1258day.year
Siege of Baghdad: Hulegu Khan, a prince of the Mongol Empire, orders his army to sack and plunder the city of Baghdad, which they had just captured.
In 1258, Hulagu Khan led Mongol forces in a ruthless siege of Baghdad, culminating in the city's sack and plunder.
The 1258 Siege of Baghdad marked the devastating end of the Abbasid Caliphate's golden age. Under Hulagu Khan's command, Mongol armies encircled the city and breached its defenses after weeks of bombardment. The conquest unleashed widespread looting, mass killings, and destruction of libraries and cultural treasures. Baghdad's iconic House of Wisdom was burned, erasing centuries of scholarly works and manuscripts. Contemporary accounts estimate that hundreds of thousands perished during the massacre. The fall of Baghdad reshaped power dynamics in the Middle East and signaled the ascendancy of Mongol rule. It remains one of history's most brutal sieges and a turning point in Islamic civilization.
1258
Siege of Baghdad
Hulegu Khan
Mongol Empire
Baghdad
1352day.year
War of the Straits: The Battle of the Bosporus is fought in a stormy sea into the night between the Genoese, Venetian, Aragonese, and Byzantine fleets.
During the War of the Straits in 1352, a fierce naval battle raged through the night in the Bosporus between Genoese, Venetian, Aragonese, and Byzantine fleets.
The Battle of the Bosporus was a pivotal engagement fought amid a raging storm, with ships clashing under the cover of darkness. Allied forces from Genoa, Venice, Aragon, and Byzantium vied for control of this vital maritime corridor linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. Heavy seas and fierce winds tested seamanship and naval tactics as galleys collided in chaos. Despite the conditions, each side sought to disrupt enemy supply lines and assert dominance over lucrative trade routes. Although the outcome remained indecisive, the battle demonstrated the strategic importance of naval power in medieval conflicts. It underscored the complex alliances and rivalries among maritime republics in the eastern Mediterranean. The engagement influenced subsequent naval campaigns during the protracted War of the Straits.
1352
War of the Straits
Battle of the Bosporus
1660day.year
With the accession of young Charles XI of Sweden, his regents begin negotiations to end the Second Northern War.
In 1660, the accession of Charles XI of Sweden prompted regents to begin peace negotiations, leading toward the end of the Second Northern War.
At just five years old, Charles XI inherited the Swedish throne after his father’s death. His regents immediately sought to stabilize the kingdom by negotiating an end to the costly Second Northern War. Diplomatic talks with Brandenburg, Poland–Lithuania, and Denmark commenced near Oliva. These negotiations culminated in the Treaty of Oliva in 1660, restoring peace in the Baltic region. Sweden relinquished certain territories but maintained its status as a major Northern European power. The young king’s reign began under the guidance of seasoned statesmen who balanced war weariness and strategic interests. This diplomatic resolution marked a turning point in Sweden’s Great Power era.
1660
Charles XI of Sweden
regents
Second Northern War
1692day.year
Massacre of Glencoe: Almost 80 Macdonalds at Glen Coe, Scotland are killed early in the morning for not promptly pledging allegiance to the new king, William of Orange.
The 1692 Massacre of Glencoe saw government forces kill nearly eighty members of Clan MacDonald in Scotland for their delayed oath of allegiance to King William III.
Under secret orders from King William III, soldiers stationed in Glen Coe turned on the MacDonald clan in the early hours of February 13, 1692. Accused of being late in pledging loyalty, around eighty men, women and children were slaughtered despite traditional Highland hospitality. The attack, carried out by troops under Captain Robert Campbell, sparked outrage and became a symbol of government treachery. News of the killings spread quickly, fueling clan animosities and protest across Scotland. The massacre has endured in memory as one of the darkest episodes of Campbell clan history.
1692
Massacre of Glencoe
Macdonalds
Glen Coe
William of Orange
1726day.year
Parliament of Negrete between Mapuche and Spanish authorities in Chile bring an end to the Mapuche uprising of 1723–26.
In 1726 the Parliament of Negrete concluded negotiations between Mapuche leaders and Spanish authorities, ending the Mapuche uprising in southern Chile.
After three years of intense guerrilla warfare by the indigenous Mapuche people, colonial officials convened the Parliament of Negrete on February 13, 1726. Delegates from both sides reached an agreement that recognized certain Mapuche territories and secured peace. The accord allowed Spanish settlers to resume trade and missionary work in the region. While it temporarily restored stability, the terms were fragile and hostilities would later flare in future decades. Nonetheless, the treaty marked a significant moment in colonial-indigenous diplomacy in Chile.
1726
Parliament of Negrete
Mapuche
Mapuche uprising of 1723–26
1861day.year
Italian unification: The Siege of Gaeta ends with the capitulation of the defending fortress, effectively bringing an end of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
The 1861 surrender of Gaeta ended the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, a pivotal victory in Italy’s unification.
After a prolonged blockade and bombardment by Piedmontese forces, the fortress of Gaeta capitulated on February 13, 1861. King Francis II and his court evacuated, marking the fall of the Bourbon regime in southern Italy. This triumph allowed Victor Emmanuel II to annex the former kingdom and press forward with unification. Giuseppe Garibaldi’s earlier southern campaign was vindicated by this strategic win. The end of Gaeta thus signaled the near completion of the Risorgimento and the birth of modern Italy.
1861
Italian unification
Siege of Gaeta
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
1945day.year
World War II: The siege of Budapest concludes with the unconditional surrender of German and Hungarian forces to the Red Army.
The Soviet Red Army achieved victory as German and Hungarian troops in Budapest surrendered unconditionally, ending a grueling siege.
After months of intense urban combat and encirclement, the Siege of Budapest ended on February 13, 1945, with the unconditional surrender of German and Hungarian forces.
Encircled by the Soviet 2nd Ukrainian Front, defenders under Nazi ally Ferenc Szálasi endured bitter street-to-street fighting and severe shortages.
The siege, which began in December 1944, inflicted heavy casualties on both military personnel and civilians.
Budapest's destruction and civilian suffering highlighted the brutality of the Eastern Front's final months.
The fall of Budapest paved the way for the Soviet advance into Austria and the eventual collapse of Nazi Germany.
The city's liberation remains a poignant chapter in Hungary's World War II history.
1945
World War II
siege of Budapest
German
Hungarian
Red Army
1945day.year
World War II: Royal Air Force bombers are dispatched to Dresden, Germany to attack the city with a massive aerial bombardment.
RAF bombers began operations to carry out the devastating incendiary assault on Dresden, marking the start of one of World War II's most controversial bombings.
On the night of February 13, 1945, over 500 RAF heavy bombers set out for Dresden, Germany, initiating the first wave of a four-part bombing campaign.
The mission aimed to cripple transportation hubs and undermine German morale in the final months of World War II.
Bombers carried a mix of high-explosive and incendiary ordnance, priming the city for a devastating firestorm.
In combination with subsequent USAAF attacks, the raids left central Dresden in ruins and caused extensive civilian casualties.
The scale and intensity of the assault have sparked enduring debate over military necessity versus humanitarian cost.
The bombing of Dresden remains one of the most controversial air raids in military history.
Royal Air Force
Dresden
massive aerial bombardment
1951day.year
Korean War: Battle of Chipyong-ni, which represented the "high-water mark" of the Chinese incursion into South Korea, commences.
The Battle of Chipyong-ni, a key engagement of the Chinese spring offensive, began with UN forces defending against encirclement in the Korean War.
On February 13, 1951, UN forces under the US 23rd Infantry Regiment and the French Battalion dug in at Chipyong-ni, anticipating a major Chinese advance.
Surrounded by two Chinese divisions, the defenders endured relentless artillery barrages and infantry assaults.
Despite being outnumbered, the UN troops maintained their perimeter, utilizing coordinated artillery fire and close air support.
After three days of fierce fighting, relief forces broke through, ending the siege and inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers.
The battle marked the high-water mark of the Chinese spring offensive and shifted momentum to the UN forces.
Chipyong-ni became a symbol of allied resilience and tactical cooperation during the Korean War.
1951
Korean War
Battle of Chipyong-ni
1991day.year
Gulf War: Two laser-guided "smart bombs" destroy the Amiriyah shelter in Baghdad. Allied forces said the bunker was being used as a military communications outpost, but over 400 Iraqi civilians inside were killed.
In 1991, US forces bombed the Amiriyah shelter in Baghdad during the Gulf War, killing over 400 civilians.
On February 13, 1991, coalition forces deployed laser-guided munitions against the Amiriyah bunker in Baghdad, believing it housed Iraqi military communications. The shelter, however, was serving as a civilian air-raid refuge, and the strike resulted in the deaths of more than 400 men, women, and children. The tragedy prompted international condemnation and raised concerns over intelligence accuracy and targeting rules. Eyewitness accounts and graphic footage of the aftermath fueled debate on the conduct of modern warfare. The Amiriyah incident remains one of the most controversial episodes of Operation Desert Storm.
1991
Gulf War
smart bombs
Amiriyah shelter
Baghdad
1996day.year
The Nepalese Civil War is initiated in the Kingdom of Nepal by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre).
In 1996, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre) launched an insurgency against the monarchy, starting the Nepalese Civil War.
On February 13, 1996, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre) initiated a guerrilla insurgency against the Nepali monarchy.
The Maoists sought to overthrow the king and establish a people's republic, criticizing poverty and social inequality.
The conflict raged across rural areas, involving ambushes, landmine attacks, and government counterinsurgency operations.
Over ten years, more than 13,000 people were killed and thousands displaced as villages became battlegrounds.
Peace talks began in 2006, leading to a comprehensive agreement and the monarchy's abolition.
The war's end paved the way for Nepal to become a federal democratic republic in 2008.
This landmark uprising reshaped Nepali politics and society, ending centuries of monarchical rule.
1996
Nepalese Civil War
Kingdom of Nepal
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre)