day.year
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 ends with the recapture of Delhi by troops loyal to the East India Company.
In 1857, British East India Company troops retook Delhi, ending the major phase of the Indian Rebellion and reshaping colonial rule.
The rebellion united Indian soldiers and civilians against Company policies threatening traditional rights.
A prolonged siege of Delhi pitted loyal troops against rebel sepoys within fortified walls.
After weeks of intense combat, engineers breached the city defenses and stormed the palace compound.
The fall of Delhi shattered organized resistance in northern India.
In its aftermath, the British Crown assumed direct control, dissolving the East India Company and reorganizing governance and the army.
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
1863day.year
American Civil War: The Battle of Chickamauga, in northwestern Georgia, ends in a Confederate victory.
In 1863, Confederate forces defeated the Union army at the Battle of Chickamauga, producing one of the war’s highest casualty rates.
Fought over two days in dense woodland near Chickamauga Creek, the battle became the second-bloodiest of the American Civil War.
Confederate General Braxton Bragg exploited a gap in Union lines to launch a crushing assault.
Union troops under General William Rosecrans were forced to retreat to Chattanooga.
Combined casualties exceeded 34,000, reflecting the ferocity of the combat.
The Confederate victory delayed Union advances in the Western Theater and boosted Southern morale.
1863
American Civil War
Battle of Chickamauga
1870day.year
The Bersaglieri corps enter Rome through the Porta Pia, and complete the unification of Italy.
In 1870, Italian Bersaglieri stormed Rome at Porta Pia, completing the Risorgimento and finalizing Italy’s unification.
With French troops recalled for the Franco-Prussian War, Italian forces seized the moment to capture Rome.
Early on September 20, a brief artillery bombardment breached the Aurelian Walls at Porta Pia.
The fall of Rome dissolved the Papal States and ended centuries of Papal temporal rule.
Rome was declared the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, symbolizing national unity.
This decisive action marked the culmination of decades-long nationalist movements on the peninsula.
1870
enter Rome
1920day.year
Irish War of Independence: British police known as "Black and Tans" burn the town of Balbriggan and kill two local men in revenge for an IRA assassination.
During the Irish War of Independence on September 20, 1920, the 'Black and Tans' attacked Balbriggan, burning buildings and killing two civilians in reprisal.
In retaliation for an IRA ambush, British auxiliary forces known as the 'Black and Tans' raided the market town of Balbriggan in County Dublin. They set fire to over fifty homes, two local dance halls, and several businesses, leaving much of the town in ruins. Two civilians were shot dead during the assault, and dozens more were injured in the chaotic violence. News of the atrocity spread quickly, drawing outrage both in Ireland and internationally. The raid became emblematic of the harsh tactics used by British forces during the Irish War of Independence. It galvanized support for Irish self-determination and intensified calls for a political resolution to the conflict.
1920
Irish War of Independence
Black and Tans
burn the town of Balbriggan
IRA
1941day.year
The Holocaust in Lithuania: Lithuanian Nazis and local police begin a mass execution of 403 Jews in Nemenčinė.
On September 20, 1941, Lithuanian Nazi collaborators and local police commenced the mass execution of 403 Jews in the town of Nemenčinė.
In the early phase of the Holocaust in Lithuania, Nazi occupation forces enlisted local collaborators to carry out mass killings. On September 20, 1941, 403 Jewish men, women, and children were rounded up in Nemenčinė. Victims were forced to dig a communal grave before being shot in a coordinated massacre. The atrocity was part of a larger genocidal campaign that led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Lithuanian Jews. Local memorials and historical research have documented the event in recent decades. The Nemenčinė massacre remains a poignant reminder of the brutality of extremist ideology and the importance of remembering those who perished.
1941
The Holocaust in Lithuania
Nemenčinė