January 15

Events - Wars & Conflicts

1582day.year

Truce of Yam-Zapolsky: Russia cedes Livonia to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

In 1582, the Truce of Yam-Zapolsky ended the Livonian War, with Russia ceding Livonia to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
In January 1582, the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania concluded the Truce of Yam-Zapolsky with Tsar Ivan IV of Russia, bringing the protracted Livonian War to a halt. Negotiations had been ongoing since summer 1581 at the Yam-Zapolsky monastery near Pskov, amidst mounting exhaustion and territorial losses on both sides. Under the terms of the agreement, Russia relinquished its claims to Livonia, including key strongholds such as Dorpat and Fellin, to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The treaty returned mutual hostages and established a two-year cessation of hostilities, though it laid the groundwork for future conflicts in the Baltic region. For the Commonwealth, the truce secured strategic access to the Livonian territories and bolstered its regional hegemony. Russia, weakened by war and internal strife, concentrated on consolidating power closer to Moscow. The Truce of Yam-Zapolsky reshaped the balance of power in Northeastern Europe and influenced subsequent diplomatic and military engagements. It remained in effect until the peace of 1598 and stands as a milestone in Baltic diplomacy.
1582 Truce of Yam-Zapolsky Livonia Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
1777day.year

American Revolutionary War: New Connecticut (present-day Vermont) declares its independence.

In 1777, settlers of New Connecticut declared independence, founding the Republic of Vermont during the American Revolutionary War.
On January 15, 1777, the settlers of the New Hampshire Grants region, disputed between New York and New Hampshire, proclaimed independence under the name New Connecticut, later Vermont. Facing land title conflicts and external threats during the American Revolutionary War, local leaders sought self-governance and protection. Representative delegates convened in Westminster and adopted a constitution outlining republican principles and civil liberties. The new republic elected a governor and secured alliances with the Continental Congress, though its admission to the union was delayed by territorial disputes. Vermont's declaration established it as the fourteenth state in aspiration, free from neighboring colonial claims. Its strategic position between British Canada and the American states made it both a haven and a military buffer. The republic maintained its independence until Vermont's admission to the Union as the fourteenth state in 1791. The founders' blend of New England town government and radical land reform set Vermont on a path of unique political and social development.
1777 American Revolutionary War New Connecticut Vermont
1815day.year

War of 1812: American frigate USS President, commanded by Commodore Stephen Decatur, is captured by a squadron of four British frigates.

In 1815, during the closing days of the War of 1812, the American frigate USS President was captured by a British squadron under Commodore Stephen Decatur.
On January 15, 1815, two weeks after the Treaty of Ghent was signed but before news reached North America, the USS President, a 44-gun frigate commanded by Commodore Stephen Decatur, encountered a British squadron of four frigates off the coast of New Jersey. Despite a valiant effort to outrun and outmaneuver their pursuers, the President sustained heavy damage and casualties from prolonged cannonade. Decatur ultimately struck his colors after ensuring his crew and ship were secured for surrender. The British took the captured frigate into service as HMS President, valuing her robust design and firepower. News of the ship's capture arrived shortly after the war had officially ended, underscoring the era's slow communication. The loss of the USS President marked one of the last naval actions of the conflict and highlighted the prowess of the U.S. navy established during the war. Decatur, celebrated for his earlier victories in the Barbary Wars, returned home to plaudits for his conduct in the engagement. The incident exemplifies the transitional moment between war and peace in early American naval history.
1815 War of 1812 USS President Commodore Stephen Decatur captured
1822day.year

Greek War of Independence: Demetrios Ypsilantis is elected president of the legislative assembly.

In 1822, during the Greek War of Independence, Demetrios Ypsilantis was elected president of the provisional legislative assembly, guiding the nascent Greek state.
On January 15, 1822, in the midst of the Greek War of Independence against Ottoman rule, military leader Demetrios Ypsilantis was chosen as president of Greece's first legislative assembly at Epidaurus. The assembly sought to establish a functioning government, draft a constitution, and coordinate military and diplomatic efforts for liberation. Ypsilantis, brother of the Filiki Eteria founder, brought both military prestige and revolutionary zeal to the young political institution. Under his leadership, delegates debated regional interests, drafted governance structures, and appointed provisional executive officials. The assembly adopted the Provisional Regime of Greece, laying the legal foundation for the modern Greek state. Ypsilantis worked to unify disparate factions and secure financial and foreign support for the revolution. His tenure, though brief, helped legitimize the Greek cause before European powers. The election embodied the transition from insurgent rebellion to organized nation-building in 19th-century Europe.
1822 Greek War of Independence Demetrios Ypsilantis
1865day.year

American Civil War: Fort Fisher in North Carolina falls to the Union, thus cutting off the last major seaport of the Confederacy.

Union forces capture Fort Fisher, sealing the Confederacy's last major seaport.
On January 15, 1865, Union forces captured Fort Fisher in North Carolina. This victory closed the port of Wilmington, the last major seaport of the Confederacy. Fort Fisher's defenses had protected vital supply lines from blockade runners. The Union assault involved naval bombardment and a land attack by General Alfred Terry's troops. Its fall dealt a severe blow to Confederate logistics and morale. The loss contributed to the weakening of Confederate resistance in the final months of the war.
1865 American Civil War Fort Fisher North Carolina falls to the Union
1919day.year

Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, two of the most prominent communists in Germany, are clubbed and then shot to death by members of the Freikorps at the end of the Spartacist uprising.

German communists Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht are murdered at the end of the Spartacist uprising.
On January 15, 1919, revolutionary leaders Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht were captured by Freikorps units in Berlin. They had been key figures in the Spartacist uprising against the Weimar government. After being clubbed and shot, their bodies were disposed of in the Landwehr Canal. Their killings marked a violent end to the short-lived communist uprising in post-World War I Germany. The murders shocked international opinion and intensified political polarization in the Weimar Republic. Luxemburg and Liebknecht became martyrs for the communist movement and enduring symbols of resistance.
1919 Rosa Luxemburg Karl Liebknecht communists Freikorps Spartacist uprising
1937day.year

Spanish Civil War: Nationalists and Republicans both withdraw after suffering heavy losses, ending the Second Battle of the Corunna Road.

Heavy losses force both sides to retreat, concluding the Second Battle of the Corunna Road in Spain.
The Second Battle of the Corunna Road raged as Nationalist and Republican forces vied for control of Madrid’s supply lines. After weeks of intense artillery bombardments and infantry assaults, both armies faced unsustainable casualties. On January 15, 1937, commanders ordered a mutual withdrawal to regroup and fortify new defensive positions. The battle highlighted the brutal nature of the Spanish Civil War and the strategic importance of Madrid’s outskirts. Although indecisive, the confrontation exhausted resources on both sides and foreshadowed later campaigns.
1937 Spanish Civil War Nationalists Republicans Second Battle of the Corunna Road
1943day.year

World War II: The Soviet counter-offensive at Voronezh begins.

Soviet forces launch a major counter-offensive to push back German troops at Voronezh.
On January 15, 1943, the Red Army commenced a large-scale counter-offensive near Voronezh, southern Russia. Facing the German Wehrmacht, Soviet commanders aimed to encircle enemy units and relieve pressure on Kharkov. The operation involved coordinated infantry, tank, and artillery assaults in harsh winter conditions. Despite deep snow and freezing temperatures, Soviet troops achieved initial breakthroughs against fortified positions. This counter-offensive marked a turning point, bolstering Soviet morale and presaging the broader push westward.
1943 World War II Soviet counter-offensive at Voronezh
1949day.year

Chinese Civil War: The Communist forces take over Tianjin from the Nationalist government.

Communist troops seize the strategic city of Tianjin, delivering a significant blow to Nationalist forces.
On January 15, 1949, the People’s Liberation Army captured Tianjin after intense urban combat. The fall of this key port city severed Nationalist supply lines and undermined defense of northern China. Communist engineers breached fortifications, while coordinated infantry units advanced through city streets. The capture of Tianjin paved the way for the subsequent assault on Beijing and the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Nationalist remnants retreated to coastal strongholds, marking a decisive shift in the civil war.
1949 Chinese Civil War Communist take over Tianjin Nationalist government
1962day.year

Netherlands New Guinea Conflict: Indonesian Navy fast patrol boat RI Macan Tutul commanded by Commodore Yos Sudarso sunk in Arafura Sea by the Dutch Navy.

Indonesian naval craft RI Macan Tutul is sunk by Dutch forces, martyring Commodore Yos Sudarso.
On January 15, 1962, the Indonesian patrol boat RI Macan Tutul, under Commodore Yos Sudarso, engaged Dutch naval units. In the Arafura Sea, Dutch destroyers opened fire, sinking the vessel and killing Sudarso along with crew members. News of the action galvanized Indonesian public opinion and fueled calls for unification of West Papua. The event intensified diplomatic pressure that led to a UN-mediated transfer of authority in 1963. Yos Sudarso became a national hero, honored annually as a symbol of naval sacrifice.
Netherlands New Guinea Indonesian Navy Yos Sudarso Arafura Sea Dutch Navy
1970day.year

Nigerian Civil War: Biafran rebels surrender following an unsuccessful 32-month fight for independence from Nigeria.

On January 15, 1970, Biafran forces surrendered, ending the Nigerian Civil War after a 32-month struggle for independence.
After seceding from Nigeria in 1967, the Republic of Biafra waged a brutal civil war against the federal government. By January 1970, the Biafran capital of Owerri was captured, and starvation had ravaged the civilian population. Faced with overwhelming federal forces and a collapsing supply line, the rebel leadership agreed to surrender. Major-General Philip Effiong officially ordered the cessation of hostilities in a radio broadcast. The end of the conflict came after 32 months of fighting, leaving an estimated one to three million people dead, largely due to famine. The Nigerian government declared a policy of no victor, no vanquished, aiming to reintegrate the region. The war's legacy influenced Nigerian politics, ethnic relations, and humanitarian law for decades.
1970 Nigerian Civil War Biafran Nigeria
1973day.year

Vietnam War: Citing progress in peace negotiations, President Richard Nixon announces the suspension of offensive action in North Vietnam.

Amid peace negotiations, President Richard Nixon announced on January 15, 1973, a suspension of offensive military actions in North Vietnam.
In early 1973, the Vietnam War was drawing to a protracted close alongside peace talks in Paris. On January 15, President Richard Nixon declared a suspension of U.S. offensive operations in North Vietnam. The decision was presented as evidence of progress in negotiations with the North Vietnamese government. It aimed to build goodwill ahead of a formal ceasefire agreement, which would be signed later that month. Critics argued the pause was politically motivated to bolster support for Nixon's administration at home. Nonetheless, the announcement marked a significant shift in U.S. strategy after years of relentless bombing campaigns. Despite the truce, ground fighting in South Vietnam continued until the final ceasefire took effect.
1973 Vietnam War President Richard Nixon North Vietnam