Events 533 – Vandalic War: Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Tricamarum. 1025 – Constantine VIII becomes sole emperor of the Byzantine Empire, 63 years after being crowned co-emperor. 1161 – Jin–Song wars: Military officers conspire against the emperor Wanyan Liang of the Jin dynasty after a… Read More

Events 835 – Sweet Dew Incident: Emperor Wenzong of the Tang dynasty conspires to kill the powerful eunuchs of the Tang court, but the plot is foiled. 1751 – The Theresian Military Academy is founded in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. 1782 – The Montgolfier brothers first test fly an unmanned hot air balloon in France; it… Read More

Events 1577 – Sir Francis Drake sets sail from Plymouth, England, on his round-the-world voyage. 1636 – The Massachusetts Bay Colony organizes three militia regiments to defend the colony against the Pequot Indians. This organisation is recognised today as the founding of the National Guard of the United States. 1642 – Abel Tasman is the… Read More

Events 627 – Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II’s Persian forces, commanded by General Rhahzadh. 884 – King Carloman II dies after a hunting accident. 1388 – Maria of Enghien sells the lordship of Argos and Nauplia to the Republic of Venice. 1862 – American Civil War: USS… Read More

Events 220 – Emperor Xian of Han is forced to abdicate the throne by Cao Cao ‘s son Cao Pi, ending the Han dynasty. 361 – Julian enters Constantinople as sole Emperor of the Roman Empire. 861 – Assassination of the Abbasid caliph al-Mutawakkil by the Turkish guard, who raise al-Muntasir to the throne. Start… Read More

Events 1317 – The “Nyköping Banquet” – King Birger of Sweden treacherously seizes his two brothers Valdemar, Duke of Finland and Eric, Duke of Södermanland, who were subsequently starved to death in the dungeon of Nyköping Castle. 1508 – The League of Cambrai is formed by Pope Julius II, Louis XII of France, Maximilian I,… Read More

Events 480 – Odoacer, first King of Italy, occupies Dalmatia. He later establishes his political power with the co-operation of the Roman Senate. 536 – Gothic War: The Byzantine general Belisarius enters Rome unopposed; the Gothic garrison flee the capital. 730 – Battle of Marj Ardabil: The Khazars annihilate an Umayyad army and kill its… Read More