Today in History

January

January 2, 1492: Today in European history: the “Reconquista” ends
January 3, 1919: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Faysal-Weizmann Agreement
January 5, 1957: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Eisenhower Doctrine
January 9, 1916: Today in European history: the Gallipoli campaign ends
January 10, 1475: Today in European history: the Battle of Vaslui
January 11, 630: Today (?) in Middle Eastern history: Muhammad conquers Mecca
January 14, 1761: Today in South Asian history: the Third Battle of Panipat
January 17, 1915: Today in Caucasian history: the Battle of Sarikamish ends
January 17, 1991: Today in Middle Eastern history: Operation Desert Storm begins
January 20, 1981: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Iran Hostage Crisis ends
January 21, 763: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Bakhamra
January 22, 1946: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Republic of Mahabad is born
January 25, 750: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of the Zab
January 26, 1565: Today in South Asian history: the Battle of Talikota
January 26, 1699: Today in European history: the Treaty of Karlowitz

February

February 1, 1713: Today in European history: the Skirmish at Bendery
February 1, 1979: Today in Middle Eastern history: Khomeini returns from exile
February 2, 1982: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Hama massacre begins
February 3, 1509: Today in South Asian history: the Battle of Diu
February 8, 1250: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of al-Mansurah begins
February 8, 1963: Today in Middle Eastern history: Iraq’s Ramadan Revolution
February 10, 1258: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Mongols sack Baghdad
February 11, 1979: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Iranian Revolution ends
February 14, 1943: Today in North African history: the Battle of Sidi Bouzid begins
February 16, 1804: Today in American history: the burning of the USS Philadelphia
February 18, 1229: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Sixth Crusade ends
February 19, 1933: Today in Mexican history: the shortest presidency ever
February 21, 1921: Today in Middle Eastern history: the 1921 Iranian coup
February 23, 1966: Today in Middle Eastern history: the 1966 Syrian coup
February 24, 1739: Today in South Asian history: the Battle of Karnal
February 25, 1943: Today in North African history: the Battle of Kasserine Pass ends
February 26, 1233: Today in Chinese history: the Siege of Kaifeng ends

March

March 1, 1811: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Massacre at the Citadel
March 3, 1878: Today in European history: the Treaty of San Stefano
March 6, 961: Today in European history: the Siege of Chandax ends
March 8, 1010: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Shahnameh is completed
March 8, 1963: Today in Middle Eastern history: the 8 March Revolution
March 11, 1917: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Fall of Baghdad
March 13, 624: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Badr
March 21, 1935: Today in Middle Eastern history: Iran becomes “Iran”
March 22, 1739: Today in South Asian history: Nader Shah sacks Delhi
March 26, 1344: Today in European history: the (third) Siege of Algeciras ends
March 29, 1430: Today in European history: the Siege of Thessaloniki ends

April

April 6, 1250: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Fariskur
April 8, 876: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Dayr al-Aqul
April 9, 1241: Today in European history: the Battle of Legnica
April 11, 1241: Today in European history: the Battle of Mohi
April 12, 1204: Today in European history: the Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople
April 13, 1975: Today in Middle Eastern history: Lebanon’s Bus Massacre
April 15, 1395: Today in Caucasian history: the Battle of the Terek River
April 18, 1897: Today in European history: the Greco-Turkish War is declared
April 21, 1526: Today in South Asian history: the First Battle of Panipat
April 21, 1802: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Wahhabi sack of Karbala
April 25, 775: Today in Caucasian history: the Battle of Bagrevand
April 28, 1192: Today in Middle Eastern history: Conrad I of Jerusalem is (literally) assassinated
April 29, 1916: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Surrender of Kut

May

May 1, 1977: Today in European history: the Taksim Square massacre
May 13, 1805: Today in North African history: the Battle of Derna ends
May 14, 1560: Today in European history: the Battle of Djerba ends
May 15, 1948: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Arab-Israeli War begins
May 16, 1916: Today in Middle Eastern history: Sykes-Picot is signed
May 18, 1096/1268/1291: Today in Middle Eastern history: a bad day for the Crusades
May 19, 1919: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Turkish War of Independence begins
May 21, 878: Today in European history: the Siege of Syracuse ends
May 21, 1799: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Siege of Acre ends
May 22, 853: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Sack of Damietta
May 29, 1453: Today in European history: the Fall of Constantinople
May 29, 1807: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Ottoman coup of 1807
May 31, 1223: Today in European history: the Battle of the Kalka River

June

June 2, 1098: Today in Middle Eastern History: The Siege of Antioch ends
June 5, 1963: Today in Middle Eastern history: the 15 Khordad Movement
June 5, 1967: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Six-Day War begins
June 6, 1982: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Lebanon War begins
June 8, 1941: Today in Middle Eastern history: Operation Exporter begins
June 10, 1190/1329/1805/1916: Today in European/Middle Eastern history: Frederick Barbarossa drowns (1190) and more
June 11, 786: Today in North African history: the Battle of Fakhkh
June 15, 1389: Today in European history: the Battle of Kosovo
June 17, 1462: Today in European history: the Night Attack at Târgovişte
June 20, 1631: Today in European history: the sack of Baltimore
June 26, 1243: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Köse Dağ
June 29, 1881: Today in North African history: Muhammad Ahmad declares himself the Mahdi

July

July 4, 1187: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Hattin
July 6, 640: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Heliopolis
July 6, 1917: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Aqaba
July 12, 1191: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Siege of Acre ends
July 14, 1958: Today in Middle Eastern history: the 14 July Revolution
July 15, 1099: Today in Middle Eastern history: the First Crusade captures Jerusalem
July 16, 1212: Today in European history: the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa
July 18, 1195: Today in European history: the Battle of Alarcos
July 19, 711: Today in European history: the Battle of Guadalete
July 20, 1402: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Ankara
July 21, 1774: Today in European History: the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca
July 21, 1798: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of the Pyramids
July 22, 1456: Today in European history: the Siege of Belgrade ends
July 23, 1952: Today in Middle Eastern history: Egypt’s 23 July Revolution
July 25, 1799: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Abukir
July 26, 657: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Siffin
July 29, 1148: Today in Middle Eastern History: the Siege of Damascus ends
July 31, 741: Today (?) in Central Asian history: the Battle of Talas

August

August 1, 1664: Today in European history: the Battle of Saint Gotthard
August 1, 1798: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of the Nile
August 2, 1990: Today in Middle Eastern history: Iraq invades Kuwait
August 4, 1578: Today in European history: the Battle of Alcácer Quibir
August 11, 1473: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Otlukbeli
August 12, 1099: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Ascalon
August 12, 1121: Today in Caucasian history: the Battle of Didgori
August 12, 1687: Today in European history: the Battle of Mohács
August 13, 868: Today(?) in Middle Eastern history: the Sack of Amorium
August 14, 1480: Today in European history: the Martyrs of Otranto
August 15, 717/718: Today in European history: the Siege of Constantinople begins (maybe) and ends
August 18, 684: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Marj Rahit
August 19, 1953: Today in Middle Eastern history: the 1953 Iranian coup
August 20, 636: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Yarmouk
August 23, 1514: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Chaldiran
August 24, 1516: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Marj Dabiq
August 26, 1071: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Manzikert
August 29, 1526: Today in European history: the Battle of Mohács

September

September 1, 1969: Today in North African history: the 1969 Libyan coup
September 2, 1192: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Treaty of Jaffa ends the Third Crusade
September 3, 863: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Lalakaon
September 3, 1260: Today in Middle Eastern History: the Battle of Ayn Jalut
September 4, 1912: Today in European history: the Albanian Revolt of 1912 ends
September 7, 1191: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Arsuf
September 11, 1565: Today in European history: the Great Siege of Malta ends
September 12, 1683: Today in European history: the Battle of Vienna
September 16, 1970: Today in Middle Eastern history: Jordan’s Black September begins
September 17, 1176: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Myriokephalon
September 17, 1978: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Camp David Accords
September 17, 1982: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Sabra and Shatila massacre
September 19, 634: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Siege of Damascus ends
September 21, 1857: Today in South Asian history: the Siege of Delhi ends
September 22, 1980: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Iran-Iraq War begins
September 25, 1396: Today in European history: the Crusade of Nicopolis
September 25, 1962: Today in Middle Eastern history: the North Yemen Civil War begins
September 27, 1669: Today in European history: the Siege of Candia (finally) ends
September 28, 1538: Today in European history: the Battle of Preveza
September 30, 737: Today in Central Asian history: the Battle of the Baggage

October

October 1, 1918: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Capture of Damascus
October 2, 1187: Today in Middle Eastern history: Saladin takes Jerusalem
October 5, 610: Today in Middle Eastern history: Heraclius becomes Byzantine emperor
October 6, 1973: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Yom Kippur War begins
October 7, 1571: Today in European history: the Battle of Lepanto
October 10, 732: Today (maybe) in European history: the Battle of Tours
October 12, 1492: Columbus and the Islamic World
October 13, 1307: Today in European history: the Knights Templar order is purged
October 15, 1529: Today in European history: the Siege of Vienna ends
October 17, 1437: Today in North African history: the Battle of Tangier ends
October 18, 1009: Today in Middle Eastern history: Fatimid Caliph al-Hakim destroys the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
October 20, 1448: Today in European history: the Second Battle of Kosovo ends
October 21, 1096: Today in Middle Eastern history: the “People’s Crusade” ends
October 25, 1147: Today in European history: the Siege of Lisbon ends
October 29, 1956: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Suez Crisis begins
October 30, 637: Today in Middle Eastern history: Antioch surrenders to the Arabs
October 30, 1270: Today in North African history: the Eighth Crusade ends
October 30, 1340: Today in European history: the Battle of Río Salado

November

November 1, 1922: Today in Middle Eastern/European history: the last Ottoman Sultan is deposed
November 2, 1917: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Balfour Declaration
November 4, 1979: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Iran Hostage Crisis begins
November 6, 1975: Today in North African history: the Green March begins
November 8, 960: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Andrassos
November 10, 1444: Today in European history: the Battle of Varna
November 12, 1893: Today in South Asian history: the Durand Line is drawn
November 19, 636: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of al-Qadisiyah (636)
November 19, 1256: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Assassin imam surrenders to the Mongols (1256)
November 20, 1979: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Grand Mosque seizure (1979)
November 25, 1177: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Montgisard
November 25, 1491: Today in European history: the Treaty of Granada
November 27, 1095: Today in European history: the Council of Clermont
November 29, 903: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Hama
November 30, 1853: Today in European history: the Battle of Sinop

December

December 6, 1240: Today in European history: the Mongols sack Kyiv
December 9, 1987: Today in Middle Eastern history: the First Intifada begins
December 10, 1877: Today in European History: the Russians capture Plevna
December 11, 1917: Today in Middle Eastern history: General Allenby comes to Jerusalem
December 12, 1098: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Crusaders capture Maʿarrat al-Nuʿman
December 15, 1925: Today in Middle Eastern history: Reza Pahlavi is crowned Shah of Iran
December 16, 1971: Today in South Asian history: the Indo-Pakistani War and Bangladesh Liberation War both end
December 17, 1398: Today in South Asian history: the Battle of Delhi
December 18, 1499: Today in European history: the first Alpujarras Rebellion begins
December 21, 1832: Today in Middle Eastern history: the Battle of Konya
December 22, 1522: Today in European history: the Siege of Rhodes ends
December 27, 1979: Today in Central Asian history: the Soviets invade Afghanistan