Ancient World
Battle of the Delta: Ramesses III Against the Sea Peoples
Egyptian victory; the Sea Peoples were repelled from Egypt, though many settled on the coast of Canaan.
All Articles
Every Chronicle article on world history, newest first: battles, empires, disasters, discoveries and revolutions.
Ancient World
Behistun Inscription: Darius the Great and Decoding Cuneiform
Darius I recorded his version of his rise to power in three languages; copied in the 19th century, the text unlocked Old Persian, Elamite and Babylonian cuneiform.
Modern Era
Attack on Sydney Harbour (1942): Japan's Midget Submarine Raid
The depot ship HMAS Kuttabul was sunk and 21 sailors killed; all three midget submarines were lost.
Modern Era
Hungarian Soviet Republic (1919): Bela Kun's Short-Lived Regime
The communist regime collapsed after 133 days under Romanian military pressure, followed by a White Terror and the rise of Miklos Horthy.
Modern Era
Hundred Days' Reform (1898): China's Failed Modernisation Drive
The reforms were halted by Cixi's coup of 21 September 1898; the emperor was confined and six reformers were executed.
Modern Era
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson (1868): First Presidential Trial
The House impeached Johnson, but the Senate fell one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed to convict, and he served out his term.
Modern Era
Kiel Canal (1895): Linking the North Sea and the Baltic
A 98 km canal let warships and merchant vessels pass between the North Sea and the Baltic without sailing around Denmark.
Modern Era
Battle of Inkerman (1854): The Soldiers' Battle in the Crimea
Allied victory; the Russian attempt to break the siege of Sevastopol failed with heavy losses, but the allies abandoned hopes of taking the city before winter.
Middle Ages
Death of Genghis Khan (1227) and the Mystery of His Tomb
Genghis Khan died during the final campaign against Western Xia, which was destroyed; he was buried in a secret grave in Mongolia and succeeded by his son Ögedei in 1229.
Middle Ages
Knights Templar: The Crusading Order from Founding to Downfall
The order defended the crusader states for nearly two centuries but was arrested in France in 1307 and dissolved by Pope Clement V in 1312.
Middle Ages
Avignon Papacy (1309-1377): When the Popes Left Rome
The papacy returned to Rome in 1377, but the long stay in Avignon damaged its prestige and led directly into the Western Schism.
Middle Ages
Settlement of Iceland (874): Norse Settlers and Ingólfr Arnarson
Within about 60 years Iceland was fully claimed by settlers, who founded the Althing in 930 and created a lasting Norse-speaking society.