1221day.year
Genghis Khan defeats the renegade Khwarazmian prince Jalal al-Din at the Battle of the Indus, completing the Mongol conquest of Central Asia.
Genghis Khan achieves a decisive victory over Jalal al-Din at the Battle of the Indus, completing the Mongol conquest of Central Asia.
After a grueling campaign, the Mongol armies led by Genghis Khan engaged Khwarazmian prince Jalal al-Din's forces at the banks of the Indus River. Superior Mongol cavalry tactics and coordination overwhelmed the Khwarazmian troops despite their fierce resistance. The defeat marked the collapse of organized Central Asian opposition to Mongol expansion. With this victory, Genghis Khan secured control over the region and paved the way for future advances into the Indian subcontinent. The battle demonstrated the effectiveness of Mongol strategy and the far-reaching impact of Genghis Khan's military leadership. Chronicles from the period highlight the swift nature of the conquest and the psychological blow dealt to Jalal al-Din's followers. This decisive moment symbolized the unstoppable momentum of the Mongol Empire.
1221
Genghis Khan
Khwarazmian
Jalal al-Din
Battle of the Indus
Mongol conquest of Central Asia
1227day.year
Gąsawa massacre: At an assembly of Piast dukes at Gąsawa, Polish Prince Leszek the White, Duke Henry the Bearded and others are attacked by assassins while bathing.
Assassins ambush Piast dukes at a gathering in Gąsawa, killing Prince Leszek the White and wounding others.
During an assembly of Piast dukes at Gąsawa in 1227, a group of assassins launched a surprise attack while the nobles were bathing. Prince Leszek the White was struck down, and Duke Henry the Bearded suffered serious wounds. The massacre was a stark manifestation of the fierce rivalries between regional Polish rulers. It sent shockwaves through the fragmented Polish principalities, leading to further power struggles and succession disputes. Historical accounts suggest the attack was orchestrated by adversaries seeking to alter the balance of power within the Piast dynasty. The violent episode highlighted the precarious nature of medieval Polish politics. In its aftermath, alliances shifted and the path toward greater consolidation of power became even more complex.
1227
Gąsawa massacre
Piast
Gąsawa
Leszek the White
Henry the Bearded
1429day.year
Hundred Years' War: Joan of Arc unsuccessfully besieges La Charité.
Joan of Arc leads a siege against the fortress of La Charité but is unable to capture the stronghold during the Hundred Years' War.
Buoyed by earlier triumphs, Joan of Arc led French forces in an attack on La Charité, a fortress held by Burgundian allies of England. Despite her resolve and leadership, the strong defenses and lack of sufficient artillery forced a withdrawal. Joan was wounded during the assaults, revealing the harsh realities beyond her famed victories. The failed siege exposed the logistical challenges facing French commanders late in the Hundred Years' War. It also marked one of her final military campaigns before her capture. Contemporary accounts note that the siege tested Joan's reputation and the morale of her troops. While unsuccessful, the operation underscored her enduring influence on France's war effort.
1429
Hundred Years' War
Joan of Arc
besieges La Charité
1542day.year
Battle of Solway Moss: An English army defeats a much larger Scottish force near the River Esk in Dumfries and Galloway.
An English army achieves victory over a larger Scottish force at the Battle of Solway Moss, near the River Esk in Dumfries and Galloway.
On the banks of the River Esk in Dumfries and Galloway, English forces engaged a numerically superior Scottish army in the Battle of Solway Moss. The Scots, hampered by unfamiliar marshy terrain, were quickly routed by a disciplined English infantry and cavalry. Many Scots were captured amid the confusion, leading to a significant blow to Scottish military strength. The defeat undermined the authority of King James V and hastened his demise later that year. The battle also intensified England's leverage over Scotland during the ensuing diplomatic negotiations known as the Rough Wooing. It highlighted the brutal effectiveness of Tudor military organization along the volatile border. Solway Moss remains remembered as a key encounter in the long Anglo-Scottish conflicts.
1542
Battle of Solway Moss
River Esk
Dumfries and Galloway
1850day.year
Danish troops defeat a Schleswig-Holstein force in the town of Lottorf, Schleswig-Holstein.
In 1850, Danish forces defeated a Schleswig-Holstein army at Lottorf during the First Schleswig War.
On November 24, 1850, Danish troops engaged and routed Schleswig-Holstein forces in the town of Lottorf. The clash took place amidst the First Schleswig War, a conflict over the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein between Denmark and the German Confederation. Danish victory at Lottorf helped solidify control over disputed territories and boosted morale at home. Although skirmishes continued, this engagement demonstrated Denmark’s military strength. The war ultimately ended in 1851 with the London Protocol but left enduring tensions in the region.
1850
defeat
Schleswig-Holstein
Lottorf
1863day.year
American Civil War: Battle of Lookout Mountain: Near Chattanooga, Tennessee, Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant capture Lookout Mountain and begin to break the Confederate siege of the city led by General Braxton Bragg.
During the Civil War in 1863, Union forces led by Ulysses S. Grant captured Lookout Mountain, breaking the Confederate siege of Chattanooga.
On November 24, 1863, at the Battle of Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee, Union troops under General Ulysses S. Grant seized the strategic heights known as the “Battle Above the Clouds.” The victory forced Confederate General Braxton Bragg to lift the siege of Chattanooga, opening the gateway to the Deep South for Union armies. The Union success bolstered Northern morale and secured critical rail lines. It was part of Grant’s Chattanooga Campaign, which would pave the way for the Atlanta Campaign the following year. The dramatic assault became one of the war’s most celebrated engagements.
1863
American Civil War
Battle of Lookout Mountain
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Union
Ulysses S. Grant
Lookout Mountain
Confederate
Braxton Bragg
1922day.year
Nine Irish Republican Army members are executed by an Irish Free State firing squad. Among them is author Erskine Childers, who had been arrested for illegally carrying a revolver.
In 1922, nine IRA members, including author Erskine Childers, were executed by an Irish Free State firing squad.
On November 24, 1922, during the Irish Civil War, nine members of the Irish Republican Army were executed by an Irish Free State firing squad in Dublin. Among them was Erskine Childers, a celebrated novelist arrested for illegally carrying a revolver. These executions fueled bitterness on both sides and intensified the conflict between pro- and anti-Treaty forces. The harsh measures underscored the often brutal nature of civil war and the deep divisions within Irish society. Childers’s death elevated him to a martyr in the eyes of many nationalist supporters.
1922
Irish Republican Army
executed
Irish Free State
Erskine Childers
1940day.year
World War II: The First Slovak Republic becomes a signatory to the Tripartite Pact, officially joining the Axis powers.
The First Slovak Republic signs the Tripartite Pact, officially joining the Axis powers in World War II.
On November 24, 1940, the newly established First Slovak Republic signed the Tripartite Pact, aligning itself with Germany, Italy, and Japan. As a satellite state of Nazi Germany, Slovakia sought political protection and territorial guarantees from the Axis alliance. The agreement obligated Slovakia to contribute military and economic support to Axis war efforts. Joining the pact deepened its involvement in wartime operations and highlighted its role as a collaborator regime. The decision also marked a significant step in central Europe’s realignment under Axis influence. Slovakia’s entry into the alliance had lasting consequences for its wartime population and postwar recovery.
1940
World War II
First Slovak Republic
Tripartite Pact
Axis powers
1941day.year
World War II: The United States grants Lend-Lease to the Free French Forces.
The United States grants Lend-Lease aid to the Free French Forces, bolstering their fight against Axis occupation.
On November 24, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved Lend-Lease assistance for the Free French Forces led by General Charles de Gaulle. This decision extended the U.S. policy of supplying military equipment, ships, and other resources to Allied nations resisting Axis aggression. The aid included weapons, vehicles, and communications gear vital for Free French operations in North Africa and Europe. By formalizing support, the U.S. strengthened the legitimacy and capabilities of de Gaulle’s movement. This move also signaled growing American engagement in the European theater ahead of full entry into World War II. The Lend-Lease program played a critical role in sustaining Allied resistance against Axis powers.
1941
Lend-Lease
Free French Forces
1943day.year
World War II: At the battle of Makin the USS Liscome Bay is torpedoed near Tarawa and sinks, killing 650 men.
The escort carrier USS Liscome Bay is torpedoed near Tarawa, sinking with the loss of 650 crew during the Battle of Makin.
On November 24, 1943, during the Battle of Makin in the Gilbert Islands, the USS Liscome Bay was struck by a Japanese submarine torpedo. The blast triggered a catastrophic explosion in the carrier’s hangar deck, igniting bombs and aircraft fuel. Within minutes, the vessel sank, resulting in the deaths of 650 sailors, including Rear Admiral Henry M. Mullinnix. Survivors faced treacherous waters before rescue by nearby ships and aircraft. The loss underscored the dangers of Pacific naval warfare and the vulnerability of escort carriers. Despite the tragedy, Allied forces continued their advance across the Central Pacific. The Battle of Makin contributed to the larger strategy of island hopping towards Japan.
1943
battle of Makin
USS Liscome Bay
Tarawa
1944day.year
World War II: The 73rd Bombardment Wing launches the first attack on Tokyo from the Northern Mariana Islands.
The 73rd Bombardment Wing launches the first air raid on Tokyo from the Northern Mariana Islands, marking a new era in the Pacific air campaign.
On November 24, 1944, the U.S. Army Air Forces' 73rd Bombardment Wing flew the first B-29 Superfortress raid on Tokyo from bases in the Northern Mariana Islands. This operation was the culmination of the Marianas campaign, which secured islands like Saipan and Tinian for strategic bombing launches. The long-range mission targeted industrial and military facilities in the Japanese capital. Despite challenging weather and enemy defenses, the raid demonstrated the B-29’s capability to strike the Japanese home islands. It signaled a shift to direct strategic bombing of Japan, contributing to the broader Allied effort to cripple war production. Subsequent raids intensified the aerial assault, ultimately impacting Japan’s capacity to sustain the war.
1944
73rd Bombardment Wing
attack on Tokyo
Northern Mariana Islands
2015day.year
A Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 fighter jet is shot down by the Turkish Air Force over the Syria–Turkey border, killing one of the two pilots; a Russian marine is also killed during a subsequent rescue effort.
Turkey downs a Russian Su-24 jet near the Syria–Turkey border, resulting in fatal casualties and diplomatic tensions.
A Turkish F-16 fighter jet shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber at the Syria–Turkey border on this date, heightening regional tensions. The Russian aircraft was accused of violating Turkish airspace, a charge Moscow disputed. One of the two crew members ejected safely but was later killed, and a marine died during a rescue mission. The incident triggered a diplomatic row, with Russia imposing sanctions on Turkey and reinforcing its air defenses in Syria. NATO called for de-escalation, while both sides exchanged official protests and rhetoric escalated. The episode underscored the complexities of overlapping military operations in the Syrian conflict.
2015
Russian Air Force
Sukhoi Su-24
shot down
Turkish Air Force
Syria–Turkey border