409day.year
Vandals and Alans cross the Pyrenees and appear in Hispania.
Vandals and Alans breach the Pyrenees into Roman Hispania, marking a pivotal moment in the Western Roman Empire’s decline.
Facing pressure from the Huns and internal strife, the Vandal and Alan tribes moved over the Pyrenees into the Iberian Peninsula in AD 409. Their crossing bypassed weakened Roman defenses and triggered widespread instability. They settled in provinces like Baetica and Carthaginensis, exacting tribute from local populations. This incursion accelerated the fragmentation of Roman control in the West and foreshadowed the eventual fall of the Empire in 476. The Vandals would later cross into North Africa, establishing a powerful kingdom that challenged Rome’s Mediterranean supremacy.
409
Vandals
Alans
Hispania
1644day.year
A Swedish–Dutch fleet defeats the Danish fleet at Fehmarn and captures about 1,000 prisoners.
A Swedish–Dutch naval force defeats Denmark at Fehmarn, capturing around 1,000 prisoners in 1644.
During the Torstenson War, allied Swedish and Dutch warships confronted the Danish fleet off the coast of Fehmarn Island. On October 13, 1644, superior firepower and coordination allowed the allies to outmaneuver and decimate the Danish squadrons. The victory resulted in the capture of approximately one thousand Danish sailors, significantly weakening Denmark’s naval presence in the Baltic Sea. The action at Fehmarn bolstered Sweden’s control of key trade routes and underscored the shifting alliances in Northern Europe. The outcome contributed to the Treaty of Brömsebro the following year, which reshaped regional power dynamics.
1644
at Fehmarn
1710day.year
Port Royal, the capital of French Acadia, falls in a siege by British forces.
British forces capture Port Royal, the capital of French Acadia, in a decisive 1710 siege.
As part of Queen Anne’s War, British colonial troops and Royal Navy vessels besieged Port Royal from September into October 1710. The fortified settlement fell on October 13, marking the end of French dominion in the region. Renamed Annapolis Royal, the town became the new seat for British governance in Nova Scotia. The loss forced France to cede Acadia to Britain in the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713. Port Royal’s capture reshaped colonial boundaries in North America and strengthened British influence on the continent.
1710
falls in a siege
1793day.year
French Revolutionary Wars: Austro-Prussian victory over Republican France at the First Battle of Wissembourg.
Austro-Prussian forces defeat Revolutionary France at the First Battle of Wissembourg in 1793, shaping the course of the French Revolutionary Wars.
In October 1793, the First Battle of Wissembourg saw the combined Austro-Prussian forces clash with the armies of Revolutionary France. The allies achieved a decisive victory by exploiting weaknesses in the French defenses. This triumph opened the way for further invasions into French territory. The battle demonstrated the effectiveness of coalition warfare against the revolutionaries. It marked a turning point in the War of the First Coalition, undermining France's early gains. The outcome influenced subsequent peace negotiations and future campaigns in the European theatre.
1793
First Battle of Wissembourg
1812day.year
War of 1812: Sir Isaac Brock's British and native forces repel an invasion of Canada by General Rensselaer's United States forces.
Sir Isaac Brock leads British and native forces to repel an American invasion of Canada, forging early success in the War of 1812.
During the War of 1812, British Lieutenant General Sir Isaac Brock joined forces with Native allies to defend Upper Canada. They faced an invasion led by U.S. General Rensselaer and used entrenched positions to halt the advance. The successful defense bolstered British morale and secured control of the Niagara frontier. Brock's leadership and coalition tactics proved crucial in repelling the assault. His victory amplified his reputation and shaped the early course of the Canadian campaign in the conflict.
1812
repel an invasion of Canada
1915day.year
First World War: The Battle of the Hohenzollern Redoubt marks the end of the Battle of Loos.
In October 1915, the fierce Battle of the Hohenzollern Redoubt concluded, bringing an end to the broader Battle of Loos on the Western Front of World War I.
The Battle of the Hohenzollern Redoubt was a major engagement on the Western Front during World War I. It took place near the village of Loos-en-Gohelle in northern France. British and German forces clashed over fortified German positions from October 13 to 18, 1915. The fight marked the final phase of the larger Battle of Loos. Despite initial gains, the British were unable to dislodge the well-entrenched Germans. High casualties on both sides underscored the brutal nature of trench warfare. The battle demonstrated the challenges of attacking fortified defenses. It also led to changes in British artillery tactics. Ultimately, the engagement ended inconclusively and highlighted the stalemate that would define much of the Great War.
1915
Battle of the Hohenzollern Redoubt
1943day.year
World War II: Marshal Pietro Badoglio announces that Italy has officially declared war on Germany.
On October 13, 1943, Italian leader Marshal Pietro Badoglio announced Italy's formal declaration of war against Germany.
In a dramatic shift during World War II, Marshal Pietro Badoglio publicly declared on October 13, 1943, that Italy was entering into open hostilities with its former Axis ally Germany. This announcement followed Italy's armistice with the Allies on September 8, marking a reversal of its wartime allegiance. German forces quickly occupied much of Italy in Operation Achse, leading to intense fighting between former partners. Badoglio's declaration sought to legitimize Italian collaboration with the Allies and rally national support. However, it also exposed Italy to severe German reprisals in the north. The move deepened Italy's division between the occupied north and the Allied-controlled south. It added complexity to the Italian Campaign and extended the war's brutality on Italian soil. The declaration remains a pivotal moment in Italy's wartime history.
1943
Pietro Badoglio
1944day.year
World War II: The Soviet Riga Offensive captures the city.
The Soviet Riga Offensive captured Riga on October 13, 1944, as part of the larger Baltic strategic operations during World War II.
The Riga Offensive, launched by the Red Army, culminated on October 13, 1944, with the liberation of Latvia's capital from German occupation. This operation was part of the larger Baltic Offensive aimed at expelling Axis forces from the region. Soviet troops advanced from multiple directions, encircling and overcoming entrenched German defenses around Riga. The fall of the city deprived German Army Group North of a critical stronghold. Soviet victory in Riga facilitated further advances into the Baltic states and pressured remaining German units into retreat. The offensive also had significant political implications for post-war Baltic governance. Civilian casualties and destruction were substantial as urban combat raged through the city. The capture of Riga marked a turning point in the Eastern Front's later stages.
1944
Riga Offensive
1977day.year
Hijacking of Lufthansa Flight 181 by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Militants from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine hijack Lufthansa Flight 181.
On October 13, 1977, militants from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine hijacked Lufthansa Flight 181 as it flew from Palma de Mallorca to Frankfurt. The terrorists demanded the release of imprisoned comrades and political concessions. They forced the plane to divert to multiple locations, creating an international crisis that lasted several days. The ordeal ended with a successful rescue operation by German special forces at Mogadishu airport. All hostages were freed unharmed. This dramatic event highlighted the threat of air piracy in the 1970s and led to strengthened airport security measures worldwide.
1977
Lufthansa Flight 181
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
1990day.year
Syrian forces attack free areas of Lebanon, removing General Michel Aoun from the presidential palace.
Syrian forces attack free areas of Lebanon and oust General Michel Aoun from the presidential palace.
On October 13, 1990, Syrian military units launched a large-scale operation against the coastal enclave in northern Lebanon controlled by General Michel Aoun. Government buildings and strategic positions in the presidential palace were bombarded and occupied. Aoun, the self-declared leader of the 'War of Liberation', was forced into exile, ending his five-year campaign against Syrian influence. The action solidified Syria’s dominance over Lebanese politics and concluded a turbulent period of civil conflict. International reactions were mixed, with some governments condemning the assault and others viewing it as part of a broader reconciliation effort. The event reshaped Lebanon's power balance for years to come.
1990
Michel Aoun