539 BC
The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia conquer Babylon, ending the Babylonian empire. (Julian calendar)
In 539 BC, Cyrus the Great's Persian army captured Babylon, bringing an end to the ancient Babylonian Empire.
In 539 BC, the forces commanded by Cyrus the Great laid siege to the walled city of Babylon and achieved a swift victory. The fall of Babylon marked the collapse of one of the most powerful empires of the ancient Near East. Under Cyrus’s leadership, Persia not only expanded its territory but also embraced a policy of relative tolerance toward conquered peoples. This conquest is famously commemorated on the Cyrus Cylinder, often regarded as an early charter of human rights. The event reshaped the political and cultural landscape of Mesopotamia for centuries to come.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great
Persia
conquer
Babylon
Julian calendar
633day.year
Battle of Hatfield Chase: King Edwin of Northumbria is defeated and killed by an alliance under Penda of Mercia and Cadwallon of Gwynedd.
In 633, King Edwin of Northumbria was defeated and slain at the Battle of Hatfield Chase by an alliance of Mercian and Welsh forces.
The Battle of Hatfield Chase took place in 633 when King Edwin of Northumbria faced an alliance led by Penda of Mercia and Cadwallon of Gwynedd. Edwin’s defeat and death plunged Northumbria into a period of political instability and power struggles among the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. This clash reflected the shifting alliances and territorial ambitions that characterized early medieval Britain. The victory elevated Mercian influence in the region and demonstrated the military prowess of Cadwallon’s Welsh forces. In the aftermath, Northumbria was temporarily divided, highlighting the fragile nature of early English kingship.
633
Battle of Hatfield Chase
Edwin of Northumbria
Penda of Mercia
Cadwallon of Gwynedd
1748day.year
War of Jenkins' Ear: A British squadron wins a tactical victory over a Spanish squadron off Havana.
In 1748, during the War of Jenkins’ Ear, a British naval squadron achieved a tactical victory against the Spanish near Havana.
The encounter off the coast of Havana was one of the last naval actions in the protracted War of Jenkins’ Ear between Britain and Spain. A British squadron intercepted a Spanish force, using superior seamanship to outmaneuver its opponent. Despite being evenly matched, the British inflicted sufficient damage to claim a tactical victory. The skirmish boosted British morale and demonstrated the strategic importance of Caribbean waters. Although the war officially ended later that year, the battle highlighted ongoing imperial rivalries in the New World. Naval supremacy remained crucial to European powers vying for colonial dominance.
1748
War of Jenkins' Ear
wins a tactical victory
1798day.year
Flemish and Luxembourgish peasants launch the rebellion against French rule known as the Peasants' War.
Flemish and Luxembourgish peasants rise up in 1798 against French revolutionary authorities in what becomes known as the Peasants' War.
In 1798, rural communities in Flanders and Luxembourg revolted against heavy taxation and conscription imposed by the French Directory. The uprising, later called the Peasants’ War, was fueled by economic hardship and resistance to anti-clerical policies. Armed bands of peasants clashed with revolutionary troops across the occupied territories. Despite initial successes, the rebels were eventually overwhelmed by superior military forces. The brutal suppression of the revolt left deep social scars and influenced future resistance movements in the region.
1798
Peasants' War
1915day.year
World War I: British nurse Edith Cavell is executed by a German firing squad for helping Allied soldiers escape from occupied Belgium.
British nurse Edith Cavell was executed by a German firing squad for helping Allied soldiers escape from occupied Belgium during WWI.
Edith Cavell was a respected nurse who helped over 200 Allied soldiers evade capture in German-occupied Belgium.
Arrested in 1915, she was charged with treason and subjected to a military tribunal.
Despite international appeals for clemency, she was executed by firing squad on October 12, 1915.
Her death sparked global outrage and became a powerful symbol of wartime sacrifice and humanitarianism.
Cavell's legacy endures through hospitals, monuments, and her unwavering commitment to saving lives.
1915
World War I
Edith Cavell
occupied Belgium
1917day.year
World War I: The First Battle of Passchendaele takes place resulting in the largest single-day loss of life in New Zealand history.
The First Battle of Passchendaele, fought on October 12, 1917, marked the bloodiest single day in New Zealand’s military history.
Part of the larger Third Battle of Ypres, the First Battle of Passchendaele unfolded amid heavy rain and treacherous mud.
New Zealand forces suffered devastating casualties as they advanced toward the German-held village of Passchendaele.
On this day alone, New Zealand endured its largest single-day loss, with over 800 soldiers killed or wounded.
The grueling combat highlighted the brutal conditions of trench warfare and strategic challenges.
Despite the heavy toll, the battle demonstrated the courage and resilience of the New Zealand Division.
1917
First Battle of Passchendaele
1944day.year
World War II: The Axis occupation of Athens comes to an end.
On October 12, 1944, Allied and Greek resistance forces liberated Athens, ending the Axis occupation of the city.
German troops had occupied Athens since April 1941, enforcing strict control and imposing harsh reprisals.
As Allied forces advanced through the Balkans, the German garrison began a strategic withdrawal from Greece.
British troops and Greek resistance fighters entered Athens to jubilant crowds on this day.
The liberation marked a turning point for Greece but was followed by political turmoil and the onset of civil conflict.
Restoring Athens to free governance revitalized hopes for a post-war reconstruction of the country.
1944
World War II
Axis occupation of Athens
1945day.year
World War II: Desmond Doss is the first conscientious objector to receive the U.S. Medal of Honor.
On October 12, 1945, medic Desmond Doss became the first conscientious objector awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor for his heroism in WWII.
Desmond Doss served as a combat medic with the 77th Infantry Division in the Pacific Theater without bearing arms.
During the Battle of Okinawa, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to rescue and treat wounded soldiers.
Despite facing constant risk, he saved over 75 men by his unwavering dedication to care.
President Harry S. Truman presented Doss with the Medal of Honor in recognition of his extraordinary bravery.
His story later inspired books and the Academy Award–winning film 'Hacksaw Ridge'.
1945
Desmond Doss
1970day.year
Vietnam War: Vietnamization continues as President Richard Nixon announces that the United States will withdraw 40,000 more troops before Christmas.
President Nixon announces withdrawal of 40,000 U.S. troops from Vietnam, accelerating Vietnamization.
Amid growing domestic opposition to the Vietnam War, President Richard Nixon delivered a televised address on October 12, 1970. He announced that 40,000 American troops would be withdrawn from South Vietnam by the end of the year. This move was part of his Vietnamization policy, aiming to shift combat responsibilities to South Vietnamese forces. Nixon argued that the step demonstrated progress toward peace and reduced U.S. involvement. Critics questioned whether the pace of withdrawal was sufficient to end the conflict. The announcement influenced both North Vietnamese strategy and American public opinion on the war effort.
1970
Vietnamization
1984day.year
The Provisional Irish Republican Army fail to assassinate Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet. The bomb kills five people and wounds at least 31 others.
An IRA bomb in Brighton fails to assassinate Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, killing five people.
On October 12, 1984, the Provisional Irish Republican Army detonated a bomb at the Grand Hotel in Brighton during the Conservative Party conference.
The attack aimed to assassinate Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet but ultimately failed.
Five people were killed and more than 30 were injured when the explosion ripped through the hotel.
Margaret Thatcher emerged unscathed and used the incident to bolster resolve against the IRA.
The Brighton hotel bombing became one of the most notorious acts of political violence in modern British history.
1984
Provisional Irish Republican Army
fail to assassinate
Margaret Thatcher
cabinet
1997day.year
The Sidi Daoud massacre in Algeria kills 43 people at a fake roadblock.
A fake military checkpoint in Sidi Daoud, Algeria, becomes the site of a deadly massacre that claims 43 lives.
In October 1997, armed assailants set up a fake roadblock near the village of Sidi Daoud in northern Algeria. Vehicles were stopped and passengers were separated before being brutally executed. The attack claimed the lives of 43 civilians, including women and children. This atrocity occurred during the height of the Algerian Civil War, a period marked by violent clashes between government forces and Islamist insurgents. The massacre shocked the nation and highlighted the widespread insecurity plaguing rural areas. Despite investigations, the exact identity of the perpetrators remained disputed, underscoring the challenges of accountability in the conflict.
1997
Sidi Daoud massacre
2000day.year
The USS Cole, a US Navy destroyer, is badly damaged by two al-Qaeda suicide bombers, killing 17 crew members and wounding at least 39.
Al-Qaeda suicide bombers attack the USS Cole in Yemen, killing 17 sailors and injuring dozens.
On October 12, 2000, two Al-Qaeda terrorists detonated explosive-laden small boats alongside the USS Cole while it was refueling in the Yemeni port of Aden. The attack tore a large hole in the side of the destroyer, flooding compartments and disabling its propulsion. Seventeen U.S. Navy sailors were killed and at least 39 were wounded. The incident exposed vulnerabilities in U.S. naval force protection and led to intensified counterterrorism operations against Al-Qaeda. Investigations and trials of suspects spanned several years, and the attack became a significant precursor to later major terrorist events.
2000
USS Cole
US Navy
destroyer
is badly damaged
al-Qaeda