1110day.year
An army led by Baldwin I of Jerusalem and Sigurd the Crusader of Norway captures Sidon at the end of the First Crusade.
In 1110, Crusader forces under Baldwin I of Jerusalem and Sigurd the Crusader seized Sidon, a key Mediterranean port.
On December 4, 1110, the allied armies of King Baldwin I of Jerusalem and Norwegian prince Sigurd the Crusader took the coastal city of Sidon after a brief siege. Sidon's capture secured a vital port for the Crusader states, strengthening supply lines to Outremer. The victory also showcased the cooperation between Frankish and Norse contingents, bolstering Baldwin's hold on the Levantine frontier. This strategic gain hastened the end of the First Crusade era of consolidation. It remained under Crusader control until recaptured by Muslim forces in the later 12th century.
1110
Baldwin I of Jerusalem
Sigurd the Crusader
Norway
Sidon
First Crusade
1623day.year
50 Christians are executed in Edo, Japan, during the Great Martyrdom of Edo.
In 1623, fifty Christians were executed in Edo, Japan, in the Great Martyrdom of Edo, as part of Tokugawa anti-Christian persecution.
During the Tokugawa shogunate's crackdown on foreign influence, December 4, 1623 saw the execution of fifty Christians—missionaries and converts—in Edo (modern Tokyo). Victims were subjected to torture and death by crucifixion or burning. The Great Martyrdom of Edo decimated the Christian community and reinforced the shogunate's isolationist Sakoku policy. Christian worship was driven underground for over two centuries. These martyrs are remembered by the Catholic Church and stand as a stark example of early modern religious persecution in Japan.
1623
Edo
Great Martyrdom of Edo
1676day.year
The Battle of Lund, becomes the bloodiest battle in Scandinavian history.
In 1676, the Battle of Lund turned into the bloodiest engagement in Scandinavian history during the Scanian War.
Fought on December 4, 1676, near the Swedish town of Lund, this clash saw the armies of King Charles XI of Sweden and King Christian V of Denmark collide in fierce combat. Both sides suffered massive casualties, with estimates of nearly 10,000 killed or wounded. Despite being outnumbered, the Swedes secured a hard-fought victory that preserved their control over Skåne. The battle's ferocity and heavy losses mark it as one of the most brutal in Northern European history. Its outcome influenced the balance of power in the region during the late 17th century.
1676
Battle of Lund
1745day.year
Charles Edward Stuart's army reaches Derby, its furthest point during the Second Jacobite Rising.
On December 4, 1745, the Jacobite army led by Charles Edward Stuart reached Derby, marking the high point of the uprising.
Charles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, led his Highlander and Irish supporters deep into England, reaching Derby on December 4, 1745. This advance alarmed the British government and threatened London. Facing supply shortages and the prospect of Hanoverian reinforcements, the Jacobite Council controversially decided to retreat. The decision at Derby proved pivotal, allowing government forces to regroup and eventually crushing the rebellion at Culloden in 1746. The episode remains a defining moment in Scottish history.
1745
Charles Edward Stuart
Derby
Second Jacobite Rising
1808day.year
Napoleonic Wars: Under the orders by commander Tomás de Morla, the city of Madrid surrenders to French Emperor Napoleon I after a 4 day long siege.
During the Napoleonic Wars, Madrid surrenders to French forces led by Napoleon I after a four-day siege.
On December 4, 1808, following orders from Spanish General Tomás de Morla, the city of Madrid capitulated to the advancing forces of Emperor Napoleon I. The four-day siege had strangled supply lines and led to widespread hardship among the city's inhabitants. Napoleon’s occupation of the Spanish capital dealt a significant blow to Spanish resistance during the Peninsular War. The surrender underscored the effectiveness of French military strategy but also fueled guerrilla warfare across the Iberian Peninsula. Despite the occupation, Spanish partisans continued to challenge French authority, shaping the broader struggle against Napoleonic expansion in Europe.
1808
Napoleonic Wars
Tomás de Morla
Madrid surrenders
Napoleon I
1861day.year
American Civil War: The 109 electors of the several states of the Confederate States of America unanimously elect Jefferson Davis as President and Alexander H. Stephens as Vice President.
The Confederate States of America elect Jefferson Davis as President and Alexander H. Stephens as Vice President.
On December 4, 1861, the Confederacy’s electoral college unanimously selected Jefferson Davis as its President and Alexander H. Stephens as Vice President. The election formalized the political leadership of the seceded Southern states during the American Civil War. Davis, a former U.S. Senator and Secretary of War, faced the daunting task of unifying the nascent nation under wartime pressures. Stephens, once a Unionist, became the Confederacy's chief political voice. Their administration focused on military organization, diplomatic recognition, and maintaining civilian morale amid escalating conflict on multiple fronts.
1861
American Civil War
electors
Confederate States of America
elect
Jefferson Davis
President
Alexander H. Stephens
Vice President
1863day.year
American Civil War: Confederate General James Longstreet lifts his unsuccessful siege of Knoxville, Tennessee after failing to capture the city.
Confederate General James Longstreet lifts his failed siege of Knoxville, Tennessee, after failing to capture the city.
On December 4, 1863, Confederate troops under General James Longstreet abandoned the siege of Knoxville, Tennessee, which had begun in November. Longstreet’s assault on the Union-held city aimed to divert Union forces from Chattanooga but met stiff resistance from General Ambrose Burnside's defenders. Supply shortages and deteriorating weather conditions further weakened Confederate efforts. The retreat marked a strategic setback for the Confederacy in East Tennessee. Knoxville remained under Union control, securing a key foothold in the region and bolstering Northern operations in the Western Theater.
1863
James Longstreet
siege
Knoxville, Tennessee
1864day.year
American Civil War: Sherman's March to the Sea: Union cavalry forces defeat Confederate cavalry in the Battle of Waynesboro, Georgia, opening the way for General William T. Sherman's army to approach the coast.
Union cavalry defeat Confederate forces at the Battle of Waynesboro, Georgia, opening the path for General Sherman’s March to the Sea.
On December 4, 1864, Union cavalry led by General Judson Kilpatrick routed Confederate cavalry under General Joseph Wheeler at Waynesboro, Georgia. This victory cleared the way for Major General William T. Sherman’s army to advance toward the Atlantic coast. Sherman's March to the Sea aimed to cripple the Confederacy’s war resources through a scorched-earth campaign. The Battle of Waynesboro demonstrated Union cavalry’s growing effectiveness in deep operations behind enemy lines. It contributed to the isolation of Savannah and hastened the collapse of Southern resistance in the Winter Campaign.
1864
Sherman's March to the Sea
Union
Battle of Waynesboro, Georgia
William T. Sherman
1893day.year
First Matabele War: A patrol of 34 British South Africa Company soldiers is ambushed and annihilated by more than 3,000 Matabele warriors on the Shangani River in Matabeleland.
In a dramatic encounter during the First Matabele War, 34 British South Africa Company soldiers were overwhelmed by thousands of Matabele warriors at the Shangani River.
On December 4, 1893, a reconnaissance patrol of the British South Africa Company crossed the Shangani River in Matabeleland.
The small group of 34 soldiers, known later as the Shangani Patrol, was encircled by over 3,000 Matabele warriors.
Despite a brief stand, the patrol was completely wiped out, shocking colonial forces.
The incident was immortalized as a symbol of colonial bravery and tragedy.
It underscored the fierce resistance of the Matabele people against British encroachment in southern Africa.
1893
First Matabele War
British South Africa Company
ambushed and annihilated
Matabele
Shangani River
Matabeleland
1919day.year
Ukrainian War of Independence: The Polonsky conspiracy is initiated, with an attempt to assassinate the high command of the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine.
Conspirators launched the Polonsky attempt to assassinate the leadership of the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine.
Amid the turbulence of the Ukrainian War of Independence, various factions vied for power.
On December 4, 1919, the Polonsky conspiracy plotted the murder of the Makhnovist high command.
The Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine, led by Nestor Makhno, was targeted in a coordinated attack.
The plot was uncovered before it could be executed, leading to arrests and intensified security.
This conspiracy highlighted the internal strife and complexity of Ukraine’s struggle for sovereignty.
1919
Ukrainian War of Independence
Polonsky conspiracy
Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine
1939day.year
World War II: HMS Nelson is struck by a mine (laid by U-31) off the Scottish coast and is laid up for repairs until August 1940.
On December 4, 1939, the British battleship HMS Nelson struck a naval mine off the Scottish coast and was taken out of service for repairs until August 1940.
In the early months of World War II, HMS Nelson, one of the Royal Navy’s most modern battleships, hit a mine laid by the German U-boat U-31 off the Fife coast of Scotland on December 4, 1939. The explosion caused significant damage to her hull, forcing the vessel to be laid up in dock for extensive repairs lasting until August 1940. Despite her incapacitation, the ship’s crew managed to contain flooding and prevent catastrophic sinking. The incident highlighted the pervasive threat posed by naval mines in coastal waters and the challenges the Royal Navy faced in protecting its home waters. HMS Nelson would later return to service, participating in Atlantic convoy escorts and other wartime operations. Her resilience became emblematic of the Royal Navy’s determination during the early war years.
1939
World War II
HMS Nelson
mine
U-31
1942day.year
World War II: Carlson's patrol during the Guadalcanal Campaign ends.
Carlson’s patrol, a bold U.S. Marine reconnaissance operation in the Guadalcanal Campaign, concluded on December 4, 1942.
Led by Lieutenant Colonel Evans Carlson, Carlson’s patrol was a daring long-range reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines during the Guadalcanal Campaign in World War II. Starting in late November 1942, the patrol inserted 180 Marines deep into Guadalcanal’s jungle to gather intelligence on Japanese positions and disrupt supply lines. Over two weeks, they traversed rugged terrain, engaging in skirmishes and evading enemy patrols while living off the land. The operation showcased innovative tactics inspired by Carlson’s study of guerrilla forces and emphasized small-unit cohesion. The successful conclusion of the patrol on December 4 provided critical intelligence that informed future Allied operations. Carlson’s methods would influence Marine Corps special operations for decades.
1942
Carlson's patrol
Guadalcanal Campaign