1090day.year
The Rouen Riot, an attempt by English king William Rufus to take possession of Rouen, the capital city of his brother Robert, duke of Normandy, fails.
In 1090, King William Rufus attempts to capture Rouen from his brother Duke Robert but his forces are repelled in the Rouen Riot.
The Rouen Riot erupted in November 1090 as King William II, known as William Rufus, sought to assert control over his brother Robert's duchy of Normandy.
Despite his position as monarch of England, William's siege of Rouen faced fierce resistance from Norman defenders and the city's residents.
The assault failed to breach the city's fortifications, forcing William Rufus to withdraw his forces after several days.
This unsuccessful campaign strained relations between the royal brothers and underscored Robert's enduring authority in Normandy.
The event highlighted the fragility of William's hold on Continental possessions and foreshadowed further dynastic conflicts.
Rouen remained under Robert's control, preserving the duchy's autonomy for the time being.
1090
Rouen Riot
William Rufus
Rouen
Robert, duke of Normandy
1468day.year
Liège is sacked by Charles I of Burgundy's troops.
In 1468, Charles I of Burgundy's troops sack Liège, leaving the city in ruins and asserting Burgundian power.
In autumn 1468, Charles I, Duke of Burgundy, launched an assault on the Prince-Bishopric of Liège.
His well-equipped Burgundian army breached the city's walls after a swift campaign, catching defenders off-guard.
The sack left Liège in ruins, with many buildings burned and much of the population displaced.
Courts and civic institutions were dismantled as Charles sought to punish the city for its rebellion.
The brutal conquest solidified Burgundian influence in the region and served as a warning to other dissident territories.
Despite the devastation, Liège would gradually rebuild and retain its identity in the Low Countries.
1468
Liège
Charles I of Burgundy
1812day.year
Napoleon's armies are defeated at the Battle of Vyazma.
A key defeat for Napoleon during his Russian retreat at Vyazma.
In November 1812, as Napoleon's Grande Armée retreated from Moscow, Russian forces engaged them at Vyazma. The French troops suffered heavy losses in men and material due to relentless Cossack attacks and harsh weather conditions. The defeat at Vyazma further weakened Napoleon's army, contributing to its catastrophic collapse. Supply lines were overextended and morale plummeted amidst the biting cold. This engagement exemplified the harsh realities of the Russian campaign and foreshadowed the decline of French power in Europe.
1812
Napoleon
Battle of Vyazma
1867day.year
Giuseppe Garibaldi and his followers are defeated in the Battle of Mentana and fail to end the Pope's Temporal power in Rome (it would be achieved three years later).
Garibaldi's forces are repelled at the Battle of Mentana, postponing Italian unification efforts in Rome.
On November 3, 1867, Giuseppe Garibaldi led a volunteer army into the Papal States in an attempt to capture Rome and end papal temporal rule. At Mentana, French troops allied with Papal forces thwarted the Garibaldian assault. The defeat dashed immediate hopes for annexing Rome into the newly unified Kingdom of Italy. It would still take three more years and the withdrawal of French protection for Rome to fall. The battle highlighted the complex international politics surrounding Italian unification and the resilience of the Papal States.
1867
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Battle of Mentana
Temporal power
1881day.year
The Mapuche uprising of 1881 begins in Chile.
Mapuche communities in Chile launch an uprising against the national government.
On November 3, 1881, indigenous Mapuche leaders declared an uprising against the Chilean state. The revolt was driven by grievances over land dispossession and cultural suppression. Despite their efforts, the Mapuche forces faced superior military technology and numbers. The rebellion was eventually quashed after several skirmishes and sieges. The conflict deepened longstanding tensions between the Chilean government and indigenous peoples and shaped future policies on frontier control.
1881
Mapuche uprising of 1881
1898day.year
France withdraws its troops from Fashoda (now in Sudan), ending the Fashoda Incident.
France withdraws from Fashoda, ending a colonial standoff with Britain in Sudan.
On November 3, 1898, French troops evacuated the strategic outpost of Fashoda on the White Nile. The move concluded the Fashoda Incident, a confrontation between French and British colonial forces over influence in the Sudan region. Although both nations avoided open warfare, the crisis strained Franco-British relations. The resolution favored British control of the Nile corridor, paving the way for the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium in Sudan. This diplomatic outcome highlighted the era's imperial rivalries and the delicate balance of power in Africa.
1898
Fashoda
Fashoda Incident
1920day.year
Russian Civil War: The Russian Army retreats to Crimea, after a successful offensive by the Red Army and Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine.
During the Russian Civil War, the White Russian Army is pushed back to Crimea by a Red Army offensive.
In late 1920, the anti-Bolshevik White forces under General Wrangel faced a relentless advance.
The combined strength of the Red Army and the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine overwhelmed their defenses.
After fierce clashes across southern Ukraine, the White Russian Army fell back towards Crimea.
This retreat marked a decisive turning point, isolating the last major White stronghold.
Red Army control over Ukraine secured crucial supply lines for the Bolsheviks.
The evacuation from Crimea soon followed, signaling the imminent end of large-scale resistance.
By the end of the year, Soviet power was consolidated across the former Russian Empire.
1920
Russian Civil War
Russian Army
Crimea
successful offensive
Red Army
Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine
1942day.year
World War II: The Koli Point action begins during the Guadalcanal Campaign and ends on November 12.
The Koli Point action starts as U.S. forces engage Japanese troops during Guadalcanal Campaign.
On November 3, 1942, U.S. Marines and Army units launched offensive operations at Koli Point, Guadalcanal.
The action aimed to intercept Japanese reinforcements landing east of Henderson Field.
Troops clashed in dense jungle terrain, fighting over strategic ridges and supply routes.
American forces secured key positions but faced fierce counterattacks and logistical challenges.
The battle continued until November 12, inflicting heavy casualties on both sides.
This engagement disrupted Japanese efforts to retake Henderson Field.
Koli Point demonstrated the strategic importance of controlling Guadalcanal for Pacific dominance.
1942
World War II
Koli Point action
Guadalcanal Campaign
November 12
1943day.year
World War II: Five hundred aircraft of the U.S. 8th Air Force devastate Wilhelmshaven harbor in Germany.
The U.S. 8th Air Force launches a massive raid, heavily damaging Wilhelmshaven harbor.
On November 3, 1943, five hundred B-17 and B-24 bombers targeted the German naval base at Wilhelmshaven.
The massive daylight raid sought to cripple U-boat pens and dockyard facilities.
Pilots faced intense anti-aircraft fire and fighter interceptions over the North Sea.
Despite heavy opposition, the raid succeeded in destroying docks, workshops, and supply ships.
Wilhelmshaven's shipbuilding capacity was significantly reduced, hampering Kriegsmarine operations.
The mission showcased the growing reach and strength of Allied strategic bombing.
It underscored the toll of sustained aerial campaigns on Germany's war infrastructure.
1943
devastate Wilhelmshaven
1944day.year
World War II: Two supreme commanders of the Slovak National Uprising, Generals Ján Golian and Rudolf Viest, are captured, tortured and later executed by German forces.
In November 1944, German forces captured Generals Ján Golian and Rudolf Viest, key leaders of the Slovak National Uprising.
Both men endured brutal torture and were executed, marking a tragic setback for Slovak resistance.
The Slovak National Uprising of 1944 was a major resistance movement against Nazi occupation during World War II.
On November 3, German troops captured Generals Ján Golian and Rudolf Viest, the uprising's primary military commanders.
Both men were subjected to severe interrogation and torture in an attempt to extract information about resistance operations.
Despite enduring unimaginable hardships, they refused to betray their comrades or divulge strategic plans.
Shortly thereafter, German authorities executed Golian and Viest, delivering a significant blow to the Slovak resistance.
Their deaths symbolized the high cost of defiance and became rallying points for continued anti-fascist efforts.
The loss of these leaders deeply affected the morale of insurgent forces but also fueled international solidarity with Slovakia's plight.
1944
Slovak National Uprising
Ján Golian
Rudolf Viest
1949day.year
Chinese Civil War: The Battle of Dengbu Island occurs.
During the Chinese Civil War on November 3, 1949, Nationalist and Communist forces clashed in the Battle of Dengbu Island off Zhejiang province.
The Battle of Dengbu Island was one of the final engagements of the Chinese Civil War.
On November 3, 1949, Nationalist (Kuomintang) troops attempted to secure the strategically located island near Ningbo.
Communist forces, determined to assert control over coastal territories, launched a bold counterattack.
Fierce fighting ensued along the island's rocky shores, with both sides suffering significant casualties.
Despite being outnumbered, Nationalist defenders managed to repel several Communist advances before logistical challenges forced their withdrawal.
The battle underscored the Nationalists' waning capacity to hold territory on the mainland.
Its outcome contributed to the Communist Party's consolidation of power.
The fall of nearby islands soon followed, cementing the establishment of the People's Republic of China later that month.
1949
Battle of Dengbu Island
1956day.year
Suez Crisis: The Khan Yunis killings by the Israel Defense Forces in Egyptian-controlled Gaza result in the deaths of 275 Palestinians.
During the Suez Crisis on November 3, 1956, Israeli forces carried out the Khan Yunis operation in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of approximately 275 Palestinian civilians.
In the midst of the Suez Crisis, Israeli Defense Forces launched an operation in the town of Khan Yunis on November 3, 1956.
The offensive aimed to neutralize perceived fedayeen threats along the Gaza border.
Reports indicate that IDF troops detained, interrogated, and, in many cases, executed Palestinian residents.
Approximately 275 civilians lost their lives during the events, sparking international condemnation.
Eyewitness accounts described forced expulsions and scenes of violence in the streets.
The magnitude of civilian casualties intensified debates over military conduct and rules of engagement.
The killings became a sore point in Israeli-Egyptian relations and shaped future discourse on the ethics of urban warfare.
To this day, the Khan Yunis killings remain a somber chapter of the Suez conflict.
1956
Suez Crisis
Khan Yunis killings
Israel Defense Forces