533day.year
Vandalic War: Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Tricamarum.
Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals at Tricamarum, ending their rule in North Africa.
In 533, during Emperor Justinian I’s campaign, General Belisarius led Byzantine forces against King Gelimer’s Vandals at the Battle of Tricamarum. The Byzantines executed a decisive flanking maneuver that shattered the Vandal lines. With their king in flight, the Vandal Kingdom collapsed soon after. This victory marked the restoration of Roman authority over former North African provinces. Belisarius’s tactical brilliance in this engagement solidified his reputation as one of history’s greatest generals.
533
Vandalic War
Byzantine
Belisarius
Vandals
Gelimer
Battle of Tricamarum
687day.year
Pope Sergius I is elected as a compromise between antipopes Paschal and Theodore.
Pope Sergius I is elected in a settlement between rival papal claimants.
In 687, Roman clergy and nobles brokered a compromise to end the schism caused by antipopes Paschal and Theodore. Sergius, a respected priest of Syrian descent, was chosen as a unifying figure acceptable to both factions. His election ended a period of ecclesiastical division and conflict in Rome. As pope, Sergius I focused on restoring church discipline and defending papal independence from Byzantine interference. His tenure laid groundwork for future popes to assert authority over church governance.
687
Pope Sergius I
antipopes
1025day.year
Constantine VIII becomes sole emperor of the Byzantine Empire, 63 years after being crowned co-emperor.
After six decades as co-emperor, Constantine VIII ascends as sole ruler of Byzantium.
On December 15, 1025, Constantine VIII assumed exclusive authority over the Byzantine Empire following the death of his brother, Basil II. Although crowned co-emperor at a young age, Constantine had remained largely in the shadow of Basil’s military successes. His ascension marked the end of a golden era of imperial expansion and military triumphs. As sole ruler, Constantine struggled to maintain the empire’s stability and vitality. His reign saw political intrigues and fiscal challenges that contrasted sharply with his brother’s disciplined governance.
1025
Constantine VIII
emperor
Byzantine Empire
1161day.year
Jin–Song wars: Military officers conspire against the emperor Wanyan Liang of the Jin dynasty after a military defeat at the Battle of Caishi, and assassinate the emperor at his camp.
Rebels assassinate Emperor Wanyan Liang after Jin forces lose at Caishi.
In 1161, following a crushing defeat by Song forces at the Battle of Caishi, discontented officers of the Jin dynasty orchestrated a plot against Emperor Wanyan Liang. While encamped, the emperor was ambushed and fatally struck by his mutinous generals. His assassination plunged the Jin court into turmoil and ignited power struggles among rival factions. The regicide underscored the high stakes of military failure in medieval China. It also shifted the balance in the Jin–Song wars, emboldening Song forces and altering the trajectory of northern Chinese politics.
1161
Jin–Song wars
Wanyan Liang
Jin dynasty
Battle of Caishi
1167day.year
Sicilian Chancellor Stephen du Perche moves the royal court to Messina to prevent a rebellion.
Chancellor Stephen du Perche relocates the Sicilian court to Messina to quell unrest.
On December 15, 1167, Stephen du Perche, the powerful chancellor of Sicily, ordered the royal court to relocate from Palermo to Messina. Facing growing noble unrest and rumors of rebellion, he sought a strategic position nearer the Italian mainland and away from hostile factions. The move temporarily stabilized royal authority but also deepened resentment among local aristocrats. Messina’s fortifications and loyal garrison offered du Perche a stronger defensive posture. However, this decision further alienated the Sicilian nobility and set the stage for future revolts against his administration.
1167
Sicilian
Chancellor
Stephen du Perche
Messina
1256day.year
Mongol forces under Hulagu enter and dismantle the Nizari Ismaili (Assassin) stronghold at Alamut Castle (in present-day Iran) as part of their offensive on Islamic southwest Asia.
Hulagu’s Mongols capture and demolish the fabled Alamut Castle stronghold.
In 1256, Hulagu Khan led his Mongol army against the legendary Assassin fortress of Alamut, perched high in the Elburz mountains. After cutting off supply routes, Mongol engineers breached the defenses with siege engines and psychological tactics. The fall of Alamut eliminated the Nizari Ismaili power base that had operated clandestinely across Persia. Hulagu ordered the complete demolition of the castle and the execution or exile of surviving defenders. This conquest opened the way for further Mongol advances into the heartland of Islamic civilization and reshaped the political landscape of the region.
1256
Mongol
Hulagu
Nizari Ismaili
Assassin
Alamut Castle
Iran
their offensive
1270day.year
The Nizari Ismaili garrison of Gerdkuh, Persia surrender after 17 years to the Mongols.
After a 17-year siege, the Nizari Ismaili fortress of Gerdkuh capitulates to Mongol forces.
On December 15, 1270, the last stronghold of the Nizari Ismailis at Gerdkuh in Persia surrendered to the Mongol Empire. The fortress had withstood countless assaults since the 1250s, thanks to its rugged terrain and determined defenders. Starved and outnumbered, the garrison negotiated terms to preserve civilian lives. The fall of Gerdkuh marked the definitive end of the Assassin network in Persia. Mongol control over the region was cemented, and the Ilkhanate established its rule across former Nizari territories.
1270
Nizari Ismaili
Gerdkuh
Mongols
1467day.year
Stephen III of Moldavia defeats Matthias Corvinus of Hungary, with the latter being injured thrice, at the Battle of Baia.
Moldavian Voivode Stephen III ousts Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus at Baia.
In December 1467, Stephen III of Moldavia met the invading forces of King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary at the Battle of Baia. Despite being outgunned, Stephen’s troops leveraged knowledge of the terrain to launch a surprise counterattack. King Matthias himself was wounded three times before his army retreated across the Carpathians. The victory solidified Stephen’s reputation as a defender of Moldavian independence. It also checked Hungarian ambitions in Eastern Europe and underscored the effectiveness of light cavalry tactics against heavy knights.
1467
Stephen III of Moldavia
Matthias Corvinus
Battle of Baia
1546day.year
The town of Ekenäs (Finnish: Tammisaari) is founded by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden.
King Gustav Vasa establishes the town of Ekenäs (Tammisaari) on the Finnish coast.
On December 15, 1546, King Gustav I of Sweden granted charter to the newly founded town of Ekenäs, known in Finnish as Tammisaari. Situated on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, the settlement aimed to boost regional trade and shipbuilding. Its location provided a sheltered harbor and access to timber resources. Over time, Ekenäs grew into a vital fishing and commercial hub, attracting merchants and craftsmen. The town’s foundation reflected Gustav Vasa’s broader efforts to strengthen royal control and develop the Swedish realm’s eastern territories.
1546
Ekenäs
Finnish
King Gustav Vasa of Sweden
1651day.year
Castle Cornet in Guernsey, the last stronghold which had supported the King in the Third English Civil War, surrenders.
Royalist-held Castle Cornet on Guernsey surrenders, ending resistance in the Third Civil War.
In 1651, Castle Cornet on the island of Guernsey capitulated after a prolonged siege, marking the end of Royalist resistance in the Third English Civil War. The fortress had withstood Parliamentary forces while mainland garrisons fell. Its fall secured Parliamentary control over the Channel Islands. The garrison was granted honorable terms, and civilians were spared harsh reprisals. Castle Cornet’s surrender symbolized the final closure of a conflict that reshaped English governance and paved the way for the Commonwealth period.
1651
Castle Cornet
Guernsey
Third English Civil War
1778day.year
American Revolutionary War: British and French fleets clash in the Battle of St. Lucia.
During the American Revolutionary War, British and French naval forces clashed off St. Lucia, fighting for strategic control of the Caribbean island.
The Battle of St. Lucia took place on December 15, 1778, during the American Revolutionary War. British Admiral Samuel Barrington aimed to secure the island against a French expedition under Admiral d'Estaing. The encounter featured intense cannon exchanges and maneuver warfare in tropical waters. Despite fierce resistance, the British emerged victorious, strengthening their position in the Caribbean. This naval clash underscored the global reach of the war and influenced future maritime engagements in the region.
1778
American Revolutionary War
British
Battle of St. Lucia
1791day.year
The United States Bill of Rights becomes law when ratified by the Virginia General Assembly.
On December 15, 1791, the Virginia General Assembly ratified the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, enshrining fundamental liberties for American citizens.
Conceived by James Madison, the Bill of Rights comprised the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, meant to secure individual liberties against government overreach. These amendments guaranteed freedoms such as speech, religion, assembly, and protection from unreasonable searches. After debates in state conventions, Virginia became the tenth and final state needed for ratification on December 15, 1791. Its approval officially made the Bill of Rights law, addressing concerns of Anti-Federalists across the new nation. The adoption of these amendments set a precedent for constitutional protection of civil rights. Over two centuries later, the Bill of Rights remains a cornerstone of American democracy and has inspired rights charters worldwide.
1791
United States Bill of Rights
Virginia General Assembly