1481day.year
Battle of Westbroek: An army of 4,000 to 5,000 soldiers raised by David of Burgundy, Bishop of Utrecht, attacks an armed mob of people from nearby Utrecht who were trying to avenge the massacre of the inhabitants of Westbroek.
Bishop David of Burgundy’s troops confronted local insurgents in the 1481 Battle of Westbroek near Utrecht.
The Battle of Westbroek erupted when an army raised by David of Burgundy, Bishop of Utrecht, advanced to quell an armed mob seeking vengeance for a recent massacre. The conflict pitted clerical forces against townspeople from Utrecht who had rebelled against church authority. Despite their numbers, the rebels were ill-equipped compared to the bishop's professional soldiers. The engagement underscored the tensions between secular and ecclesiastical power in late medieval Netherlands. Its aftermath reinforced the bishop's influence and deterred further uprisings in the region.
1481
Battle of Westbroek
David of Burgundy
Bishop of Utrecht
Utrecht
1704day.year
Second Battle of Anandpur: In the Second Battle of Anandpur, Aurangzeb's two generals, Wazir Khan and Zaberdast Khan executed two children of Guru Gobind Singh, Zorawar Singh aged eight and Fateh Singh aged five, by burying them alive into a wall.
During the 1704 Second Battle of Anandpur, Mughal generals executed two young sons of Guru Gobind Singh by entombing them alive.
This grim episode unfolded amid Aurangzeb's siege of Anandpur Sahib, a key stronghold of the Sikh faith. Wazir Khan and Zaberdast Khan, acting under imperial orders, captured Zorawar Singh and five-year-old Fateh Singh. Refusing to renounce their faith, the boys were bricked alive into a wall, a harrowing act that shocked contemporaries. The execution deepened Sikh resistance and bolstered Guru Gobind Singh's resolve. The martyrdom of the Sahibzadas became a poignant chapter in Sikh history, commemorated annually by the community.
1704
Second Battle of Anandpur
Guru Gobind Singh
1776day.year
American Revolutionary War: In the Battle of Trenton, the Continental Army under General George Washington executes a successful surprise attack and defeats a garrison of Hessian forces serving Great Britain.
General George Washington’s forces won a surprise victory over Hessian troops at the Battle of Trenton in 1776.
On the frigid morning after Christmas, Washington led his Continental Army across the Delaware River in a daring surprise attack. The Hessian garrison at Trenton was caught off guard, resulting in the capture of nearly 1,000 soldiers. This triumph bolstered Patriot morale after a series of setbacks during the campaign. It demonstrated Washington's leadership and the resilience of the Revolutionary cause. The victory at Trenton became a turning point, inspiring reenlistments and international support.
1776
American Revolutionary War
Battle of Trenton
Continental Army
George Washington
Hessian forces
Great Britain
1793day.year
Second Battle of Wissembourg: France defeats Austria.
French troops defeated the Austrians at the Second Battle of Wissembourg in 1793 during the revolutionary wars.
As part of the War of the First Coalition, French forces successfully repelled an Austrian advance across the Rhine. The engagement at Wissembourg fortified the French frontier and safeguarded Strasbourg. Led by generals Hoche and others, the French Revolutionary Army demonstrated its growing professionalism. The victory bolstered domestic support for the Republic and discouraged Coalition powers. It exemplified the transformation of French military capabilities following the Revolution.
1793
Second Battle of Wissembourg
1806day.year
Battles of Pultusk and Golymin: Russian forces hold French forces under Napoleon.
In December 1806, Russian troops engaged French forces near Pultusk and Golymin, resulting in a stalemate that stymied Napoleon's winter campaign.
The Battles of Pultusk and Golymin took place on December 26, 1806, as part of Napoleon Bonaparte's War of the Fourth Coalition. Russian General Bennigsen engaged the Grande Armée in a series of clashes near the towns of Pułtusk and Gołymin. Despite being outnumbered, the Russians skillfully used the snowy terrain and defensive tactics to hold off the French assaults. Intense artillery duels and infantry engagements marked both battles, with neither side securing a decisive victory. The harsh winter conditions slowed Napoleon's advance toward Warsaw, forcing a temporary halt in his operations. These engagements showcased the resilience of the Russian army and foreshadowed the challenges Napoleon would face during his Russian campaign.
1806
Pultusk
Golymin
French
Napoleon
1825day.year
Advocates of liberalism in Russia rise up against Czar Nicholas I in the Decembrist revolt, but are later suppressed.
In 1825, Russian military officers and nobles led the Decembrist Revolt against Tsar Nicholas I, seeking constitutional reform but ultimately facing brutal suppression.
The Decembrist Revolt erupted on December 26, 1825, when Russian army officers and aristocrats refused to swear allegiance to the newly crowned Tsar Nicholas I. Influenced by liberal ideas from Western Europe and experiences in the Napoleonic Wars, the rebels sought constitutional reform and the abolition of serfdom. They rallied in Senate Square in St. Petersburg, briefly halting Nicholas's accession. However, the revolt lacked unified leadership and clear objectives, leading to its swift suppression by loyalist troops. In the aftermath, five leaders were executed and hundreds were sent to Siberian exile. Though a failure, the Decembrist Revolt ignited the Russian revolutionary movement, inspiring future generations to challenge autocratic rule.
1825
liberalism
Czar Nicholas I
Decembrist revolt
1862day.year
American Civil War: The Battle of Chickasaw Bayou begins as Union General William T. Sherman starts landing his troops in an attempt to advance on Vicksburg, Mississippi.
On December 26, 1862, Union forces under General Sherman launched the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou against Confederate defenses north of Vicksburg.
The Battle of Chickasaw Bayou commenced on December 26, 1862, as part of the Union's campaign to seize Vicksburg, Mississippi, during the American Civil War. Union troops under General William T. Sherman landed north of Vicksburg, aiming to approach the city from the less fortified Chickasaw Bluffs. Confederate forces entrenched on high ground repelled repeated Union assaults with heavy rifle and artillery fire. Difficult terrain and strong defensive positions thwarted Sherman's advance, resulting in significant Union casualties. The failed operation forced Union commanders to rethink their strategy for the Vicksburg campaign. Despite this setback, the determined siege ultimately concluded with the city's surrender in 1863, marking a turning point in the war.
1862
Battle of Chickasaw Bayou
Union
William T. Sherman
Vicksburg, Mississippi
1862day.year
Dakota War of 1862: The largest mass-hanging in U.S. history takes place in Mankato, Minnesota, where 38 Native American prisoners are hanged.
In 1862, 38 Dakota men were executed in Mankato, Minnesota, in the largest mass execution in U.S. history following the Dakota War.
On December 26, 1862, in the aftermath of the Dakota War, 38 Dakota men were executed by hanging in Mankato, Minnesota, following a hastily organized trial. The mass execution remains the largest one-time judicial killing in U.S. history. Conflicts over land and resources had led to tensions between the Dakota people and settlers, erupting into violence earlier that year. President Abraham Lincoln personally reviewed the trial records before approving the executions, commuting several sentences but allowing the hanging to proceed. The event deepened wounds between Native American communities and the U.S. government, influencing subsequent policies toward indigenous populations. Today, the Mankato execution is commemorated as a somber reminder of the tragic consequences of forced displacement and cultural conflict.
Dakota War of 1862
largest mass-hanging in U.S. history
Mankato, Minnesota
1943day.year
World War II: German warship Scharnhorst is sunk off Norway's North Cape after a battle against major Royal Navy forces.
The German battlecruiser Scharnhorst is sunk off North Cape, Norway, after a fierce naval engagement with the Royal Navy.
On December 26, 1943, the Kriegsmarine vessel Scharnhorst encountered a powerful British force near the North Cape.
Led by Vice Admiral Robert Burnett, the Royal Navy engaged in a decisive battle.
Outgunned and outmaneuvered, the Scharnhorst was overwhelmed by cruisers and destroyers.
Over 1,900 crew members were lost when the ship sank in icy Arctic waters.
The defeat marked a significant blow to German naval capabilities in the Nordic theater.
It showcased Allied naval strategy and control of crucial Arctic supply routes.
1943
World War II
Scharnhorst
North Cape
battle against major Royal Navy forces
1944day.year
World War II: George S. Patton's Third Army breaks the encirclement of surrounded U.S. forces at Bastogne, Belgium.
General Patton's Third Army breaks the German siege of Bastogne, relieving surrounded American forces during the Battle of the Bulge.
During the harsh winter of 1944, U.S. troops at Bastogne were encircled by German forces in the Ardennes.
On December 26, General George S. Patton executed a daring maneuver to attack from the south.
His Third Army fought through snow and enemy resistance to reach the besieged 101st Airborne Division.
The relief of Bastogne proved crucial in halting Germany’s last major offensive in Western Europe.
Patton’s leadership and rapid advance became legendary among Allied commanders.
The action boosted morale and helped turn the tide in the Battle of the Bulge.
1944
George S. Patton
Third Army
breaks the encirclement
Bastogne
1972day.year
Vietnam War: As part of Operation Linebacker II, 120 American B-52 Stratofortress bombers attacked Hanoi, including 78 launched from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, the largest single combat launch in Strategic Air Command history.
During Operation Linebacker II in the Vietnam War, 120 B-52 bombers launched the largest-ever combat sortie against Hanoi.
On December 26, 1972, the United States launched Operation Linebacker II to pressure North Vietnam back to peace talks.
A formation of 120 B-52 Stratofortress bombers struck military and industrial targets in and around Hanoi over three days.
Seventy-eight of these heavy bombers took off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, marking the largest single combat launch in Strategic Air Command history.
The campaign aimed to disrupt war production facilities and supply routes used by the North Vietnamese Army.
Anti-aircraft defenses were intense, but U.S. forces completed the mission with relatively few bomber losses.
Severe damage to infrastructure and mounting civilian casualties sparked international criticism.
The bombing series ultimately contributed to North Vietnam’s return to the Paris Peace Talks.
1972
Vietnam War
Operation Linebacker II
B-52 Stratofortress
Hanoi
Andersen Air Force Base
Guam
Strategic Air Command
1994day.year
Four Armed Islamic Group hijackers seize control of Air France Flight 8969. When the plane lands at Marseille, a French Gendarmerie assault team boards the aircraft and kills the hijackers.
Armed Islamic Group militants hijack Air France Flight 8969, but French special forces storm the plane in Marseille.
On December 26, 1994, four militants from the Armed Islamic Group hijacked Air France Flight 8969 in Algiers.
The hijackers demanded the release of imprisoned comrades and threatened to detonate explosives on board.
After the aircraft landed at Marseille, French Gendarmerie elite unit GIGN prepared a rescue operation.
Operatives stormed the plane, neutralized the hijackers, and saved all remaining passengers and crew.
The successful intervention was hailed as a turning point in counter-terrorism tactics.
The incident underscored growing concerns about international aviation security in the 1990s.
1994
Armed Islamic Group
hijackers
Air France Flight 8969
Marseille
French Gendarmerie