October 15

Events - Wars & Conflicts

1211day.year

Battle of the Rhyndacus: The Latin emperor Henry of Flanders defeats the Nicaean emperor Theodore I Laskaris.

At the Battle of the Rhyndacus, Latin Emperor Henry of Flanders secured a victory over Nicaean Emperor Theodore I Laskaris, bolstering the Latin Empire's position in Anatolia.
The clash took place near the Rhyndacus River, pitting the Crusader-established Latin Empire against the resurgent Nicaean Empire. Henry of Flanders led heavily armored knights and infantry, while Theodore I Laskaris commanded native Byzantine forces striving to reclaim territory after the Fourth Crusade. Utilizing disciplined cavalry charges, Henry broke through Nicaean lines and forced a decisive rout. The defeat halted Theodore's campaigns in western Anatolia and momentarily strengthened Latin control of key coastal regions. This battle marked a pivotal moment in the shifting power struggle following the sacking of Constantinople. Despite this victory, the Latin Empire would eventually face decline from continued Byzantine resistance.
1211 Battle of the Rhyndacus Latin emperor Henry of Flanders Nicaean emperor Theodore I Laskaris
1529day.year

The Siege of Vienna ends when Austria routs the invading Ottoman forces, ending its European expansion.

The Siege of Vienna ended in a decisive Austrian victory, halting the Ottoman Empire's advance into Central Europe.
In 1529, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent led an Ottoman army to besiege Vienna, the Habsburg capital, aiming to expand Ottoman influence further into Europe. The city's defenders, reinforced by troops from the Holy Roman Empire and resistance from local militias, withstood weeks of cannon bombardment and repeated assaults. Harsh autumn weather and stretched supply lines weakened the Ottoman encampment. On October 15, the beleaguered attackers were repelled by a coordinated counterattack, forcing Suleiman to lift the siege. This failure marked the limit of Ottoman territorial ambitions in Central Europe. The successful defense of Vienna became a symbol of Christian resistance and reshaped the balance of power.
1529 Siege of Vienna
1651day.year

Qing forces capture the island of Zhoushan. Zhu Yihai, Prince of Lu, resident of the island and regent of the Southern Ming, flees to Kinmen.

Qing dynasty troops seized Zhoushan Island, forcing Southern Ming regent Prince Zhu Yihai to escape to Kinmen.
During the Ming–Qing transition, Qing forces sought to eliminate remaining pockets of Ming resistance along China's eastern coast. On October 15, 1651, Qing armies launched a successful assault on Zhoushan Island, a strategic stronghold held by loyalist troops under Zhu Yihai, the Prince of Lu. Overwhelmed and outgunned, the defenders succumbed after a brief but intense battle. Zhu Yihai managed to flee to the nearby island of Kinmen, where he continued his regency in exile. The capture of Zhoushan dealt a significant blow to the Southern Ming cause and solidified Qing dominance in the region. This victory paved the way for Qing consolidation of coastal provinces and suppression of Ming loyalist uprisings.
1651 Qing island of Zhoushan Zhu Yihai, Prince of Lu regent Southern Ming Kinmen
1781day.year

The Battle of Raft Swamp marks the last battle fought in North Carolina during the American Revolutionary War with a Patriot victory. It occurred four days before the British surrender at Yorktown.

The Battle of Raft Swamp was the final Revolutionary War engagement in North Carolina, ending in a Patriot victory just days before Yorktown.
Fought on October 15, 1781, near the Cape Fear River, the Battle of Raft Swamp pitted North Carolina militia against a Loyalist contingent. The Patriots leveraged the swampy terrain to ambush British foraging parties, inflicting casualties and capturing vital supplies. This skirmish was the last recorded military action in North Carolina during the American Revolution. Occurring four days prior to Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown, it underscored the collapse of British operations in the South. The victory boosted local morale and demonstrated the effectiveness of militia tactics. Raft Swamp remains a notable example of grassroots resistance in the Southern theater.
1781 Battle of Raft Swamp American Revolutionary War
1864day.year

American Civil War: The Union garrison of Glasgow, Missouri surrenders to Confederate forces.

During Price's Raid, Confederate cavalry forced the Union garrison at Glasgow, Missouri to surrender, marking a rare Southern victory in the Trans-Mississippi theater.
In October 1864, Major General Sterling Price led a Confederate incursion into Missouri aiming to disrupt Union supply lines and rally support. On the 15th, his forces surrounded the Union garrison at Glasgow, a strategically placed river town. Facing superior numbers and cut off from reinforcements, the Union commander opted to surrender under honorable terms. The Confederates seized weapons, horses, and local provisions, boosting their morale. Despite this success, Price's Raid ultimately failed to change the war's outcome. The action at Glasgow remains a notable example of cavalry warfare and raiding tactics in the Western theater.
1864 surrenders
1944day.year

World War II: Germany replaces the Hungarian government after Hungary announces an armistice with the Soviet Union.

In 1944, Nazi Germany deposed Hungary's government after it sought an armistice with the Soviet Union during World War II.
On October 15, 1944, German forces executed Operation Panzerfaust, replacing Hungary's government after Regent Miklós Horthy declared an armistice with the Soviet Union. British and Soviet advances had forced Hungary to reconsider its alliance with the Axis powers. In response, Adolf Hitler ordered a swift military intervention, installing the Arrow Cross Party's Ferenc Szálasi as prime minister. The puppet regime intensified persecution of Jewish citizens and dissenters, leading to thousands of deaths. Hungary remained under harsh Nazi control until the Soviet Red Army's arrival in early 1945. This dramatic coup underscored Germany's desperation to hold its collapsing front and maintain its dwindling alliances.
1944 replaces the Hungarian government
1979day.year

A coup d'état in El Salvador overthrows President Carlos Humberto Romero and begins the 12 year-long Salvadoran Civil War.

A military coup ousts President Romero, plunging El Salvador into a 12-year civil war.
On October 15, 1979, military officers seized power and ousted President Carlos Humberto Romero. The coup d'état set off a brutal 12-year civil war between leftist guerrilla factions and the Salvadoran military. Government crackdowns and guerrilla reprisals led to widespread human rights violations and civilian casualties. El Salvador became a flashpoint in the Cold War, with both sides receiving foreign military and financial support. The conflict finally concluded with the 1992 Chapultepec Peace Accords, leaving a lasting impact on the nation's social fabric.
coup d'état Carlos Humberto Romero Salvadoran Civil War
1987day.year

A coup d'état in Burkina Faso overthrows and kills then President Thomas Sankara.

President Thomas Sankara is overthrown and assassinated in a coup, ending Burkina Faso’s revolutionary government.
President Thomas Sankara was overthrown and assassinated in a coup led by his former ally, Blaise Compaoré. The October 15, 1987 coup ended Sankara’s revolutionary government in the country then known as Upper Volta. Sankara had instituted sweeping reforms, including land redistribution, vaccination campaigns, and women's rights initiatives. Compaoré's regime reversed many of these policies and aligned more closely with Western powers. Sankara’s martyrdom transformed him into a lasting symbol of Pan-African and progressive activism across Africa.
1987 coup d'état Thomas Sankara