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.
Saladin Takes Jerusalem
On October 2, 1187, Jerusalem surrendered to Saladin, ending 88 years of Crusader rule over the city.
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.
Nathan Hale Is Hanged as a Spy in New York
On September 22, 1776, Nathan Hale was hanged by the British in New York for spying, at the age of 21.
Washington's Army Is Repulsed at Germantown
On October 4, 1777, Washington's attack on the British at Germantown failed in heavy fog.
Benedict Arnold Gives the British the Plans of West Point
On September 21, 1780, Benedict Arnold gave the British the plans of West Point, the fort he commanded, in the most famous treason in American history.
British Spy John Andre Is Hanged
On October 2, 1780, British major John Andre was hanged as a spy after the plot to surrender West Point.
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.
Nelson Wins Trafalgar and Dies
Admiral Nelson won the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805 but was killed. The victory secured British naval supremacy for a century.
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.
Allied Fleet Destroys Ottoman Navy at Navarino
The Battle of Navarino on October 20, 1827 destroyed the Ottoman-Egyptian fleet and secured Greek independence. It was the last major naval battle under sail.
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.
Peng Dehuai Is Born in Hunan
On October 24, 1898, Peng Dehuai, one of the ten marshals of the People's Liberation Army and commander in the Korean War, was born in Hunan.
The Second Boer War Begins in South Africa
The Second Boer War began on October 11, 1899, when the Transvaal and Orange Free State attacked British territory.
Russia Declares War on the Ottoman Empire
On November 2, 1914, Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire after its warships shelled Russian ports on the Black Sea.
The Mukden Incident Gives Japan a Pretext to Invade Manchuria
On September 18, 1931, the staged Mukden Incident gave Japan's Kwantung Army a pretext to invade and occupy Manchuria.
Italy Invades Ethiopia
On October 3, 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia from Eritrea and Somalia, beginning the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.
The Three Red Armies Meet in Gansu
On October 22, 1936, the main Red Army forces met at Jiangtaibao in Gansu, completing the Long March that had begun in 1934.
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.
Britain, France, Germany and Italy Sign the Munich Agreement
On September 29, 1938, the Munich Agreement was signed, handing the Sudetenland to Germany without Czechoslovakia at the table.
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 Soviet Union Invades Eastern Poland
On September 17, 1939, Soviet forces invaded eastern Poland under the secret protocol of the Nazi-Soviet Pact, partitioning the country.
Roosevelt Signs the First Peacetime Draft in American History
On September 16, 1940, Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act, the first peacetime military draft in United States history.
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 Warsaw Uprising Surrenders
On October 2, 1944, the Warsaw Uprising ended after 63 days, and German forces destroyed the city.
The National Security Act Creates the CIA
On September 18, 1947, the National Security Act created the CIA, the National Security Council and an independent Air Force.
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.
British and French Troops Land at Port Said
On November 5, 1956, British and French forces began to land at Port Said, two weeks after Israel invaded the Sinai.
Chinese Troops Leave North Korea
On October 26, 1958, the last Chinese units withdrew from North Korea, five years after the armistice that ended the fighting.
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.
Egypt and Syria Attack Israel, Starting the Yom Kippur War
Egypt and Syria attacked Israel on October 6, 1973, opening the Yom Kippur War and triggering the Arab oil embargo.
Marshal Ye Jianying Dies
On October 22, 1986, Marshal Ye Jianying, one of the ten marshals of the People's Liberation Army, died in Beijing at the age of 89.
George W. Bush Announces the War on Terror to Congress
On September 20, 2001, Bush addressed Congress after 9/11 and demanded the Taliban surrender al-Qaeda, setting out what became the war on terror.
The United States Begins Air Strikes in Afghanistan
American and British forces began air strikes in Afghanistan on October 7, 2001, starting a war that ran for almost twenty years.