Wars, Battles & Armed Conflicts, 100-BAL
Wars, battles, and other domestic or international conflicts, whether armed or diplomatic, are often the outcome of a dispute over natural resources or a struggle for power, influence, and wealth. Major conflicts between nations, peoples, and political groups can end up shifting the cultural and political geography of the world and can also effect change, whether intentional or not, in societal values and the balance of power.
Wars, Battles & Armed Conflicts Encyclopedia Articles By Title
100th Anniversary of the Gallipoli Landings
April 25 marks the 100th anniversary of the Allied/ANZAC landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula during World War I.......
12-Day War
On June 13, 2025, Israel conducted a major operation against Iran. The anticipated attack, which targeted nuclear......
1812, War of
War of 1812, (June 18, 1812–February 17, 1815), conflict fought between the United States and Great Britain over......
1830, Revolutions of
Revolutions of 1830, rebellions against conservative kings and governments by liberals and revolutionaries in different......
1848, Revolutions of
Revolutions of 1848, series of republican revolts against European monarchies, beginning in Sicily and spreading......
1936–39 Arab Revolt in Palestine
1936–39 Arab Revolt in Palestine, popular Palestinian Arab uprising against British governance, driven largely......
1948 Arab-Israeli War
1948 Arab-Israeli War, an existential war fought between Israel and Arab forces from Egypt, Transjordan (Jordan),......
1953 coup in Iran
1953 coup in Iran, coup d’état in Iran that occurred in August 1953. Funded by the United States and the United......
1965 India-Pakistan War
1965 India-Pakistan War, conflict between India and Pakistan from August to September 1965. It was the second war......
1971 India-Pakistan War
1971 India-Pakistan War, conflict between India and Pakistan in the first half of December 1971 that led to the......
1973 Chilean coup d’état
On September 11, 1973, Chile’s armed forces launched a military coup d’état that overthrew Pres. Salvador Allende’s......
1975 invasion of East Timor
On December 7, 1975, Indonesia invaded and annexed Portuguese Timor, seeking to forcibly integrate the territory......
1991 Soviet coup attempt
1991 Soviet coup attempt, (August 19–21, 1991), attempt by Communist hard-liners to seize control of the Soviet......
200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo
Napoleon’s military prowess is legendary, and his victories made him the virtual master of continental Europe for......
2012 Benghazi attacks
2012 Benghazi attacks, assaults on a U.S. diplomatic compound and a nearby CIA annex in the city of Benghazi, Libya,......
2021 Myanmar coup d’état
2021 Myanmar coup d’état, maneuvering in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, in which power was seized from a democratically......
2026 Iran war
2026 Iran war, conflict centered on Iran that was initiated by the United States and Israel on February 28, 2026,......
25th Anniversary of Operation Desert Storm
In the early morning of January 17, 1991, warplanes, attack helicopters, and missiles belonging to an international......
40th Anniversary of the Fall of Saigon
On April 30, 1975, North Vietnamese forces occupied the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon, concluding a three-decade......
5 Fascinating Battles of the African Colonial Era
Trying to colonize an unwilling population rarely goes well. Not surprisingly, the colonial era was filled with......
6 Wars of Independence
People usually don’t take kindly to commands and demands. For as long as people have been overpowering one another,......
7 Women Warriors
When courage is in short supply, we look outside ourselves to find it. Sometimes a good book or film will rouse......
70th Anniversary of V-E Day
On May 8, 1945, the European phase of World War II ended with the unconditional surrender of all Nazi German forces......
8 Questions About World War I Answered
World War I was a war that was virtually unprecedented in the slaughter, carnage, and destruction it caused. Some......
9 Questions About the Vietnam War Answered
The Vietnam War was a protracted conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam and its allies......
9 Questions About World War II Answered
World War II was the world’s largest and most destructive war. It involved nearly every region of the world, and......
Acehnese War
Acehnese War, (1873–1904), an armed conflict between the Netherlands and the Muslim sultanate of Aceh (also spelled......
Acre, Siege of
Siege of Acre, Napoleon’s unsuccessful siege of the Ottoman-controlled, walled city of Acre (today in northwest......
Actium, Battle of
Battle of Actium, (September 2, 31 bce), naval battle off a promontory in the north of Acarnania, on the western......
Adrianople, Battle of
Battle of Adrianople, battle fought on August 9, 378 ce, near present-day Edirne, Turkey, resulting in the defeat......
Adrianople, Siege of
Siege of Adrianople, Adrianople (modern Edirne, Turkey) was one of the largest cities in the Ottoman Empire. When......
advanced persistent threat
advanced persistent threat (APT), attacks on a country’s information assets of national security or strategic economic......
Adwa, Battle of
Battle of Adwa, (March 1, 1896), military clash at Adwa, in north-central Ethiopia, between the Ethiopian army......
Aegospotami, Battle of
Battle of Aegospotami, (405 bc), naval victory of Sparta over Athens, final battle of the Peloponnesian War. The......
Afghan War
Afghan War, in the history of Afghanistan, the internal conflict that began in 1978 between anticommunist Islamic......
Afghanistan War
Afghanistan War, international conflict in Afghanistan beginning in 2001 that was triggered by the September 11......
Afghanistan-Pakistan Conflict
Afghanistan-Pakistan Conflict, series of skirmishes between Afghanistan and Pakistan that began in October 2025......
Agincourt, Battle of
Battle of Agincourt, (October 25, 1415), decisive battle in the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453) that resulted in......
air cavalry
air cavalry, airmobile helicopter formations widely used by the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War (1954–75) to locate......
air warfare
air warfare, the tactics of military operations and armed forces conducted by airplanes, helicopters, or other......
al-Qādisiyyah, Battle of
Battle of al-Qādisiyyah, (636/637), battle fought near Al-Ḥīrah (in present-day Iraq) between forces of the Sāsānian......
Alabama claims
Alabama claims, maritime grievances of the United States against Great Britain, accumulated during and after the......
Alamein, Battles of El-
Battles of El-Alamein, linked battles in World War II, fought from July 1–27 and October 23—November 11, 1942,......
Alamo, Battle of the
Battle of the Alamo, battle during the Texas Revolution that occurred from February 23 to March 6, 1836, in San......
Alarcos, Battle of
Battle of Alarcos, (July 18, 1195), celebrated Almohad victory in Muslim Spain over the forces of King Alfonso......
Aleppo, Battle of
Battle of Aleppo, decisive defeat on November 11, 1400, at Aleppo, in what is now Syria, of the Mameluke forces......
Alesia, Battle of
Battle of Alesia, (52 bce), Roman military blockade of Alesia, a city in eastern Gaul, during the Gallic Wars.......
Algerian War
Algerian War, war for Algerian independence from France that was fought from 1954 to 1962. The movement for independence......
Alma, Battle of
Battle of Alma, battle fought on September 20, 1854, the first major engagement of the Crimean War. The victory......
Amboise, Conspiracy of
Conspiracy of Amboise, abortive plot of young French Huguenot aristocrats in 1560 against the Catholic House of......
American Civil War
American Civil War, four-year war (1861–65) between the United States and 11 Southern states that seceded from......
- Introduction
- Secession, Battles, Armies
- Battles, Armies, Impact
- Battle of Antietam, Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg
- Bull Run, Manassas, Antietam
- Emancipation, Slavery, Union
- African Troops, Union, Confederacy
- Gettysburg, Emancipation, Union
- Secession, Slavery, Homefront
- Battles, Causes, Effects
- Conscription, Draft Riot, NYC
- Battles, Union, Confederacy
- Union, Confederacy, Emancipation
- Sherman's Campaigns, Total War
- Naval Battles, Blockades, Ironclads
- Cost, Significance, Impact
American Revolution
The American Revolution was an insurrection carried out by 13 of Great Britain’s North American colonies that began......
- Introduction
- Colonial Grievances, Taxation, Intolerable Acts
- Paul Revere’s ride and the Battles of Lexington and Concord
- The siege of Boston
- Washington, Battles, Independence
- The Battle for New York
- A British general surrenders
- Land Campaigns, 1778
- Setbacks in the North
- Final campaigns in the South
- Naval Battles, Blockades, Privateers
- French Intervention, Virginia Capes
- The end of the war
- How did the American colonies win the war
Amiens, Battle of
Battle of Amiens, (August 8–11, 1918), World War I battle that marked the beginning of what came to be known as......
amphibious warfare
amphibious warfare, military operations characterized by attacks launched from the sea by naval and landing forces......
Anaconda plan
Anaconda plan, military strategy proposed by Union General Winfield Scott early in the American Civil War. The......
Anath
Anath, chief West Semitic goddess of love and war, the sister and helpmate of the god Baal. Considered a beautiful......
Anglo-Afghan Wars
Anglo-Afghan Wars, three conflicts (1839–42; 1878–80; 1919) in which Great Britain, from its base in India, sought......
Anglo-American Chain of Command in Western Europe, June 1944
When U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill met at the Arcadia Conference......
Anglo-Burmese Wars
Anglo-Burmese Wars, (1824–26, 1852, 1885), three conflicts that collectively forced Burma (now Myanmar) into a......
Anglo-Dutch Wars
Anglo-Dutch Wars, four 17th- and 18th-century naval conflicts between England and the Dutch Republic. The first......
Anglo-Zanzibar War
Anglo-Zanzibar War, (August 27, 1896), brief conflict between the British Empire and the East African island sultanate......
Anglo-Zulu War
Anglo-Zulu War, decisive six-month war in 1879 in Southern Africa, resulting in British victory over the Zulus.......
Ankara, Battle of
Battle of Ankara, military confrontation on July 20, 1402, in which forces of the Ottoman sultan Bayezid I, “the......
Antietam, Battle of
Battle of Antietam, (September 17, 1862), in the American Civil War (1861–65), a decisive engagement that halted......
Antioch, Siege of
Siege of Antioch, attack and capture of the Seljuq-controlled city of Antioch by Christian soldiers. It was carried......
Antwerp, Fall of
In the years after the Battle of Gembloux—one of the decisive engagements of the Eighty Years’ War between the......
Antwerp, Siege of
Siege of Antwerp, German capture of the Belgian city of Antwerp from September 28 to October 10, 1914, in the early......
Anzio, Battle of
Battle of Anzio, (January 22–June 5, 1944) World War II battle, fought during the Italian Campaign. Some 50,000......
Aornos, Siege of
Siege of Aornos, (327 bc), conflict in which Alexander the Great seized a nearly impregnable natural stronghold......
Appomattox Court House, Battle of
Battle of Appomattox Court House, (April 9, 1865), one of the final battles of the American Civil War. After a......
Arab Spring
Arab Spring, wave of pro-democracy protests and uprisings that took place in the Middle East and North Africa beginning......
Arab-Israeli wars
After decades of confrontations between Arabs and Jews under the British mandate of Palestine, where both communities......
Araucanian wars
Araucanian wars, series of conflicts between the Araucanian Indians of Chile and the Spanish conquistadores in......
Arausio, Battle of
Battle of Arausio, (Oct. 6, 105 bc), the defeat of a Roman army by Germanic tribes near Arausio (now Orange in......
Ares
Ares, in Greek religion, god of war or, more properly, the spirit of battle. Unlike his Roman counterpart, Mars,......
armed force
armed force, constituent element of a country’s combined military services. Modern armed forces are commonly divided......
Armed Islamic Group
Armed Islamic Group, Algerian militant group. It was formed in 1992 after the government nullified the likely victory......
armour
armour, protective clothing with the ability to deflect or absorb the impact of projectiles or other weapons that......
Arras, Battle of
Battle of Arras, British offensive carried out from April 9 to May 17, 1917, against the German defenses around......
Arsūf, Battle of
Battle of Arsūf, famous victory won by the English king Richard I (Richard the Lion-Heart) during the Third Crusade.......
Artemisium, Battle of
Battle of Artemisium, (480 bc), during the Greco-Persian Wars, a Persian naval victory over the Greeks in an engagement......
Astarte
Astarte, great goddess of the ancient Middle East and chief deity of Tyre, Sidon, and Elat, important Mediterranean......
asymmetrical warfare
asymmetrical warfare, unconventional strategies and tactics adopted by a force when the military capabilities of......
Atlanta Campaign
Atlanta Campaign, an important series of battles in Georgia that occurred May–September 1864 between Union and......
Atlanta, Battle of
Battle of Atlanta, American Civil War engagement fought on July 22, 1864, that was part of the Union’s summer Atlanta......
Atlantic, Battle of the
Battle of the Atlantic, in World War II, a contest between the Western Allies and the Axis powers (particularly......
Attack on Pearl Harbor Timeline
This infographic concerns the Japanese attack of December 7, 1941, on Pearl Harbor, the base of the U.S. Navy’s......
Attica prison revolt
Attica prison revolt, prison insurrection in 1971, lasting from September 9 to September 13, during which inmates......
Austerlitz, Battle of
Battle of Austerlitz, (December 2, 1805), the first engagement of the War of the Third Coalition and one of Napoleon’s......
Austrian Succession, War of the
War of the Austrian Succession, (1740–48), a conglomeration of related wars, two of which developed directly from......
aviation in World War I
aviation in World War I, use and development of military aircraft in World War I (1914–18). At the start of World......
Ayacucho, Battle of
Battle of Ayacucho, (Dec. 9, 1824), in the Latin-American wars of independence, revolutionary victory over royalists......
Bacon’s Rebellion
Bacon’s Rebellion was an armed uprising in the Virginia colony in 1676 led by planter Nathaniel Bacon against the......
Badajoz, Siege of
The Siege of Badajoz, which occurred from March 16 through April 6 in 1812, was one of the bloodiest engagements......
Badr, Battle of
Battle of Badr, (624 ce), in Islamic history, major military victory led by the Prophet Muhammad that marked a......
Baghdad, Battle of
Battle of Baghdad, Ottoman capture of Baghdad in 1534, which occurred during the first campaign of a twenty-year......
Bahadurpur, Battle of
Battle of Bahadurpur, (Feb. 24, 1658), conflict that helped decide the war of succession among the sons of Shah......
Balaklava, Battle of
Battle of Balaklava, indecisive military engagement on October 25 (October 13, Old Style), 1854, during the Crimean......
Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars, (1912–13), two successive military conflicts that deprived the Ottoman Empire of all its remaining......
Baltic War of Liberation
Baltic War of Liberation, (1918–20), military conflict in which Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania fended off attacks......