Ancient World
Philae Temple of Isis: Last Temple of Ancient Egyptian Religion
The sanctuary of Isis stayed active until about AD 537 and was later moved, stone by stone, to save it from the Nile reservoirs.
All Articles
Every Chronicle article on world history, newest first: battles, empires, disasters, discoveries and revolutions.
Ancient World
Naqsh-e Rostam: Tombs of the Persian Kings and Sasanian Reliefs
Naqsh-e Rostam became the royal necropolis of the Achaemenid kings and, centuries later, a stage on which Sasanian rulers proclaimed their legitimacy and victories.
Modern Era
Battle of Kursk (1943): The Largest Tank Battle in History
Soviet victory; the German Operation Citadel failed, and Soviet counter-offensives retook Orel, Belgorod and Kharkov, giving the Red Army the strategic initiative for the rest of the war.
Modern Era
Treaty of Trianon (1920): The Peace That Divided Hungary
Hungary lost about two-thirds of its pre-war territory and roughly 60 per cent of its population to neighbouring states; the treaty came into force in July 1921.
Modern Era
Siege of Mafeking (1899-1900): Baden-Powell's 217-Day Defence
The garrison held out for 217 days until a relief column arrived; the news set off wild celebrations across Britain.
Modern Era
Wounded Knee Massacre (1890): Tragedy at Pine Ridge
US 7th Cavalry troops killed an estimated 250-300 Lakota, many of them women and children, ending the Ghost Dance crisis and the last major armed conflict of the Plains wars.
Modern Era
Zeppelin LZ 1 (1900): Count Zeppelin's First Rigid Airship
LZ 1 proved a large rigid airship could fly but was too slow and hard to steer; it was scrapped in 1901, yet led to the successful zeppelins of 1906–1914.
Modern Era
Expedition of the Thousand (1860): Garibaldi Conquers Sicily
The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies collapsed; after plebiscites, Sicily and Naples were annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia, soon the Kingdom of Italy.
Middle Ages
Mongol Invasion of Europe (1241): Legnica, Mohi and Retreat
The Mongols crushed the Polish and Hungarian armies and devastated Hungary, then withdrew east in 1242 without trying to hold central Europe.
Middle Ages
Second Crusade (1147-1149): The Failure at Damascus
The main armies were badly mauled in Anatolia and abandoned the siege of Damascus after four days; the only lasting gain was the capture of Lisbon.
Middle Ages
Deposition of Edward II (1327): Isabella and Mortimer's Coup
Edward II was forced to abdicate in favour of his son Edward III; he died in captivity at Berkeley Castle later in 1327.
Middle Ages
Cadaver Synod (897): Pope Formosus Put on Trial After Death
Formosus was posthumously condemned and his acts annulled; within months Stephen VI was deposed and killed, and later popes reversed the verdict and banned trials of the dead.