1202day.year
Fourth Crusade: Despite letters from Pope Innocent III forbidding it and threatening excommunication, Catholic crusaders begin a siege of Zara (now Zadar, Croatia).
Catholic crusaders launch an unauthorized siege of the Christian city Zara, defying Pope Innocent III's orders.
Despite explicit orders from Pope Innocent III forbidding any attack, crusaders of the Fourth Crusade began the siege of the Christian city of Zara (modern Zadar, Croatia) on November 10, 1202. The assault marked the first time Western Catholic forces attacked a fellow Christian city. Pope Innocent III threatened excommunication to deter the crusaders, but monetary debts and Venetian interests overrode papal authority. The siege lasted for weeks and ended with the city's capture and pillaging. The incident foreshadowed further diversion of the crusade toward Constantinople, fracturing Christian unity. The attack on Zara remains a highly controversial episode in crusading history.
1202
Fourth Crusade
Pope Innocent III
excommunication
begin a siege
Zadar, Croatia
1444day.year
Battle of Varna: The crusading forces of King Władysław III of Poland (aka Ulaszlo I of Hungary and Władysław III of Varna) are defeated by the Turks under Sultan Murad II and Władysław is killed.
At the Battle of Varna, King Władysław III's crusading army suffers a crushing defeat by Sultan Murad II's forces, and the king falls in battle.
At the Battle of Varna on November 10, 1444, the crusading army led by King Władysław III of Poland and Hungary clashed with the forces of Ottoman Sultan Murad II. The European coalition aimed to halt Ottoman expansion into the Balkans but was decisively defeated. King Władysław III fell in battle, leading to a major blow to Christian resistance in the region. The victory solidified Ottoman control over Southeastern Europe for decades. The battle demonstrated the effectiveness of Ottoman military organization and tactics. Varna became a symbol of both heroic resistance and catastrophic loss for the crusaders.
1444
Battle of Varna
Władysław III of Poland
Turks
Murad II
1599day.year
Åbo Bloodbath: Fourteen noblemen who opposed Duke Charles are decapitated in the Old Great Square of Turku (Swedish: Åbo) for their involvement in the War against Sigismund.
In the Åbo Bloodbath, fourteen noblemen opposing Duke Charles are executed in Turku's Old Great Square after the War against Sigismund.
During the Åbo Bloodbath on November 10, 1599, fourteen Finnish noblemen who supported King Sigismund were executed in the Old Great Square of Turku. Ordered by Duke Charles, later King Charles IX of Sweden, the mass beheadings followed a civil conflict over the Swedish throne. The executions served to consolidate Duke Charles's power and intimidate opposition. The event deepened divisions within Swedish and Finnish nobility during the War against Sigismund. The brutality shocked Europe and earned lasting infamy in Finland's history. The Åbo Bloodbath remains a stark example of political violence in the early modern era.
1599
Åbo Bloodbath
Duke Charles
Old Great Square
Turku
Swedish
War against Sigismund
1659day.year
Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Maratha King kills Afzal Khan, Adilshahi in the battle popularly known as Battle of Pratapgarh.
Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj ambushes and kills Adilshahi general Afzal Khan at the Battle of Pratapgarh, marking a pivotal moment in Maratha expansion.
At the Battle of Pratapgarh on November 10, 1659, the Maratha leader Shivaji Maharaj ambushed and killed the Adil Shahi general Afzal Khan. Shivaji used strategic planning and psychological tactics to lure Khan into a narrow pass, where he fell into a knife trap. This decisive victory bolstered Maratha morale and laid the groundwork for Shivaji's future campaigns against the Deccan Sultanates. The battle showcased Shivaji's skill as a guerrilla warrior and leader. Afzal Khan's death marked a turning point in Maratha resistance against Adil Shahi rule. Pratapgarh is celebrated as one of Shivaji's most legendary triumphs.
1659
Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Maratha King
Afzal Khan
Adilshahi
Battle of Pratapgarh
1702day.year
English colonists under the command of James Moore besiege Spanish St. Augustine during Queen Anne's War.
During Queen Anne's War, English forces led by James Moore lay siege to Spanish-held St. Augustine, Florida.
During Queen Anne's War on November 10, 1702, English colonial forces led by Governor James Moore besieged the Spanish fortress town of St. Augustine in Florida. Moore aimed to weaken Spanish influence and secure territorial gains for England. The siege lasted several weeks but ultimately failed due to strong Spanish defenses and reinforcements. The campaign demonstrated the strategic importance of Florida in colonial rivalries. Although unsuccessful, the siege intensified tensions and led to harsher frontier skirmishes. St. Augustine's survival underlined Spain's determination to maintain its New World holdings.
1702
James Moore
besiege
St. Augustine
Queen Anne's War
1821day.year
Cry of Independence by Rufina Alfaro at La Villa de Los Santos, Panama setting into motion a revolt which led to Panama's independence from Spain and to it immediately becoming part of Colombia.
Rufina Alfaro's Cry of Independence in Los Santos ignites a revolt in 1821 that ends Spanish rule in Panama.
On November 10, 1821, local heroine Rufina Alfaro inspired residents of La Villa de Los Santos to rise against Spanish colonial rule with her Cry of Independence. This courageous act sparked a widespread revolt that led to Panama declaring independence from Spain shortly thereafter. The movement, driven by local leaders and popular support, paved the way for Panama's immediate union with Gran Colombia. Alfaro's bravery became a symbol of national pride and resistance across the region. Her role in the uprising is celebrated as a foundational moment in Panama's path to sovereignty.
1821
Cry of Independence
La Villa de Los Santos
Panama
Panama's independence from Spain
Colombia
1865day.year
Major Henry Wirz, the superintendent of a prison camp in Andersonville, Georgia, is hanged, becoming one of only three American Civil War soldiers executed for war crimes.
Major Henry Wirz is hanged in 1865 for war crimes committed at the notorious Andersonville prison camp during the American Civil War.
Major Henry Wirz, superintendent of the Confederate prison camp at Andersonville, Georgia, was tried and convicted for crimes against humanity. During his tenure, thousands of Union soldiers died under horrific conditions of overcrowding, starvation, and disease. His 1865 execution marked one of only three instances in U.S. history where a military officer was executed for war crimes. The trial stirred controversy over command responsibility and the ethics of prison administration. Wirz's conviction set a precedent for legal accountability in wartime.
1865
Henry Wirz
a prison camp in Andersonville, Georgia
hanged
American Civil War
executed
war crimes
1918day.year
The Western Union Cable Office in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, receives a top-secret coded message from Europe (that would be sent to Ottawa and Washington, D.C.) that said on November 11, 1918, all fighting would cease on land, sea and in the air.
A top-secret cable in Nova Scotia on November 10, 1918, informs Ottawa and Washington that the Armistice ending World War I will begin on November 11.
The Western Union Cable Office in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, received a classified message from Europe detailing the imminent ceasefire of World War I. This crucial communication announced that all hostilities on land, sea, and air would cease at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918. Operators relayed the message swiftly to Ottawa and Washington, ensuring allied commands across North America were prepared for the Armistice. The timing underscored the importance of telegraph networks in wartime strategy and diplomacy. This cable stands as a testament to the behind-the-scenes efforts that shaped the end of the Great War.
1918
North Sydney, Nova Scotia
Ottawa
November 11, 1918
1942day.year
World War II: Germany invades Vichy France following French Admiral François Darlan's agreement to an armistice with the Allies in North Africa.
German forces launched an unexpected invasion of Vichy France after Admiral Darlan's armistice arrangement with Allied forces in North Africa.
Against the backdrop of the North African campaign, Admiral François Darlan negotiated a ceasefire with the Allies.
On November 10, 1942, Hitler ordered German troops to seize key ports and airfields in Vichy territory.
The invasion aimed to preempt Allied advances and secure Southern France.
Vichy forces offered minimal resistance, leading to German occupation of the zone.
This action marked the end of the Vichy government's nominal autonomy and tightened Nazi control over France.
1942
Germany
invades Vichy France
François Darlan
Allies
1945day.year
Heavy fighting in Surabaya between Indonesian nationalists and returning colonialists after World War II, today celebrated as Heroes' Day (Hari Pahlawan).
Following Japan's surrender, Indonesian fighters and Dutch forces engaged in fierce street battles in Surabaya, now honored as Heroes' Day.
On November 10, 1945, Surabaya became the epicenter of Indonesia's struggle for independence.
Thousands of nationalists, armed mainly with propaganda rifles and bamboo spears, resisted the arrival of Allied-backed Dutch forces.
The battle lasted three days and resulted in heavy casualties on both sides and widespread urban damage.
Despite being outgunned, Indonesian fighters displayed extraordinary valor, rallying popular support.
The memory of these clashes is celebrated annually as Hari Pahlawan, or Heroes' Day, honoring those who fell.
1945
Heavy fighting
Surabaya
Indonesian
Heroes' Day (Hari Pahlawan)
1970day.year
Vietnam War: Vietnamization: For the first time in five years, an entire week ends with no reports of American combat fatalities in Southeast Asia.
In November 1970, for the first time in five years, US forces record no combat fatalities in Southeast Asia over an entire week under the Vietnamization policy.
On November 10, 1970, the United States marked a significant milestone in its Vietnamization strategy. For the first time in five years, no American combat fatalities were reported in Southeast Asia during a full week. The policy aimed to transfer combat roles to South Vietnamese forces and reduce direct US involvement. This achievement provided a morale boost to troops and supporters back home. It highlighted both progress and the ongoing challenges of winding down American engagement in the war.
1970
Vietnam War
Vietnamization
1971day.year
In Cambodia, Khmer Rouge forces attack the city of Phnom Penh and its airport, killing 44, wounding at least 30 and damaging nine aircraft.
On November 10, 1971, Khmer Rouge forces attacked Phnom Penh and its airport, causing dozens of casualties and damaging aircraft.
In November 1971, radical Khmer Rouge fighters launched an assault on Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, targeting both the city and its airport. The attack resulted in 44 deaths, at least 30 injuries, and damage to nine airplanes. This bold operation demonstrated the growing strength and determination of the Khmer Rouge ahead of the Cambodian Civil War’s climax. The assault intensified fears in Phnom Penh and underscored the volatile security situation in Cambodia. It foreshadowed the brutal regime that would seize power in 1975.
1971
Cambodia
Khmer Rouge
Phnom Penh
aircraft