Wars, Battles & Armed Conflicts, BAL-CHA
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
Baltimore, Battle of
Battle of Baltimore, (12â14 September 1814), land and sea battle of the War of 1812 that spurred the writing of......
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict between Bengali nationalists in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh)......
Bannockburn, Battle of
Battle of Bannockburn, (June 23â24, 1314), decisive battle in Scottish history whereby the Scots under Robert I......
Bar Kokhba Revolt
Bar Kokhba Revolt, (132â135 ce), Jewish rebellion against Roman rule in Judaea. The revolt was preceded by years......
Barari Ghat, Battle of
Battle of Barari Ghat, (Jan. 9, 1760), in Indian history, one of a series of Afghan victories over the Marathas......
Barbarossa, Operation
Operation Barbarossa, during World War II, code name for the German invasion of the Soviet Union, which was launched......
Bari, Siege of
Siege of Bari, (1068â71), three-year blockade by Norman forces under Robert Guiscard that resulted (April 1071)......
Barnet, Battle of
Battle of Barnet, (April 14, 1471), in the English Wars of the Roses, a momentous victory for the Yorkist king......
Baronsâ War
Baronsâ War, (1264â67), in English history, the civil war caused by baronial opposition to the costly and inept......
Basmachi Revolt
Basmachi Revolt, insurrection against Soviet rule in Central Asia, begun in 1917 and largely suppressed by 1926.......
Battle of Kapyong
Battle of Kapyong, (April 23â25, 1951), Korean War battle in which vastly outnumbered United Nations forces checked......
Bavarian Succession, War of the
War of the Bavarian Succession, (1778â79), conflict in which Frederick II the Great of Prussia blocked an attempt......
Bay of Pigs invasion
Bay of Pigs invasion, (April 17, 1961), abortive invasion of Cuba at the BahĂa de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs), or Playa......
Beachy Head, Battle of
After besting the English at Bantry Bay, Ireland, in the first major naval engagement of the Nine Years War, the......
Bear Flag Revolt
Bear Flag Revolt, (JuneâJuly 1846), short-lived independence rebellion precipitated by American settlers in Californiaâs......
Beer Hall Putsch
Beer Hall Putsch, abortive attempt by Adolf Hitler and Erich Ludendorff to start an insurrection in Germany against......
Belleau Wood, Battle of
The Alliesâ victory at the Battle of Belleau Wood, which occurred in France from June 1 to June 26, 1918, greatly......
Bellona
Bellona, in Roman religion, goddess of war, identified with the Greek Enyo. Sometimes known as the sister or wife......
Benevento, Battle of
The Battle of Benevento, which occurred on February 26, 1266, was the result of the long-running power struggle......
Bennington, Battle of
Battle of Bennington, in the American Revolution, a victory August 16, 1777, by American militiamen who were defending......
Beresteczko, Battle of
Battle of Beresteczko, (June 28â30, 1651), military engagement in which the king of Poland, John Casimir (reigned......
Berlin, Battle of
Battle of Berlin, one of the final battles of World War II. It took place from April 20 to May 2, 1945, and it......
berserker
berserker, in premedieval and medieval Norse and Germanic history and folklore, a member of unruly warrior gangs......
Bielski partisans
Bielski partisans, organization of Jewish partisans who fought Nazi Germany and its collaborators between 1942......
Big Black River, Battle of
Battle of Big Black River, (May 17, 1863), American Civil War victory of Union forces under General Ulysses S.......
biological weapon
biological weapon, any of a number of disease-producing agentsâsuch as bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, fungi, toxins,......
Bishopsâ Wars
Bishopsâ Wars, (1639, 1640), in British history, two brief campaigns that were fought between Charles I and the......
Black Hawk War
Black Hawk War, brief but bloody war from April to August 1832 between the United States and Native Americans led......
Black Panther Party: 7 Notable Figures
Founded in 1966, the Black Panther Party reached its peak just a few years later, although it did not disband until......
Black War
Black War, (1804â30), term applied to hostilities between Tasmanian Aboriginal people and British soldiers and......
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas, (1854â59), small civil war in the United States, fought between proslavery and antislavery advocates......
Blenheim, Battle of
Battle of Blenheim, (Aug. 13, 1704), the most famous victory of John Churchill, 1st duke of Marlborough, and Eugene......
blitzkrieg
blitzkrieg, military tactic calculated to create psychological shock and resultant disorganization in enemy forces......
blockade
blockade, an act of war whereby one party blocks entry to or departure from a defined part of an enemyâs territory,......
Blood River, Battle of
Battle of Blood River, (December 16, 1838), battle between the Zulu and the Voortrekker Boers in South Africa.......
Bloody Assizes
Bloody Assizes, (1685), in English history, the trials conducted in the west of England by the chief justice, George......
Bonhomme Richard and Serapis, engagement between
engagement between Bonhomme Richard and Serapis, (Sept. 23, 1779), in the American Revolution, notable American......
Borodino, Battle of
Battle of Borodino, (Sept. 7 [Aug. 26, Old Style], 1812), bloody battle of the Napoleonic Wars, fought during Napoleonâs......
Bosnian War
Bosnian War, ethnically rooted war (1992â95) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a former republic of Yugoslavia with a......
Boston, Siege of
Siege of Boston, (April 1775âMarch 1776), successful siege by American troops of the British-held city of Boston......
Bosworth Field, Battle of
Battle of Bosworth Field, (August 22, 1485), battle in the English Wars of the Roses, fought 12 miles (19 km) west......
Bouvines, Battle of
Battle of Bouvines, battle on July 27, 1214, that gave a decisive victory to the French king Philip II Augustus......
Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion, officially supported peasant uprising of 1900 that attempted to drive all foreigners from China.......
BoyacĂĄ, Battle of
Battle of BoyacĂĄ, (Aug. 7, 1819), in the wars for Latin American independence, encounter near BogotĂĄ that resulted......
Boyne, Battle of the
Battle of the Boyne, (July 1, 1690), in British history, a major conflict fought along the Boyne River in Ireland......
Brabant Revolution
Brabant Revolution, (1789â90), a short-lived revolt of the Belgian provinces of the Austrian Netherlands against......
Brandywine, Battle of
Battle of Brandywine, (September 11, 1777), in the American Revolution, engagement near Philadelphia in which the......
Breda, Siege of
The capture on June 5, 1625, of the fortress city of Breda, in the present-day Netherlands, was the last great......
Breitenfeld, Battle of
Battle of Breitenfeld, the first major Protestant victory of the Thirty Yearsâ War. On September 17, 1631, the......
Brisbane, Battle of
Battle of Brisbane, (November 26â27, 1942), two nights of rioting in Brisbane, the capital and chief city of Queensland,......
Britain, Battle of
Battle of Britain, during World War II, the successful defense of Great Britain against unremitting and destructive......
Brumaire, Coup of 18â19
Coup of 18â19 Brumaire, (November 9â10, 1799), coup dâĂ©tat that overthrew the system of government under the Directory......
Brusilov Offensive
Brusilov Offensive, the largest Russian assault during World War I, and one of the deadliest in history. It occurred......
buccaneer
buccaneer, English, French, or Dutch sea adventurer who haunted chiefly the Caribbean and the Pacific seaboard......
Buena Vista, Battle of
Battle of Buena Vista, (Feb. 22â23, 1847), battle fought near Monterrey, Mex., in the Mexican-American War (1846â48),......
Bulge, Battle of the
Battle of the Bulge, (December 16, 1944âJanuary 16, 1945), the last major German offensive on the Western Front......
Bull Run, First Battle of
First Battle of Bull Run, (July 21, 1861), in the American Civil War, the first of two engagements fought at a......
Bull Run, Second Battle of
Second Battle of Bull Run, (August 29â30, 1862), in the American Civil War, the second of two engagements fought......
Bunker Hill, Battle of
Battle of Bunker Hill, (June 17, 1775), first major battle of the American Revolution, fought in Charlestown (now......
Busanjin, Siege of
In Japanâs Age of Warring States, Toyotomi Hideyoshi had reunited Japan by 1591, but in 1592 he ordered an invasion......
Buxar, Battle of
Battle of Buxar, Buxur also spelled Baksar, (22 October 1764), conflict at Buxar in northeastern India between......
BĂ©ziers, Massacre at
Massacre at BĂ©ziers, the first major battle in the Albigensian Crusade called in 1209 by Pope Innocent III against......
cacos
cacos, name given to Haitian rebels during the American occupation of Haiti (1915â34). In 1920 U.S. marines put......
Cadeâs Rebellion
Cadeâs Rebellion, (1450) Uprising against the government of Henry VI of England. Jack Cade, an Irishman of uncertain......
Cajamarca, Battle of
On November 14, 1532, a small force of 168 Spanish soldiers and auxiliaries, led by the conquistador Francisco......
Calais, Siege of
Siege of Calais, siege during the Hundred Yearsâ War on the northern coast of France, lasting from September 4,......
CamarĂłn, Battle of
A defensive action fought on April 30, 1863, with suicidal courage during Franceâs ill-fated intervention in Mexico,......
Cambrai, Battle of
Battle of Cambrai, military engagement in northern France that took place during World War I from September 27......
Cambrai, Battle of
Battle of Cambrai, British offensive (NovemberâDecember 1917) on the Western Front during World War I that marked......
Camden, Battle of
Battle of Camden, decisive battle in the American Revolution, fought in South Carolina on August 16, 1780, and......
camouflage
camouflage, in military science, the art and practice of concealment and visual deception in war. It is the means......
Campaldino, Battle of
Battle of Campaldino, (June 11, 1289), in Italian history, a battle between Florence and Arezzo, an episode in......
Campeche, Naval Battle of
The naval battle that occurred in 1843 off the coast of Mexico at Campeche was arguably the only battle ever won......
Cannae, Battle of
Battle of Cannae, (August 216 bce), battle fought near the ancient village of Cannae, in southern Apulia (modern......
Cape Frontier Wars
Cape Frontier Wars, (1779â1879), 100 years of intermittent warfare between the Cape colonists and the Xhosa agricultural......
Caporetto, Battle of
Battle of Caporetto, (October 24âDecember 19, 1917), Italian military disaster during World War I in which Italian......
Carabobo, Battle of
Battle of Carabobo, (June 24, 1821), during the Latin American wars of independence, a victory won by South American......
Carillon, Battle of
Battle of Carillon, one of the bloodiest conflicts of the French and Indian War (1754â63) and a major defeat for......
Carnatic Wars
Carnatic Wars, series of military contests during the 18th century between the British, the French, the Marathas,......
carpet bombing
carpet bombing, devastating bombing attack that seeks to destroy every part of a wide area. Some military strategists......
Carrhae, Battle of
Battle of Carrhae, (53 bce), military engagement between the Roman Republic and the Parthian empire. Marcus Licinius......
Carthage, Battle of
The Battle of Carthage in 146 bce ended generations of war between the Phoenician-founded city and Rome, both vying......
Castillon, Battle of
Battle of Castillon, (July 17, 1453), the concluding battle of the Hundred Yearsâ War between France and England.......
Castle Hill Rising
Castle Hill Rising, (March 4â5, 1804), the first rebellion in Australian history. Involving Irish convicts (for......
Castle Itter, Battle for
Battle for Castle Itter, World War II military engagement in which U.S. soldiers joined forces with renegade German......
Casualties from the Battle of Midway
This infographic helps with visualizing casualties from the Battle of Midway, which took place June 3â6, 1942,......
casualties of World War II
World War II, the deadliest and most destructive war in human history, claimed between 40 and 50 million lives,......
Catalaunian Plains, Battle of the
Battle of the Catalaunian Plains, (ad 451), battle fought between the Huns under Attila and a mixed Roman and Visigoth......
Cavite Mutiny
Cavite Mutiny, (January 20, 1872), brief uprising of 200 Filipino troops and workers at the Cavite arsenal, which......
Celaya, Battle of
Battle of Celaya, (April 1915), decisive military engagement in the wars between revolutionary factions during......
Cepeda, Battles of
Battles of Cepeda, (1820, 1859), two engagements fought at Cepeda, in the Buenos Aires provincia of Argentina,......
Cerro Gordo, Battle of
Battle of Cerro Gordo, (April 1847), confrontation at a mountain pass about 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Veracruz,......
Chacabuco, Battle of
Battle of Chacabuco, (Feb. 12, 1817), in the Latin American wars of independence, a victory won by South American......
Chaco War
Chaco War, (1932â35), costly conflict between Bolivia and Paraguay. Hostile incidents began as early as 1928 over......
Chaeronea, Battle of
Battle of Chaeronea, (August 338 bce), battle in Boeotia, central Greece, in which Philip II of Macedonia defeated......
champion
champion, one who fights in behalf of another. During the Middle Ages a feature of Anglo-Norman law was trial by......
Chancellorsville, Battle of
Battle of Chancellorsville, (April 30âMay 5, 1863), in the American Civil War, bloody assault by the Union army......
Chapultepec, Battle of
Battle of Chapultepec, an engagement of the Mexican-American War that occurred September 12â14, 1847. The fortified......
Charleston, Siege of
Siege of Charleston, (1780) during the American Revolution, British land and sea campaign that cut off and forced......
Chattanooga, Battle of
Battle of Chattanooga, (November 23â25, 1863), in the American Civil War, a decisive engagement fought at Chattanooga......