1568day.year
The Spanish Duke of Alba defeats a Dutch rebel force under William the Silent.
In 1568, the Duke of Alba defeated William the Silent's rebel force, marking a key confrontation in the Eighty Years' War.
In 1568, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, the Duke of Alba, led Spanish troops against Dutch insurgents commanded by William the Silent. His victory demonstrated Spain's military strength and temporarily suppressed the growing revolt in the Low Countries. The battle inflicted heavy casualties on the rebels and solidified Alba's reputation for ruthless efficiency. William the Silent survived and continued to inspire resistance against Habsburg rule. This clash underscored the intensity of the conflict that would continue for decades.
1568
Duke of Alba
defeats
William the Silent
1572day.year
Eighty Years' War: Three thousand Spanish soldiers wade through fifteen miles of water in one night to effect the relief of Goes.
In 1572, three thousand Spanish soldiers marched through inland waterways overnight to break the siege of Goes during the Eighty Years' War.
During the Eighty Years' War, Spanish forces embarked on a daring nocturnal operation to relieve the besieged town of Goes. Under cover of darkness, over three thousand soldiers navigated canals and flooded fields for more than fifteen miles. Their unexpected arrival forced the Dutch rebels to abandon the siege, restoring Spanish control over the region. The relief demonstrated the strategic ingenuity and determination of Alba’s army. This operation boosted morale among Spanish troops and emphasized the high stakes of the protracted conflict.
1572
Eighty Years' War
relief of Goes
1740day.year
France, Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony refuse to honour the Pragmatic Sanction, and the War of the Austrian Succession begins.
In 1740, major European powers rejected the Pragmatic Sanction, triggering the War of the Austrian Succession.
King Charles VI of the Holy Roman Empire had issued the Pragmatic Sanction to secure his daughter Maria Theresa's succession. However, France, Prussia, Bavaria, and Saxony refused to recognize Maria Theresa’s inheritance. Their open defiance on October 20, 1740, sparked the War of the Austrian Succession. The conflict would draw in most of Europe, redefining alliances and territorial boundaries. It lasted until 1748 and marked a turning point in the balance of power on the continent.
1740
Pragmatic Sanction
War of the Austrian Succession
1774day.year
American Revolution: The Continental Association, a nonconsumption and nonimportation agreement against the British Isles and the British West Indies, is adopted by the First Continental Congress.
In 1774, the First Continental Congress adopted the Continental Association, enforcing a boycott of British goods in protest of imperial policies.
Facing punitive measures from the British Crown, representatives from twelve colonies met in Philadelphia at the First Continental Congress. On October 20, they approved the Continental Association, pledging to halt imports and consumption of British goods. The agreement sought to pressure Britain into rescinding the Intolerable Acts without resorting to armed conflict. Committees formed in each colony to enforce the boycott, demonstrating unprecedented colonial unity. This economic strategy laid the groundwork for the eventual Declaration of Independence and the outbreak of the American Revolution.
1774
American Revolution
Continental Association
nonconsumption
British Isles
British West Indies
First Continental Congress
1781day.year
The Patent of Toleration, providing limited freedom of worship, is approved in Austria.
In 1781, Emperor Joseph II approved the Patent of Toleration, granting limited religious freedom to non-Catholic Christians in Austria.
Emperor Joseph II of Austria enacted the Patent of Toleration to ease restrictions on Protestant and Orthodox Christians within his realm. The decree allowed these groups to practice their faith privately and granted them civil rights such as property ownership and marriage recognition. While full equality was not achieved, the patent represented a significant step toward religious pluralism in the Habsburg Empire. It reflected Enlightenment ideals and Joseph II’s broader program of administrative and social reforms. The measure helped reduce sectarian tensions and set a precedent for later freedoms.
1781
Patent of Toleration
1803day.year
The United States Senate ratifies the Louisiana Purchase.
In 1803, the U.S. Senate ratified the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the United States.
President Thomas Jefferson negotiated the Louisiana Purchase with France, acquiring territory west of the Mississippi River for $15 million. On October 20, 1803, the U.S. Senate gave its approval, officially incorporating the vast expanse into American territory. This landmark deal doubled the nation’s size and opened the way for westward expansion. It also raised constitutional questions about federal authority to acquire new land. The purchase paved the way for the Lewis and Clark Expedition and significantly altered the geopolitical landscape of North America.
1803
Louisiana Purchase
1818day.year
The Convention of 1818 is signed between the United States and the United Kingdom, which settles the Canada–United States border on the 49th parallel for most of its length.
In 1818, the U.S. and U.K. signed the Convention of 1818, setting the Canada–United States border along the 49th parallel.
Following the War of 1812, the United States and Great Britain sought to resolve lingering territorial disputes. The Convention of 1818 established the boundary between U.S. and British North America along the 49th parallel from the Lake of the Woods to the Rocky Mountains. The agreement also allowed for joint fishing rights off Newfoundland and provided terms for the Oregon Country's future settlement. Signed on October 20, 1818, it ushered in a period of peaceful relations and clear demarcation of continental borders. The treaty remains a foundational document in U.S.-Canadian diplomatic history.
1818
The Convention of 1818
Canada–United States border
49th parallel
1827day.year
Greek War of Independence: In the Battle of Navarino, a combined Turkish and Egyptian fleet is defeated by British, French and Russian naval forces in the last significant battle fought with wooden sailing ships.
In 1827, British, French, and Russian fleets defeated the Ottoman-Egyptian navy at Navarino, a decisive victory in the Greek War of Independence.
Allied naval squadrons from Britain, France, and Russia engaged and destroyed the combined Ottoman and Egyptian fleet in the Bay of Navarino on October 20, 1827. The encounter marked the last major battle fought entirely with wooden sailing ships. The Allied victory crippled Ottoman sea power and boosted the Greek struggle for independence. It also signaled the rising influence of European Great Powers in Mediterranean affairs. The outcome paved the way for the eventual establishment of an autonomous Greek state in 1830.
1827
Greek War of Independence
Battle of Navarino
1883day.year
Peru and Chile sign the Treaty of Ancón, by which the Tarapacá province is ceded to the latter, bringing an end to Peru's involvement in the War of the Pacific.
In 1883, Peru and Chile signed the Treaty of Ancón, ending Peru’s role in the War of the Pacific by ceding Tarapacá Province to Chile.
The Treaty of Ancón formally concluded hostilities between Peru and Chile on October 20, 1883, following years of conflict over mineral-rich territories. Under its terms, Peru ceded the Tarapacá region to Chile, reshaping political and economic balances in South America. The agreement also established a ten-year plebiscite for Tacna and Arica, although final resolutions were delayed until the 20th century. The treaty left a lasting legacy on Peruvian national identity and bilateral relations. It highlighted the strategic importance of nitrate resources in the Atacama Desert.
1883
Treaty of Ancón
1904day.year
Chile and Bolivia sign the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, delimiting the border between the two countries.
In 1904, Chile and Bolivia signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, formally delineating their shared border after the War of the Pacific.
After two decades of diplomatic negotiations, Chile and Bolivia signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship on October 20, 1904. The accord confirmed Bolivia’s landlocked status following its defeat in the War of the Pacific and established clear territorial boundaries. It granted Bolivia commercial transit rights through Chilean ports, aiming to ease economic hardships. The treaty remains central to Chile–Bolivia relations and continues to influence discussions about access to the Pacific. Its terms underscore the long-term impact of 19th-century conflicts on modern geopolitics.
1904
Treaty of Peace and Friendship
1910day.year
British ocean liner RMS Olympic is launched.
The RMS Olympic, sister ship to Titanic, is launched in Belfast, marking a triumph in maritime engineering.
On October 20, 1910, Harland and Wolff launched the RMS Olympic at their Belfast shipyard for the White Star Line. The Olympic was the first of three Olympic-class ocean liners and was the largest passenger ship in service at the time. Designed for transatlantic luxury travel, she boasted advanced safety features and sumptuous accommodations. After entering service in 1911, the ship served as a troop transport during World War I and earned the nickname 'Old Reliable.' She resumed commercial voyages until 1935 when she was retired and scrapped.
1910
ocean liner
RMS Olympic
1935day.year
The Long March, a mammoth retreat undertaken by the armed forces of the Chinese Communist Party a year prior, ends.
After a grueling year-long trek, the Red Army of the Chinese Communist Party completes the Long March, arriving in northwestern China.
On October 20, 1935, the Red Army of the Chinese Communist Party completed the Long March after a year of arduous retreat from Nationalist forces. Covering nearly 9,000 kilometers across difficult terrain, the march tested the endurance and resolve of thousands of soldiers. Along the way, they overcame natural obstacles such as mountains, marshes, and rivers while skirmishing with Kuomintang troops. The journey forged a sense of unity and leadership within the Party, elevating Mao Zedong's role. The survivors arrived in Shaanxi province and established a new base from which the CCP would eventually triumph. The Long March became a foundational legend in Chinese revolutionary history, symbolizing perseverance under adversity.
1935
Long March
armed forces
Chinese Communist Party