Top 10 Most Famous Historical Battles

This battle took place on October 14, 1066, near Senlac Hill in Hastings, England, between the army of King Harold II of England and the army of William, Duke of Normandy. The battle is considered a turning point in English history, as it marked the beginning of Norman rule in England. Over 20,000 soldiers were killed or wounded in the battle, which lasted for approximately three hours. The battle's outcome was largely determined by the introduction of armored knights on horseback, who broke through the English lines. The battle is also known as the Hastings Reckoning and was a significant milestone in the Norman Conquest of England.

This battle occurred from July 1 to July 3, 1863, during the American Civil War in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It is considered one of the bloodiest battles of the war, with over 50,000 casualties (killed, wounded, or missing). The Union victory at Gettysburg marked a turning point in the war, as it repelled the second invasion of the North by the Confederate Army and led to the eventual defeat of the Confederacy. The battle also featured Pickett's Charge, one of the most iconic Confederate assaults of the Civil War.

This ancient battle took place in 331 BCE in what is now modern-day Iraq near the city of Nineveh. It was fought between the Persian Empire under Darius III and the Macedonian army under Alexander the Great. The battle lasted for several hours, with Alexander's phalanx formation proving decisive against the Persian infantry. The outcome led to the conquest of Persia by Alexander's empire, which stretched from Greece to India.

This famous battle occurred in 216 BCE near Canne, a small town in southern Italy. It was fought between the Carthaginian army under Hannibal and the combined forces of Rome and its allies. The battle is considered one of the most brilliant military victories in history, as Hannibal's use of the encirclement tactic led to the slaughter of over 50,000 Roman soldiers.

This battle took place on June 18, 1815, near Waterloo, Belgium, between the French army under Napoleon Bonaparte and a coalition of British and Prussian forces. The battle was a decisive defeat for Napoleon, who was exiled after his final defeat. Over 47,000 soldiers were killed or wounded during the three-day battle, which marked the end of Napoleon's reign and the Napoleonic Wars.

This bloody battle occurred on September 7, 1812, near Moscow, Russia, between the French army under Napoleon and the Russian army under General Mikhail Kutuzov. The battle was one of the bloodiest of the Napoleonic Wars, with over 60,000 soldiers killed or wounded during the day-long fighting. Despite the heavy casualties on both sides, neither side gained a decisive advantage.

This ancient naval battle took place in 480 BCE near Salamis Island, Greece, between the Persian Empire under Xerxes I and a combined fleet of Greek city-states led by Athens. The battle was a stunning victory for the Greeks, as they used their superior maneuverability to outflank and defeat the Persian navy.

This naval battle occurred on June 4-7, 1942, during World War II in the Pacific Ocean near the atoll of Midway Island. It marked a decisive turning point in the war, as American victories over Japanese forces forced Tokyo to abandon its plans for an invasion of Hawaii and led to a shift in the balance of power.

This battle occurred on October 14, 1066, near Falaise, Normandy, France, between the army of King Harold II of England and the army of William, Duke of Normandy. The second battle was a repeat of the previous year's conflict, with William using similar tactics to outmaneuver and defeat his opponents.

This ancient battle took place in 260 BCE near Agrigento, Sicily, between the Carthaginian army under Hanno the Great and the Roman Republic army led by the consul Lucius Aemulus Paulus. The battle is considered one of the most significant ancient Roman victories against Carthage, marking a turning point in the First Punic War and leading to Rome's eventual conquest of Sicily.