1454day.year
Thirteen Years' War: The Secret Council of the Prussian Confederation sends a formal act of disobedience to the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, sparking the Thirteen Years' War.
Prussian nobles formally rebel against the Teutonic Knights, triggering the Thirteen Years' War in 1454.
On February 4, 1454, the Secret Council of the Prussian Confederation sent a defiant letter to Heinrich von Plauen, Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights.
This bold act of disobedience challenged decades of Teutonic rule over Prussian cities and territories.
The Prussian Confederation, composed of nobles and burghers, sought incorporation into the Polish Crown for greater autonomy.
Poland accepted their plea, and open hostilities broke out, marking the start of the Thirteen Years' War (1454–1466).
The conflict reshaped the political landscape of northeastern Europe and weakened the military order of the Teutonic Knights.
Ultimately, the Second Peace of Thorn granted Royal Prussia significant self-governance under the Polish king.
1454
Thirteen Years' War
Prussian Confederation
Grand Master
Teutonic Knights
1810day.year
Napoleonic Wars: Britain seizes Guadeloupe.
During the Napoleonic Wars, British forces captured Guadeloupe from France, extending British control in the Caribbean.
On February 4, 1810, during the intensifying Napoleonic Wars, the British Royal Navy and army launched an expedition to capture the French-held island of Guadeloupe. The operation aimed to disrupt French colonial trade and secure strategic positions in the Caribbean. British troops landed on Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre, facing stiff resistance from French and local militia forces. After a week of guerrilla fighting and sieges, the British secured the island, effectively ending French rule. The victory bolstered British naval supremacy and weakened Napoleon's Atlantic strategy. Guadeloupe remained under British occupation until the restoration of Napoleon's rule in 1815. The conquest had lasting economic and geopolitical impacts on the region, reshaping colonial competition in the West Indies.
1810
seizes Guadeloupe
1820day.year
The Chilean Navy under the command of Lord Cochrane completes the two-day long Capture of Valdivia with just 300 men and two ships.
Lord Cochrane's daring Chilean naval squadron captured the fortress of Valdivia with only two ships and 300 men in a bold surprise attack.
On February 4, 1820, Admiral Lord Thomas Cochrane led a small Chilean naval force of just two warships and 300 volunteers in a bold surprise attack on the fortified Spanish stronghold of Valdivia. The operation was carefully planned to exploit Spanish complacency at one of their most powerful coastal defenses. Cochrane's men rowed silently into harbor, scaling the walls and compelling the garrison to surrender within hours. The fall of Valdivia removed a key Spanish naval base in southern Chile and secured Patriot control over the coast. This victory was a turning point in Chile's struggle for independence, demonstrating the effectiveness of unconventional naval tactics. Cochrane's audacious exploit became legendary and boosted morale across the independence movement. The success at Valdivia cemented Cochrane's reputation as one of history's most daring naval commanders.
1820
Chilean Navy
Lord Cochrane
Capture of Valdivia
1861day.year
American Civil War: In Montgomery, Alabama, delegates from six breakaway U.S. states meet and initiate the process that would form the Confederate States of America on February 8.
Delegates from six seceding Southern states convened in Montgomery, Alabama, to lay the groundwork for the Confederate States of America.
On February 4, 1861, representatives from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina gathered in Montgomery, Alabama, following their secession from the Union. The assembly debated and drafted provisional constitutions that would govern the newly declared Confederate States of America. This meeting marked a critical step toward formalizing a separate government and army under President Jefferson Davis. Delegates established the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Confederacy, anticipating further secessions by Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The Montgomery Convention also set a date for the inauguration of Davis and the launch of the Confederate government on February 8. The creation of the Confederacy deepened the national crisis and led directly to the outbreak of the American Civil War. The decisions made in Montgomery had profound consequences, shaping the course of American history and the struggle over slavery.
1861
American Civil War
Montgomery, Alabama
U.S. states
Confederate States of America
February 8
1899day.year
The Philippine–American War begins when four Filipino soldiers enter the "American Zone" in Manila, igniting the Battle of Manila.
The Philippine–American War erupted when Filipino soldiers crossed into the U.S.-controlled zone in Manila, igniting the Battle of Manila.
On February 4, 1899, hostilities broke out between Filipino revolutionary forces and American troops in Manila, marking the start of the Philippine–American War. Tensions had risen following the U.S. acquisition of the Philippines from Spain under the Treaty of Paris. Filipino soldiers under General Antonio Luna's command crossed into the American-controlled zone in Manila, prompting a volley of gunfire and a full-scale engagement in the city. Over the next three days, fierce street fighting led to significant casualties on both sides and widespread destruction. The conflict expanded into a brutal campaign across the archipelago, as Philippine guerrillas resisted American occupation. The war, characterized by guerrilla tactics, scorched-earth policies, and civilian suffering, lasted until 1902. It profoundly affected U.S.-Philippine relations and left a complex legacy of colonial rule and Filipino nationalism.
1899
Philippine–American War
Battle of Manila
1932day.year
Second Sino-Japanese War: Harbin, Manchuria, falls to Japan.
Japanese forces captured the strategic city of Harbin in Manchuria, intensifying the Second Sino-Japanese War.
On February 4, 1932, during the early stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War, Japanese troops seized Harbin, a major rail hub in Manchuria. The city's fall followed months of Japanese expansion after the Mukden Incident in September 1931. Harbin's occupation gave Japan control over vital railway lines and bolstered its puppet state of Manchukuo. Chinese defenders were outnumbered and ill-equipped, leading to a rapid collapse of resistance. The capture of Harbin solidified Japanese dominance in northeast China and foreshadowed further incursions into the Chinese heartland. The international community largely condemned the aggression, but no effective action was taken to reverse Japanese gains. Harbin's occupation marked a grim milestone in Japan's imperial campaign in Asia.
1932
Second Sino-Japanese War
Harbin
Manchuria
falls to
Japan
1945day.year
World War II: Santo Tomas Internment Camp is liberated from Japanese authority.
Allied forces liberated the Santo Tomas Internment Camp in Manila, freeing thousands of civilian internees held by Japanese authorities during World War II.
On February 4, 1945, American and Filipino forces liberated the Santo Tomas Internment Camp located within the University of Santo Tomas campus in Manila. The camp had held more than 3,700 Allied civilian internees under harsh conditions since 1942. Guards were removed and medical teams attended to malnourished survivors suffering from disease and neglect. The liberation followed weeks of Allied advances in Luzon and was hailed as a major morale boost for troops and civilians alike. Many internees had endured malnutrition, forced labor, and abuse before liberation. The event highlighted the brutality of internment and the commitment of Allied forces to protect civilians in wartime.
1945
World War II
Santo Tomas Internment Camp
1945day.year
World War II: The British Indian Army and Imperial Japanese Army begin a series of battles known as the Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations.
Allied and Japanese forces engage in the Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations during the Burma Campaign of World War II.
On February 4, 1945, the British Indian Army launched offensive operations across the Irrawaddy River aimed at cutting Japanese supply lines in Burma. The Battle of Pokoku and surrounding operations marked a decisive push in the larger Burma Campaign, seeking to recapture Rangoon and reopen land routes to China. Japanese defenders put up fierce resistance along the riverbanks and in jungle terrain. Allied engineers constructed pontoon bridges under fire to allow infantry and armor to advance. The successful crossing weakened Japanese positions and accelerated their retreat toward central Burma. These actions helped secure Allied control of the region and contributed to the eventual liberation of Southeast Asia.
British Indian Army
Imperial Japanese Army
Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations
1961day.year
The Angolan War of Independence and the greater Portuguese Colonial War begin.
The Angolan War of Independence erupts, launching the Portuguese Colonial War in Africa on February 4, 1961.
The Angolan War of Independence began with coordinated attacks by nationalist movements against Portuguese colonial forces. Groups such as the MPLA, FNLA, and UPA launched guerrilla operations in northern and eastern Angola. The conflict marked the start of the wider Portuguese Colonial War that also engulfed Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique. Portugal’s Estado Novo regime responded with a military crackdown, deploying tens of thousands of troops to suppress the uprising. The war continued for over a decade, drawing in Cold War rivalries as the Soviet Union and Cuba backed the MPLA. The protracted struggle ultimately weakened Portugal’s grip on its overseas territories and contributed to the Carnation Revolution of 1974. Angola achieved independence in 1975, though it soon descended into civil war.
1961
Angolan War of Independence
Portuguese Colonial War
1974day.year
M62 coach bombing: The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) explodes a bomb on a bus carrying off-duty British Armed Forces personnel in Yorkshire, England. Nine soldiers and three civilians are killed.
An IRA car bomb targets off-duty British soldiers on a coach in Yorkshire, killing 12.
On February 4, 1974, the Provisional Irish Republican Army detonated a time bomb aboard an M62 coach traveling through Yorkshire, England. The bus was carrying off-duty British Armed Forces personnel and their civilian family members when the explosion tore through the passenger compartment. Nine soldiers and three civilians died, and dozens more were injured. The bombing was one of the deadliest IRA attacks on the British mainland during the Troubles. It shocked the public and intensified security measures against suspected IRA activities across the United Kingdom. British authorities launched a major investigation, but no individual was ever convicted for the atrocity. The M62 bombing underscored the deadly reach of the Northern Ireland conflict and its impact on civilian life in Britain.
M62 coach bombing
Provisional Irish Republican Army
British Armed Forces
Yorkshire