Alexander the Great Defeats Darius III at Gaugamela
On October 1, 331 BC, Alexander defeated Darius III at Gaugamela, opening the Persian Empire to Macedonian conquest.
Brutus Falls at Philippi
Brutus was defeated and killed himself at the Second Battle of Philippi on October 23, 42 BC. The Roman Republic was over.
Belisarius Defeats the Vandals at Ad Decimum
On September 13, 533, Belisarius defeated the Vandals at Ad Decimum and went on to retake North Africa for the empire.
William of Normandy Defeats Harold at Hastings
William of Normandy defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066, and was crowned on Christmas Day.
Crusaders and Portuguese Take Lisbon
On October 25, 1147, Portuguese and crusader forces took Lisbon from its Muslim ruler after a long siege, shaping early Portugal.
Henry V Crushes the French at Agincourt
Henry V beat a much larger French force at Agincourt on October 25, 1415. English longbowmen decided the battle in the Hundred Years' War.
Tokugawa Ieyasu Wins the Battle of Sekigahara
Tokugawa Ieyasu won the Battle of Sekigahara on October 21, 1600. The victory founded the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan for over 250 years.
A Christian Alliance Breaks the Ottoman Siege of Vienna
On September 12, 1683, a Polish-led relief army broke the Ottoman siege of Vienna, ending Turkish expansion in Europe.
The British Win the Plains of Abraham Outside Quebec
On September 13, 1759, Wolfe defeated Montcalm on the Plains of Abraham outside Quebec; both generals died of their wounds.
Washington's Army Is Repulsed at Germantown
On October 4, 1777, Washington's attack on the British at Germantown failed in heavy fog.
The French Fleet Wins the Battle of the Chesapeake
On September 5, 1781, the French fleet beat the British at the Battle of the Chesapeake, leaving Cornwallis trapped at Yorktown.
St. Clair's Defeat on the Wabash
On November 4, 1791, an American army under General Arthur St. Clair was destroyed on the Wabash by a Native confederation.
Napoleon Defeats Prussia at Jena and Auerstedt
On October 14, 1806, Napoleon defeated the Prussian army at Jena and Auerstedt, and Prussia collapsed within two weeks.
Napoleon Enters Moscow and the City Burns
On September 14, 1812, Napoleon entered Moscow as the Russians set the city on fire, beginning the end of his invasion.
Francis Scott Key Writes the Defence of Fort McHenry
On September 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote Defence of Fort McHenry, the poem that became the US national anthem.
The Texas Revolution Begins at Gonzales
On October 2, 1835, Texian militia turned back Mexican cavalry at Gonzales, starting the Texas Revolution.
The Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava
At Balaclava on October 25, 1854, a confused order sent the British Light Brigade into Russian cannon. The charge became legend.
Battle of Sedan: Napoleon III Captured
On September 1, 1870, Prussia destroyed the French army at Sedan and captured Napoleon III, ending the Second Empire.
The Battle of Coronel
On November 1, 1914, a German squadron under Maximilian von Spee destroyed a British force off Coronel on the coast of Chile.
Tanks Are Used in Battle for the First Time
On September 15, 1916, British tanks were used for the first time in battle at Flers-Courcelette on the Somme.
The Battle of Caporetto
On October 24, 1917, Austro-German forces broke the Italian line at Caporetto, forcing a retreat of more than 100 kilometres to the Piave river.
The Defence of Sihang Warehouse
On October 26, 1937, a Chinese battalion under Xie Jinyuan began defending Sihang warehouse in Shanghai, holding out for four days.
The Battle of Wuhan Ends
On October 25, 1938, Chinese forces withdrew from Wuhan, ending a four and a half month battle and beginning a long stalemate in the war with Japan.
The Second Battle of El Alamein Begins
The Second Battle of El Alamein began on October 23, 1942. Montgomery's Eighth Army broke Rommel's line and turned the tide in North Africa.
Operation Market Garden Begins in the Netherlands
On September 17, 1944, Operation Market Garden dropped 35,000 airborne troops into the Netherlands to seize bridges to Arnhem.
The Liaoshen Campaign Ends
On November 2, 1948, Shenyang fell to the People's Liberation Army, ending the Liaoshen campaign and the Nationalist hold on the northeast.
UN Forces Land at Inchon
On September 15, 1950, UN forces landed at Inchon behind North Korean lines, reversing the course of the Korean War.
War Breaks Out on the China-India Border
On October 20, 1962, fighting began along the China-India border in the Himalayas, opening a war that lasted about a month.