536day.year
Gothic War: The Byzantine general Belisarius enters Rome unopposed; the Gothic garrison flees the capital.
Byzantine general Belisarius entered Rome unopposed in 536 after Gothic defenders abandoned the city, marking a key moment in the Gothic War.
During the winter of 536, Byzantine general Belisarius advanced on Rome as part of Emperor Justinian I’s campaign to restore the Roman Empire’s western territories. Arriving at the city’s gates, he discovered the Ostrogothic garrison had fled, leaving Rome undefended. His bloodless entry symbolized a dramatic shift in the Gothic War, demonstrating Byzantine military strength and Gothic disarray. Residents welcomed the Byzantines as liberators, hopeful for renewed stability under imperial rule. The fall of Rome without combat showcased Belisarius’s strategic brilliance and paved the way for further Byzantine advances in Italy.
536
Gothic War
Belisarius
Gothic
730day.year
Battle of Marj Ardabil: The Khazars annihilate an Umayyad army and kill its commander, al-Jarrah ibn Abdallah al-Hakami.
In 730, Khazar forces crushed an Umayyad army at Marj Ardabil, slaying commander al-Jarrah ibn Abdallah al-Hakami and halting the Caliphate’s northern expansion.
On December 9, 730, the Khazar Khaganate ambushed an Umayyad army near Marj Ardabil during ongoing frontier conflicts. The Khazar cavalry executed a decisive assault, inflicting heavy casualties and killing the Umayyad commander al-Jarrah ibn Abdallah al-Hakami. This victory shattered Umayyad ambitions north of the Caucasus and solidified Khazar control over critical trade routes. Contemporary chronicles note the overconfidence of the Umayyad troops in the face of Khazar tactics. The triumph elevated Khazar prestige and checked Islamic expansion into Eastern Europe. The battle underscored the strategic importance of the Caucasus frontier in medieval geopolitics.
730
Battle of Marj Ardabil
Khazars
Umayyad
al-Jarrah ibn Abdallah al-Hakami
1432day.year
The first battle between the forces of Švitrigaila and Sigismund Kęstutaitis is fought near the town of Oszmiana (Ashmyany), launching the most active phase of the Lithuanian Civil War.
In 1432, the armies of Švitrigaila and Sigismund Kęstutaitis clashed near Oszmiana, igniting the fiercest stage of the Lithuanian Civil War over the Grand Ducal throne.
On December 9, 1432, forces loyal to Švitrigaila met troops supporting his cousin Sigismund Kęstutaitis on the fields near Oszmiana (modern Ashmyany). This encounter marked the first major battle of the Lithuanian Civil War, a dynastic struggle for control of the Grand Duchy. Švitrigaila sought to assert Lithuania’s independence from Polish influence, while Sigismund was backed by the Polish Crown. Although neither side secured a decisive victory, the clash set off a protracted conflict involving shifting noble alliances and foreign powers. The civil war would last until 1438, ultimately shaping Lithuania’s political trajectory and its relationship with Poland.
1432
Švitrigaila
Sigismund Kęstutaitis
Oszmiana (Ashmyany)
Lithuanian Civil War
1636day.year
The Qing dynasty of China, led by Emperor Hong Taiji, invades Joseon.
In 1636, Emperor Hong Taiji’s Qing forces invaded Joseon Korea, defeating its defenses and imposing tributary status on the kingdom.
In late 1636, Manchu armies under Hong Taiji, the newly proclaimed Qing emperor, crossed into Joseon territory after Korea refused to abandon its alliance with the fallen Ming dynasty. The Qing forces besieged key mountain fortresses outside Hanseong (modern Seoul) during a harsh winter campaign. Faced with overwhelming enemy numbers and freezing conditions, King Injo of Joseon negotiated surrender terms. The resulting Treaty of Samjeondo forced Joseon to become a Qing tributary state, ending its longstanding Ming affiliation. This subjugation reshaped the balance of power in East Asia for centuries. The invasion left a lasting legacy in Korean historical memory and foreign policy.
1636
Qing dynasty of China
Hong Taiji
invades
Joseon
1688day.year
Glorious Revolution: Williamite forces defeat Jacobites at Battle of Reading, forcing James II to flee England. (Date is Old Style; the date in the New Style modern calendar is 19 December.)
On December 9, 1688 (Old Style), Williamite troops triumphed at the Battle of Reading, compelling King James II to abandon England during the Glorious Revolution.
During the Glorious Revolution, Protestant forces led by William of Orange advanced through southern England after being invited by Parliamentarians. On December 9 (Old Style), Williamite regiments clashed with Jacobite defenders at Reading, swiftly defeating them. The victory shattered Jacobite resistance and left James II’s position untenable, prompting his flight to France shortly afterward. This bloodless revolution displaced the last Catholic monarch of England and ushered in joint rule by William III and Mary II. The events set a precedent for constitutional monarchy and parliamentary supremacy. The English Bill of Rights would soon codify these new political principles.
1688
Glorious Revolution
Battle of Reading
James II
Old Style
1775day.year
American Revolutionary War: British troops and Loyalists, misinformed about Patriot militia strength, lose the Battle of Great Bridge, ending British rule in Virginia.
In 1775, Patriot forces repelled British and Loyalist troops at the Battle of Great Bridge, ending British governance in Virginia during the American Revolutionary War.
On December 9, 1775, American Patriot militia under Colonel William Woodford confronted British regulars and Loyalist forces at Great Bridge near Norfolk, Virginia. The Patriots had fortified positions on the far side of the Elizabeth River, making any frontal assault perilous. When the British, led by Governor Lord Dunmore, launched their attack, they suffered heavy losses and were forced to withdraw. This decisive Patriot victory prompted Dunmore’s evacuation from Norfolk and the collapse of British authority in Virginia. The triumph boosted Patriot morale and secured a strategic foothold for the Continental cause. Virginia would remain a crucial center of revolutionary activity throughout the war.
1775
American Revolutionary War
Loyalists
Patriot
Battle of Great Bridge
Virginia
1824day.year
Patriot forces led by General Antonio José de Sucre defeat a Royalist army in the Battle of Ayacucho, putting an end to the Peruvian War of Independence.
In 1824, General Antonio José de Sucre’s Patriot army delivered a decisive victory at the Battle of Ayacucho, ending Spanish rule in Peru and securing independence.
On December 9, 1824, during the concluding campaign of the Peruvian War of Independence, Antonio José de Sucre led Patriot forces against the Spanish royal army on the plains of Ayacucho. Employing superior strategy and knowledge of the terrain, the Patriots overwhelmed their adversaries and forced Viceroy José de la Serna to capitulate. The surrender at Ayacucho signaled the collapse of Spanish colonial authority across South America. Simón Bolívar hailed the battle as the crowning achievement of the continental liberation movement. Peru’s freedom paved the way for the emergence of new republics in the region. Ayacucho remains celebrated as a symbol of Latin American independence and unity.
1824
Antonio José de Sucre
Battle of Ayacucho
Peruvian War of Independence
1835day.year
Texas Revolution: The Texian Army captures San Antonio following the Siege of Béxar.
In 1835, Texian forces seized San Antonio after the Siege of Béxar, marking a major victory in the Texas Revolution.
On December 9, 1835, Texian revolutionaries secured a pivotal triumph by capturing the city of San Antonio following a protracted Siege of Béxar. The operation, inspired by the rallying cry of Ben Milam to ‘Who will go with old Ben Milam?’, culminated in the surrender of General Martín Perfecto de Cos. The fall of San Antonio dealt a severe blow to Mexican authority in Texas and boosted the morale of the Texian Army. It provided strategic momentum that carried the revolution forward and set the stage for later engagements at the Alamo and San Jacinto. This victory remains a celebrated moment in Texas history, symbolizing the resolve of settlers fighting for independence.
1835
Texas Revolution
Texian Army
San Antonio
Siege of Béxar
1856day.year
The Iranian city of Bushehr surrenders to occupying British forces.
During the Anglo-Persian War in 1856, British forces captured the strategic port city of Bushehr after its defenders surrendered.
Bushehr, located on the Persian Gulf, was a vital naval and trade base in southern Persia.
Britain, seeking to protect its interests in India, launched a naval expedition in late 1856 against Persian forces.
On December 9, 1856, Persian defenders in Bushehr laid down their arms following sustained bombardment.
The occupation provided the British with a foothold to press their demands in the subsequent Treaty of Paris.
The armistice and occupation highlighted the shifting balance of power between Persia and the British Empire.
The conflict concluded in March 1857 with Persia ceding influence in the region.
1856
Iranian
Bushehr
1861day.year
American Civil War: The Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War is established by Congress.
In December 1861, the U.S. Congress formed the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War to oversee and investigate Union military operations during the American Civil War.
Facing setbacks in the early months of the Civil War, Congress established the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War on December 9, 1861.
Composed of senators and representatives, the committee was tasked with examining military strategy, logistics, and leadership.
It held hearings reviewing Union failures and interrogated key generals, influencing public opinion and war policies.
The committee’s oversight sometimes led to tensions with military commanders, notably General McClellan.
Its investigations shaped the administration’s approach to prosecution of the war and civil-military relations.
The committee operated until 1865, leaving a legacy of legislative oversight in wartime.
1861
American Civil War
Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War
Congress
1893day.year
National Assembly bombing by Auguste Vaillant during the Ère des attentats (1892–1894).
On December 9, 1893, anarchist Auguste Vaillant detonated a bomb in the French National Assembly during the 'Era of Attacks'.
Vaillant, motivated by anarchist ideology, threw an explosive package into the chamber of the French lower house.
The device inflicted only minor injuries but caused panic and property damage in the chamber.
Arrested immediately, Vaillant was tried before the Court of Assizes for regicide and terrorism.
His actions intensified French government crackdowns on anarchist groups and led to stricter security measures.
Vaillant was executed by guillotine in February 1894, becoming a martyr figure for some radicals.
The attack marked a heightened period of political violence in France known as the 'Era of Attacks'.
1893
National Assembly bombing
Auguste Vaillant
Ère des attentats
1917day.year
World War I: Field Marshal Allenby captures Jerusalem from the Ottoman Empire.
In World War I, British General Edmund Allenby captured Jerusalem from the Ottoman Empire on December 9, 1917.
Allenby’s forces launched a decisive offensive following victories at Beersheba and Gaza.
On the morning after the surrender, Allenby entered Jerusalem on foot as a gesture of respect for its sacred sites.
The fall of the city ended four centuries of Ottoman rule and marked a turning point in the Middle Eastern campaign.
Jerusalem’s capture thrilled the Allied nations and had profound symbolic significance for Christians, Jews, and Muslims.
The occupation paved the way for the establishment of the British Mandate in Palestine after the war.
Allenby’s conduct of the campaign remains studied for its combination of military skill and diplomatic sensitivity.
1917
World War I
Allenby
Jerusalem
Ottoman Empire