1556day.year
Second Battle of Panipat: Fighting begins between the forces of Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, the Hindu king at Delhi and the forces of the Muslim emperor Akbar.
The Second Battle of Panipat erupted in 1556 as Mughal forces under Akbar clashed with Hemu's army near Delhi.
The battle marked a decisive conflict between the young Mughal emperor Akbar’s forces and the army of Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, known as Hemu. Hemu had seized Delhi and proclaimed himself ruler after defeating local governors. Akbar's regent, Bairam Khan, led the imperial troops in a strategic engagement at Panipat. Despite being outnumbered initially, the Mughal cavalry executed unexpected maneuvers that turned the tide. Hemu was critically wounded and captured, leading to his execution and the restoration of Mughal authority. This victory secured Akbar’s reign and set the stage for the Mughal Empire’s golden age.
1556
Second Battle of Panipat
Hem Chandra Vikramaditya
1688day.year
Prince William III of Orange lands with a Dutch fleet at Brixham to challenge the rule of King James II of England (James VII of Scotland).
William of Orange landed at Brixham in 1688, initiating the Glorious Revolution that deposed King James II.
Invited by English nobles to protect Protestant interests, William III sailed from the Netherlands with a sizeable Dutch fleet and army. He landed at Brixham on November 5, prompting widespread desertions from James II’s forces. The peaceful transfer of power that followed became known as the Glorious Revolution due to minimal bloodshed. William and his wife Mary II ascended the English throne as joint monarchs. Their reign established the primacy of Parliament over the crown and led to the Bill of Rights in 1689. This revolution dramatically reshaped the British constitutional system and ensured Protestant succession.
1688
Prince William III of Orange
Brixham
James II of England
1757day.year
Seven Years' War: Frederick the Great defeats the allied armies of France and the Holy Roman Empire at the Battle of Rossbach.
Frederick the Great achieved a stunning victory over French and Imperial forces at Rossbach on November 5, 1757.
Facing a numerically superior French and Holy Roman Empire army, Frederick II executed a swift and decisive flanking maneuver. His disciplined troops advanced in oblique order, catching the allied forces off guard. In under an hour, the Prussian army routed the enemy, capturing artillery and supplies. The triumph at Rossbach boosted Prussian morale and solidified Frederick’s reputation as a military innovator. It shifted the momentum of the Seven Years’ War in favor of Prussia. The battle is celebrated as one of the most remarkable tactical victories in European history.
1757
Seven Years' War
Frederick the Great
Holy Roman Empire
Battle of Rossbach
1780day.year
French-American forces under Colonel LaBalme are defeated by Miami Chief Little Turtle.
In 1780, Colonel LaBalme's French-American expedition was ambushed and defeated by Miami Chief Little Turtle.
Colonel Augustin de LaBalme led a small force of French volunteers to encourage Native American uprisings against the British. They advanced into the Indiana territory but ill-prepared for frontier warfare. At a site near present-day Columbia City, Indiana, Miami warriors under Chief Little Turtle launched a surprise attack. The expedition suffered heavy casualties and lost its supplies, forcing a retreat. Little Turtle’s tactical victory elevated his standing among Native tribes resisting colonial encroachment. The defeat discouraged further French involvement in the region during the American Revolutionary War. It underscored the complexities of alliance and conflict on the western frontier.
1780
Colonel LaBalme
defeated
Little Turtle
1811day.year
Salvadoran priest José Matías Delgado rings the bells of La Merced church in San Salvador, calling for insurrection and launching the 1811 Independence Movement.
On November 5, 1811, José Matías Delgado rang church bells to spark the first Central American uprising against Spanish rule.
In a dramatic act at La Merced Church, Delgado’s ringing of the bells signaled the start of the 1811 Independence Movement in El Salvador. He delivered impassioned sermons condemning colonial abuses and rallying the local population to revolt. The insurrection captured key towns but was later suppressed by Spanish forces. Although it failed to achieve immediate independence, the uprising inspired further revolts across Central America. Delgado emerged as a leading figure in the eventual liberation of Central American provinces in 1821. His bold demonstration remains a symbol of Salvadoran national identity and the struggle for self-governance.
1811
José Matías Delgado
San Salvador
1811 Independence Movement
1828day.year
Greek War of Independence: The French Morea expedition to recapture Morea (now the Peloponnese) ends when the last Ottoman forces depart the peninsula.
The departure of the last Ottoman troops in 1828 marked the successful end of the French Morea expedition and secured Greek liberation in the Peloponnese.
Sent by the French government to support Greek insurgents, the Morea expedition arrived in 1828 to expel Ottoman garrisons from the Peloponnese. French forces captured key fortresses and assisted in rebuilding war-ravaged towns. The final Ottoman evacuation on November 5 signified the collapse of Ottoman military presence in southern Greece. This victory bolstered the newly formed Greek provisional government and paved the way for international recognition. Engineers and medical personnel also helped establish civil order and infrastructure improvements. The expedition exemplified European Philhellenism and diplomatic efforts culminating in the Treaty of Adrianople. It remains a milestone in the creation of the modern Greek state.
1828
Greek War of Independence
Morea expedition
Peloponnese
1862day.year
American Indian Wars: In Minnesota, 303 Dakota warriors are found guilty of rape and murder of whites and are sentenced to death. Thirty-eight are ultimately hanged and the others reprieved.
Following trials in Minnesota during the Dakota War, 303 Dakota warriors were convicted, leading to the largest mass execution in U.S. history.
After the 1862 Dakota War, military tribunals in Minnesota convicted 303 Dakota men of capital offenses against settlers, including murder and rape. President Lincoln reviewed the sentences and commuted the sentences of most, approving the execution of 38 individuals. On December 26, 1862, these men were hanged in Mankato in what remains the largest mass execution in American history. The trials and executions were later criticized for their hasty procedures and lack of fair legal representation. This event had a profound impact on U.S. Native American relations, shaping future policies and reservations.
American Indian Wars
Minnesota
Dakota
1898day.year
Negrese nationalists revolt against Spanish rule and establish the short-lived Republic of Negros.
Local leaders in Negros declared independence from Spain and set up the brief Republic of Negros amid the Philippine Revolution.
On November 5, 1898, Filipino revolutionaries on the island of Negros successfully expelled Spanish colonial authorities and proclaimed the Republic of Negros. The provisional government was established to manage the island’s transition during the broader Philippine struggle for independence. The Republic invited American forces to assist in maintaining order, effectively placing Negros under U.S. military protection. Despite its name, the republic lasted only a few months before being reorganized under American civil administration. Although short-lived, the Republic of Negros exemplified local resistance to colonial rule and contributed to the archipelago’s path toward nationhood.
1898
Negrese
revolt
Republic of Negros
1911day.year
After declaring war on the Ottoman Empire on September 29, 1911, Italy annexes Tripoli and Cyrenaica.
During the Italo-Turkish War, Italy seized control of Tripoli and Cyrenaica, expanding its colonial empire in North Africa.
Following its declaration of war against the Ottoman Empire in late September 1911, Italy launched an invasion of Ottoman territories in North Africa. By November 5, Italian forces had captured the key cities of Tripoli and Cyrenaica, securing coastal strongholds. The conquest marked the first significant European colonial expansion of the 20th century and introduced modern warfare tactics in desert campaigns. Local resistance persisted, but Italy established formal administrative control, leading to decades of colonial rule in what would become Libya. The war also exposed the Ottoman Empire’s weaknesses and foreshadowed its eventual dissolution.
1911
Ottoman Empire
September 29
Tripoli
Cyrenaica
1914day.year
World War I: France and the British Empire declare war on the Ottoman Empire.
In 1914, World War I expanded when France and the British Empire declared war on the Ottoman Empire, opening a new front in the conflict.
With this declaration, Allied forces aimed to undermine Ottoman control in the Middle Eastern theatre.
The Ottoman Empire, allied with Germany and Austria-Hungary, now faced a two-front war in Europe and the Middle East.
This move set the stage for campaigns such as Gallipoli and the Mesopotamian operations.
It intensified the global scope of World War I, drawing colonial troops and regional powers into the conflict.
The clash reshaped the post-war order in the Middle East with lasting geopolitical consequences.
1914
World War I
France
British Empire
Ottoman Empire
1940day.year
World War II: The British armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay is sunk by the German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer.
During World War II, the British merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay was sunk by the German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer.
On November 5, 1940, HMS Jervis Bay sacrificed itself defending a convoy bound for Britain.
Despite being outgunned, her captain ordered a valiant defense, drawing Scheer’s fire away from the convoy.
The action gave the merchant ships time to scatter and escape, saving dozens of vessels.
Jervis Bay’s sacrifice became a symbol of naval courage and duty.
Though most of the crew were lost, survivors credited the vessel’s stand with preventing greater losses.
1940
World War II
armed merchant cruiser
HMS Jervis Bay
pocket battleship
Admiral Scheer
1943day.year
World War II: Bombing of the Vatican.
In 1943, Allied aircraft mistakenly bombed Vatican City, causing minor damage.
On November 5, 1943, a small group of bombs fell in St. Peter’s Square, damaging monuments but causing few casualties.
The reasons remain debated, with theories ranging from navigational errors to deliberate strikes.
The papal response emphasized neutrality and called for peace amid World War II.
Despite the incident, Pope Pius XII maintained Vatican City’s diplomatic role.
The bombing underscored the war’s reach even into sovereign religious enclaves.
1943
Bombing of the Vatican