Great American and Foreign Battles.
This table includes those battles of decisive or far-reaching importance upon the destinies of the contestants. The dates are according to the Old Style, or Julian, calendar down to 1582; after that date, according to the New Style, or Gregorian, calendar. The victors in the various battles are printed in bold-face type. Details of minor American battles will be found in connection with the Outline Tables of American History. †Naval battles. *Indecisive results.
| Name of Battle; Approximate Location; Date | Contesting Nations or Parties | Results and Marked Features of the Contest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abensberg (ä´bens-berg), Bavaria, April 20, 1809 | French and Bavarians vs. Austrians | About 90,000 engaged on each side. | ||
| Aboukir (ä-bōō-kêr´), Battle of the Nile, Egypt, August 1, 1798 | English vs. French | Nelson cut off Napoleon’s return to Europe. | ||
| Aboukir, Egypt, July 25, 1799 | French vs. Turks | Two-thirds of Turkish troops killed. | ||
| † | Abydos (ȧ-bī´dos), Hellespont, B. C. 411 | Athenians vs. Peloponnesians | ... | |
| Acragas (ak´ra-gas), Siege of, Sicily, B. C. 406 | Carthaginians vs. Greeks | The citizens evacuated the fortress. | ||
| Acre (ä´ker or ā´ker), Siege of, Syria, 1189-1191 | Christians vs. Saracens | Richard the Lion Hearted won renown by this siege. | ||
| Acre, Siege of, Syria, March 17, 1799 | Turks vs. French | ... | ||
| † | Actium (ak´shi-um), Greece, September 2, B. C. 31 | Augustus vs. Antony | At the critical moment Antony and Cleopatra sail away. | |
| Adowa (ä´dō-wä), Northeast Africa, March 1, 1896 | Ethiopians vs. Italians | Italians routed with enormous loss. | ||
| Adrianople (ad-ri-an-ō´pl), Thrace, July 3, 323 | Constantine vs. Licinius | Constantine gained empire. | ||
| Adrianople, Thrace, 378 | Visigoths vs. Romans | Emperor Valens defeated and slain. | ||
| Adwalton (ad´wal-ton) Moor, England, January 30, 1643 | Royalists vs. Parliamentarians | ... | ||
| Ægadian Islands (ē-gā´di-an), Sicily, B. C. 241 | Romans vs. Carthaginians | This victory put an end to the first Punic war. | ||
| † | Ægospotami (ē-gos-pot´a-mī), Thrace, B. C. 405 | Spartans vs. Athenians | Virtually ended Peloponnesian war. | |
| Aghrim (ô´grim), Ireland, July 12, 1691 | William III. vs. James II. | Irish savagely slaughtered. | ||
| Agincourt (ȧ-zhan-kōōr); E. (aj´in-kört), France, October 25, 1415 | English vs. French | Great victory for Henry V. | ||
| Agnadello (ä-nyä-del´lō), Italy, May 14, 1509 | French vs. Venetians | One of the most disastrous battles in the history of Venice. | ||
| Agrigentum (ag-ri-jen´tum), Siege of, Sicily, B. C. 262 | Romans vs. Carthaginians | ... | ||
| Alamo (ä´lȧ-mō), Storming of the, Texas, U. S., February 22, 1836 | Mexicans vs. Texans | Survivors put to the sword. | ||
| Albuera (äl-bwā´rā), Spain, May 16, 1811 | British vs. French | Heavy losses on both sides. | ||
| Aleppo (ä-lep´ō), Syria, 638 | Moslems vs. Syrians | Last serious resistance in Syria to the invading Moslems. | ||
| Alexandria (ä-leks-än´dri-ä), Siege of, Egypt, 638 | Moslems vs. Egyptians | Left Moslems masters of Egypt. | ||
| Alexandria, Bombardment of, Egypt, July 11-12, 1882 | English vs. Arabi Pasha | Forts totally destroyed. English occupy Egypt. | ||
| Algiers (al-jērz´), Bombardment of, Algeria, 1816 | English and Dutch vs. Dey of Algeria | Dey agreed to total abolition of Christian slavery in his dominion. | ||
| Allia (al´i-ä), Italy, B. C. 390 | Brennus and his Gauls vs. Romans | Rome left defenseless. | ||
| Alma (äl´ma), Crimea, September 20, 1854 | English and French vs. Russians | British carried heights at the point of the bayonet. | ||
| Almansa (äl-män´sä), Spain, April 25, 1707 | French vs. British and Portuguese | Spain lost to the allies. | ||
| Amphipolis (am-fip´ō-lis), Siege of, Thrace, B. C. 422 | Spartans vs. Athenians | Both Brasidas and Cleon fell. | ||
| Anaquito (ä-nä-kē´tō), Peru, 1546 | Pizarro vs. Viceroy Menez | Government of Peru fell into Pizzaro’s hands. | ||
| Angora (an-gō´rȧ), Asia Minor, 1402 | Tartars vs. Turks | Tamerlane said to have had eight hundred thousand men. | ||
| Antietam (an-tē´tam), Maryland, U. S., September 17, 1862 | * | Confederates vs. U. S. | Heavy losses on both sides. Lee’s army greatly outnumbered. | |
| Antioch, Siege of, Syria, 1097-1098 | Crusaders vs. Saracens | Defenders massacred. | ||
| Antwerp (ant´wirp), Belgium, 1576 | Spaniards vs. Walloons | Massacre of inhabitants known as the “Spanish Fury.” | ||
| Appomattox (ap-pō-mat´oks), Virginia, U. S., April 9, 1865 | U. S. vs. Confederates | Marked the close of the American Civil war, and surrender of General Lee. | ||
| Aquae Sextiae (ā´kwe seks´ti-ē) Gaul, B. C. 102 | Romans vs. Teutons | Caius Marius annihilates the barbarian army. | ||
| Arbela (är-bē´lä), Persia, B. C. 331 | Macedonians vs. Persians | This victory made Alexander master of Asia. | ||
| Arcola (är´kō-lā), Italy, November 15-17, 1796 | French under Napoleon vs. Austrians | Napoleon prevented the junction of two Austrian armies. | ||
| Arcot (är-kot´), Siege of, India, August 31- November 15, 1751 | English and Sepoys vs. French | Robert Clive held out ten weeks against a far superior force before being relieved. | ||
| † | Arginusae (är-ji-nū´sē), Asia Minor, B. C. 406 | Athenians vs. Peloponnesians | Command of the sea temporarily restored to Athens. | |
| † | Armada (är-mä´dä), The Invincible, English Channel, July, 1588 | English vs. Spanish | Beginning of English sea-power. | |
| Arsuf (ar-suf), Syria, September 7, 1191 | English Crusaders vs. Saracens | Great victory of Richard the Lion Hearted over Saladin. | ||
| † | Artemisium (ār-te-mish´um), Eubœa, B. C. 480 | * | Persians vs. Greeks | Fought at the same time as the battle of Thermopylæ. |
| Ascalon[701] (as´ka-lon), Syria, 1099 | Crusaders vs. Saracens | Moslem resistance to Christians ended for a time. | ||
| Asculum (as´ku-lum), Italy, B. C. 279 | Pyrrhus vs. Romans | Pyrrhus, though victorious, suffered great loss. | ||
| Aspern (äs´pern), Austria, May 21-22, 1809 | * | Austrians vs. French | Napoleon retired. Each side lost about 20,000 men. | |
| Assaye (ä-sī´), India, September 23, 1803 | English vs. East Indians | Sir Arthur Wellesley (later duke of Wellington) defeated forces almost ten times as numerous. | ||
| Austerlitz (ous´ter-lits), Austria, December 2, 1805 | French vs. Russians, Austrians | The Battle of the Three Emperors: Napoleon, Alexander I., Francis I. | ||
| † | Azores (ȧ-zōrz´), Atlantic Ocean, 1591 | Spanish vs. English | Gallant fight made by Sir Richard Grenville in the Revenge. | |
| Balaclava (bäl-ä-klä´vä), Crimea, October 25, 1854 | Russians vs. English | “Charge of the Light Brigade” celebrated by Tennyson. | ||
| Bannockburn (ban´ok-burn), Scotland, June 24, 1314 | Scots vs. English | Bruce drives back English invaders with great slaughter. | ||
| Barnet (bär´net), England, April 4, 1471 | Yorkists vs. Lancastrians | Earl of Warwick (“Kingmaker”) slain. | ||
| Bautzen (bout´sen), Germany, May 20-21, 1813 | French vs. Prussians, Russians | The allies lost 15,000 killed and wounded. | ||
| † | Beachy Head, England, June 30, 1690 | French vs. English, Dutch | The French had been sent to create a diversion in favor of James II. in Ireland. | |
| Belgrade (bel-grād´), Siege of, Servia, April, 1456 | Hungarians vs. Turks | John Hunyady’s last exploit. | ||
| Beneventum (ben-e-ven´tum), Italy, B. C. 275 | Romans vs. Pyrrhus | Pyrrhus’ last serious attack against the Romans. | ||
| Beresina (ber-yā´zē-nä), Crossing of the, Russia, November 28, 1812 | Russians vs. French | A most terrible disaster on the retreat from Moscow. | ||
| Bergen-op-Zoom (berch´en-op-zōm´), Siege of, Netherlands, 1747 | French vs. English, Dutch | French lost heavily in this siege. | ||
| Bibracte (bi-brak´tē), Gaul, B. C. 58 | Romans vs. Helvetians | A defeat would have meant destruction to Cæsar. | ||
| Blenheim (blen´im), Bavaria, August 13, 1704 | British and Imperialists vs. French and Bavarians | Brilliant victory of Marlborough and Prince Eugene. | ||
| Borodino (bor-o-dyē-nô´) commonly Anglicized, (bor-ō-dē´nō) | * | French vs. Russians | One of the most bloody battles on record. | |
| Bosworth Field, England, August, 1485 | Lancastrians vs. Yorkists | Richard III. slain; Henry Tudor becomes Henry VII. of England. | ||
| Bouvines (bö-vēn´) Flanders, 1214 | French vs. Flemish, English and Germans | Secures the position of Philip Augustus on the throne of France. | ||
| Bovianum (bö-vi-ä´num), Siege of, Italy, B. C. 305 | Romans vs. Samnites | End of second Samnite war. | ||
| Boyne (boin) river, Ireland, July 1, 1690 | William III. vs. James II. | Irish under James II. totally defeated. | ||
| Breitenfeld (brīt´en-felt), Germany, September 7, 1631 | Swedes and Saxons vs. Imperialists | Brilliant victory of Gustavus Adolphus over Tilly. | ||
| Breitenfeld, Germany, 1642 | Swedes vs. Imperialists | Victory of Tortenson over Piccolomini. | ||
| Brill, Seizure of, Holland, 1572 | Netherlanders vs. Spanish | The first success of the Netherlanders. | ||
| Buena Vista (bwā´nä vēs´tä), Mexico, February 22-23, 1847 | Americans vs. Mexicans | General Zachary Taylor victorious over much larger force. | ||
| Bull Run, Virginia, U. S. A., July 21, 1861 | Confederates vs. Federals | The first important battle of the Civil war. | ||
| Bunker’s Hill, Massachusetts, U. S. A., June 17, 1775 | British vs. Americans | Though dislodged from their position, the Americans won a practical victory. | ||
| Byzantium (bi-zan´shi-um), Siege of, Thrace, 323 | Constantine vs. Licinius | Byzantium refounded as Constantinople, the capital of the empire. | ||
| † | Cadiz (kā´diz, Sp. kä´dēth), Spain, 1587 | English vs. Spanish | Here Drake “singed the King of Spain’s beard.” | |
| Calais (Fr. kȧ-lä´), Siege of, France, 1346-1347 | English vs. French | Calais remained in English possession until 1558. | ||
| † | Camperdown (kam-per-doun´), Holland, October 11, 1797 | British vs. Dutch | The Dutch fleet, allied with France, was practically destroyed. | |
| Cannæ (kan´ē), Italy, B. C. 216 | Carthaginians vs. Romans | Hannibal inflicts one of the most disastrous defeats the Romans ever suffered. | ||
| † | Cape St. Vincent, Portugal, February 14, 1797 | British vs. Spanish | Spanish fleet, allied with France, beaten by Admiral Jervis. | |
| Capua (kap´ū-a; It. kä´pŏŏ-ä), Siege of, Italy, B. C. 211 | Romans vs. Capuans and Carthaginians | Hannibal was unable to break through Roman lines and relieve the city. | ||
| Carrhæ (kar´ē), Mesopotamia, B. C. 53 | Parthians vs. Romans | Crassus, one of the triumvirs, defeated and shortly after slain. | ||
| Carthage (kär´thij), Siege of, North Africa, B. C. 146 | Romans vs. Carthaginians | Carthage razed to the ground. | ||
| Castillon (käs-te-yôn´), France, July 17, 1453 | French vs. English | This victory ended the Hundred Years’ war. | ||
| † | Catana (kä-tän´ä), Sicily, B. C. 387 | Carthaginians vs. Syracusans | Syracusans utterly routed. Carthaginians besieged Syracuse. | |
| Caudine (kâ´din) Forks, Italy, B. C. 321 | Samnites vs. Romans | The whole Roman army was “sent under the yoke.” | ||
| Cawnpore (kân´pōr), India, December 6, 1857 | British vs. Mutineers | Sir Colin Campbell routs mutineers. | ||
| Chæronea (ker-ō-nēȧ), Greece, B. C. 338 | Macedonians vs. Athenians and Thebans | Philip of Macedon wins hegemony of Greece. | ||
| Chalons (shä-lôn´), France, 451 | Romans and Visigoths vs. Huns | Attila retreated and western Europe was saved from the Huns. | ||
| Chattanooga (chat-ȧ-nōō´gȧ) Tennessee, U. S. A., November 24-27, 1863 | Federals vs. Confederates | The “Battle above the Clouds” fought on Lookout Mountain. | ||
| Chickamauga[702] (chik-ȧ-mô´-gȧ), Tennessee, U. S. A., Sept. 19-20, 1863 | Confederates vs. Federals | Federal losses 16,000; Confederate about 12,000. | ||
| Chioggia (kyod´jā), Blockade of, Venetia, January to June, 1380 | Venetians vs. Genoese | Loss of this city broke the power of the Genoese republic for many years. | ||
| Chotusitz (chō´tö-zits) (Caslau), Bohemia, May 17, 1742 | Prussians vs. Austrians | This victory led Austria to sign the peace of Breslau, June 11, 1742. | ||
| Clusium (klōō´shi-um), Italy, B. C. 225 | Gauls vs. Romans | Romans said to have lost 25,000. | ||
| † | Cnidus (nī´dus), Asia Minor, B. C. 394 | Athenians and Persians vs. Spartans | Sparta lost her recently gained maritime ascendency. | |
| Colenso (kō-len´sō), South Africa, December 15, 1899 | Boers vs. British | First action in Buller’s campaign for the relief of Ladysmith. | ||
| Colline (kol´in) Gate, Rome, B. C. 82 | Optimates vs. Democrates and Samnites | Sulla’s victory ended the Roman civil war. | ||
| † | Constantinople (kon-stan-ti-nō´pl), Siege of, Thrace, 1204 | Crusaders and Venetians vs. Greek Empire | Baldwin of Flanders becomes Latin emperor of the East. | |
| Constantinople, Siege of, Thrace, April 26-May 29, 1453 | Turks vs. Greeks | Final overthrow of Greek Empire. | ||
| Copenhagen (kō-pen-hā´gen), Bombardment of, Denmark, 1807 | British vs. Danish | England forces surrender of Danish fleet to save it from Napoleon. | ||
| Coronea (kor-ŏ-nē´ȧ), Greece, B. C. 394 | Sparta vs. Thebes, Corinth, Argos and Athens | Agesilaus, Spartan king, compelled to evacuate Bœotia. | ||
| Corunna (kō-run´ȧ), Spain, January 16, 1809 | British vs. French | Sir John Moore killed. French kept at bay while British embarked. | ||
| Courtral (kŏŏ-trā´), Flanders, July 11, 1302 | Flemish vs. French | “Battle of the Spurs.” Great carnage among French knighthood. | ||
| Crécy (krā´sē), France, August 26, 1346 | English vs. French | Victory due to English archers. | ||
| Crimisus (kri-mī´sus), the river, Sicily, B. C. 340 | Sicilians vs. Carthaginians | Secured Greek towns of Sicily peace for many years. | ||
| Culloden (ku-lō´den or -lod´en), Scotland, April 16, 1746 | British vs. Scots under Young Pretender | Last attempt of the Stuarts to recover British throne. | ||
| Cunaxa (kū-nak´sȧ), Babylonia, B. C. 401 | Cyrus and the “Ten Thousand” vs. Persians | Cyrus was slain and the Greeks made the “Anabasis” to the sea. | ||
| Custozza (kös-tōd´zā), Italy, June 24, 1866 | Austrians vs. Italians | Though defeated, the Italians gained Venetia through Prussia. | ||
| Cynoscephalae (sī-nō-sef´ȧ-lē or sin-ō), Greece, B. C. 197 | Romans vs. Macedonians | Philip V. forced to abandon the hegemony of Greece. | ||
| † | Cyzicus (siz´i-kus), Propontis, B. C. 410 | Athenians vs. Peloponnesians | Alcibiades surprised and practically annihilated the Peloponnesian fleet. | |
| Dardanelles (där-dȧ-nelz´) Campaign, Turkey, March 18, 1915, to January 9, 1916 | Turks vs. British and French | British and French withdrew after a loss of 115,000, killed, wounded or prisoners. | ||
| Delhi (del´i), Siege of, India, June 8 to September 20, 1857 | British vs. Mutineers | Delhi was the real center of the Indian mutiny. | ||
| Delium (dē´li-um), Greece, B. C. 424 | Bœotians vs. Athenians | Decisive and disastrous defeat for Athenians. | ||
| Dennewitz (den´ne-vits), Germany, September 6, 1813 | Russians, Prussians, Austrians and Swedes, Allies, vs. French | Victory of Bernadotte (afterward Charles XIV. of Sweden) over Ney. | ||
| Deorham (de-or´häm), England, 577 | West Saxons vs. Welsh | Wessex extended to Bristol channel, severing Welsh into two parts. | ||
| Dessau (des´ou), Germany, 1626 | Imperialists vs. Protestants | Wallenstein totally routed Mansfeld. | ||
| Dettingen (det´ing-en), Germany, June 27, 1743 | British vs. French | Last battle in which a British sovereign engaged in person. | ||
| Douro (dō´rŏŏ, Span. dwā´rō), the river, Portugal, May 12, 1809 | British vs. French | French driven out of Oporto. | ||
| † | Downs, The, North Sea, June 11-14, 1666 | * | Dutch vs. English | English fleet took shelter in the Thames; Dutch too crippled to pursue. |
| † | Drepana (drep´a-nä), Sicily, B. C. 249 | Carthaginians vs. Romans | This and other defeats led Romans to abandon the sea temporarily. | |
| Dresden (drez´den; Ger. drās´den), Germany, August 26, 27, 1813 | French vs. Russians, Prussians, and Austrians | Napoleon’s last great victory on German soil. | ||
| Drogheda (drô´he-dȧ or drô´e-dȧ), Storm of, Ireland, Sept. 12, 1649 | British and Parliamentarians vs. Royalists | Cromwell put the garrison to the sword. | ||
| Dunbar (dun-bär´), Scotland, Sept. 3, 1650 | Parliamentarians vs. Scottish Royalists | Cromwell’s victory followed by the surrender of Edinburgh and Glasgow. | ||
| Ebersberg (ā´bers-berg), Storm of, Bavaria, May 3, 1809 | French vs. Austrians | A horrible combat in which thousands were burned in the ruined village. | ||
| † | Ecnomus (ek´no-mus), Sicily, B. C. 256 | Romans vs. Carthaginians | Romans laid waste Carthaginian territory in Africa. | |
| Edgehill, England, October 23, 1642 | * | Royalists vs. Parliamentarians | The first battle of the Civil war. Royalists march on London. | |
| El Caney (el kä-nā´), Cuba, July 1, 1898 | Americans vs. Spaniards | The chief battle of the war in Cuba. | ||
| Ellandun (el´lan-dön), England, 825 | West Saxons vs. Mercians | The West Saxon Egbert becomes overlord of all the English. | ||
| Evesham (ēvz´ham), England, August 4, 1265 | Prince Edward vs. Simon Montfort | This defeat ended the war. Simon de Montfort fell. | ||
| Eylau (ī´lau), Prussia, February 8, 1807 | * | Russians and Prussians vs. French | The bloodiest and most desperate battle of a century. | |
| Falkirk (fôl´kerk; Scot., fô´kerk), Scotland, July 22, 1298 | English vs. Scotch | Edward I. utterly routed Wallace. | ||
| Fehrbellin (fār-bel-lēn´), Brandenburg, June 18, 1675 | Brandenburgers vs. Swedes | The first great victory of Brandenburg, Prussia. | ||
| Flodden (flod´n), England, September 9, 1513 | English vs. Scots | The Scottish king perished, with the bravest of his nobility. | ||
| Fontanet (fôn-tän-ā´), France, June 20, 841 | Louis and Charles vs. Lothaire (Grandsons of Charlemagne) | Followed by the famous Partition of Verdun (843). | ||
| Fontenoy[703] (fôn-t´-nwä´), Belgium, May 11, 1745 | French vs. British, Dutch and Austrians | Last great victory of France under the Old Regime. | ||
| Fornovo (for-no´vō), Italy, July 6, 1495 | French vs. Italians | Charles VIII. enabled to continue his retreat following his conquest of Naples. | ||
| Friedland (frēt´länt or frēd´länt), Prussia, June 14, 1807 | French vs. Russians | This defeat induced the Czar to conclude the peace of Tilsit. | ||
| Gettysburg (get´iz-bûrg), Pennsylvania, U. S. A., July 1-3, 1863 | Federals vs. Confederates | One of the bloodiest battles of the war, forcing Lee from northern soil. | ||
| Gibraltar (ji-brâl´tär), Siege of, Spain, 1779-1782 | British vs. French and Spanish | The last formidable attack upon Gibraltar (British since 1704). | ||
| Granada (grä-nä´dä; Sp. grä-nä´thä), Capitulation of, Spain, January 2, 1492 | Spaniards vs. Moors | Completes the overthrow of the Moorish power in Spain. | ||
| Granicus (grä-nī´kus) River, Asia Minor, B. C. 334 | Alexander the Great vs. Persians and Greek Mercenaries | Destroyed the only army opposed to Alexander in Asia Minor. | ||
| Granson (gran-sôn´) Switzerland, March 2, 1476 | Swiss vs. Burgundians | First of the three great victories of the Swiss over Charles the Bold. | ||
| Gravelotte (gräv-lot´), Lorraine, August 18, 1870 | Prussians vs. French | The first great victory of the Prussians in the war. | ||
| Guinegate (gēn-gȧt´), France, August 16, 1513 | English and Imperialists vs. French | Called the “Battle of the Spurs” from the French haste in flight. | ||
| Haarlem (här´lem), Siege of, Holland, Dec. 9-July 14, 1572-1573 | Spaniards vs. Dutch | 30,000 Spaniards against 4,000 Dutch; 2,000 Dutch massacred. | ||
| Halidon (hal´i-dn), Hill, England, July 19, 1333 | Edward III. of England vs. Scots | Won by combination of archers and dismounted men-at-arms. | ||
| † | Hampton (hämp´tn) Roads, Virginia, U. S. A., March 8, 1862 | Monitor (Federal) vs. Merrimac (Confederate) | After this wooden ships give way to ironclads in naval warfare. | |
| Hastenbeck, Germany, July 26, 1757 | French vs. Hanoverians | Followed by the convention of Closter-Zeven, which George II. repudiated. | ||
| Hastings (hās´tingz), England, October 14, 1066 | Normans vs. English | Harold fell; William the Conqueror became king of England. | ||
| Heraclea (her-ȧ-klē´ȧ or -klī´ȧ), Italy, B. C. 280 | King Pyrrhus vs. Romans | “One more such victory and I shall be ruined.”—Pyrrhus. | ||
| Hexham (hek´sam), England, May 15, 1464 | Yorkists vs. Lancastrians | The Lancastrian cause was completely crushed by this defeat. | ||
| Himera (him´er-ȧ), Sicily, B. C. 480 | Syracuse and Agrigentum vs. Carthaginians | Hamilcar slain. Carthaginians purchased peace for 2,000 talents. | ||
| Himera, Siege of, Sicily, B. C. 409 | Carthaginians vs. Sicilian Greeks | Town sacked and prisoners sacrificed to the shade of Hamilcar. | ||
| Höchst (hûkst), Germany, June 20, 1622 | Imperialists vs. Palatinate troops | Practically ends the Bohemian-Palatinate phase of the Thirty Years’ war. | ||
| Hohenfriedburg (hō´ēn-frēd´-berg), Germany, June, 1745 | Prussians vs. Austrians and Saxons | One of Frederick the Great’s victories; due partly to Austrian overconfidence. | ||
| Hohenlinden (hō-en-lin´den), Bavaria, December 3, 1800 | French vs. Austrians | The crowning event of the winter campaign; won by Moreau. | ||
| Hohkirchen (hō´kirch-en), Germany, October 14, 1758 | Austrians vs. Prussians | Frederick the Great, though surprised by a night attack, made good his retreat. | ||
| Homildon (hom´l-dn), Hill, England, September 14, 1402 | English vs. Scots | Another great victory due to the prowess of the English longbowmen. | ||
| Hydaspes (hī-das´pēz) River, India, B. C. 326 | Greeks vs. Asiatics | The last important battle in the eastward advance of Alexander the Great. | ||
| Inkermann (ing-ker-män´), Crimea, November 5, 1854 | British and French vs. Russians | A series of hand-to-hand combats fought in a dense fog. | ||
| Inverlochy (in-ver-lock´i), Scotland, February 2, 1645 | Royalist Highlanders vs. Campbells and Lowland Covenanters | Power of the Campbells in the Highlands broken for many years. | ||
| Ipsus (ip´sus), Asia Minor, B. C. 301 | Seleucus vs. Antigonus | Chief battle between Alexander’s generals over the partition of his empire. | ||
| Issus (is´us), Asia Minor, B. C. 333 | Macedonians vs. Asiatics | Alexander’s brilliant victory over an immense horde of Persians. | ||
| Ivry (ēv-rē´), France, March 14, 1590 | Huguenots vs. Catholics | Henry IV. gained a complete victory and invested Paris, his capital. | ||
| Jarnac (zhär-nak´), France, March 13, 1569 | Catholics vs. Huguenots | Prince de Condé slain. | ||
| Jemmapes (zhe-mäp´), Belgium, November 6, 1792 | French vs. Austrians | Followed by annexation of the Austrian Netherlands to France. | ||
| Jena (yā´nä), Germany, October 14, 1806 | French vs. Prussians | Napoleon advanced thence to Berlin and issued the decree for a continental blockade. | ||
| Jerusalem (jē-rōō´sȧ-lem) Siege of, Syria, 70 | Jews vs. Romans | Titus destroyed the city and massacred or sold into slavery its inhabitants. | ||
| Jerusalem, Storm of, Syria, July 15, 1099 | Crusaders vs. Moslems | A terrible massacre; feudal kingdom established under Godfrey of Bouillon. | ||
| † | Jutland, Baltic Sea, May 31, 1916 | Germans vs. British | British admitted the loss of six large cruisers and destroyers, the Germans a battleship, a cruiser, four light cruisers and five destroyers. The loss of life totaled 9,500 and the battle ended with the withdrawal of the German fleet. | |
| Kappel (käp´pel), Switzerland, October 11, 1531 | Swiss Catholic Cantons vs. Zurichers | Zwingli, the Swiss Protestant reformer, fell in this battle. | ||
| Kars (kärs), Storm of, Armenia, November 17-18, 1877 | Russians vs. Turks | Russian success caused angry negotiations between England and Russia. | ||
| Katzbach (käts´baK), Germany, August 26, 1813 | Prussians vs. French | A decisive victory of Blücher over one of Napoleon’s marshals. | ||
| Khartoum (kär-töm´), Siege of, Soudan, March 12-January 26, 1884-1885 | Mahdi vs. Gordon | “Chinese” Gordon killed; the Soudan evacuated by the Anglo-Egyptian government. | ||
| Killiecrankie[704] (kil-i-krang´ki), Scotland, July 17, 1689 | Highland Jacobites vs. Royalists | The Jacobite victory was nullified by the fall of their leader, Dundee. | ||
| Kimberley (kim´ber-li), Siege of, South Africa, October 15, 1899 to February 15, 1900 | British vs. Boers | The brilliant defense of Kimberley was a notable feature of the war. | ||
| Kin-chau (kin-chow´), Manchuria, May 26, 1904 | Japanese vs. Russians | General Oku opened the way for the land investment of Port Arthur. | ||
| Koniggrätz (kû´nich-gräts´), (or Sadowa), Germany, July 3, 1866 | Prussians vs. Austrians | This victory gave the supremacy in Germany to Prussia, unity to North Germany. | ||
| Kolin (kō-lēn´), Bohemia, June 18, 1757 | Austrians vs. Prussians | Following this defeat, Frederick the Great evacuated Bohemia. | ||
| Kossova (kos´ō-vō), Servia, June 15, 1389 | Turks vs. Christian Slavs | A battle famed in the history, legend and literature of Servia. | ||
| Kossova, Servia, October 17-19, 1448 | Turks vs. Christians | The hero, John Hunyady, overcome at the cost of 40,000 Turkish lives. | ||
| Kotzim (cho-tem´), Russia, November 11, 1673 | Poles vs. Turks | John Sobieski, by sheer personal ascendency, stems tide of Turkish advance. | ||
| Kulm (kōōlm), Germany, August 29-30, 1813 | Austrians, Russians and Prussians vs. Napoleon | 7,000 French capitulate; “The Caudine Forks of modern war.” Conduces to the defeat at Leipzig. | ||
| Kunersdorf (kōō´ners-dorf), Germany, August 12, 1759 | Austrians and Russians vs. Prussians | Inactivity of the allies saved Frederick the Great from annihilation. | ||
| † | Lade (lā´dē), Asia Minor, B. C. 494 | Persians vs. Ionian Greeks | This defeat put an end to the Ionian revolt. | |
| Ladysmith (lā´di-smith), Siege of, South Africa, November 2, 1899 to February, 1900 | British vs. Boers | Like the siege of Kimberley, a notable incident of the war. | ||
| † | La Hogue (lä hōg), Northwestern France, May 10-20, 1692 | English and Dutch vs. French | Overthrew the hopes of James II. of recovering his throne. | |
| † | Lake Erie, Lake Erie, September 10, 1813 | Americans vs. British | “We have met the enemy and they are ours.”—Perry. | |
| † | La Rochelle (lä rō-shel´), France, June 22-23, 1372 | French and Spaniards vs. English | Control of the sea passes for a time to the side of the French. | |
| La Rochelle, Siege of, France, November 1, 1627 to October 28, 1628 | Richelieu vs. Huguenots and English | Huguenots no longer an armed political party but a tolerated sect. | ||
| Lechfeld (lech´feld), Germany, August 10, 955 | Otto I. vs. Hungarians | A crushing defeat inflicted on the waning power of the Hungarians. | ||
| Lech (lech), the river, Germany, April 15, 1632 | Gustavus Adolphus vs. German Catholic League | Tilly mortally wounded. | ||
| Legnano (len-yä´nō), Italy, May 29, 1176 | Lombard League vs. Frederick Barbarossa | In the peace of Constance (1183), Frederick renounced all regal privileges over the cities. | ||
| Leipzig (līp´sik), Saxony, September 17, 1631 | Swedes and Saxons vs. Catholic Imperialists | Brilliant victory of Gustavus Adolphus saves Protestant cause. | ||
| Leipzig, Saxony, October 16, 18-19, 1813 | Allies vs. Napoleon | This disaster lost Germany to Napoleon. | ||
| Le Mans (le mon´), France, January 6-12, 1871 | Prussians vs. French | French army almost annihilated. | ||
| † | Lepanto (le-pan´tō), Gulf of Corinth, October 7, 1751 | Don John of Austria vs. Turks | One of the most splendid naval victories ever achieved. | |
| Leuctura (lūk´tra), Greece, B. C. 371 | Thebans vs. Spartans | Epaminondas’ overthrow of Sparta gives Thebes the hegemony in Greece. | ||
| Leuthen (loi´ten), Germany, December 5, 1757 | Prussians vs. Austrians | This battle “would alone make Frederick immortal and rank him among the greatest generals.”—Napoleon. | ||
| Lewes (lū´is), England, May 14, 1264 | Simon de Montfort vs. Henry III. and Prince Edward | Simon de Montfort’s victory followed by Parliament, the first to which borough representatives were called (1265). | ||
| Leyden (lī´den), Siege of, Holland, May 26 to October 3, 1574 | Dutch vs. Spaniards | Prince of Orange cut the dikes to bring the fleet to the relief of the city. | ||
| Liegnitz (lēch´nits), Germany, August 15, 1760 | Prussians vs. Austrians | Frederick prevented the union of the Austrians and Russians. | ||
| Ligny (lēn-yē´), Belgium, June 16, 1815 | Napoleon vs. Blücher | Napoleon’s last victory; Blücher joined Wellington at Waterloo on the 18th. | ||
| Lille (lēl), Siege of, France, August 12 to October 22, 1708 | Imperialists vs. French | France now lay open to the advance of the allies. | ||
| Lilybæum (lil-i-bē´um), Siege of, Sicily, B. C. 250-241 | Carthaginian vs. Romans | One of the most protracted sieges in history, surrendered only with Sicily at close of war. | ||
| Linkoping (lēn´chû-ping), Sweden, September 25, 1598 | Swedes vs. Poles under King Sigismund | Led to perpetual hostility between Sweden and Poland in seventeenth century. | ||
| † | Lissa (lis´a), Adriatic, July 20, 1866 | Austrians vs. Italians | The only battle between ironclads fought in European waters. | |
| Lobositz (lō´bō-zits), Bohemia, October 1, 1756 | * | Prussians vs. Austrians | 18,000 Saxons besieged at Pirna were now forced into the Prussian army. | |
| Lodi (lō´dē), Bridge of, Italy, May 10, 1796 | Napoleon Bonaparte vs. Austrians | This success gave the whole of Lombardy to the French. | ||
| Loigny-Poupry (lwän-ye´ poo-pree´), France, December 2, 1870 | Prussians vs. French | Prevented the French from relieving Orleans. | ||
| Louisburg (lö´ē-berg), Siege of, Canada, June 8 to July 27, 1758 | British vs. French | Destruction of one of the strongest fortresses in North America. | ||
| Lucknow (luk´nou), Siege of, India, March 19, 1857 to July 1, 1858 | British vs. Sepoy mutineers | The turning of the tide; next year the mutiny was totally quelled. | ||
| Lutter (löt´ter), Germany, August 26, 1626 | Catholics and Imperialists vs. Danes and Protestant Germans | Christian of Denmark, severely defeated, retires into Holstein and Mecklenburg. | ||
| Lützen (lüt´sen), Saxony, November 16, 1632 | Swedes and Protestant Germans vs. Catholics and Imperialists | Gustavus Adolphus slain in winning his third great victory. | ||
| Lützen,[705] Saxony, May 2, 1813 | Napoleon vs. Allies | The first battle in the great German War of Liberation. | ||
| Luzzara (löt-sä´rä), Italy, August 15, 1702 | * | French vs. Imperialists | Followed by French ascendency in Italy until 1706. | |
| Macalo (mäk-ä´lo), Italy, October 11, 1427 | Venice vs. Milan | Carmagnola gained a brilliant victory over the famous condottieri, Sforza, Piccinino and Malatesta. | ||
| Madras (mä-dras´), Siege of, India, Dec. 12, 1758 to Feb. 16, 1759 | English vs. French | Failure to take Madras was a great blow to French power in India. | ||
| Maestricht (mäs´tricht), Siege of, Belgium, March 12 to June 29, 1579 | Spaniards vs. Netherlanders | Inhabitants and garrison massacred. | ||
| Mafeking (maf´e-king), Siege of, South Africa, Oct., 1899 to May 17, 1900 | British vs. Boers | Baden Powell’s resistance aroused world-wide enthusiasm. | ||
| Magdeburg (mäg´de-bŏŏrch), Storm of, Germany, May 20, 1631 | Catholics and Imperialists vs. inhabitants | The sack of Magdeburg is one of the darkest spots on the pages of history. | ||
| Magenta (mä-jen´tä), Italy, June 4, 1859 | French and Piedmontese vs. Austrians | Napoleon III. and Victor Emmanuel entered Milan. | ||
| Magnesia (mag-nē´shȧ), Asia Minor, B. C. 190 | Romans vs. Antiochus the Great | The kingdom of the Seleucidæ dismembered. | ||
| Malaga (mä´lä-gä), Spain, May 8 to August 18, 1487 | Spaniards vs. Moors | The inhabitants were sold into slavery. | ||
| † | Malaga, Spain, August 24, 1704 | * | English and Dutch vs. French | French fleet prevented from uniting with Spanish which was besieging Gibraltar. |
| Malakoff (mä-lä´kof), Storm of, Crimea, September 8, 1855 | French vs. Russians | Loss of this and other earthworks led that night to the evacuation of Sebastopol. | ||
| Malo-Jaroslavitz (mä´lō yä-rō-slä´vets), Russia, October 24, 1812 | * | Russians vs. French | Napoleon was obliged to abandon southerly line of retreat from Moscow. | |
| Malplaquet (mȧl-plȧ-kā´), France, September 11, 1709 | British and Imperialists vs. French | Bloodiest battle of this war; “carnage, not a battle.” | ||
| † | Manila (mȧ-nil´ȧ) Bay, Philippines, May 1, 1898 | Americans vs. Spaniards | Admiral Dewey totally destroyed the Spanish fleet. | |
| Mansurah (män-sōō´rä), Egypt, April 8, 1250 | * | French Crusaders vs. Saracens | The last of the great pitched battles of the crusaders. Shortly after Louis IX. was captured and ruinously ransomed. | |
| Mantineia (man-ti-nē´ȧ), Greece, B. C. 418 | Spartans vs. Athenians and Argives | The Spartans regained their supremacy in Peloponnesus. | ||
| Mantineia, Greece, B. C. 362 | Thebans vs. Spartans | The death of Epaminondas in this battle ends Theban supremacy. | ||
| Mantua (man´tū-ȧ), Siege of, Italy, June, 1796, to February 2, 1797 | French vs. Austrians | The close of Napoleon’s marvelous first Italian campaign. | ||
| Marathon (mär´ȧ-thon), Greece, B. C. 490 | Athenians and Plataeans vs. Persians | Miltiades’ victory causes Persians to abandon their first expedition against Greece. | ||
| Mardia (mär´di-ä), Thrace, 315 | Licinius vs. Constantine the Great | Licinius lost all his European territory except Thrace. | ||
| Marengo (mä-reng´gō), Italy, June 14, 1800 | French vs. Austrians | Won for Napoleon largely by General Desaix. | ||
| Marignano (ma-rēn-yä´nō), Italy, September 13, 14, 1515 | French vs. Swiss | Francis I. reconquered Milan by this brilliant victory. | ||
| Marne (märn), a river in France, September 5-7, 1914 | Allies vs. Germans | Germans forced to retreat and capture of Paris averted. | ||
| Marsaglia (mär-säl´yä), Italy, October 4, 1693 | French vs. Duke of Savoy | French infantry with bayonets charged the cavalry, a new maneuver. | ||
| Marston Moor, England, July 2, 1644 | Parliamentarians vs. Royalists | This victory, due to Cromwell’s Ironsides, gave the north to parliament. | ||
| Maserfield (mä´ser-feld), England, 642 | Mercians vs. Northumbrians | Mercia becomes a competitor with Northumbria for English hegemony. | ||
| Maxen (mäks´en), Germany, November 20, 1759 | Austrians vs. Prussians | The capitulation of Finck with 12,000 Prussian soldiers disastrous to Frederick. | ||
| Maypu (mä´pö), Chili, April 5, 1818 | Chilians vs. Spaniards | Established the independence of Chili. | ||
| Medellin (mā-tnel-yēn´), Spain, March 28, 1809 | French vs. Spaniards | Spaniards mercilessly sabered in the pursuit, losing 18,000. | ||
| Megalopolis (meg-ȧ-lop´ō-lis), Greece, B. C. 331 | Macedonians vs. Spartans | Antipater, in absence of Alexander, puts down revolted Spartans in a bloody battle. | ||
| Mentana (men-tä´nä), Italy, November 3, 1867 | Garibaldians vs. French and Papal troops | Garibaldians routed after defeating papal forces. | ||
| † | Messina (mes-sē´nä), Sicily, September 28, 1282 | Sicilians and Aragonese vs. French | Charles of Anjou evacuated Sicily, which his descendants never recovered. | |
| Metaurus (mā-tau´rus), Italy, B. C. 207 | Romans vs. Carthaginians | Italy saved by preventing the junction of Hasdrubal with Hannibal. | ||
| Metz (mets), Siege of, Lorraine, August 19 to October 27, 1870 | Prussians vs. French | The release of the besieging army for service elsewhere was fatal to the French cause. | ||
| Milazzo (mē-lät´sō), Sicily, July 20, 1860 | Garibaldians vs. Neapolitans | This completes the expulsion of the Neapolitans from Sicily. | ||
| Minden (min´den), Prussia, August 1, 1759 | English, Hessians and Hanoverians vs. French | The French were decisively beaten and driven from Hesse. | ||
| Miraflores (mē-rä-flō´res), Argentina, January 13 and 15, 1883 | Chilians vs. Peruvians | Practically ended the war of the Pacific (1879-1884) between Chili, and Bolivia and Peru. | ||
| Missolonghi (mis-ō-long´gē), Siege of, Greece, April 27, 1825 to April 22-23, 1826 | Turks vs. Greeks | Greek heroism excited sympathy throughout Europe. (Byron died here, 1824.) | ||
| Mitylene (mit-i-lē´nē), Siege of, Lesbos, B. C. 428-427 | Athenians vs. Revolted inhabitants | Prisoners killed, walls pulled down, fleet forfeited, annual tribute imposed. | ||
| Modder[706] (mod´er) River, South Africa, November 28, 1899 | British vs. Boers | Lord Methuen drives Cronje from his intrenchments after a fierce fight. | ||
| Mohacs (mō´häch), Hungary, August 29, 1526 | Turks vs. Hungarians | “Never was a single battle so disastrous to a people.” | ||
| Mollwitz (mōl´vitz), Germany, April 10, 1741 | Prussians vs. Austrians | Frederick’s victory forces Europe to recognize in Prussia a new power. | ||
| Montaperti (mon-tä-per´tē), Italy, September 4, 1260 | Florentine Ghibellines, Siennese vs. Guelphs of Florence | Secured the triumph of the Ghibellines over all Tuscany. | ||
| Monterey (mon-te-rā´), Mexico, September 21-23, 1846 | Americans vs. Mexicans | Followed by the occupation of the whole of northern Mexico. | ||
| Montreal (mont-ri-ôl´), Canada, September 8, 1760 | British vs. French | Completes the British conquest of Canada from France. | ||
| Mook (mōk), Holland, April 14, 1574 | Spaniards vs. Dutch | The battle terminated in a horrible butchery of the patriot army. | ||
| Morgarten (mōr´gār-ten), Switzerland, November 15, 1315 | Swiss vs. Austrians | The first battle fought for Swiss independence. | ||
| Mortimer’s (môr´ti-mer) Cross, England, February 2, 1461 | Yorkists vs. Lancastrians | The Yorkist prince advanced to London and was proclaimed king as Edward IV. | ||
| Mukden (mŏŏk-den´), Manchuria, February 24 to March 10, 1905 | Japanese vs. Russians | Release of Japanese from before Port Arthur enables Oyama to crush Kuropatkin. | ||
| Mühlberg (mül´berg), Saxony, April 24, 1547 | Charles V. and Prince Maurice vs. Saxony and Hesse | Maurice in 1552 retrieves his treason to Protestantism by driving Charles V. from Germany. | ||
| Muhldorf (mül´dorf), Bavaria, September 28, 1322 | Louis of Bavaria vs. Frederick of Austria | The disputed imperial election, over which this battle was fought, began a new struggle between empire and papacy. | ||
| Munda (mun´dä), Spain, B. C. 45 | Julius Cæsar vs. Pompeians | Cæsar’s last battle; it put an end to armed resistance. | ||
| Muret (mü-rā´), France, September 12, 1213 | Crusaders vs. Albigenses and Aragonese | Practically ends the Albigensian crusade; Toulousean territories pass ultimately to the French crown. | ||
| Mycale (mik´ȧ-lē), Asia Minor, B. C. 479 | Greeks vs. Persians | This battle and that of Platæa end the Persian wars against Greece. | ||
| † | Mylæ (mī´lē), Sicily, B. C. 260 | Romans vs. Carthaginians | First naval victory of Romans; due to boarding bridges. | |
| Näfels (nā´fels), Switzerland, April 9, 1388 | Swiss vs. Austrians | Hapsburgs renounced all feudal claims over the Swiss cantons (1389). | ||
| Nancy (nän-sē´), Lorraine, January 5, 1477 | Swiss vs. Charles the Bold | Charles was slain, leaving his motley territories a prey to neighboring princes. | ||
| Narva (när´vä), Russia, November 30, 1700 | Swedes vs. Russians | Charles XII. won a brilliant victory over the much larger army of Peter the Great. | ||
| Naseby (näz´bi), England, June 14, 1645 | Parliamentarians vs. Royalists | Complete defeat of Charles I., followed by the general ruin of his cause. | ||
| † | Naupactus (nô-pak´tus), Gulf of Corinth, B. C. 429 | Athenians vs. Peloponnesians | Victory wrested from defeat by the genius of Phormio, the Athenian commander. | |
| † | Navarino (nā-vā-rē´nō), Greece, October 20, 1827 | English, French and Russians vs. Turks | Destruction of Turkish naval power; Ibrahim retreats from Morea. | |
| Navas de Tolosa (nā´väs dā-tō-lō´sä), Spain, July 16, 1212 | Spaniards vs. Moors | Secured forever the preponderance of Christianity in Spain. | ||
| Neerwinden (nār´vin-den), Belgium, July 24, 1693 | French vs. English | The French won a brilliant but barren victory over William III. | ||
| Neville’s (nev´ilz) Cross, England, October 17, 1346 | English vs. Scots | Scots crushed at home, while Edward III. was winning Crécy. | ||
| New Orleans (ôr´li-anz), Louisiana, U. S. A., January 8, 1815 | Americans vs. British | Owing to slowness of communication, Jackson fought this battle after peace had been made. | ||
| Nicæa (nī-sē´ȧ), Siege of, Asia Minor, 1097 | Crusaders vs. Turks | First conquest of crusaders in the East. | ||
| Nicopolis (ni-kop´ō-lis), Asia Minor, B. C. 66 | Pompey vs. Mithradates | Mithridates’ last fight against the legions of Rome. | ||
| Nördlingen (nerd´ling-en), Bavaria, September 6, 1634 | Catholics and Imperialists vs. Swedes and German Protestants | One of the most bloody and decisive battles of the war; followed by the peace of Prague. | ||
| Northampton (nôrth-amp´tn), England, July 10, 1460 | Yorkists vs. Lancastrians | Capture of Henry VI.; flight of Queen Margaret and her son to Scotland. | ||
| Numantia (nū-man´shi-ȧ), Siege of, Spain, B. C. 142-133 | Romans vs. Celtiberian tribes | City razed by Scipio Æmilianus and its inhabitants sold as slaves. | ||
| Obligado (ōb-lē-gä´thō), Bombardment of, Argentina, Nov. 28, 1845 | British and French vs. Argentines | Over the opening the waters of the Parana to the shipping of all nations. | ||
| Olmutz (ol´müts), Siege of, Moravia, May 27 to July 1, 1758 | Austrians vs. Prussians | General Daun forced Frederick the Great to raise the siege and retire. | ||
| Orleans (or-lā-än´); Eng. (ôr´li-anz), Siege of, France, October 13, 1428, to May 8, 1429 | French vs. English | Joan of Arc saves France by driving back English and crowns Charles VII. at Rheims. | ||
| Ostend (ost-end´), Siege of, Belgium, July, 1601 to September, 1604 | Spaniards vs. Dutch garrison and inhabitants | Scarcely a house in the town left standing; Spaniards lost 70,000. | ||
| Ostrolenka (os-tro-leng´kä), Poland, May 26, 1831 | Russians vs. Poles | Poland becomes a province of the Russian Empire (1832). | ||
| Otterburn (ot´er-bûrn), England, August 10, 1388 | Scots vs. English | The ballad of Chevy Chase deals with this battle. | ||
| Otumba (ō-töm´bä), Mexico, July 8, 1520 | Cortez vs. Aztecs | Two hundred Spanish horsemen rout an immense army and make good their retreat. | ||
| Oudenarde (ou-de-när´de), Belgium, July 11, 1708 | English and Imperialists vs. French | One of the great victories of Marlborough and Prince Eugene over Louis XIV. | ||
| Palmyra (pal-mī´rȧ), Siege of, Syria, 272-273 | Roman vs. Queen Zenobia | Palmyra destroyed and Zenobia taken captive to Rome. | ||
| Palo Alto[707] (pä´lō-äl´tō), Mexico, May 8, 1846 | Americans vs. Mexicans | Mexicans completely routed at small cost to the victors. | ||
| Panormus (pa-nôr´mus), Sicily, B. C. 251 | Romans vs. Carthaginians | Brilliant victory restored confidence to Romans; demonstrated value of elephants in warfare. | ||
| Paris (par´is), Siege of, France, Sept. 19, 1870 to Jan. 28, 1871 | Prussians vs. French | City reduced to desperate conditions through bombardment, famine and disease. | ||
| Pavia (pä-vē´ä), Italy, 1525 | Emperor Charles V. vs. Francis I. of France | The capture of Francis was followed by the peace of Madrid, which, however, was soon repudiated. | ||
| Pharsalus (fär-sā´lus), Greece, B. C. 48 | Cæsar vs. Pompey | The West and the new monarchy completely triumphed over the East and the old republic. | ||
| Philippi (fi-lip´ī), Thrace, B. C. 42 | Antony and Octavius vs. Brutus and Cassius | Cassius and Brutus committed suicide following their defeat. | ||
| Pinkie (ping´ki), Scotland, September 10, 1547 | English vs. Scots | Scots thrown into the arms of France and the little queen, Mary, married to the dauphin. | ||
| Plassey (pläs´ē), India, June 23, 1757 | English vs. Bengalese | Established English control in Bengal and ultimately in all India. | ||
| Platæa (pla-tē´ȧ), Greece, B. C. 479 | Greeks vs. Persians | Won by the discipline and prowess of the Spartan hoplites. | ||
| Plevna (plev´nä), Siege of, Bulgaria, July 16 to December 10, 1877 | Russians vs. Turks | Brilliant defense by Osman Pasha, who surrendered only after four desperate battles. | ||
| Poitiers (pwȧ-tyā´), France, September 19, 1356 | English vs. French | Brilliant victory by the Black Prince over five times his numbers. | ||
| Pollentia (po-len´shi-ä), Italy, April 6, 402 | Romans vs. Visigoths | Alaric, attacked by Stilicho on Easter Sunday, was driven out of Italy. | ||
| Pondicherry (pon-di-sher´i), Siege of, India, Aug., 1760 to Jan., 18, 1761 | English vs. French | Destroyed French power in India. | ||
| Port Arthur, Siege of, Manchuria, Feb. 8, 1904 to Jan. 1, 1905 | Japanese vs. Russians | Port Arthur, the Sea of Japan and Mukden were turning points in the war. | ||
| † | Portland, English Channel, February 18-20, 1653 | English vs. Dutch | This battle completely restored to England the lordship of the seas. | |
| Potidæa (pot-i-dē´ȧ), Siege of, Thrace, B. C. 432, September 430 | Athenians vs. Potidæans and Corinthians | Inhabitants and foreign soldiers were allowed to leave the city, which Athens then colonized. | ||
| Prague (prāg), (White Hill), Bohemia, November 8, 1620 | Catholic League vs. Frederick V. and Bohemian rebels | Frederick proved but a “Winter King” of Bohemia. | ||
| Preston (pres´tun), England, August 17-19, 1648 | Cromwellians vs. Scottish Royalists | This second civil war determined the army to put Charles I. to death. | ||
| Pultava (pōl´tä-vä), Russia, July 8, 1709 | Russians vs. Swedes | Russia takes the place of Sweden as the leading power of the North. | ||
| Pydna (pid´nä), Macedonia, B. C. 168 | Romans vs. Macedonians | Brilliant triumphs of Paulus Æmilius over the phalanxes of King Perseus. | ||
| Pyramids, Egypt, July 21, 1798 | French vs. Mamelukes | The crowning victory of Napoleon in Egypt. | ||
| Pyrenees (pir´a-nēz), Battles of, Spain, July 25 to August 1, 1813 | British and Spaniards vs. French | Followed by the fall of San Sebastian and Pampeluna, and expulsion of French from Spain. | ||
| Quatre Bras (kātr-brä´), Belgium, June 16, 1815 | British and Allies vs. French | The allied success here was rendered fruitless by the Prussian reverse at Ligny. | ||
| Quebec (kwē-bek´; locally often ki-bek´), Siege of, Canada, June to September 18, 1759 | British vs. French | Wolfe was slain and Montcalm mortally wounded in the battle of the Plains of Abraham (September 13). | ||
| † | Quiberon (kē-brôn), Bay, France, November 20, 1759 | British vs. French | Hawke, with a loss of forty men, captured, burned, or drove on shore most of the French vessels. | |
| Ramillies (rȧ-mē-yē´), Belgium, May 23, 1706 | English and Allies vs. French | Followed by French evacuation of the chief towns of the Netherlands. | ||
| Rhe (rā), Siege of, France, July 20 to November 8, 1627 | French vs. English | An attempt of Buckingham to prevent the reduction of the Huguenot stronghold of La Rochelle. | ||
| Rhodes (rōdz), or Rhodos (rō´dos), Siege of, Mediterranean, July 28-December 26, 1522 | Turks vs. Knights of Rhodes | Following the loss of Rhodes the Knights (Hospitallers) retired to Malta. | ||
| Rieti (ri-ā´tē), Italy, March 7, 1821 | Austrians vs. Neopolitan rebels | The defeat of General Pepe enabled Austria to restore the absolute monarchy. | ||
| Rivoli (rē´vō-lē), Italy, January 14-15, 1797 | French vs. Austrians | Napoleon’s victory, followed by surrender of Mantua, completed the conquest of Lombardy. | ||
| Rocrol (rō-krwä´), France, May 19, 1643 | French vs. Spaniards | This victory, won by Condé, made France the first military power of Europe. | ||
| Rome, Sack of, Italy, B. C. 390 | Gauls | Following the battle of the Allia, the Gauls plundered and destroyed city. | ||
| Rome, Sieges of, Italy, 408, 409, 410 | Visigoths vs. Romans | Following the third siege, Alaric sacked city. | ||
| Rome, Sack of, Italy, 455 | Vandals | For fourteen days Genseric’s Vandals plundered Rome. | ||
| Rome, Storm of, Italy, May 6, 1527 | Mutinous Army of Charles V. vs. Papal troops | Marks the end of the artistic, pleasure-loving Rome of the Renaissance. | ||
| Rome, Siege of, Italy, June 4 to July 3, 1849 | French and Papalists vs. Roman Republicans | The republic, founded by Mazzini, overthrown and Pope Pius IX. restored. | ||
| Roncesvalles (rōn-thes-väl´yes), Spain, 778 | Basques vs. Franks | Death of Charlemagne’s paladin, Roland (Chanson de Roland). | ||
| Roosebek[708] (rös´bek), Flanders, November 27, 1382 | French vs. Flemings | A great triumph for the nobles against the cities. | ||
| Rossbach (ros´bak), Saxony, November 5, 1757 | Prussians vs. French and Austrians | Makes Frederick the Great a national hero of Germany. | ||
| Rouen (rŏŏ-än´), Siege of, France, June, 1418 to Jan, 1419 | English vs. French | Because of its desperate resistance, Henry V. granted the city honorable capitulation. | ||
| Sacriportis (sak-ri-pōr´tus), Italy, B. C. 82 | Optimates vs. Democrates | Followed by Sulla’s reign of terror. | ||
| Saguntum (sa-gun´tum), Siege of, Spain, B. C. 219 | Carthaginians vs. Inhabitants | Capture of this city by Hannibal the chief cause of the second Punic war. | ||
| St. Albans (sānt ôl´banz), England, May 22, 1455 | Yorkists vs. Lancastrians | The first battle of the wars of the Roses; Yorkists defeated here in a second battle (1460). | ||
| Salamanca (sal-ȧ-mang´kȧ), Spain, July 22, 1812 | British vs. French | This rout of the French lost them all southern Spain. | ||
| † | Salamis (sal´ȧ-mis), Greece, September 20, B. C. 480 | Greeks vs. Persians | Themistocles’ great victory followed by Xerxes’ withdrawal to Asia. | |
| San Jacinto (san jȧ-sin´tō), Texas, U. S. A., April 2, 1836 | Texan Rebels vs. Mexicans | Santa Anna captured by General Houston. | ||
| † | Santiago (sän-tē-ä´gō), Cuba, July 3, 1898 | Americans vs. Spaniards | Fleet of Admiral Cervera totally destroyed. | |
| Saragossa (sä-rä-gos´ȧ), Siege of, Spain, Dec., 1808 to Feb. 21, 1809 | British vs. French | An important success which broke the spell of French invincibility. | ||
| Saratoga (sar-a-tō´gä), New York, U. S. A., October 7, 1777 | Americans vs. British | Followed (October 17) by the surrender of Burgoyne, which was the turning point of the war. | ||
| † | Sea of Japan, Sea of Japan, May 27-29, 1905 | Japanese vs. Russians | Russia’s naval power destroyed. | |
| Sebastopol (se-bȧs´tō-pōl), Siege of, Crimea, September 26, 1854, 59 September 9, 1855 | French, British and Sardinians vs. Russians | Brought to a close the active operations of Crimean war. | ||
| Sedan (sē-dan´), France, September 1, 1870 | Prussians vs. French | Followed by the surrender of Napoleon III. with an army of 84,000 men. | ||
| Shipka (ship´kȧ), Pass, Bulgaria, August 20-23, 1877 | Russians vs. Turks | Russians hold this strategic position against blindfold violence of the Turks. | ||
| Sempach (zem´päK), Switzerland, July 9, 1386 | Swiss vs. Austrians | Celebrated for the heroic devotion of Arnold von Winkelried. | ||
| Sentinum (sen-tī´num), Italy, B. C. 295 | Romans vs. Samnites and Gauls | Failure of the coalition to crush Rome from the north. | ||
| Seringapatam (ser-ing´ga-pa-tam´), Siege of, India, April 24, to May 4, 1799 | British vs. Tippoo Sahib | With Bonaparte’s failure in Egypt, this battle foils French designs on India. | ||
| Shiloh (shī´lō), Tennessee, U. S. A., April 6 and 7, 1862 | Federals vs. Confederates | Defeated in the first day’s fighting, Grant turned the tables the next day. | ||
| Shrewsbury (shrŏŏz´ber-i), England, July 21, 1403 | Henry IV. vs. Percies | Hotspur defeated and slain. | ||
| Silistria (si-lis´tri-ȧ), Siege of, Bulgaria, March 28 to June 22, 1854 | Turks vs. Russians | A brilliant defense conducted by the Turks under three English officers. | ||
| † | Sinope (si-nō´pē), Black Sea, November 30, 1853 | Russians vs. Turks | Turkish fleet destroyed and crews massacred. | |
| Slivnitza (slēv-nēt´sä), Bulgaria, November 17, 18, 19, 1885 | Bulgarians vs. Servians | The decisive action in the Servo-Bulgarian war. | ||
| † | Sluys (slois), Flanders, June 22, 1340 | English vs. French | Gave English control of the sea for thirty years, enabling them to land troops in France at will. | |
| Smolensk (smol-yensk´), Russia, August 17-18, 1812 | French vs. Russians | First stand of the retreating Russians before Napoleon’s advance on Moscow. | ||
| Soissons (swä-sôn´), France, 486 | Franks vs. Romans under Syagrius | The first military exploit of Clovis. | ||
| Solferino (sōl-fā-rē´nō), Italy, June 24, 1859 | French and Piedmontese vs. Austrians | The horrors of this battle and Prussia’s threatening attitude caused Napoleon III. to make peace. | ||
| Somme (som), a river in northern France, July 1 to Sept. 15, 1916 | * | Germans vs. Allies | During this period the Germans were enduring terrific attacks from the Allies, but lost little ground. | |
| † | Southwold (south´wōld) Bay, North Sea, May 28, 1672 | English and French vs. Dutch | A victory gained by the duke of York over De Ruyter’s superior numbers. | |
| Sphacteria (sfak-tē´ri-ä), Greece, B. C. 425 | Athenians vs. Spartans | To the amazement of the Greek world, 292 Spartan hoplites surrendered. | ||
| Spicheren (spich´er-en), Palatinate, August 6, 1870 | Prussians vs. French | Reveals great superiority of Prussians from the outset of the war. | ||
| Stamford (stam´ferd) Bridge, England, September 25, 1066 | English vs. Danes | This diversion of Harold to the North left William to land in England undisturbed. | ||
| Standard, Battle of the (or Northallerton), England, August 22, 1138 | English vs. Scots | For 200 years saved Yorkshire from Scottish invasion. | ||
| Steenkerke (stān´kerk´e), Netherlands, July 24, 1692 | French vs. English and Allies | Five English regiments utterly cut to pieces. | ||
| Sterling, Scotland, 1297 | Scots vs. English | Before the end of the year all Scotland threw off the English yoke. | ||
| Stralsund (shträl´zŏŏnt), Siege of, Germany, March, August 3, 1628 | Protestant Inhabitants vs. Catholic Imperialists | Wallenstein fails to secure this important Baltic port. | ||
| Syracuse (sir´a-kūs), Siege of, Sicily, B. C. 415-413 | Syracusans and Spartans vs. Athenians | The weakening of Athenian resources in this siege was the final cause of their failure in the Peloponnesian war. | ||
| Syracuse, Siege of,[709] Sicily, B. C. 387 | Greeks vs. Carthaginians | The Syracusan tyrant, Dionysius, connives at the escape of the Carthaginian Himilco. | ||
| Syracuse, Siege of, Sicily, B. C. 214-212 | Romans vs. Carthaginians and Syracusans | Syracuse captured and plundered by the Romans. | ||
| Talavera (tä-lä-vā´rä), Spain, July 28, 1809 | British and Spaniards vs. French | After this first great pitched battle in the Peninsular campaign Wellesley became commander-in-chief of all the English troops. | ||
| Tanagra (tan´ȧ-grȧ), Greece, B. C. 457 | Spartans and Bœotians vs. Athenians | The Spartans failing to follow up their victory, Athens conquered Bœotia the following year. | ||
| Tarentum (tȧ-ren´tum), Siege of, Italy, B. C. 274-272 | Romans vs. Tarentines and Epirots | Tarentum, deprived of her army, her ships and her walls, retained the right of local self-government. | ||
| Tauss (tous), Bohemia, August 14, 1431 | Bohemian Hussites vs. Catholic Imperialists | At Procop’s approach the Imperialists fled in confusion; this was the last effort to crush the Hussites by force of arms. | ||
| Telamon (tel´ȧ-mon), Italy, B. C. 225 | Romans vs. Gauls | The annihilation of the Gallic army was followed by the Roman invasion and conquest of Cisalpine Gaul. | ||
| Tel-el-Kebir (tel´el-kā-bēr´), Egypt, September 13, 1882 | British vs. Egyptian Rebels | Arabi Pasha’s army completely broken up; the British entered Cairo the next day. | ||
| Temesvar (tem´esh-vär), Hungary, August 9, 1849 | Austrians vs. Hungarians | The last stand made by the Hungarians in the war; their army was totally routed and dispersed. | ||
| Testry (tes-trē´), France, 687 | Austrasians vs. Neustrians | Pippin of Heristal, mayor of the palace, unites the Frankish territories under one rule. | ||
| Tewkesbury (tūks´ber-i), England, May 4, 1471 | Yorkists vs. Lancastrians | Ends armed opposition to Edward IV.; Margaret of Anjou was captured and her son slain. | ||
| † | Texel (tek´sel), North Sea, June 2, 3, 1653 | British vs. Dutch | The command of the sea fell into the hands of the English fleet. | |
| Thapsus (thap´sus), North Africa, February 6, B. C. 46 | Cæsar vs. Followers of Pompey | The battle of Thapsus was the death-knell of the Pompeian cause. | ||
| Thermopylæ (ther-mop´i-lē), Greece, B. C. 480 | Persians vs. Spartans and Thespians | Leonidas, with 300 Spartans and 700 Thespians, defended the pass to the last man against overwhelming forces. | ||
| Tiberias (tī-bē´ri-ȧs), Palestine, 1187 | Saracens vs. Crusaders | Followed by the conquest of Jerusalem by Saladin, which led to the third crusade. | ||
| Ticinus (ti-sī´nus), Italy, B. C. 218 | Carthaginians vs. Romans | Hannibal’s success brought in numerous adhesions from Gallic tribes; followed by the battle on the Trebia. | ||
| Ticonderoga (tī-kon-de-rō´gȧ), New York, U. S. A., July 8, 1758 | French vs. British and Americans | British and Americans displayed in vain prodigies of valor in the rush on Montcalm’s almost impregnable position. | ||
| Tigranocerta (tig-rā-no-cer´tä), Armenia, October 6, B. C. 69 | Romans vs. Armenians | Lucullus cut to pieces the huge army of Tigranes and secured immense booty. | ||
| Tinchebrai (tansh-brā), France, 1106 | English vs. Normans | Henry I. defeated and captured his brother Robert and annexed Normandy to the crown of England. | ||
| Tolbiac (tol-bī´ak), Germany, 496 | Franks vs. Alemanni | Clovis wins lands of the Alemanni; he and his followers become Roman Christians in fulfillment of a vow taken on the battlefield. | ||
| Torgau (tôr´gou), Saxony, November 3, 1760 | Prussians vs. Austrians | The last pitched battle of the Seven Years’ war, in which the Austrians are said to have lost 20,000 men. | ||
| Torres Vedras (tor´resh vā´dräsh), Lines of, Portugal, October 12, 1810 to March 5, 1811 | British and Portuguese vs. French | Wellington’s defense permanently arrested Napoleon’s march of conquest and was thus the turning point of the Peninsular campaign. | ||
| Toulon (tŏŏ-lôn´), Siege of, France, Sept. 18 to Dec. 17, 1793 | French vs. Garrison of British, Spaniards, Italians and French Royalists | This siege is memorable as the first important appearance of Napoleon, who commanded the artillery. | ||
| Tours (tör), France, 732 | Franks vs. Saracens | Here Charles Martel saved western Christendom from the Moslem invader. | ||
| Towton (tou´ton), England, March 28 and 29, 1461 | Yorkists vs. Lancastrians | This battle, the most obstinate and bloody of the war, secured Edward IV. in his possession of the crown. | ||
| † | Trafalgar (traf-al-gär), Spain, October 21, 1805 | British vs. French | Nelson’s last and greatest victory destroyed all possibility of Napoleon’s invading England. | |
| Trebia (trē´bi-ä), Italy, December, B. C. 218 | Carthaginians vs. Romans | By this splendid victory Hannibal justified his march into Italy; the way into Etruria was now open to him. | ||
| Tunis (tū´nis), Siege of, North Africa, 1270 | Moslems vs. French Crusaders | This crusade, in which Louis IX. lost his life, was the last. | ||
| Turin (tū´rin), Italy, September 7, 1706 | Prince Eugene vs. French | The French were permanently excluded from Italy. | ||
| Tyre (tīr), Siege of, Phœnicia, January to August, B. C. 332 | Macedonians vs. Tyrians | The greatest of Alexander’s triumphs; Alexandria in Egypt takes the place of Tyre as a commercial metropolis. | ||
| † | Ushant (ush´ant), North Atlantic, June 1, 1794 | British vs. French | A brilliant victory won by Lord Howe. | |
| Valmy[710] (vȧl-mē´), France, September 2, 1792 | French vs. Prussians | Goethe said that from Valmy dates a new era. It showed that revolutionary France would and could resist Europe. | ||
| Varna (vär´nä), Bulgaria, November 10, 1444 | Turks vs. Hungarians | King Ladislas lost his life and his army was scattered to the winds. | ||
| Vercellae (ver-sel´ē), Italy, July 30, B. C. 101 | Romans vs. Cimbri | Marius and Catulus utterly destroyed the vast barbarian horde which had been threatening Italy with invasion. | ||
| Verdun (ver-dun´), Siege of, France, from February, 1916, on | * | Germans vs. French | The powerful attacks of the Germans for almost a year against the fortress of Verdun were without success. | |
| Vicksburg, Siege of, Mississippi, U. S. A., May 19 to July 4, 1863 | Federals vs. Confederates | Grant’s success at Vicksburg, together with the battle of Gettysburg, were the turning points of the war. | ||
| Vienna (vē-en´ȧ), Siege of, Austria, July 14 to September 12, 1683 | Austrians vs. Turks | The besieged were reduced to the last extremity when Sobieski intervened and put the invading Turks to flight. | ||
| † | Vigo (vē´gō) Bay, Spain, October 12, 1702 | English and Dutch vs. French and Spaniards | The destruction of the Spanish galleons and the protecting French fleet gave a blow to the finances and prestige of the two crowns. | |
| Vimiero (vē-mā´rō), Spain, August 21, 1813 | British vs. French | Wellesley inflicted a signal defeat on the French, but his senior officer made no use of the victory. | ||
| Vittoria (vē-tō´rē-ä), Spain, June 21, 1813 | British vs. French | This, the crowning victory of Wellington’s peninsular campaign, won Spain from Napoleon. | ||
| Wagram (vā´gräm), Austria, July 6, 1809 | French vs. Austrians | One of the most terrible and least decisive battles of all time. | ||
| Wakefield, England, December 30, 1460 | Lancastrians vs. Yorkists | Queen Margaret’s army completely defeated that of the duke of York, who was slain on the battlefield. | ||
| Wandewash (wän-de-wäsh´), India, January 22, 1760 | British vs. French | Coote’s victory was the death-blow to French power in India. | ||
| Warsaw (wôr´sô), Siege of, Poland, August 19 to September 7, 1831 | Russians vs. Poles | The fall of Warsaw ends the Polish insurrection and Poland becomes a province of the Russian empire. | ||
| Waterloo (wô-ter-lŏŏ´), Belgium, June 18, 1815 | British and Prussians vs. French | The final overthrow of Napoleon by Wellington and Blücher. Napoleon was transported to St. Helena, where he died in 1821. | ||
| Wavre (vä´vr), Belgium, June 18, 1815 | French vs. Prussians | Grouchy’s victory was useless, while he might have saved the day for Napoleon had he arrived at Waterloo when expected. | ||
| Wei-hai-wei (wā´hī´wā), China, January 30 to February 12, 1894 | Japanese vs. Chinese | The Chinese admiral gave up the remnant of his fleet and killed himself; followed by negotiations for peace. | ||
| Worcester (wŏŏs´ter), England, September 3, 1651 | Cromwellians vs. Scottish Royalists | Followed by the submission of Scotland and Charles II.’s adventurous escape to France. | ||
| Wörth (virt), Bavaria, August 6, 1870 | Prussians vs. French | A bloody contest and a decisive victory, followed by the retreat of the French. | ||
| Xeres (hā-rās´), Spain, July 19, 711 | Moors vs. Visigoths | Without having to fight any second battle, the Moors under Tarik mastered Spain. | ||
| Yalu (yā´lōō) River, Manchuria, September 17, 1894 | Japanese vs. Chinese | This action conferred upon the Japanese the full command of the sea and greatly aided the land power. | ||
| Yorktown, Siege of, Virginia, U. S. A., Sept. 30 to Oct. 19, 1781 | Americans vs. British | The surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown practically brought to an end the war of the American Revolution. | ||
| Ypres (ē´pr), Belgium, October 21-31, 1914 and November 10-12, 1914 | Allies vs. Germans | A series of the most desperate struggles of the war. The German attempt to break through to Calais, France, failed. | ||
| Zama (zä´mä), North Africa, B. C. 202 | Romans vs. Carthaginians | Scipio defeated Hannibal and annihilated his army, thus ending the second Punic war. | ||
| Zorndorf (tsôrn´dorf), Prussia, Aug. 25, 1758 | Prussians vs. Russians | A desperate and bloody struggle, after which the Russians retired into Poland. | ||
| Zurawno (tsu-raw´no), Siege of, Austria, 1676 | Poles vs. Turks | John Sobieski made an heroic defense against numbers and won an honorable peace. | ||