October 24

Events

AD 69day.year

In the Second Battle of Bedriacum, troops loyal to Vespasian defeat those of Emperor Vitellius.

Troops loyal to Vespasian defeat Emperor Vitellius’s forces at the Second Battle of Bedriacum, shifting power in Rome’s civil war of AD 69.
The Second Battle of Bedriacum was a decisive clash during the Year of the Four Emperors. After Nero’s death, Rome plunged into civil war as multiple generals vied for the throne. Vespasian secured support from eastern legions and marched to confront Vitellius’s forces near modern Cremona. Fierce fighting ended in the rout of Vitellius’s army and confirmed Vespasian’s claim. The victory allowed him to capture Rome, founding the Flavian dynasty and restoring order. This battle demonstrated the critical role of military loyalty and strategic leadership in imperial succession.
AD 69 Second Battle of Bedriacum Vespasian Vitellius
1260day.year

Chartres Cathedral is dedicated in the presence of King Louis IX of France.

Chartres Cathedral is solemnly dedicated in 1260 before King Louis IX, showcasing its Gothic splendor.
Commissioned after a fire in 1194 destroyed the previous church, the new Gothic cathedral of Chartres was completed over six decades. On October 24, 1260, King Louis IX presided over its solemn dedication. The ceremony celebrated innovative architectural techniques such as flying buttresses and sculptural portals. Its renowned stained glass windows depict biblical scenes in vivid color and detail. Pilgrims and scholars flocked to study its labyrinth and sculptural programs. Chartres Cathedral’s design influenced Gothic architecture across Europe. Today, as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it remains a testament to medieval craftsmanship.
1260 Chartres Cathedral Louis IX of France
1260day.year

After defeating the Mongols at the Battle of Ain Jalut and assassinating the previous Mamluk sultan, Qutuz, Baybars ascends to the Egyptian throne as the fourth sultan of the Mamluk Sultanate.

Following victory over the Mongols at Ain Jalut, Baybars seizes power as the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt in 1260.
In the aftermath of the Mamluk triumph at Ain Jalut, Sultan Qutuz was assassinated by conspirators including Baybars. On October 24, 1260, Baybars swiftly consolidated power and claimed the sultanate. His accession marked the start of a century-long Mamluk dynasty defending Egypt and Syria from Mongol and Crusader threats. Baybars reorganized the military and administration, fortifying frontier defenses and sponsoring grand architectural projects. He negotiated truces with Crusader states while expanding his territories through strategic campaigns. Baybars’ reign brought political stability and a cultural renaissance to the Islamic world. His legacy endures in landmarks such as the Qalawun Complex in Cairo.
Mongols Battle of Ain Jalut Qutuz Baybars Mamluk Sultanate
1360day.year

The Treaty of Brétigny is ratified, marking the end of the first phase of the Hundred Years' War.

The Treaty of Brétigny is ratified in 1360, pausing the Hundred Years' War and ceding territories to England.
Formally ratified on October 24, 1360, the Treaty of Brétigny temporarily halted hostilities in the first phase of the Hundred Years' War. Under its terms, King Edward III renounced his claim to the French throne in exchange for expanded sovereignty over Aquitaine and other regions. France agreed to pay a large ransom for the release of King John II, captured at Poitiers in 1356. The treaty sought a lasting peace, though contentious border definitions soon reignited conflict. It shifted power balances in medieval Europe and influenced diplomatic practices. Despite its short-lived peace, Brétigny set precedents for treaty negotiations and territorial concessions. Historians view it as a pivotal episode in Anglo-French relations.
1360 Treaty of Brétigny
1590day.year

John White, the governor of the second Roanoke Colony, returns to England after an unsuccessful search for the "lost" colonists.

Roanoke Colony governor John White returns to England in 1590, having found the 'Lost Colony' deserted.
After a delayed supply mission, John White arrived at the Roanoke Colony in 1590 to discover it completely abandoned, with only the cryptic word 'CROATOAN' carved into a post. Unable to determine the fate of the settlers, White spent days searching nearby islands and the mainland without success. Reluctantly, he departed to seek further assistance from England, leaving the mystery of America’s earliest English colony unresolved. The disappearance of the Roanoke colonists sparked centuries of speculation involving Native American relations, disease, and assimilation theories. White’s return marked the end of the first English attempt to establish a permanent settlement in North America. Although later expeditions failed to uncover definitive answers, his detailed maps and accounts provided invaluable insights. The Lost Colony remains one of American history’s enduring enigmas.
1590 John White
1596day.year

The second Spanish armada sets sail to strike against England, but is smashed by storms off Cape Finisterre forcing a retreat to port.

The second Spanish Armada sets sail in 1596 to attack England but is scattered by storms off Cape Finisterre.
Commissioned by King Philip II of Spain as retaliation for English privateering, the second Spanish Armada departed in October 1596 with hopes of striking England. Diseased crews and miscalculated logistics had already weakened the fleet before it encountered severe Atlantic storms near Cape Finisterre. Ferocious waves and high winds scattered the ships, forcing many to limp back to Spain for repairs. The failure underscored Spain’s declining naval supremacy and the unpredictable dangers of maritime warfare. English observers celebrated the armada’s misfortune as a sign of divine favor. Despite the setback, Spain would launch further armadas in the years to come. The 1596 expedition remained a cautionary tale of ambition undone by nature’s fury.
1596 second Spanish armada Cape Finisterre
1641day.year

Felim O'Neill of Kinard, the leader of the Irish Rebellion, issues his Proclamation of Dungannon, justifying the uprising and declaring continued loyalty to King Charles I of England.

Felim O'Neill proclaims loyalty to King Charles I and justifies the Irish Rebellion in the 1641 Proclamation of Dungannon.
Amid rising tensions and land disputes, Felim O'Neill issued the Proclamation of Dungannon on October 24, 1641, to rally Gaelic and Old English Catholics in Ireland. While defending the rebellion’s motives, he professed unwavering loyalty to King Charles I in hopes of securing royal support. The proclamation accused Protestant settlers and English officials of oppression, seizing land and undermining traditional rights. Though intended to legitimize the uprising, it heightened fears of a Catholic takeover among the Protestant community. The document marked a critical moment in the Irish Rebellion of 1641, which soon escalated into widespread violence. Its political maneuvering and ambiguous promises foreshadowed decades of sectarian conflict. Historians view this proclamation as a key articulation of Irish resistance and colonial grievances.
1641 Felim O'Neill of Kinard Irish Rebellion Proclamation of Dungannon Charles I of England
1648day.year

The Peace of Westphalia is signed, marking the end of the Thirty Years' War and the Eighty Years' War.

The Peace of Westphalia is signed in 1648, ending both the Thirty Years' War and the Eighty Years' War in Europe.
On October 24, 1648, representatives from major European powers signed the Peace of Westphalia treaties in Münster and Osnabrück. These agreements concluded decades of religious and political warfare by recognizing the sovereignty of over 300 German principalities. Spain also acknowledged the independence of the Dutch Republic, ending the Eighty Years' War. The treaties established principles of non-interference and legal equality among states, laying foundations for modern international law. Religious provisions granted rulers the right to determine their territory’s confession, while minority protections were introduced. Though imperfect, Westphalia reshaped the map of Europe and stabilized relations after years of devastation. The Peace of Westphalia is often cited as the birth of the nation-state system.
1648 Peace of Westphalia
1795day.year

Poland is completely consumed by Russia, Prussia and Austria.

In 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria carry out the Third Partition, erasing Poland from the map.
The Third Partition of Poland, formalized in October 1795, saw the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth divided entirely among Russia, Prussia, and Austria. After years of internal strife and previous partitions in 1772 and 1793, the weakened Commonwealth could no longer resist its powerful neighbors. Russia annexed eastern territories, Prussia took central regions including Warsaw, and Austria absorbed southern lands around Kraków. The elimination of Poland as a sovereign state shocked Europe and altered the balance of power. For over a century, Poles lived under foreign rule until the re-emergence of Poland after World War I. The partition exemplified the era’s ruthless realpolitik and foreshadowed nationalist movements. It remains a poignant symbol of lost independence and cultural resilience.
1795 completely consumed
1812day.year

Napoleonic Wars: The Battle of Maloyaroslavets takes place near Moscow.

During Napoleon's Russian campaign in 1812, the Battle of Maloyaroslavets halts the French advance near Moscow.
On October 24, 1812, Marshal Napoleon Bonaparte led his Grande Armee into a fierce engagement at Maloyaroslavets, south of Moscow. The battle aimed to secure a southern retreat route for the French forces but evolved into brutal urban combat. Russian troops under General Mikhail Kutuzov and local militia tenaciously defended the town. Although the French briefly held Maloyaroslavets, heavy losses convinced Napoleon to abandon plans for a southern withdrawal. Instead, he retreated along the devastated Smolensk road, deepening the army’s supply crisis. This decision marked a turning point in the campaign, leading to catastrophic losses during the winter retreat. The battle highlighted the Russian willingness to trade territory for strategic advantage and foreshadowed Napoleon’s downfall in Russia.
1812 Battle of Maloyaroslavets
1813day.year

Treaty of Gulistan: The Russo-Persian War of 1804-1813 comes to a close with the signing of the Treaty of Gulistan, under which terms Qajar Iran agrees to cede the bulk of its Caucasian territories, which comprise much of modern Dagestan, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, to the Russian Empire.

The Russo-Persian War ends as Qajar Iran cedes key Caucasian territories to Russia under the Treaty of Gulistan.
The Treaty of Gulistan formally ends a nine-year conflict between Qajar Iran and the Russian Empire. Under the treaty’s terms, Iran relinquishes control of much of modern Dagestan, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. This marked a major expansion of Russian influence in the Caucasus region. The loss shifted the balance of power and sowed the seeds of future tensions. The agreement reshaped regional borders and had lasting geopolitical consequences for both empires.
1813 Treaty of Gulistan Russo-Persian War of 1804-1813 Treaty of Gulistan Qajar Iran Dagestan Georgia Armenia Azerbaijan Russian Empire
1851day.year

William Lassell discovers the moons Umbriel and Ariel orbiting Uranus.

British astronomer William Lassell identifies two new moons of Uranus, Umbriel and Ariel.
Using his self-built 24-inch telescope in Malta, William Lassell spots Umbriel and Ariel, two previously unknown satellites of Uranus. This discovery expands our understanding of the outer solar system and demonstrates the capabilities of mid-19th century telescopic technology. Lassell’s methodical observations laid groundwork for future planetary studies. The naming of the moons after Shakespearean characters adds a cultural touch to the scientific achievement. The dual discovery highlights the era’s rapidly advancing astronomical research.
1851 William Lassell