October 30

Events

637day.year

Arab–Byzantine wars: Antioch surrenders to the Rashidun Caliphate after the Battle of the Iron Bridge.

In 637, Antioch fell to the Rashidun Caliphate after the Battle of the Iron Bridge, marking a significant shift in the Arab–Byzantine wars.
In 637, the city of Antioch, a key Byzantine stronghold, fell to the Rashidun Caliphate following the Battle of the Iron Bridge. This clash pitted the formidable forces of the Byzantine Empire against the rapidly expanding Muslim armies. The Rashidun troops, commanded by General Khalid ibn al-Walid, executed a decisive flanking maneuver. After fierce fighting on the banks of the Orontes River, Byzantine defenders were overwhelmed and forced to surrender. The fall of Antioch opened the path for Muslim advances into Syria and Anatolia. The loss signaled the waning power of Byzantine authority in the region. This event reshaped the balance of power in the Near East and influenced subsequent diplomatic and military encounters between Byzantines and Arabs.
637 Arab–Byzantine wars Antioch Rashidun Caliphate Battle of the Iron Bridge
758day.year

Guangzhou is sacked by Arab and Persian pirates.

In 758, Guangzhou was raided and sacked by Arab and Persian pirates, causing widespread destruction and highlighting vulnerabilities in Tang dynasty maritime defenses.
Guangzhou, a prosperous port city in the Tang dynasty, was targeted on October 30, 758 by a coalition of Arab and Persian pirates. These seaborne raiders descended upon the city with swift ships and caught local defenses off guard. They plundered warehouses, seized trade goods, and inflicted widespread destruction. Contemporary records describe fires consuming neighborhoods and merchant quarters in flames. The raid highlighted vulnerabilities in China's maritime security and disrupted the Silk Road's sea routes. In response, the Tang government strengthened coastal fortifications and implemented stricter naval patrols. This episode underscored the era's global interconnectedness and the risks of expanding international trade.
758 Guangzhou
1137day.year

Ranulf of Apulia defeats Roger II of Sicily at the Battle of Rignano, securing his position as duke until his death two years later.

In 1137, Ranulf of Apulia defeated Roger II of Sicily at the Battle of Rignano, strengthening his hold over southern Italy against Norman rivals.
At the Battle of Rignano on October 30, 1137, Ranulf of Apulia confronted the forces of Roger II of Sicily near Naples. Ranulf, backed by rebellious Norman barons, executed a surprise attack that overwhelmed the Sicilian troops. The engagement resulted in heavy casualties for Roger's army and forced him to retreat. By securing this victory, Ranulf reinforced his claim as Duke of Apulia until his death two years later. The defeat temporarily halted Roger II's plans to consolidate his authority over southern Italy. However, Roger would later rebuild his power base and eventually unify the region under his rule. The battle remains a key moment in the complex power struggles of Norman Italy.
1137 Ranulf of Apulia Roger II of Sicily Battle of Rignano
1270day.year

The Eighth Crusade ends by an agreement between Charles I of Anjou (replacing his deceased brother King Louis IX of France) and the Hafsid dynasty of Tunis, Tunisia.

On October 30, 1270, Charles I of Anjou negotiated an end to the Eighth Crusade with the Hafsid dynasty of Tunis, concluding hostilities through treaty rather than conquest.
Following the death of King Louis IX in Tunis, Charles I of Anjou assumed command of the Eighth Crusade and concluded the campaign via diplomatic means on October 30, 1270. The crusader army, weakened by disease and logistical challenges, sought terms with the Hafsid dynasty rather than prolonging a costly siege. Charles negotiated an agreement securing safe passage for his troops and promising trade privileges in Tunis. The Hafsid ruler Muhammad I al-Mustansir consented to these terms, ending hostilities without a decisive military victory. While the crusade failed to achieve its original objective of establishing a Christian foothold in North Africa, it preserved the remaining forces. Charles returned to Europe with his army intact, bolstering his political standing. The treaty reflected a shift towards pragmatic diplomacy in later crusading efforts. It marked the final chapter of the Eighth Crusade.
1270 Eighth Crusade Charles I of Anjou King Louis IX of France Hafsid dynasty Tunis
1340day.year

Reconquista: Portuguese and Castilian forces halt a Muslim invasion at the Battle of Río Salado.

In 1340, combined Portuguese and Castilian forces halted a Muslim invasion at the Battle of Río Salado, delivering a key victory in the Reconquista.
On October 30, 1340, an allied force of Portuguese and Castilian soldiers confronted Marinid and Nasrid armies at the Battle of Río Salado. Led by King Afonso IV of Portugal and King Alfonso XI of Castile, the Christian coalition defended the southern Iberian coast near Tarifa. Muslim forces under Sultan Abu al-Hasan Ali of Morocco and Yusuf I of Granada intended to recapture territories lost during the Reconquista. The Christian armies executed coordinated cavalry charges that routed the invaders, inflicting heavy losses. This decisive victory halted any significant Muslim military threat to the peninsula for decades. The triumph strengthened the alliance between the Portuguese and Castilian crowns and boosted morale in Christian kingdoms. It paved the way for further campaigns that eventually ended Muslim rule in Iberia. The battle is commemorated as one of the most important engagements in the centuries-long Reconquista.
1340 Reconquista Portuguese Castilian Battle of Río Salado
1657day.year

Anglo-Spanish War: Spanish forces fail to retake Jamaica at the Battle of Ocho Rios.

On October 30, 1657, Spanish forces failed in their attempt to recapture Jamaica from the English at the Battle of Ocho Rios during the Anglo-Spanish War.
During the Anglo-Spanish War, Spanish forces attempted to retake the strategically important island of Jamaica at the Battle of Ocho Rios on October 30, 1657. Jamaica had fallen to English conquest in 1655, and Spain was determined to reverse this loss. Landing near Ocho Rios, Spanish troops encountered a well-organized English garrison led by Governor Edward D'Oyley. Fierce skirmishes broke out along the coast as both sides fought for control of the shoreline. Ultimately, the English defenders repelled the Spanish assault, inflicting significant casualties. The Spanish withdrew, abandoning hopes of reclaiming the island. England's grip on Jamaica was solidified, and the colony grew into a vital center of sugar cultivation and Atlantic trade for the British Empire.
1657 Anglo-Spanish War Jamaica Battle of Ocho Rios
1806day.year

War of the Fourth Coalition: Convinced that he is facing a much larger force, Prussian General von Romberg, commanding 5,300 men, surrenders the city of Stettin to 800 French soldiers.

In 1806, Prussian General von Romberg surrendered the fortified city of Stettin to a small French force without a major fight in the War of the Fourth Coalition.
In the wake of Prussia's catastrophic defeats at Jena and Auerstedt, General Franz von Romberg faced a crisis at the fortress city of Stettin on October 30, 1806. Believing himself vastly outnumbered, von Romberg commanded 5,300 troops against a contingent of only 800 French soldiers under General Claude Victor-Perrin. Without a significant engagement, he negotiated the city's surrender, ceding this key Prussian port on the Oder River. The French secured the strategic position effortlessly, bolstering their supply lines into northern Germany. News of the capitulation spread rapidly and further demoralized the remnants of the Prussian army. The fall of Stettin symbolized the collapse of Prussian resistance to Napoleon's Grand Armée. This incident would prompt reforms in the Prussian military command and strategy in the years to come.
1806 War of the Fourth Coalition von Romberg surrenders the city of Stettin
1817day.year

Simón Bolívar becomes President of the Third Republic of Venezuela.

On October 30, 1817, Simón Bolívar became President of the Third Republic of Venezuela, advancing the independence movement in South America.
On October 30, 1817, Simón Bolívar formally assumed the presidency of the Third Republic of Venezuela in Angostura. Having led independence campaigns across northern South America, Bolívar aimed to consolidate republican governance. He implemented sweeping reforms, reorganizing the military and revamping administrative structures. Bolívar also sought support from foreign allies, securing resources from Haitian and British sympathizers. His presidency laid the groundwork for the eventual liberation of New Granada and Peru. Through visionary speeches and decrees, Bolívar inspired unity among the former Spanish colonies. His leadership during the Third Republic cemented his legacy as 'El Libertador' and set a precedent for republicanism in Latin America.
1817 Simón Bolívar Third Republic of Venezuela
1831day.year

Nat Turner is arrested for leading the bloodiest slave rebellion in United States history.

On October 30, 1831, Nat Turner was arrested after leading the most deadly slave rebellion in U.S. history, sparking fierce debate over slavery.
After leading a dramatic slave rebellion in Southampton County, Virginia, Nat Turner was arrested on October 30, 1831. Turner, an enslaved preacher, orchestrated an uprising over two nights in August, resulting in the deaths of around 60 white settlers. The rebellion spread panic among slaveholders across the American South, prompting severe reprisals. In the aftermath, militias hunted down the insurgents, and Turner fled into hiding. His capture at a farm, following weeks on the run, marked the end of the revolt. Turner was tried, convicted, and hanged later that year, but his actions resonated deeply across the nation. Southern states responded by enacting stricter slave codes and curbing black education and assembly. Northern abolitionists amplified his martyrdom, fueling the growing anti-slavery movement. The rebellion remains one of the bloodiest and most significant insurrections in U.S. history.
1831 Nat Turner slave rebellion
1863day.year

Danish Prince Vilhelm arrives in Athens to assume his throne as George I, King of the Hellenes.

In 1863, Danish Prince Vilhelm arrived in Athens to begin his reign as George I, King of the Hellenes, ushering in a new royal dynasty for Greece.
Prince Vilhelm of Denmark arrived in Athens on October 30, 1863, to assume his new role as George I, King of the Hellenes. Chosen by the Greek National Assembly after the deposition of King Otto, Vilhelm represented a fresh start for the young Greek kingdom. He disembarked at Piraeus and was greeted by jubilant crowds waving Greek flags. Adopting the name George I, he swore an oath to uphold the 1844 constitution and respect parliamentary governance. His early reign focused on modernizing state institutions, infrastructure, and education. George I's dynastic ties facilitated diplomatic support from Britain and Russia. Over his nearly fifty-year rule, he would guide Greece through territorial expansion and social reforms, becoming one of Europe's longest-reigning monarchs.
1863 George I
1864day.year

Second War of Schleswig: The Treaty of Vienna is signed, by which Denmark relinquishes one province each to Prussia and Austria.

In 1864, during the Second War of Schleswig, the Treaty of Vienna was signed, forcing Denmark to cede territories to Prussia and Austria.
In 1864, after months of conflict in the Second War of Schleswig, European powers convened to negotiate peace. The Treaty of Vienna formalized Denmark's defeat, requiring it to relinquish Schleswig to Prussia and Holstein to Austria. This realignment bolstered Prussian influence in northern Germany and marked a key step toward German unification under Prussia. Austria secured territory that would later fuel tensions with Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. The settlement reshaped the balance of power in Central Europe and set the stage for Bismarck's ascendancy. Its terms underscored the shifting alliances and nationalist currents of mid-19th-century Europe.
1864 Second War of Schleswig Treaty of Vienna Prussia Austria
1858day.year

Approximately 20 people die in Bradford, England, UK, after being poisoned from ingesting sweets that had been accidentally adulterated with arsenic trioxide.

In 1858, about 20 people in Bradford, England, died after ingesting sweets accidentally laced with arsenic trioxide.
On October 30, 1858, a tragic poisoning struck Bradford when sweets intended for sale were accidentally adulterated with arsenic trioxide. The toxic contamination claimed the lives of around twenty innocent victims, including children and elderly residents. Investigation revealed that a supplier had mislabeled the chemical, leading to its substitution for a harmless ingredient. The incident sparked public outrage and prompted stricter food safety regulations in Britain. It remains one of the most notorious examples of accidental mass poisoning in the Victorian era.
1858 Bradford England poisoned sweets adulterated arsenic trioxide