1066day.year
The Norman conquest of England begins with the Battle of Hastings.
The Battle of Hastings marks the start of William the Conqueror's Norman conquest of England in 1066.
In 1066, Duke William of Normandy led a fleet across the English Channel to claim the English throne.
On October 14, his Norman forces met King Harold II's army on Senlac Hill near Hastings.
After hours of fierce combat, the English shield wall was broken by Norman archers and cavalry.
King Harold II was killed, paving the way for William's coronation as William I.
This battle dramatically altered English culture, language, and governance.
It introduced Norman feudal structures and reshaped the aristocracy.
The outcome laid the foundation for modern England and influenced centuries of European history.
1066
Norman conquest of England
Battle of Hastings
1322day.year
Robert the Bruce of Scotland defeats King Edward II of England at the Battle of Old Byland, forcing Edward to accept Scotland's independence.
At the Battle of Old Byland, Robert the Bruce secures a decisive victory over King Edward II, vital to Scotland's fight for independence.
On October 14, 1322, Scottish King Robert the Bruce ambushed King Edward II's forces at Old Byland Moor.
Bruce's skillful use of terrain and surprise tactics overwhelmed the English army.
Edward II was forced into humiliating negotiations and recognized Scotland's de facto independence.
This triumph solidified Robert the Bruce's reputation as a brilliant military strategist.
It marked a turning point in the First War of Scottish Independence.
The victory boosted Scottish morale and weakened English claims over Scotland.
The battle demonstrated the rising power of Scottish clans united under Bruce's leadership.
It paved the way for the 1328 Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton formalizing Scotland's sovereignty.
1322
Robert the Bruce of Scotland
Edward II of England
Battle of Old Byland
1758day.year
Seven Years' War: Frederick the Great suffers a rare defeat at the Battle of Hochkirch.
Frederick the Great endures a surprising defeat by Austrian forces at the Battle of Hochkirch in 1758.
On October 14, 1758, during the Seven Years' War, Austrian General Leopold von Daun launched a dawn attack on Frederick II's camp at Hochkirch.
Prussian forces, caught off guard, were forced into a chaotic retreat.
The Austrians seized key positions and inflicted heavy casualties on the seasoned Prussian army.
Frederick's bold command style was strained by this unexpected setback.
Though the Prussian king quickly regrouped, Hochkirch remained one of his few defeats.
The battle underscored the importance of intelligence and secure camp positions.
It provided a morale boost for Austria and its allies against Prussia.
Despite this loss, Frederick's military genius would later regain momentum in the war.
1758
Seven Years' War
Frederick the Great
Battle of Hochkirch
1805day.year
War of the Third Coalition: A French corps defeats an Austrian attempt to escape encirclement at Ulm.
During the War of the Third Coalition in 1805, Napoleon's forces trap and defeat Austrian troops at Ulm.
On October 14, 1805, Napoleon's Grande Armée completed its envelopment of Austrian forces near Ulm.
A French corps intercepted an Austrian column attempting to break out of the encirclement.
Led by Marshal Michel Ney, the French secured key river crossings and mountain passes.
The Austrians, overwhelmed and cut off, surrendered in large numbers.
This maneuver showcased Napoleon's mastery of rapid marching and strategic planning.
The Ulm Campaign concluded with over 60,000 Austrian soldiers captured.
It paved the way for Napoleon's advance into Vienna.
The victory cemented French dominance in Central Europe during the Third Coalition.
1805
War of the Third Coalition
defeats
1806day.year
War of the Fourth Coalition: Napoleon decisively defeats Prussia at the Battle of Jena–Auerstedt.
Napoleon achieves a crushing victory over Prussia at the twin battles of Jena and Auerstedt in 1806.
On October 14, 1806, the French army engaged separate Prussian forces at Jena and Auerstedt.
At Auerstedt, Marshal Davout's corps defeated a much larger Prussian army.
Meanwhile, Napoleon's main force routed troops at Jena.
The synchronous victories shattered Prussian military prestige.
The French captured 10,000 prisoners and seized vast military stores.
These wins opened the road to Berlin and marked the end of Prussian resistance.
Napoleon's innovative corps system proved its effectiveness once more.
The battles reshaped the power balance in Europe, leading to further French hegemony.
1806
War of the Fourth Coalition
Battle of Jena–Auerstedt
1863day.year
American Civil War: Confederate troops under the command of A. P. Hill fail to drive the Union Army completely out of Virginia.
Confederate General A.P. Hill failed to expel Union forces from Virginia during an October 14, 1863, engagement in the American Civil War.
In mid-October 1863, Confederate troops under Lieutenant General A.P. Hill launched an offensive against Union positions in northern Virginia. Despite initial momentum, Hill’s forces could not break through the Union Army’s fortified lines. The engagement underscored the effectiveness of entrenched defensive tactics adopted by Union commanders. Casualties mounted on both sides as combat lingered into the afternoon. The Confederates withdrew without achieving their objective, signaling a missed opportunity to regain terrain. The Union Army maintained its strategic foothold north of the Rappahannock River. This failure contributed to the broader stalemate that defined much of the Eastern Theater.
1863
American Civil War
fail to drive
Union Army
Virginia
1915day.year
World War I: Bulgaria joins the Central Powers.
Bulgaria formally aligns with the Central Powers in World War I, joining Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.
On 14 October 1915, Bulgaria declared its entry into World War I on the side of the Central Powers.
The decision was driven by promises of territorial gains in Macedonia and Thrace.
Bulgarian forces soon launched offensives against Serbia, altering the balance on the Balkan front.
This alliance deepened the conflict in Southeastern Europe and challenged Allied operations in the region.
Bulgaria's participation would last until the armistice in 1918, leaving a complex legacy in postwar negotiations.
1915
World War I
joins the Central Powers
1939day.year
World War II: The German submarine U-47 sinks the British battleship HMS Royal Oak within her harbour at Scapa Flow, Scotland.
German U-boat U-47 penetrates Scapa Flow and sinks the battleship HMS Royal Oak, delivering a stunning early blow in WWII.
On 14 October 1939, Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien navigated U-47 into the heavily defended Scapa Flow anchorage in the Orkney Islands.
Using stealth and tactical skill, the submarine launched torpedoes that struck HMS Royal Oak at anchor.
The battleship capsized quickly, resulting in the deaths of over 800 sailors and shocking the Royal Navy.
The daring raid demonstrated the lethal reach of U-boats and exposed vulnerabilities in British naval defenses.
HMS Royal Oak remains a protected war grave to this day.
1939
World War II
German submarine U-47
HMS Royal Oak
1942day.year
World War II: The German submarine U-69 (1940) sinks the Canadian passenger ferry SS Caribou approximately 20 nautical miles southwest of Port aux Basques, Newfoundland.
German U-boat U-69 torpedoes the Canadian ferry SS Caribou off Newfoundland, causing civilian casualties at sea.
In the predawn hours of 14 October 1942, U-69 intercepted and sank the unarmed SS Caribou while it carried passengers and mail between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.
Torpedoes struck the ferry without warning, tossing it onto its side and plunging passengers into the cold Atlantic waters.
Rescue craft arrived amid heavy seas, saving many but failing to reach all those thrown overboard.
The attack, which claimed dozens of civilian lives including women and children, fueled outrage in Canada.
The tragedy highlighted the indiscriminate dangers of submarine warfare in the North Atlantic.
1942
German submarine U-69 (1940)
SS Caribou
nautical miles
Port aux Basques
1943day.year
World War II: Prisoners at Sobibor extermination camp covertly assassinate most of the on-duty SS officers and then stage a mass breakout.
Prisoners at Sobibor camp carry out a daring uprising, assassinating SS guards and breaking out into freedom.
On 14 October 1943, around 600 Jewish prisoners at Sobibor extermination camp executed a meticulously planned revolt.
Under the leadership of Leon Feldhendler and Alexander Pechersky, SS officers were lured into workshops and eliminated one by one.
Once enough guards were incapacitated, the prisoners stormed the camp's perimeter and fled under enemy fire.
Approximately 300 of the escapees initially evaded capture, though many would later be hunted down.
The Sobibor uprising stands as one of the most remarkable acts of resistance within the Holocaust.
1943
Sobibor extermination camp
1943day.year
World War II: The United States Eighth Air Force loses 60 of 291 B-17 Flying Fortresses during the Second Raid on Schweinfurt.
In the Second Raid on Schweinfurt, the US Eighth Air Force suffers heavy losses of B-17 bombers deep in enemy territory.
On October 14, 1943, the U.S. Eighth Air Force launched the Second Raid on Schweinfurt, targeting critical ball-bearing factories.
Despite heavy planning, intense German air defenses inflicted severe losses.
Out of 291 B-17 Flying Fortresses, 60 were downed, marking one of the costliest missions for the Allies.
The raid underscored the dangers of unescorted daylight bombing deep into enemy territory.
This operation influenced future Allied air strategy, emphasizing fighter escort and improved tactics.
The heavy losses sparked debate in Washington over the viability of precision bombing campaigns.
United States Eighth Air Force
B-17 Flying Fortresses
Second Raid on Schweinfurt
1952day.year
Korean War: The Battle of Triangle Hill is the biggest and bloodiest battle of 1952.
The Battle of Triangle Hill becomes the largest and bloodiest engagement of the Korean War in 1952.
From October 14 to November 25, 1952, United Nations and Chinese forces clashed in the Battle of Triangle Hill (Shangganling).
Located in North Korea, the rugged terrain turned the struggle into a brutal war of attrition.
Both sides suffered heavy casualties in repeated assaults on fortified positions.
The UN troops aimed to seize strategic high ground but faced fierce Chinese resistance.
Although UN forces captured some objectives, gains proved temporary and costly.
The battle symbolized the stalemate on the Korean Peninsula and foreshadowed the limited gains of trench warfare.
1952
Korean War
Battle of Triangle Hill