1147day.year
Seljuk Turks defeat German crusaders under Conrad III at the Battle of Dorylaeum.
Seljuk Turks routed German crusaders at Dorylaeum, marking a major setback for the Second Crusade.
On October 25, 1147, forces of the Seljuk Sultanate ambushed and decisively defeated a contingent of German crusaders led by King Conrad III near Dorylaeum in Anatolia. The crusaders, weakened by exhaustion and poor supply lines, were ill-prepared for the swift and coordinated Seljuk cavalry attacks. Despite fierce resistance by heavy infantry, the German knights were overwhelmed and forced into a disorderly retreat. This defeat damaged morale and slowed the progress of the Second Crusade. It underscored the challenges Western armies faced in unfamiliar terrain against agile adversaries. The battle demonstrated the Seljuks’ mastery of hit-and-run tactics and influenced future crusader strategies.
1147
Battle of Dorylaeum
1147day.year
Reconquista: After a siege of four months, crusader knights conquer Lisbon.
Crusader forces lifted the four-month siege to capture Lisbon, a turning point in the Reconquista.
After enduring a four-month siege, a coalition of Portuguese forces and crusader knights stormed Lisbon on October 25, 1147, ending Moorish rule over the city. The victory opened the way for Christian dominance in the western Iberian Peninsula and secured a key Atlantic port. Many crusaders continued on to the Holy Land, having fulfilled a vow to fight in Iberia. The conquest also boosted the prestige of King Afonso I of Portugal and laid foundations for the nation’s maritime future. Lisbon’s recapture was celebrated with the renaming of streets and dedication of churches. This event marked a significant milestone in the centuries-long effort to reclaim Iberian territory from Muslim rulers.
siege of four months
1415day.year
Hundred Years' War: Henry V of England, with his lightly armoured infantry and archers, defeats the heavily armoured French cavalry in the Battle of Agincourt.
Henry V’s English army achieved a stunning victory over the French cavalry at Agincourt during the Hundred Years' War.
On October 25, 1415, King Henry V of England led his outnumbered and weary forces to a miraculous victory against the French at Agincourt. Utilizing the deadly power of longbowmen and narrow muddy terrain, the English neutralized the advantage of the heavily armoured French knights. The battlefield conditions turned the French cavalry’s charge into chaos, resulting in heavy noble casualties and mass surrender. This triumph bolstered English morale and enhanced Henry’s reputation as a formidable military commander. The victory at Agincourt became legendary, immortalized in literature and art. It significantly influenced the course of the Hundred Years’ War in favor of England.
1415
Battle of Agincourt
1747day.year
War of the Austrian Succession: A British fleet under Admiral Edward Hawke defeats the French at the Second Battle of Cape Finisterre.
A British fleet under Admiral Hawke overwhelmed the French navy at Cape Finisterre during the War of the Austrian Succession.
In the early hours of October 25, 1747, Admiral Sir Edward Hawke led a British squadron in a surprise attack on a French convoy escorted by warships off Cape Finisterre, Spain. Skilled seamanship and aggressive tactics enabled the British to capture or destroy six French vessels without significant losses. The victory disrupted France’s maritime supply lines and bolstered British naval dominance. Hawke’s success at sea earned him national acclaim and solidified his reputation as one of Britain’s foremost naval commanders. The outcome had strategic implications for supply and reinforcement routes during the War of the Austrian Succession. This battle exemplified the importance of naval power in 18th-century European conflicts.
1747
Second Battle of Cape Finisterre
1812day.year
War of 1812: The American frigate, USS United States, commanded by Stephen Decatur, captures the British frigate HMS Macedonian.
USS United States, commanded by Stephen Decatur, captured the British frigate HMS Macedonian during the War of 1812.
On October 25, 1812, in a fierce single-ship action off the Madeira Islands, Captain Stephen Decatur’s USS United States engaged and captured HMS Macedonian after a brutal exchange of broadsides. The American frigate’s superior gunnery and tactics inflicted heavy damage on the British vessel, forcing its surrender. The capture was quickly sailed to Newport, Rhode Island, where it was celebrated as a major victory for the young US Navy. Decatur’s triumph bolstered American morale and demonstrated the Royal Navy was not invincible. The captured Macedonian was purchased into the US Navy, symbolizing naval prowess and contributing to America’s maritime heritage. This daring action cemented Decatur’s reputation as one of the era’s most skilled naval commanders.
1812
USS United States
captures
HMS Macedonian
1822day.year
Greek War of Independence: The First Siege of Missolonghi begins.
Revolutionary Greeks launch the First Siege of Missolonghi in a key early battle of their struggle for independence.
On 25 October 1822, Ottoman-Egyptian forces under the command of Mustafa Pasha laid siege to the fortress town of Missolonghi. The defenders, supported by local irregulars and European volunteers known as Philhellenes, held out against repeated assaults. Missolonghi’s strategic position on the Gulf of Patras made it a key target for the Ottomans seeking to quell the Greek uprising. Harsh conditions, including shortages of food and ammunition, tested the resolve of the inhabitants. The defenders' tenacious resistance earned Missolonghi a heroic reputation in Europe. Although the siege was eventually lifted in April 1823, the event galvanized international support for the Greek cause.
1822
First Siege of Missolonghi
1854day.year
The Battle of Balaclava takes place during the Crimean War. It is soon memorialized in verse as The Charge of the Light Brigade.
In the Crimean War, the famous Charge of the Light Brigade takes place at the Battle of Balaclava, immortalized in Tennyson’s poem.
On 25 October 1854, British cavalry of the Light Brigade charged Russian artillery positions at Balaclava during the Crimean War. A miscommunication in the chain of command led the brigade to assault well-defended redoubts, resulting in heavy casualties. Despite the tactical blunder, the charge became a symbol of courage and discipline under fire. Lord Alfred Tennyson’s poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade” later immortalized the event, capturing the public imagination. The battle highlighted flaws in British military leadership and contributed to calls for army reforms. Today, the charge remains one of the most famous cavalry actions in military history.
1854
Battle of Balaclava
The Charge of the Light Brigade
1911day.year
The Xinhai Revolution spreads to Guangzhou, where the Qing general Fengshan is assassinated by the Chinese Assassination Corps.
Revolutionaries of the Xinhai Revolution assassinate Qing general Fengshan in Guangzhou, intensifying the push to overthrow the dynasty.
On 25 October 1911, the Xinhai Revolution expanded into southern China as members of the Chinese Assassination Corps targeted Qing General Fengshan in Guangzhou. The assassination marked a deliberate attack on the Qing military hierarchy and emboldened revolutionary factions across the province. Originating from discontent over corruption and foreign domination, the revolution sought to establish a republic in place of imperial rule. Guangzhou’s strategic port status made it a focal point for revolutionary activities and supply lines. The killing of Fengshan undermined Qing authority in the region and accelerated the collapse of imperial control. This event contributed to the broader wave of uprisings that culminated in the fall of the Qing dynasty and the birth of modern China.
1911
Xinhai Revolution
Guangzhou
Qing
Fengshan
Chinese Assassination Corps
1917day.year
Old Style date of the October Revolution in Russia.
Under the Julian calendar, the Bolsheviks seize power in Petrograd, marking the October Revolution on 25 October 1917 (Old Style).
On 25 October 1917 (Old Style), the Bolshevik Party led by Vladimir Lenin initiated the overthrow of Russia’s Provisional Government in Petrograd. Workers, soldiers, and sailors mobilized to seize strategic points across the city, including the Winter Palace. The uprising effectively transferred power to the soviets and laid the foundation for the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. This coup d’état marked the beginning of decades-long communist rule in Russia and influenced revolutionary movements worldwide. The event is one of the most significant political upheavals of the 20th century, triggering civil war and global ideological conflict. In Gregorian calendar terms, it occurred on 7 November 1917, but it remains known as the October Revolution in historical memory.
1917
Old Style date
October Revolution
1944day.year
World War II: Heinrich Himmler orders a crackdown on the Edelweiss Pirates, a loosely organized youth culture in Nazi Germany that had assisted army deserters and others to hide from the Third Reich.
Heinrich Himmler ordered a crackdown on the Edelweiss Pirates in occupied Germany, targeting youth resistance groups aiding deserters.
During World War II, the Edelweiss Pirates were youth groups who opposed the Nazi regime through graffiti, sheltering deserters, and sabotage.
On October 25, 1944, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler decreed a severe crackdown on these loosely organized gangs.
The order authorized arrests, and brutal reprisals including imprisonment and execution for captured members.
This move reflected the regime's desperation as Allied forces closed in on Germany's borders.
Despite the risk, some members continued underground resistance activities.
The crackdown led to the dissolution of many Pirate groups but cemented their legacy as symbols of youth defiance.
1944
World War II
Edelweiss Pirates
1944day.year
World War II: The USS Tang under Richard O'Kane (the top American submarine ace of the war) is sunk by the ship's own malfunctioning torpedo.
The American submarine USS Tang was lost after being struck by its own malfunctioning torpedo during WWII, with its captain among the survivors.
USS Tang, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Richard O'Kane, was one of the most successful U.S. submarines in WWII.
On October 25, 1944, a torpedo malfunctioned and circled back, striking the Tang near the Philippines.
The blast caused catastrophic damage, forcing the crew to abandon ship.
Captain O'Kane was among nine survivors who endured captivity until the war's end.
The incident highlighted the dangers of early torpedo technology and submarine warfare.
USS Tang's legacy endures for its remarkable wartime achievements and tragic end.
USS Tang
1944day.year
World War II: The final attempt of the Imperial Japanese Navy to win the war climaxes at the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
The Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle of WWII, began as Japan launched its final major fleet action against Allied forces.
On October 25, 1944, the Imperial Japanese Navy executed its last large-scale operation against Allied fleets in the Philippines.
The Battle of Leyte Gulf encompassed four main engagements across the Sibuyan Sea, San Bernardino Strait, and Surigao Strait.
Japanese forces aimed to thwart the American landings on Leyte Island and cut supply lines.
Despite initial Japanese tactical successes, Allied air power and coordination overwhelmed their fleet.
The battle resulted in massive losses on both sides, including several Japanese aircraft carriers and battleships.
This decisive defeat crippled Japan's naval capabilities and hastened the end of the war in the Pacific.
Battle of Leyte Gulf