312day.year
Constantine I defeats Maxentius, becoming the sole Roman emperor in the West.
Constantine I defeats Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge and becomes sole Western Roman Emperor.
On October 28, 312 AD, Constantine the Great achieved a decisive victory over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.
Emboldened by a reputed divine vision, his legions routed the opposing forces along the Tiber River.
The triumph secured Constantine's sole rule over the Western Empire and reshaped Roman leadership.
This pivotal battle set the path for Constantine's endorsement of Christianity and imperial reforms.
Maxentius's death in combat marked the end of a rival claim and the dawn of a new era.
312
defeats Maxentius
969day.year
The Byzantine Empire recovers Antioch from Arab rule.
Byzantine forces recapture Antioch from Arab control in AD 969.
In 969, Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas led the Byzantine army to retake the strategically vital city of Antioch.
After a protracted siege, the Byzantines restored imperial authority over this key Syrian city.
The reconquest bolstered the empire's eastern frontier and served as a major symbolic victory.
Antioch's recovery improved trade routes and reinforced Byzantium's influence in the Levant.
This triumph marked a resurgence of military strength during the Macedonian Renaissance.
969
Byzantine Empire
recovers Antioch
1344day.year
The lower town of Smyrna is captured by Latin Christians in response to Aydınid piracy during the Smyrniote crusades.
Latin Christian forces capture the lower town of Smyrna during the Smyrniote Crusades in 1344.
In October 1344, Latin Christian crusaders under the Knights of Rhodes stormed and seized the lower town of Smyrna.
The assault aimed to halt Aydınid pirate raids that threatened Aegean commerce and coastal settlements.
Smyrna's capture provided a strategic base for future crusading expeditions in Anatolia.
The victory disrupted regional piracy and strengthened Latin influence in the Eastern Mediterranean.
This event reshaped power dynamics and underscored the ongoing conflict between Christian and Muslim powers.
1344
Aydınid
Smyrniote crusades
1516day.year
Second Ottoman–Mamluk War: Mamluks fail to stop the Ottoman advance towards Egypt at the Battle of Yaunis Khan.
Ottoman forces defeat the Mamluks at the Battle of Yaunis Khan in 1516 during the Second Ottoman–Mamluk War.
In October 1516, Sultan Selim I led the Ottoman army to victory over Mamluk forces near Yaunis Khan in the Levant.
The decisive win broke Mamluk defensive lines and opened the path toward Egypt.
Ottoman superior tactics and artillery showcased a shift in regional military power.
This triumph paved the way for the conquest of Cairo and the annexation of the Mamluk Sultanate.
The battle marked a turning point in Middle Eastern geopolitics under Ottoman dominance.
1516
Second Ottoman–Mamluk War
Battle of Yaunis Khan
1531day.year
Abyssinian–Adal war: The Adal Sultanate seizes southern Ethiopia.
In 1531, forces of the Adal Sultanate captured key territories in southern Ethiopia during the ongoing Abyssinian–Adal war.
The year 1531 saw a major advance for the Adal Sultanate as its armies seized control of southern Ethiopian provinces amid the protracted Abyssinian–Adal conflict. This campaign strengthened Adal's influence in the region and disrupted the established political order. The capture altered vital trade routes and intensified religious and cultural tensions between Muslim and Christian states. Local communities faced upheaval as governance structures were replaced and resources redirected. These events foreshadowed continued clashes that would shape the Horn of Africa's future for decades.
1531
Abyssinian–Adal war
Adal Sultanate
seizes
1628day.year
French Wars of Religion: The Siege of La Rochelle ends with the surrender of the Huguenots after fourteen months.
After a grueling 14-month siege during the French Wars of Religion, Huguenot defenders at La Rochelle surrender, ending the city’s resistance.
The Siege of La Rochelle concluded on October 28, 1628, when the Protestant Huguenot garrison capitulated to royal forces after fourteen months of blockade. Commanded by Cardinal Richelieu, King Louis XIII's troops cut off supplies and constructed imposing fortifications to starve the city into submission. The fall of this major Huguenot stronghold marked a decisive turn in the French Wars of Religion, consolidating royal authority and curbing Protestant autonomy. The siege’s end paved the way for greater centralization in France and influenced subsequent European religious conflicts.
1628
French Wars of Religion
Siege of La Rochelle
1640day.year
The Treaty of Ripon is signed, ending the hostilities of the Second Bishops’ War.
The Treaty of Ripon concludes the Second Bishops’ War between England and Scotland, temporarily halting military actions.
Signed on October 28, 1640, the Treaty of Ripon brought an end to the Second Bishops’ War, a conflict triggered by King Charles I’s attempts to impose Anglican reforms on the Scottish Church. The agreement allowed Scottish forces to occupy parts of northern England until reparations were paid. It also forced Charles I to summon the English Parliament to raise funds, setting the stage for the Long Parliament and the subsequent English Civil War. The treaty highlighted the tensions between royal authority and religious autonomy in the British Isles.
1640
Treaty of Ripon
Second Bishops’ War
1776day.year
American Revolutionary War: British troops attack and capture Chatterton Hill from the Continental Army.
During the Battle of Long Island, British forces seize the strategic high ground at Chatterton Hill, forcing American defenders to retreat.
On October 28, 1776, as part of the larger Battle of Long Island, British and Hessian troops launched a fierce assault on Chatterton Hill (now Cobble Hill) held by Continental Army forces under General William Alexander. The successful capture of this vantage point allowed the British to dominate the surrounding area and press their advantage. American troops, outnumbered and outflanked, were compelled to withdraw toward Brooklyn Heights. This action marked a key moment in Britain’s early campaign to control New York and demonstrated the challenges facing the revolutionary forces.
1776
American Revolutionary War
attack and capture
1834day.year
The Pinjarra massacre occurs in the Swan River Colony. An estimated 30 Noongar people are killed by British colonists.
On October 28, 1834, British colonists ambushed a Bindjareb Noongar camp at Pinjarra in Western Australia’s Swan River Colony, resulting in the deaths of around 30 Indigenous people.
In one of the earliest large-scale massacres of Aboriginal Australians, colonial forces led by Governor James Stirling attacked a Noongar encampment near the Murray River.\nThe violent assault reflected growing tensions as settlers expanded into Noongar lands, leading to resistance and reprisal raids.\nEstimates of fatalities vary, but the event marked a tragic chapter in Western Australia’s frontier history.\nIt remains a poignant reminder of the harsh realities of colonial expansion and its impact on Indigenous communities.
1834
Pinjarra massacre
1864day.year
American Civil War: A Union attack on the Confederate capital of Richmond is repulsed.
Union forces launched an assault on Richmond but were beaten back by Confederate defenders, prolonging the Civil War’s bloody struggle.
On October 28, 1864, Union troops under Major General Benjamin Butler advanced toward Richmond, aiming to strike at the heart of the Confederacy.\nWell-entrenched Confederate fortifications and counterattacks forced the Federals to retreat with heavy casualties.\nThe failed offensive underscored the resilience of Confederate defenses surrounding the capital.\nIt marked a frustrating setback for Union commanders seeking a decisive blow to end the war.
1864
American Civil War
Union
attack
Confederate
Richmond
1918day.year
World War I: A new Polish government in western Galicia is established, triggering the Polish–Ukrainian War.
A provisional Polish government formed in western Galicia ignited the Polish–Ukrainian War amid the post-WWI power vacuum.
On October 28, 1918, Polish leaders in Lviv proclaimed a civil administration for Western Galicia following the collapse of Austro-Hungarian authority.\nUkrainian nationalists opposed the Polish claim, leading to armed clashes the next day and the start of the Polish–Ukrainian War.\nThe brief conflict highlighted competing visions for Central Europe after WWI.\nAlthough the fighting ended with Polish control over most of Galicia, the war foreshadowed later border disputes.\nIt shaped the interwar map of Eastern Europe and national identities.
1918
World War I
Polish–Ukrainian War
1940day.year
World War II: Greece rejects Italy's ultimatum. Italy invades Greece through Albania a few hours later.
Italy's ultimatum to Greece was rejected, prompting Italy to invade through Albania and drawing Greece into World War II on October 28, 1940.
On October 28, 1940, Mussolini delivered an ultimatum demanding free passage for Italian troops in Greece, which the Greek government rejected with a firm “Ochi” (“No”).
Within hours, Italian forces launched an invasion from bases in Albania, initiating the Greco-Italian War.
Greek troops, though outnumbered, mounted a resilient defense in the mountainous terrain, surprising the invaders.
The day, now commemorated as “Oxi Day,” became a symbol of national pride and defiance against Axis aggression.
This confrontation marked Greece’s formal entry into the Second World War and influenced regional dynamics in the Balkans.
1940
World War II
rejects
Italy invades Greece
Albania