November 13

Events - Wars & Conflicts

1002day.year

English king Æthelred II orders the killing of all Danes in England, known today as the St. Brice's Day massacre.

On November 13, 1002, King Æthelred II ordered the massacre of Danes throughout England, an atrocity now known as the St. Brice's Day Massacre.
King Æthelred II issued a decree on St. Brice's Day in 1002 to eliminate Danes living in England, driven by fear of Danish influence. The order led to widespread killings across major towns, including Oxford and Winchester. Contemporary sources report that men, women, and children were indiscriminately attacked. The massacre exacerbated tensions between England and Denmark, contributing to later Viking invasions. Historians view the event as a dark example of medieval ethnic violence and a catalyst for subsequent hostilities.
1002 Æthelred II Danes St. Brice's Day massacre
1093day.year

Battle of Alnwick: in an English victory over the Scots, Malcolm III of Scotland, and his son Edward, are killed.

In 1093, the Battle of Alnwick saw English forces defeat the Scots, leading to the deaths of King Malcolm III and his son Edward.
The Battle of Alnwick on November 13, 1093 was a pivotal engagement in the Anglo-Scottish conflicts. English nobles led by Robert de Mowbray ambushed King Malcolm III's forces. The Scots were caught off guard while raiding Northern England. Malcolm III and his heir Edward were both killed, triggering a succession crisis in Scotland. The victory strengthened English control over the border region and dampened Scottish raids for several years.
1093 Battle of Alnwick Malcolm III of Scotland
1642day.year

First English Civil War: Battle of Turnham Green: The Royalist forces withdraw in the face of the Parliamentarian army and fail to take London.

During the First English Civil War in 1642, the Battle of Turnham Green forced Royalist forces to withdraw, preserving Parliamentarian control of London.
The Battle of Turnham Green took place on November 13, 1642, as Royalist troops under the Earl of Newcastle advanced toward London. Parliamentarian forces, bolstered by trained bands and reinforced by civilians, formed strong defensive lines. Facing superior numbers, the Royalists hesitated and ultimately retreated. This failure to seize the capital denied King Charles I a quick resolution to the conflict. The stand at Turnham Green galvanized support for Parliament in London and marked a turning point in the early war.
1642 First English Civil War Battle of Turnham Green Royalist Parliamentarian London
1715day.year

Jacobite rising in Scotland: Battle of Sheriffmuir: The forces of the Kingdom of Great Britain halt the Jacobite advance, although the action is inconclusive.

In 1715, British government forces clashed with Jacobite rebels at the Battle of Sheriffmuir, halting the uprising in Scotland in an inconclusive encounter.
The Jacobite rising of 1715 peaked at the Battle of Sheriffmuir on November 13, 1715, when government troops under the Duke of Argyll engaged Highland clans loyal to James Stuart. Heavy fog and rugged terrain made coordinated attacks difficult, leading to chaotic fighting. Both sides claimed victory, but the battle forestalled the Jacobite march south. The inconclusive outcome stalled the rebellion and undermined Jacobite morale. In its aftermath, government forces regained momentum, eventually suppressing the uprising.
1715 Jacobite rising Battle of Sheriffmuir Kingdom of Great Britain
1775day.year

American Revolutionary War: Patriot revolutionary forces under Gen. Richard Montgomery occupy Montreal.

In 1775, General Richard Montgomery led Patriot forces to capture Montreal during the American Revolutionary War, extending the rebellion into Canada.
On November 13, 1775, American revolutionary forces under General Richard Montgomery secured Montreal after the city's defenders negotiated a peaceful surrender. The occupation followed the earlier capture of Fort Chambly and fortifications along the Richelieu River. Montgomery's advance aimed to bring Canada into the rebellion against Britain. Although welcomed by some local inhabitants, the occupation failed to inspire widespread Canadian support. Montgomery then planned an assault on Quebec City but was killed weeks later, stalling the northern campaign.
1775 American Revolutionary War Richard Montgomery Montreal
1864day.year

American Civil War: The three-day Battle of Bull's Gap ends in a Union rout as Confederates under Major General John C. Breckinridge pursue them to Strawberry Plains, Tennessee.

In 1864, Confederate forces under Major General John C. Breckinridge defeated Union troops at the Battle of Bull's Gap in Tennessee.
The Battle of Bull's Gap was fought from November 11 to 13, 1864, during the American Civil War's East Tennessee operations. Major General John C. Breckinridge led Confederate cavalry and infantry in a surprise attack on retreating Union forces. After three days of skirmishing and maneuvers, the Union army was routed and pushed back to Strawberry Plains. The victory temporarily disrupted Union supply lines and emboldened Confederate guerrilla activities in the region. However, the Confederates lacked the resources to follow up strategically, and Union forces soon regrouped.
1864 American Civil War Battle of Bull's Gap Union Confederates John C. Breckinridge Strawberry Plains, Tennessee
1914day.year

Zaian War: Berber tribesmen inflict the heaviest defeat of French forces in Morocco at the Battle of El Herri.

Berber fighters deliver a devastating blow to French colonial troops in Morocco at the Battle of El Herri during the Zaian War.
On 13 November 1914, during the Zaian War in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, Berber fighters ambushed a French column near El Herri. Led by local chieftains, the tribesmen exploited their knowledge of the terrain to encircle the imperial troops. The French force, under General Henri Claudel, suffered heavy casualties and was forced into a disorganized retreat. It marked the heaviest defeat of the French campaign, undermining colonial confidence in the region. The setback prompted a re-evaluation of military tactics and reinforcements in Morocco. The battle remains a significant episode in the struggle against European expansion in North Africa.
1914 Zaian War Battle of El Herri
1917day.year

World War I: beginning of the First Battle of Monte Grappa (in Italy known as the "First Battle of the Piave"). The Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces, despite help from the German Alpenkorps and numerical superiority, will fail their offensive against the Italian Army now led by its new chief of staff Armando Diaz.

Austro-Hungarian forces launch a major offensive at Monte Grappa but fail to break Italian defenses despite German Alpenkorps support.
On 13 November 1917, during World War I, Austro-Hungarian troops with German Alpenkorps support commenced the First Battle of Monte Grappa in the Italian Alps. Their aim was to outflank and overwhelm the new Italian defensive lines established by Chief of Staff Armando Diaz. Despite initial advances in rugged mountain terrain, logistical difficulties and stiff Italian resistance halted the offensive. Italian forces, bolstered by high ground and well-prepared positions, inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers. The failure marked a turning point on the Italian Front, restoring morale after the setback at Caporetto. Monte Grappa remained a contested stronghold for the remainder of the war.
1917 First Battle of Monte Grappa Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces Alpenkorps Italian Army Armando Diaz
1918day.year

World War I: Allied troops occupy Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

Allied forces occupy Constantinople following the Armistice of Mudros, marking the end of Ottoman involvement in World War I.
On 13 November 1918, Allied troops entered Constantinople following the Armistice of Mudros, which ended hostilities in the Middle East. British, French, Italian, and Greek forces marched into key districts of the city, including Pera and Galata. The occupation symbolized the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire and the Allies' victory in World War I. Foreign troops controlled strategic points like the Bosphorus straits, impacting the city's administration and daily life. Local resistance and nationalist sentiments would later fuel the Turkish War of Independence under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The occupation until 1923 influenced the postwar Treaty of Sèvres and the eventual establishment of the Republic of Turkey.
1918 Allied troops occupy Constantinople Ottoman Empire
1941day.year

World War II: The aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal is torpedoed by U-81, sinking the following day.

On November 13, 1941, the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal was torpedoed by German U-boat U-81, forcing its sinking the following day.
On November 13, 1941, HMS Ark Royal was hit by a torpedo launched from German submarine U-81 near Gibraltar. Damage-control teams fought flooding through the night amid challenging seas. The carrier began to list dangerously, prompting the evacuation of nearly its entire crew. Rescue vessels managed to save over 1,500 sailors before the Ark Royal sank on November 14. The incident represented a significant loss for Allied naval power in the Mediterranean.
1941 World War II aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal U-81 following day
1942day.year

World War II: Naval Battle of Guadalcanal: U.S. and Japanese ships engage in an intense, close-quarters surface naval engagement during the Guadalcanal Campaign.

During the Guadalcanal Campaign on November 13, 1942, U.S. and Japanese naval forces clashed in a fierce close-quarters battle.
On November 13, 1942, U.S. and Imperial Japanese Navy ships engaged in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Close-range gunnery duels and torpedo attacks raged amid darkness and smoke. Both sides suffered heavy casualties as cruisers and destroyers dueled within sight of each other. The engagement marked one of the most intense surface actions of the Pacific War. Its outcome helped secure Allied control of critical sea lanes near Guadalcanal.
1942 Naval Battle of Guadalcanal Guadalcanal Campaign
1966day.year

In response to Fatah raids against Israelis near the West Bank border, Israel launches an attack on the village of As-Samu.

Israel attacked the village of As-Samu on November 13, 1966, in retaliation for Fatah raids near the West Bank border.
In response to cross-border raids by Palestinian fighters, Israeli forces launched Operation Shredder on November 13, 1966. Tanks and infantry assaulted the village of As-Samu in the occupied West Bank. The operation aimed to dismantle Fatah guerrilla infrastructure and deter future incursions. The assault resulted in military and civilian casualties, drawing international condemnation. It marked a significant escalation in the Arab-Israeli conflict leading up to the Six-Day War.
1966 Fatah West Bank launches an attack As-Samu