December 22

Events - Wars & Conflicts

880day.year

Luoyang, eastern capital of the Tang dynasty, is captured by rebel leader Huang Chao during the reign of Emperor Xizong.

Rebel leader Huang Chao captures Luoyang, the eastern capital of China’s Tang dynasty, in 880 during Emperor Xizong’s reign.
On December 22, 880, the rebel general Huang Chao seized Luoyang, striking a severe blow to the waning Tang dynasty. Luoyang served as the eastern capital and a key administrative and cultural center of imperial China. Huang Chao's forces capitalized on widespread peasant discontent and corrupt local officials. Emperor Xizong's court struggled to organize an effective defense amid internal factionalism. The capture amplified the dynasty’s vulnerability, foreshadowing its eventual collapse in 907. This episode highlighted the social and military tensions that plagued late Tang China.
880 Luoyang Tang dynasty Huang Chao Emperor Xizong
1135day.year

Three weeks after the death of King Henry I of England, Stephen of Blois claims the throne and is privately crowned King of England, beginning the English Anarchy.

In 1135, Stephen of Blois seizes the English throne and is privately crowned, igniting the period known as the English Anarchy.
Three weeks after King Henry I’s death, Stephen of Blois marched into England and claimed the throne on December 22, 1135. He received a private coronation, bypassing key barons who supported Empress Matilda’s inheritance. Stephen’s ascension triggered a protracted civil war known as the English Anarchy (1135–1153). The conflict pitted Stephen against Matilda, daughter of Henry I, and divided the nobility. Widespread disorder, shifting allegiances, and mercenary violence marked this turbulent era. The Anarchy concluded with the Treaty of Wallingford, establishing Matilda’s son as Stephen’s successor.
1135 Henry I of England Stephen of Blois King of England English Anarchy
1489day.year

The forces of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, take control of Almería from the Nasrid ruler of Granada, Muhammad XIII.

In 1489, Ferdinand and Isabella’s forces capture Almería, extending the Catholic Monarchs’ control in Granada.
On December 22, 1489, the armies of Spain’s Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II and Isabella I, seized the city of Almería from the Nasrid kingdom. This conquest was part of the Granada War, the final campaign of the Reconquista. Almería’s fall cut off a critical port for the Nasrid rulers and undermined their economic base. The victory demonstrated the growing military and naval power of the unified Spanish crowns. It paved the way for the eventual surrender of Granada in 1492, completing Christian reconquest of Iberia. The campaign had lasting cultural and demographic impacts on southern Spain.
1489 Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand Isabella Almería Nasrid Granada Muhammad XIII
1769day.year

Sino-Burmese War: The war ends with the Qing dynasty withdrawing from Burma forever.

The Sino-Burmese War ends in 1769 as Qing forces withdraw from Burma, concluding decades of conflict.
On December 22, 1769, the prolonged Sino-Burmese War concluded with the Qing dynasty formally retreating from Burma. The conflict began in 1765 as Qing China attempted to subdue Burmese kingdoms in northern Shan State. Harsh terrain, logistical challenges, and fierce Burmese resistance thwarted Qing ambitions. Burmese forces under King Hsinbyushin secured their frontier and protected sovereignty. The Qing withdrawal marked a rare imperial military failure and stabilized the Burma–China border. This peace ushered in a period of relative tranquility and trade between the two empires.
1769 Sino-Burmese War Qing dynasty
1788day.year

Nguyễn Huệ proclaims himself Emperor Quang Trung, in effect abolishing on his own the Lê dynasty.

In 1788, Vietnamese leader Nguyễn Huệ proclaims himself Emperor Quang Trung, abolishing the Lê dynasty.
On December 22, 1788, Nguyễn Huệ declared himself Emperor Quang Trung, effectively ending the centuries-old Lê dynasty in Vietnam. As a military and political leader of the Tây Sơn rebels, he sought to unify the country under his rule. Quang Trung launched swift reforms in administration, land distribution, and military organization. His ascension marked a turning point in Vietnamese history, emphasizing meritocracy over hereditary privilege. He later achieved a stunning victory over Qing invaders at the Battle of Ngọc Hồi-Đống Đa. Quang Trung’s reign left a legacy of cultural renewal and national consolidation.
1788 Nguyễn Huệ Lê dynasty
1790day.year

The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Alexander Suvorov and his Russian armies.

Alexander Suvorov’s Russian forces storm and capture the fortress of Izmail from the Ottomans in 1790.
On December 22, 1790, Field Marshal Alexander Suvorov led Russian troops in a daring assault on the Ottoman fortress of Izmail. Izmail, a heavily fortified stronghold on the Danube, was considered nearly impregnable. Suvorov’s meticulous planning and aggressive tactics overcame fort walls in a swift but brutal engagement. The victory dealt a severe blow to Ottoman defensive lines and bolstered Russian prestige. Casualties were heavy on both sides, but the fall of Izmail opened the Danube frontier to Russian advances. This triumph cemented Suvorov’s reputation as one of the era’s greatest military commanders.
1790 Izmail stormed and captured Alexander Suvorov
1864day.year

American Civil War: Savannah, Georgia, falls to the Union's Army of the Tennessee, and General Sherman tells President Abraham Lincoln: "I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah".

During the American Civil War on December 22, 1864, Union General Sherman captured Savannah and famously gifted the city to President Lincoln.
After a grueling march through Georgia, Union forces under General William Tecumseh Sherman reached Savannah on December 22, 1864. The city surrendered without a major battle, marking a strategic victory for the Union Army. President Abraham Lincoln received Sherman’s dispatch offering Savannah as a Christmas present. The capture crippled the Confederacy’s supply lines along the Georgia coast. Sherman’s ‘March to the Sea’ became notorious for its psychological impact and total war strategy. Confederate lack of resources and battlefield isolation hastened the city’s fall. Savannah’s port and naval facilities provided valuable assets for the Union. The event boosted Northern morale as the Civil War approached its conclusion.
1864 American Civil War Savannah, Georgia Union's Army of the Tennessee Sherman Abraham Lincoln
1940day.year

World War II: Himara is captured by the Greek army.

During World War II, Greek forces seize the strategic Albanian port town of Himara, marking a key success in the Greco-Italian War.
In the winter of December 1940, Greek troops advanced into southern Albania during the Greco-Italian War. On December 22, they captured the coastal town of Himara, an important strategic and logistical hub. The victory boosted Greek morale and secured a valuable beachhead on the Ionian Sea. Italian forces, pushed back from their initial invasion route, struggled to regain lost territory. Himara's capture demonstrated the effectiveness of Greek mountain warfare tactics against the Italian army. The engagement contributed to changes in Axis strategy in the Balkans during World War II.
1940 Himara
1942day.year

World War II: Adolf Hitler signs the order to develop the V-2 rocket as a weapon.

Adolf Hitler orders the development of the V-2 ballistic rocket as a weapon, paving the way for the world's first long-range guided missile.
On December 22, 1942, Adolf Hitler officially authorized work on the V-2 rocket program at Peenemünde, Germany. Engineered by Wernher von Braun and his team, the V-2 became the first successful long-range guided ballistic missile. The rocket used liquid oxygen and alcohol propellant, reaching the edge of space before descending onto targets. Employed against Allied cities in 1944-45, the V-2 caused significant destruction and civilian casualties. Its development marked a milestone in rocket science, influencing post-war space exploration during the Cold War. The program's reliance on forced labor and its horrific wartime deployment remain subjects of ethical debate.
1942 Adolf Hitler V-2 rocket
1944day.year

World War II: Battle of the Bulge: German troops demand the surrender of United States troops at Bastogne, Belgium, prompting the famous one word reply by General Anthony McAuliffe: "Nuts!"

In the Battle of the Bulge, U.S. General McAuliffe famously replies 'Nuts!' to a German demand for surrender at Bastogne.
During the harsh winter of December 1944, German forces encircled the American 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne, Belgium. On December 22, German commanders sent a surrender ultimatum to Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe. McAuliffe's terse response, 'Nuts!', stunned both his staff and the enemy negotiators. The witty refusal became a symbol of American resilience and defiance during World War II. Relief forces arrived days later, breaking the siege and turning the tide in the Ardennes counteroffensive. The 'Nuts!' reply remains one of the most celebrated moments of Allied wartime lore.
1944 Battle of the Bulge German Bastogne Belgium Anthony McAuliffe
1944day.year

World War II: The People's Army of Vietnam is formed to resist Japanese occupation of Indochina, now Vietnam.

The People's Army of Vietnam is founded to resist Japanese occupation, laying the military groundwork for Vietnam's modern armed forces.
On December 22, 1944, the Viet Minh announced the formation of the People's Army of Vietnam under revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh. Established to fight Japanese occupiers and prepare for French colonial resurgence, it was Vietnam's first national military force. Composed of local militias and guerrilla units, it employed hit-and-run tactics suited to the rugged terrain. After World War II, it played a central role in Vietnam's struggle for independence against French and later American forces. The PAVN evolved into a professional army, becoming a formidable force during the Vietnam War. Its legacy continues as the core of Vietnam's modern military structure.
People's Army of Vietnam Japanese occupation of Indochina Vietnam
1974day.year

The house of former British Prime Minister Edward Heath is attacked by members of the Provisional IRA.

The Provisional IRA attacked the London home of former British Prime Minister Edward Heath.
On December 22, 1974, members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) attacked the London home of former British Prime Minister Edward Heath. The attackers opened fire on the property under cover of darkness. Although Heath and his family were not harmed, the incident sent shockwaves through British political circles. The assault highlighted the IRA's willingness to target high-profile figures during The Troubles. Security measures for political leaders were subsequently reviewed and strengthened. The event underscored the intensity of the conflict between the IRA and the British state in the mid-1970s.
Edward Heath Provisional IRA