Wars, Battles & Armed Conflicts, CHE-EDE
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
chemical weapon
chemical weapon, any of several chemical compounds, usually toxic agents, that are intended to kill, injure, or......
Cherry Valley Raid
Cherry Valley Raid, (November 11, 1778), during the American Revolution, Iroquois Indian attack on a New York frontier......
Chesapeake, Battle of the
Battle of the Chesapeake, (September 5, 1781), in the American Revolution, French naval victory over a British......
Chetnik
Chetnik, member of a Serbian nationalist guerrilla force that formed during World War II to resist the Axis invaders......
Chickamauga Creek, Battle of
Battle of Chickamauga Creek, (September 19–20, 1863), in the American Civil War, a vital part of the maneuvering......
Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War, (1945–49) was a military struggle for control of China waged between the Nationalists (Kuomintang)......
Chinese Revolution
Chinese Revolution, (1911–12), nationalist democratic revolt that overthrew the Qing (or Manchu) dynasty in 1912......
Chios, Battle of
The naval defeat of Philip V of Macedon at the Battle of Chios in 201 bce was the last large-scale naval battle......
Chippewa, Battle of
Battle of Chippewa, (July 5, 1814), in the War of 1812, victory by U.S. forces that restored American military......
Chosin Reservoir, Battle of the
Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, campaign early in the Korean War, part of the Chinese Second Offensive (November–December......
Châteauguay, Battle of
Battle of Châteauguay, (Oct. 26, 1813), in the War of 1812, engagement in which the British compelled U.S. forces......
Chāldirān, Battle of
Battle of Chāldirān, military engagement on August 23, 1514 (2 Rajab 920), in which the Ottomans won a decisive......
Ciompi, Revolt of the
Revolt of the Ciompi, (1378), insurrection of the lower classes of Florence that briefly brought to power one of......
Ciudad Juárez, Battle of
Battle of Ciudad Juárez, (7 April–10 May 1911), defining battle that marked the end of the first phase of the Mexican......
civil defense
civil defense, in war or national defense, all nonmilitary actions taken to reduce loss of life and property resulting......
civil war
civil war, a violent conflict between a state and one or more organized non-state actors in the state’s territory.......
Clontarf, Battle of
Battle of Clontarf, (April 23, 1014), large military encounter fought near the modern Dublin suburb of Clontarf,......
Code Pink
Code Pink, feminist antiwar organization founded in 2002 to protest U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan and......
Cold Harbor, Battle of
Battle of Cold Harbor, (May 31–June 12, 1864), disastrous defeat for the Union Army during the American Civil War......
Columbus, Battle of
In need of supplies during the Mexican Revolution, Francisco “Pancho” Villa led his men in a raid across the border......
Comunero Rebellion
Comunero Rebellion, popular uprising in 1780–81 in the Viceroyalty of New Granada. In response to new tobacco and......
Conquest
Conquest, in international law, the acquisition of territory through force, especially by a victorious state in......
Constantinople, Fall of
Fall of Constantinople, (May 29, 1453), conquest of Constantinople by Sultan Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire. The......
Constitution
Constitution, warship renowned in American history. One of the first frigates built for the U.S. Navy, it was launched......
Continuous voyage
Continuous voyage, in international law, a voyage that, in view of its purposes, is regarded as one single voyage......
Contreras, Battle of
Battle of Contreras, U.S. victory at a hamlet southwest of Mexico City, with which on Aug. 19–20, 1847, the army......
convoy
convoy, vessels sailing under the protection of an armed escort. Originally, convoys of merchant ships were formed......
Copenhagen, Battle of
Battle of Copenhagen, British naval victory over Denmark in the Napoleonic Wars, fought on April 2, 1801. There......
Copenhagen, Battle of
Battle of Copenhagen, an engagement during the Napoleonic Wars that occurred August 15–September 7, 1807. Fearful......
Coral Sea, Battle of the
Battle of the Coral Sea, (May 4–8, 1942) World War II naval and air engagement in which a U.S. fleet turned back......
Corfu incident
Corfu incident, (1923) brief occupation of the Greek island of Corfu by Italian forces. In August 1923 Italians......
Corfu, Siege of
Siege of Corfu, a key encounter, from July 19 to August 20, 1716, during the Ottoman-Venetian War (1714–18), which......
Corinth, Battle of
Battle of Corinth, (October 3–4, 1862), in the American Civil War, a battle that ended in a decisive victory of......
Corregidor, Battle of
Battle of Corregidor, the successful recapture by U.S. troops on February 16–March 2, 1945, during World War II,......
counterforce doctrine
counterforce doctrine, in nuclear strategy, the targeting of an opponent’s military infrastructure with a nuclear......
countervalue targeting
countervalue targeting, in nuclear strategy, the targeting of an enemy’s cities and civilian population with nuclear......
Count’s War
Count’s War, (1534–36), the last Danish war of succession, which resulted in the strengthening of the monarchy......
coup d’état
coup d’état, the sudden, violent overthrow of an existing government by a small group. The chief prerequisite for......
Covadonga, Battle of
Occurring in about 720, the Battle of Covadonga was a clash between Muslim warriors and a much smaller Christians......
Cowpens, Battle of
Battle of Cowpens, battle in the American Revolution fought on January 17, 1781, a brilliant American victory over......
Crater, Battle of the
Battle of the Crater, Union defeat on July 30, 1864, during the American Civil War (1861–65), part of the Siege......
Creek War
Creek War, (1813–14), war that resulted in U.S. victory over Creek Indians, who were British allies during the......
Crete, Battle of
Battle of Crete, airborne assault by Nazi Germany on the Greek island of Crete during World War II that took place......
Crimean War
Crimean War, (October 1853–February 1856), war fought mainly on the Crimean Peninsula between the Russians and......
Crusades
Crusades, military expeditions, beginning in the late 11th century, that were organized by western European Christians......
- Introduction
- Holy War, Jerusalem, Europe
- Preparations, Pilgrims, Armies
- Constantinople, Antioch, Pilgrimage
- Siege, Jerusalem, 1099
- Holy War, Kingdoms, Reconquista
- Holy Land, Jerusalem, Saladin
- Holy War, Kingdoms, Jerusalem
- Holy War, Jerusalem, Reconquest
- Saladin, Richard I, Jerusalem
- Latin East, Reconquista, Saladin
- Latin Empire, Constantinople, Siege
- Holy Wars, Jerusalem, Europe
- Children, Europe, Faith
- Holy Land, Egypt, Jerusalem
- Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, Mediterranean
- Holy Land, France, King Louis IX
- Jerusalem, Reconquista, Defeat
- Reconquista, Holy Land, Papacy
- Religious Conflict, Legacy, Impact
- Religious Wars, Medieval Europe, Metaphor
Crysler’s Farm, Battle of
Battle of Crysler’s Farm, (Nov. 11, 1813), British victory in the War of 1812 that helped to prevent the capture......
Crécy, Battle of
Battle of Crécy, battle on August 26, 1346, that resulted in victory for the English in the first decade of the......
Ctesiphon, Battle of
Battle of Ctesiphon, clash of June 26–27, 363 ce, during the realm of Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate, who had......
Cuban Revolution
Cuban Revolution, armed uprising in Cuba that overthrew the government of Fulgencio Batista on January 1, 1959.......
Culloden, Battle of
Battle of Culloden, (April 16, 1746), the last battle of the “Forty-five Rebellion,” when the Jacobites, under......
Culpeper’s Rebellion
Culpeper’s Rebellion, (1677–79), early popular uprising against proprietary rule in the Albemarle section of northern......
Cunaxa, Battle of
Battle of Cunaxa, (401 bc), battle fought between Cyrus the Younger, satrap of Anatolia, and his brother Artaxerxes......
Custoza, battles of
battles of Custoza, (1848 and 1866), two Italian defeats in the attempt to end Austrian control over northern Italy......
Cuzco, Battle of
Manco Inca, son of Atahuallpa, brought a force of 400,000 warriors with him when he launched his assault on Cuzco......
cyberwar
cyberwar, war conducted in and from computers and the networks connecting them, waged by states or their proxies......
Cynoscephalae, Battle of
Battle of Cynoscephalae, (197 bce), conclusive engagement of the Second Macedonian War, in which Roman general......
Cádiz, Battle of
The intense rivalry between England and Spain during the reign of Elizabeth I led Philip II of Spain to prepare......
Cádiz, Capture of
The defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 was a diplomatic and military disaster for Spain, but it only encouraged......
D-Day in pictures
After a prolonged naval and aerial bombardment of German defenses on the Channel coast of France and the Low Countries,......
Dacke War
Dacke War, (1542–43), a Swedish peasant revolt against the autocratic Reformation policies of Gustav I Vasa (ruled......
Damascus, Siege of
The defeat of the Second Crusade at Damascus on July 23–28, 1148, ensured that the Christian crusader states in......
Dandānqān, Battle of
Battle of Dandānqān, (1040), decisive clash between the forces of the Ghaznavid sultan Masʿūd I (reigned 1031–41)......
Dardanelles Campaign, naval operations in the
In an attempt to knock Germany’s ally, Turkey, out of World War I and to open a supply route across the Black Sea......
dazzle camouflage
dazzle camouflage, strategy of disguising military ships by painting them with geometric patterns, using bold swaths......
Deadliest Wars of the 21st Century
Political theorist Francis Fukuyama famously proclaimed that the end of the Cold War marked “the end of history,”......
Delhi, Sack of
Sack of Delhi, attack on Delhi in December 1398 by the Turkic-Mongol warrior Timur, the ruler of Central Asia.......
Delhi, Siege of
The British army’s siege and recapture of Delhi from rebel Indian forces between June 8 and September 21, 1857,......
Democratic Constitutional Rally
Democratic Constitutional Rally (RCD), Tunisian political party that led the movement for independence from France......
denial
denial, in military affairs, a defensive strategy used to make it prohibitively difficult for an opponent to achieve......
Deorai, Battle of
Battle of Deorai, (April 12–14, 1659), victory of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb that confirmed his possession of......
Dessau, Battle of
By April 1626, the Thirty Years’ War had been raging across the German states and Central Europe for eight years,......
Devolution, War of
War of Devolution, (1667–68), conflict between France and Spain over possession of the Spanish Netherlands (present-day......
Dien Bien Phu, Battle of
Battle of Dien Bien Phu, the decisive engagement in the First Indochina War (1946–54). It consisted of a struggle......
Dirty War
Dirty War, infamous campaign waged from 1976 to 1983 by Argentina’s military dictatorship against suspected left-wing......
Dirʿiyyah, Battle of Al-
Battle of Al-Dirʿiyyah, (1818), major defeat dealt the Wahhābīs, Islamic reformers in the Najd region of central......
Ditch, Battle of the
Battle of the Ditch, an early Muslim victory that ultimately forced the Meccans to recognize the political and......
Djerba, Battle of
The Battle of Djerba was fought in May 1560 off the coast of Tunisia between the fleets of the Ottoman Empire and......
Does Trench Warfare Still Exist?
The phrase “trench warfare” immediately conjures images of the mud and slaughter of the Western Front during World......
Dogger Bank, Battle of
Battle of Dogger Bank, a naval encounter on June 17, 1696, between a French force, under the command of the famous......
Dogger Bank, Battle of
Battle of Dogger Bank, naval engagement between British and German battle cruisers during World War I. It was fought......
Donghak Uprising
Donghak Uprising, (1894) Korean mass revolt that sparked the first Sino-Japanese War (1894–95). Despite being persecuted......
Doolittle Raid
Doolittle Raid, (April 18, 1942), during World War II, U.S. Army Air Forces bombing raid on Tokyo and other Japanese......
doomsday machine
doomsday machine, hypothetical device that would automatically trigger the nuclear destruction of an aggressor......
Dos de Mayo Uprising
Dos de Mayo Uprising, also called the Battle of Madridan engagement of the Peninsular War that occurred on May......
Dresden, Battle of
Battle of Dresden, (Aug. 26–27, 1813), Napoleon’s last major victory in Germany. It was fought on the outskirts......
Drogheda, Siege of
Siege of Drogheda, siege fought in northeastern Ireland from September 3 to September 11, 1649, pitting Irish Royalists......
Drone Warfare in the 21st Century
Uncrewed air vehicles (UAVs), colloquially known as drones, have existed since the First World War. Throughout......
Druze revolt
Druze revolt, uprising of Druze tribes throughout Syria and in part of Lebanon directed against French mandatory......
Drăgăşani, Battle of
Battle of Drăgăşani, (June 19, 1821), military engagement in which the Ottoman Turks defeated the forces of the......
duck and cover
duck and cover, preparedness measure in the United States designed to be a civil-defense response in case of a......
Dunbar, Battle of
Battle of Dunbar, (September 3, 1650), decisive engagement in the English Civil Wars, in which English troops commanded......
Dunes, Battle of the
Battle of the Dunes, (June 14, 1658), during the Franco-Spanish War of 1648–59, a victory of French and British......
Dunkirk evacuation
Dunkirk evacuation, (1940) in World War II, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and other Allied......
Dupplin Moor, Battle of
Battle of Dupplin Moor, (Aug. 12, 1332), battle fought about 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Perth, Perthshire, a......
Dutch War
Dutch War, (1672–78), the second war of conquest by Louis XIV of France, whose chief aim in the conflict was to......
Dózsa Rebellion
Dózsa Rebellion, (1514), unsuccessful peasant revolt in Hungary, led by nobleman György Dózsa (1470–1514), that......
EAM-ELAS
EAM-ELAS, communist-sponsored resistance organization (formed September 1941) and its military wing (formed December......
Easter Rising
Easter Rising, Irish republican insurrection against British government in Ireland, which began on Easter Monday,......
economic warfare
economic warfare, the use of, or the threat to use, economic means against a country in order to weaken its economy......
EDES
EDES, nationalist guerrilla force that, bolstered by British support, constituted the only serious challenge to......