1127day.year
Jin–Song Wars: Invading Jurchen soldiers from the Jin dynasty besiege and sack Bianjing (Kaifeng), the capital of the Song dynasty of China, and abduct Emperor Qinzong of Song and others, ending the Northern Song period.
In 1127, Jurchen forces sacked Kaifeng, capturing Emperor Qinzong and ending the Northern Song dynasty.
In 1127, during the Jin–Song Wars, Jurchen armies of the Jin dynasty laid siege to Bianjing, the Song capital.
After breaching the city's defenses, they plundered and set fire to imperial palaces and temples.
Emperor Qinzong of Song and members of the royal court were taken prisoner in what became known as the Jingkang Incident.
The fall of Bianjing brought the Northern Song dynasty to a dramatic close and shifted the capital southward.
This event reshaped Chinese politics, leading to the rise of the Southern Song dynasty under Emperor Gaozong.
The Jingkang Incident remains a symbol of dynastic upheaval and foreign domination in Chinese history.
1127
Jin–Song Wars
Jurchen
Jin dynasty
besiege and sack
Bianjing
Song dynasty
Emperor Qinzong of Song
Northern Song period
1760day.year
Ahmad Shah Durrani defeats the Marathas in the Battle of Barari Ghat.
In 1760, Ahmad Shah Durrani defeated the Marathas at the Battle of Barari Ghat, solidifying his influence in northern India.
On January 9, 1760, Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Durrani engaged Maratha forces at Barari Ghat in present-day Madhya Pradesh.
Durrani's seasoned cavalry exploited the terrain, overrunning the Maratha positions in a swift attack.
The victory disrupted Maratha control in the region and reaffirmed Durrani's authority in the north.
This battle was part of a series of conflicts that shaped the power balance in 18th-century India.
The outcome paved the way for further Afghan incursions into the Indian subcontinent.
1760
Ahmad Shah Durrani
Marathas
Battle of Barari Ghat
1858day.year
British forces finally defeat Rajab Ali Khan of Chittagong
In 1858, British forces defeated Rajab Ali Khan in Chittagong, consolidating colonial control in the region.
On January 9, 1858, British colonial troops overpowered Rajab Ali Khan's resistance in Chittagong (present-day Bangladesh). The victory concluded a series of skirmishes during the Indian Rebellion of 1857–58, securing British dominance in eastern Bengal. Rajab Ali Khan, a local chieftain, had led guerrilla actions against East India Company forces. His defeat demonstrated the British Empire's military reach and reasserted colonial authority over strategic ports. The suppression of this uprising paved the way for direct Crown rule over India and significant administrative reforms.
1858
Rajab Ali Khan
Chittagong
1861day.year
American Civil War: "Star of the West" incident occurs near Charleston, South Carolina.
The "Star of the West" incident near Charleston in 1861 marked the first hostile engagement of the American Civil War.
On January 9, 1861, as tensions escalated before open warfare, the civilian steamship Star of the West attempted to resupply Fort Sumter in South Carolina. Confederate batteries at Morris Island opened fire, forcing the vessel to retreat. Though no lives were lost, this exchange is often cited as the first shots fired in the American Civil War. The incident underscored the deepening divide between North and South and foreshadowed the brutal conflict to come. It demonstrated the Confederacy's willingness to challenge federal authority and defend its claimed territory.
1861
American Civil War
Star of the West
Charleston, South Carolina
1861day.year
Mississippi becomes the second state to secede from the Union before the outbreak of the American Civil War.
Mississippi became the second state to secede from the Union on the eve of the American Civil War in 1861.
On January 9, 1861, Mississippi's secession convention voted to leave the United States, becoming the second state after South Carolina to do so. The decision reflected deep anxieties over states' rights and the future of slavery. Mississippi leaders asserted that the federal government no longer protected their social and economic interests. The departure solidified the formation of the Confederate States of America and encouraged other states to follow suit. Mississippi's secession was a critical step toward full-scale conflict that erupted a few months later at Fort Sumter.
Mississippi
second state to secede
Union
1916day.year
World War I: The Battle of Gallipoli concludes with an Ottoman Empire victory when the last Allied forces are evacuated from the peninsula.
The Gallipoli Campaign ended in 1916 with a strategic Ottoman victory as Allied forces completed their withdrawal.
After months of fierce fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsula, Allied commanders decided to evacuate in late 1915. On January 9, 1916, the last troops were withdrawn under the cover of night, marking the end of one of World War I's most challenging campaigns. The effort to control the Dardanelles strait aimed to open a sea route to Russia but resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. Ottoman forces, under commanders like Mustafa Kemal (later Atatürk), successfully defended their positions against British, Australian, New Zealand, and French troops. The campaign's legacy includes national remembrance in Australia and New Zealand as Anzac Day and the rise of Turkish national identity.
1916
World War I
Battle of Gallipoli
1917day.year
World War I: The Battle of Rafa is fought near the Egyptian border with Palestine.
In 1917, Allied and Ottoman forces clashed at Rafa, marking a pivotal action in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.
The Battle of Rafa took place on January 9, 1917, near the Egyptian–Palestine border as part of the British-led Sinai and Palestine Campaign. British Empire troops, including the Imperial Camel Corps and Australian Light Horse, attacked Ottoman defensive positions at El Magruntein. The victory secured the Egyptian frontier, disrupted Ottoman supply lines, and paved the way for subsequent advances into Palestine. The battle demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated infantry and mounted units in desert warfare. Rafa’s success boosted Allied morale and contributed to the eventual capture of Gaza and Jerusalem later that year.
1917
Battle of Rafa
Egyptian
Palestine
1918day.year
Battle of Bear Valley: The last battle of the American Indian Wars.
The 1918 Battle of Bear Valley in Arizona marked the final engagement of the American Indian Wars.
Fought on January 9, 1918, in the remote Bear Valley of southern Arizona, this skirmish involved U.S. Army troops and Apache warriors. It is recognized as the concluding armed conflict of the American Indian Wars, a series of engagements spanning over a century. U.S. forces, tasked with protecting settlers and enforcing federal authority, clashed with members of the Apache tribe defending their territory. The battle resulted in few casualties but signified the end of large-scale organized resistance by Native American tribes against U.S. expansion. Bear Valley stands as a historical milestone, closing a turbulent chapter in North American history.
1918
Battle of Bear Valley
American Indian Wars
1920day.year
Ukrainian War of Independence: The All-Ukrainian Central Executive Committee outlaws the Makhnovshchina by decree, igniting the Bolshevik–Makhnovist conflict.
In 1920, the Ukrainian Soviet authorities outlawed the Makhnovist movement, sparking open conflict with Bolshevik forces.
On January 9, 1920, the All-Ukrainian Central Executive Committee, aligned with Bolshevik leadership, issued a decree banning the Makhnovshchina—an anarchist movement led by Nestor Makhno. This action dissolved local self-governing structures and forced the Makhnovists into armed struggle against the Red Army. The Bolshevik–Makhnovist conflict that ensued was marked by guerrilla warfare, civilian upheaval, and shifting alliances during the Ukrainian War of Independence. Despite initial successes, Makhno’s forces were eventually overwhelmed by the better-equipped Bolsheviks. The suppression of the Makhnovshchina consolidated Soviet control over Ukraine and highlighted the ideological rifts within the revolutionary movement.
1920
Ukrainian War of Independence
All-Ukrainian Central Executive Committee
Makhnovshchina
Bolshevik–Makhnovist conflict
1921day.year
Greco-Turkish War: The First Battle of İnönü, the first battle of the war, begins near Eskişehir in Anatolia.
The First Battle of İnönü began in 1921 as Greek and Turkish forces engaged near Eskişehir in the Greco-Turkish War.
Commencing on January 9, 1921, the First Battle of İnönü saw Turkish Nationalist troops under İsmet İnönü defend against a Greek offensive aiming to secure advances in Anatolia. The Greeks sought to regain territory following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I. Despite superior armor and artillery, Greek forces were repelled by well-coordinated Turkish defensive positions. The battle demonstrated the rising effectiveness of the Turkish National Movement and signaled a shift in momentum during the conflict. It also elevated İsmet İnönü as a prominent military leader, shaping the eventual outcome of Turkish national independence.
1921
Greco-Turkish War
First Battle of İnönü
Eskişehir
Anatolia
1923day.year
Lithuanian residents of the Memel Territory rebel against the League of Nations' decision to leave the area as a mandated region under French control.
In 1923, Lithuanian inhabitants of the Memel Territory rose up against the League of Nations' decision to place their region under French mandate.
The Memel Territory was carved out from East Prussia and placed under League of Nations administration after World War I.
On 9 January 1923, local Lithuanian residents staged an uprising to challenge the League's plan to maintain French control.
Rebels swiftly took over administrative buildings and raised the Lithuanian flag across the region.
The revolt was largely bloodless, organized by nationalist groups seeking union with Lithuania.
Despite international condemnation, the insurrection prompted negotiations that led to the territory's reintegration into Lithuania later that year.
This event highlighted the tensions between emerging national self-determination and the mandates system of the postwar order.
Lithuanian
Memel Territory
rebel
League of Nations
mandated region
1941day.year
World War II: First flight of the Avro Lancaster.
The prototype of the Avro Lancaster heavy bomber took its maiden flight on 9 January 1941, marking a milestone in WWII aviation.
Developed by Avro as a response to the need for a more capable long-range bomber, the Lancaster was powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlin engines.
On its first flight from RAF Ringway, the aircraft demonstrated impressive stability and payload capacity.
Designers had adapted features from the Avro Manchester, addressing its predecessor's shortcomings.
The Lancaster would go on to become the most successful British heavy bomber of the war.
Its design allowed it to carry the heaviest conventional bombs used by the Royal Air Force.
The aircraft played a pivotal role in strategic bombing campaigns over Europe.
1941
World War II
Avro Lancaster