From historic sieges and battles to a day of terror that defined a generation.
1297 – The Battle of Stirling Bridge
A Scottish army, led by William Wallace and Andrew Moray, won a stunning and decisive victory against a much larger, heavily armored English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. The English forces, commanded by the Earl of Surrey, attempted to cross the narrow wooden bridge over the River Forth. The Scots held their position until a significant portion of the English heavy cavalry and infantry was trapped on the far side. Wallace then ordered the charge, and the Scots quickly overwhelmed the divided English army, which was unable to maneuver in the marshy ground. The English forces were routed, and the victory was a major turning point in the First War of Scottish Independence.
Historical Context
The battle took place during a period of English occupation and control of Scotland under King Edward I of England (“Longshanks”). Wallace had emerged as a key leader of the Scottish resistance, leading a popular uprising against English rule. The English army was sent north to crush this rebellion and reassert Edward’s authority.
Significance
The victory at Stirling Bridge was a massive morale boost for the Scottish cause and a humiliation for the English. It shattered the illusion of English invincibility and demonstrated that a well-led Scottish infantry force could defeat the formidable English heavy cavalry. William Wallace was hailed as the Guardian of Scotland and became a legendary national hero. Although the Scots would later be defeated, the battle remains a powerful symbol of Scottish resistance and the fight for independence.
1683 – The Battle of Vienna
An allied army of Polish-Lithuanian, Holy Roman, and other German forces, led by the Polish King John III Sobieski, decisively defeated the besieging army of the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Vienna. For two months, a massive Ottoman army had laid siege to the city of Vienna, the capital of the Habsburg Monarchy. With the city on the verge of collapse, the allied relief force arrived on the Kahlenberg heights overlooking the city. Sobieski led the largest cavalry charge in history, with 18,000 horsemen smashing into the Ottoman lines and routing their army.
Historical Context
The siege was the culmination of a 150-year struggle between the Ottoman and Habsburg Empires for control of Central Europe. The Ottoman Empire, at the peak of its power, sought to capture Vienna as a gateway for further expansion into Europe. The fall of Vienna would have been a catastrophic blow to Christendom.
Significance
The Battle of Vienna is considered a major turning point in European history. It marked the definitive end of the Ottoman Empire’s expansion into Europe and the beginning of its long decline in the region. The victory preserved Vienna as a major European capital and secured the Habsburg Empire. For his role, King John III Sobieski was hailed as the “Savior of Vienna and Western European civilization.”
1777 – The Battle of Brandywine
During the American Revolutionary War, British forces under General Sir William Howe defeated the Continental Army led by General George Washington at the Battle of Brandywine in Pennsylvania. Howe executed a brilliant flanking maneuver, splitting his army to secretly march around and attack Washington’s right flank while a smaller force staged a diversionary attack at the main river crossing. The surprised and outnumbered American forces were eventually overwhelmed and forced to retreat.
Historical Context
The battle was part of the British campaign to capture Philadelphia, the seat of the Second Continental Congress. After landing his troops in Maryland, Howe marched north towards the city. Washington positioned his army along Brandywine Creek to block the British advance, but his intelligence failed to detect Howe’s flanking movement.
Significance
While a significant tactical victory for the British, the Battle of Brandywine was not the decisive blow Howe had hoped for. The American army, though defeated, was not destroyed. Washington’s forces retreated in good order, demonstrating their growing resilience and professionalism. The British went on to capture Philadelphia two weeks later, but the Continental Army would regroup and continue the fight, spending the harsh winter at Valley Forge before emerging as a more effective fighting force.
1941 – Construction of the Pentagon Begins
Construction began on the Pentagon, the future headquarters of the U.S. Department of War (later the Department of Defense), in Arlington, Virginia. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on a massive site across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. With the United States on the verge of entering World War II, the War Department’s staff was spread out across 17 different buildings, and a new, centralized command center was urgently needed. The unique five-sided design was chosen to fit the irregular shape of the original construction site.
Historical Context
The project was initiated in the summer of 1941 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s efforts to mobilize the nation for a potential war. The need for a unified military headquarters was critical as the threat from Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan grew. The construction was put on an incredibly fast track, operating 24 hours a day.
Significance
Completed in a record 16 months, the Pentagon became, and remains, the world’s largest office building. It is an enduring symbol of the U.S. military and American power. Its construction represented a massive organizational and logistical feat, and it has served as the nerve center for every major U.S. military operation from World War II through the Cold War to the present day. Tragically, it would also become a target 60 years to the day after its construction began.
2001 – Terrorist Attacks on the United States
On a clear Tuesday morning, 19 terrorists associated with the extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes to carry out coordinated suicide attacks against the United States. Two planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing both 110-story skyscrapers to collapse. Another plane was flown into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after its passengers and crew fought back against the hijackers, preventing it from reaching its intended target in Washington, D.C.
Historical Context
The attacks were orchestrated by al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who was motivated by a radical ideology that opposed U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, its support for Israel, and the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia. Al-Qaeda had previously carried out attacks against U.S. targets, including the 1998 embassy bombings in Africa and the 2000 attack on the USS Cole.
Significance
The September 11th attacks were the deadliest terrorist attacks in world history, killing nearly 3,000 people and injuring thousands more. They triggered a profound and lasting transformation of American society and foreign policy. The attacks led to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the passage of the Patriot Act, and dramatic changes in airport and airline security. They also prompted the U.S. to launch the “War on Terror,” beginning with the invasion of Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban regime that had harbored al-Qaeda, followed by the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The events of 9/11 defined a generation and continue to shape global politics to this day.
