October

tenth month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars

116 dated entries naming October, drawn from 106 separate years between 37 CE and 1980 CE. Nothing here is written by us: each line is the sentence a Wikipedia year article used, and the link beside it opens the exact revision.

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1st century

37October – Caligula becomes seriously ill, or perhaps is poisoned. He recovers from his illness, but Caligula turns toward the diabolical: he starts to kill off those who are close to him, whom he sees as a serious threat.source
66Mid–late October – Cestius Gallus, legate of Syria, marches into Judea and leads a Roman army of 30,000 men to put down the Jewish rebellion. At its core is Legio XII Fulminata, plus 2,000 selected men from the other three Syrian legions, six more cohorts of infantry and four alae of cavalry, plus over 14,000 auxiliaries furnished by Rome's eastern allies, including Herod Agrippa II and two other client kings, Antiochus IV of Commagene and Sohaemus of Emesa, who lead their forces (largely archers and cavalry) in person.source
66October – The Jewish Revolt commences against the Roman Empire. The Zealots lay siege to Jerusalem and annihilate the Roman garrison (a cohort of Legio III Cyrenaica). The Sicarii capture the fortress of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea.source

3rd century

228June –October – Battle of Shiting: The Eastern Wu Kingdom defeats the Cao Wei Kingdom.source

4th century

378October – The Greuthungi, faced with food shortages, split off and move west into Pannonia. Followed by their families, they raid villages and farmland.source

5th century

449October – A Roman synod repudiates all the decisions of the Second Council of Ephesus.source

6th century

554October – Battle of the Volturnus: During the spring Butilinus (Buccelin) has marched north; the Frankish army (infected by an epidemic of dysentery which kills their leader Leutharis (Lothair)) is reduced to about 30,000 men. The Byzantine army, with 18,000 men (including a contingent of Goths under Aligern), marches south to meet them at Casilinum (on the banks of the River Volturno). Byzantine eunuch general Narses sends a cavalry force under Chanaranges to destroy the supply wagons of the Franks. Outmanoeuvring Butilinus, he chooses a disposition similar to that at Taginae. After a frontal assault on the Byzantine centre, the Franks and the Alamanni are annihilated, thus effectively ending the Gothic War (535–554). Narses garrisons an army of 16,000 men in Italy. The recovery of the Italian Peninsula has cost the empire about 300,000 pounds of gold.source
595October – King Childebert II dies; his mother Brunhilda attempts to rule Austrasia and Burgundy, as regent for her grandsons. He is succeeded by his two young sons, Theudebert II and Theuderic II.source

7th century

637October – Siege of Aleppo: Muslim Arabs under Khalid ibn al-Walid conquer the Byzantine stronghold Aleppo; the large walled city surrenders after a four-month siege. A column of troops under Malik al-Ashtar is sent to take Azaz.source

8th century

732October – The Frankish army crosses the Vienne River and establishes a camp at or around the partially abandoned Roman mansion or agricultural settlement, now known as 'Vieux-Poitiers' (near Châtellerault), perhaps using the Roman theatre with its substantial towers as a fortification. Charles Martel forms a defensive position across the Roman road, and fends off Muslim skirmishes during the 'seven days' stand-off, probably involving scouts, and perhaps raiders from both armies.source
744October – Hildeprand is deposed by the council of nobles, for his incompetence as ruler. He is succeeded by Ratchis (formerly duke of Friuli) as king of the Lombards, who makes peace with Pope Zachary.source
783October – Charlemagne marries Fastrada, the 18-year-old daughter of a Frankish count named Rudolph, and makes her his queen at Worms. The probable reason behind the marriage is to solidify a Frankish alliance east of the Rhine, against the Saxons in Lower Saxony (modern Germany).source

9th century

821October – Lothair I, co-emperor and eldest son of Louis I, marries Ermengarde in Thionville (northeastern France). She is the daughter of Count Hugh of Tours.source
829October – Battle of Thasos: Saracens from the newly founded Emirate of Crete almost annihilate the Byzantine fleet at Thasos, close to the coast of Thrace. The Cyclades and other islands in the Aegean Sea are pillaged.source
886October – Siege of Paris: Count Odo slips through Viking-controlled territory, to ask the king of West Francia Charles the Fat for support. He returns with a relief force, and reaches safety within the walls. Charles arrives later with a large army, and establishes a camp at Montmartre. After negotiations he promises the Vikings tribute (Danegeld) worth 700 Livres (equivalent to 257kg of silver), and allows them to sail up the River Seine, to over-winter in Burgundy.source
888October – Alan I (the Great), count of Vannes, and his rival Judicael, unite their forces to defeat the Vikings at Questembert (or 889). Judicael is killed, in a notable victory for the Bretons, with 15,000 Vikings crushed, some few 400 escaping to their ships. In command of a 'united' Breton force, Alan is able to drive the Vikings back to the Loire River. Alan becomes sole ruler of Brittany, and over the Frankish counties of Rennes, Nantes, Coutances and Avranches.source
888October – Battle of Milazzo: The Aghlabids score a crushing victory over a Byzantine fleet off Sicily.source

10th century

925October — In Byzantium, John Mystikos, chief minister (paradynasteuon), is deposed by the Emperor Romanos I, flogged, and sent into exile in a monastery. He is replaced by the chamberlain (protovestiarios) Theophanes, who becomes the closest adviser of Emperor Romanos I. At this time the Byzantine Empire has been embroiled in a protracted and disastrous war with Tsar Simeon I of Bulgaria.source
956September - October – A Byzantine fleet under Basil Hexamilites deals a crushing defeat to the Hamdanid fleet at Tarsus in Cilicia (modern Turkey).source
958October / November – Battle of Raban: The Byzantines under John Tzimiskes defeat the Hamdanid forces in northern Syria. Emir Sayf al-Dawla is forced to retreat – many of his court companions and ghilman fall in pursuit, while over 1,700 of his Turk cavalry are captured and paraded in the streets of Constantinople.source

11th century

1015October – Influential Japanese statesman Fujiwara no Michinaga is appointed to be Associate Regent.source
1094October – Seljuk sultan Mahmud I dies after a 2-year reign. He is succeeded by his brother Barkiyaruq (one of the Seljuk princes who claim the throne) as ruler of the Seljuk Empire.source
1094October – Mahmud I, sultan of the Seljuk Empiresource

12th century

1110October–December – Crusaders under Baldwin I (supported by King Sigurd I of Norway) besiege Sidon. Norwegian ships blockade the harbour, but are nearly dispersed by a powerful Fatimid flotilla from Tyre. They are saved by the arrival of a Venetian squadron under Doge Ordelafo Faliero. On December 4, the city capitulates (under notable terms) to Baldwin.source
1114October – Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Ahmad al-Mustazhir, was the son of Abbasid caliph al-Mustazhir and Ismah.source
1135October – Conrad III, duke of Franconia, gives up his title as King of Italy in opposition with Lothair III. He receives a pardon and recovers his estates.source
1174October – Battle of Thurles: Gaelic-Irish forces under King Domnall Mór Ua Briain defeat an Anglo-Norman invasion at Thurles in Ireland. The English expedition led by Earl Richard de Clare (Strongbow) is surprised while encamped in the area of Lognafola and is forced to retreat to Waterford.source
1183October – Alexios II Komnenos, Byzantine Emperor (born 1167)source

13th century

1215October – First Barons' War: The Barons offer the English crown to Prince Louis VIII of France and invite him to England.source
1224October – Lý Huệ Tông, Emperor of Vietnam, cedes the throne to his second daughter, the Princess Chiêu Thánh, who becomes the Empress Regnant Lý Chiêu Hoàng. Trần Thủ Độ then arranges a marriage between the Empress and Trần Cảnh, the 8-year-old son of Trần Thừa, and ends the rule of the Lý dynasty by making the Empress pass the throne to Trần Cảnh the following year.source
1256October – Mongol forces led by Baiju Noyan (operating under Hulagu Khan's command) win a victory over Kaykaus II, Seljuk ruler of the Sultanate of Rum, and capture Anatolia. Kaykaus flees to the Byzantine court where he seeks refuge at Constantinople. The Empire of Trebizond fearing a potential punitive Mongol expedition, becomes a vassal state and is forced to pay a tribute tax every year in gold and silk.source
1290October – Qalawun orders a general mobilization of the Mamluk forces. In a council, it is decided that a peace delegation be sent to Cairo under Guillaume de Beaujeu, Grand Master of the Knights Templar. However, Qalawun demands huge compensation for those killed in Acre, and sends a Syrian army to the coast of Palestine, near Caesarea.source

14th century

1309October – About 500 knights led by John of Castile, Lord of Valencia de Campos, uncle of King James II of Castile, desert the Castilian encampment during the Siege of Algeciras because they are not getting paid and because one-sixth of Granada will be ceded to the Kingdom of Aragon. King Ferdinand of Aragon continues the siege.source
1337October – Hundred Years' War: Edward III of England formally rejects Philip VI's claim to the French throne, initiating hostilities between France and England.source
1340October – Geert Groote, Dutch founder of the Brethren of the Common Life (died 1384)source
1341September–October – The Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347 (between John VI Kantakouzenos and the regency for the infant John V Palaiologos) breaks out.source
1341October – parliament at Dublin is adjourned to Kilkenny (held in November). Petitions critical of administration are sent to Edward III.source
1346September–October – Anglo-Gascon offensives overrun large parts of southwest France.source
1346October–November – Several Mongol towns in the Crimea are cleared of inhabitants by the Black Death.source
1346October – Raghnall Mac Ruaidhrí, Scottish magnatesource
1347October – Ships arrive in the Sicilian city of Messina, carrying people afflicted by the Black Death onboard.source
1352October – Byzantine civil war of 1352–1357 – Battle of Demotika: Fighting as allies of John VI Kantakouzenos, the Ottoman beylik scores its first victory on European soil, against the Serbs.source
1365October – Alexandrian Crusade: The city of Alexandria in Egypt is sacked by an allied force of Peter I of Cyprus and the knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.source
1375October – Joanna of Aragon, Countess of Foix, Aragonese throne claimant (died 1407)source
1384October – Joan Holland, Duchess of Brittany (born 1350)source
1395The Gwanghwamun Gate and the Jogyesa Temple are built in present-day Seoul in late September or early October (in the "9th month" of the Korean calendar year 3728).source
1396October – A Transylvanian expedition captures Vlad I Uzurpatorul, thus allowing the restoration of Mircea the Elder of Wallachia to the throne.source

15th century

1401October – Anabella Drummond, queen of Scotlandsource
1414October – The Hunger War ends inconclusively with a truce brokered by a Papal legate. Famine and plague is sweeping through Prussia as a result from the war.source
1429October – Alexios IV Megas Komnenos, Empire of Trebizond (born 1382)source
1433October – Iliaș of Moldavia is deposed by his half-brother and joint ruler Stephen II.source
1446October – Murad II, who recently became the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire after his son Mehmed II was forced by the Janissaries to abdicate, invades Attica, forcing Constantine XI to return Thebes to the duchy of Athens, and remove the tribute imposed in 1444. Murad II imposes his own tribute.source
1448October – Vlad the Impaler becomes reigning Prince of Wallachia for two months, before being deposed in November by Vladislav II of Wallachia.source
1448October – Carlo II Tocco, ruler of Epirussource
1449October – Bogdan II of Moldavia enters the country with troops from John Hunyadi, and takes the throne after Alexăndrel flees.source
1450October – French invasion of Guyenne begins with the siege of Jonsac.source
1451October – Bogdan II of Moldavia, assassinated by Petru Aronsource
1452October – Byzantine–Ottoman Wars: The Ottoman governor of Thessaly, Turakhan Beg, breaks through the Hexamilion wall for the fourth time, and ravages the Peloponnese Peninsula to prevent the Byzantine Despotate of the Morea from assisting Constantinople, during the final Ottoman siege of the imperial capital.source
1473October – Contessina de' Bardi, politically active Florentine woman (born 1390)source
1480October – Saint Cajetan, founder of the Theatines (died 1547)source
1490October – Olaus Magnus, Swedish ecclesiastic and writer (died 1557)source

16th century

1504October – Babur besieges and captures Kabul.source
1506October – Louis de Blois, Flemish mystical writer (died 1566)source
1515October – Bartolomeo d'Alviano, Venetian general (born 1455)source
1533October – Túpac Huallpa, puppet ruler of Perusource
1534Manco Inca Yupanqui is crowned as Sapa Inca in Cusco, Peru by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, in succession to his brother Túpac Huallpa (died October 1533).source
1538October – Maistre Jhan, composer (born c.1485)source
1543September–October – Landrecies in Picardy is besieged by forces under Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, but the siege is withdrawn on the approach of the French army.source
1558October – Mellin de Saint-Gelais, French poet (born c. 1491)source
1562October – Privateer John Hawkins undertakes the first of several slave trading voyages, attacking Portuguese slave ships off the West African coast and forcibly transporting the enslaved Africans onboard to Spanish colonies in the Americas to sell. Hawkins arrives at the island of Hispaniola in the Spanish West Indies, where he illicitly sells the enslaved Africans to local colonists, as his presence is technically in violation of Spanish law.source
1562October – George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly (born 1514)source
1565October – The first Martello tower, the Tour de Mortella, designed by Giovan Giacomo Paleari Fratino (el Fratin), is completed as part of the Genovese defence system at Mortella (Myrtle) Point, in Upper Corsica.source
1567October - The regency council, which rules during the illness of the King, releases Prince John.source

17th century

1602October – Thomas Morley, English composer (born 1557)source
1606June or October – Battle of Cape St. Vincent: An improvised Spanish fleet under Luis Fajardo defeats the Dutch fleet under Willem Haultain.source
1606October – Luís Vaz de Torres is the first European to sail through the Torres Strait.source
1616October/November – Ben Jonson's satirical five-act comedy, The Devil is an Ass, is produced at the Blackfriars Theatre in London by the King's Men, poking fun at contemporary credence in witchcraft and Middlesex juries.source
1630October – John Tillotson, Archbishop of Canterbury (died 1694)source
1639June–October – Dry summer in the Loire Valley and in Brittany.source
1651October – An English diplomatic team, headed by Oliver St John, goes to The Hague to negotiate an alliance between the Commonwealth of England and the Dutch Republic.source
1693October – William Congreve's comedy The Double-Dealer is first performed in London.source
1699October – An edict by King Louis XIV establishes an office of police magistrate in almost every village in France, with the title of lieutenant general de police created.source

18th century

1707October - Marsh's Library, the first public library in Ireland, is established by an Act of the Irish Parliament called ‘An Act for Settling and Preserving a Publick Library forever’.source
1710October – The start of the Mascate War (a.k.a. the War of the Peddlers) between two rival mercantile groups the Zillioto family and the Astrid family in colonial Brazil.source
1714October – Raja Sitaram Ray, autonomous king, vassal of the Mughal Empire (born 1658)source
1717October – James Paine, English architect (died 1789)source
1717October – Philippe Pastour de Costebelle, French naval officer and Governor of Newfoundland (born 1661)source
1763October – Anna Maria Garthwaite, British designer (born 1688)source
1788October – King George III of the United Kingdom becomes deranged; the Regency Crisis of 1788 starts.source

19th century

1810October – King George III of the United Kingdom is deemed permanently insane.source
1815October – Robert Adams, American sailor and the first Westerner to visit Timbuktu, is found wandering the streets of London, starving and half-naked, leading to the invitation for him to tell his story as a Barbary captive, which is later published as The Narrative of Robert Adams.source
1825October–December – Dispute between the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata and the Empire of Brazil over the Banda Oriental region leads to the Cisplatine War.source
1830October – The Regeneration in Switzerland begins: more liberal constitutions are adopted in most cantons.source
1847October – The last volcanic eruption of Mount Guntur in West Java occurs.source
1851October – The Reuters news service is founded in Londonsource
1860October – John Hanning Speke and James Augustus Grant leave Zanzibar, to search for the source of the Nile River.source
1869October – The 'Edinburgh Seven', led by Sophia Jex-Blake, start to attend lectures at the University of Edinburgh Medical School, the first women in the United Kingdom to do so (although they will not be allowed to take degrees).source
1875October – The Ottoman state declares partial bankruptcy, and places its finances in the hands of European creditors. It is also suffering widespread nationalist rebellions resulting in Russian intervention and Great Power tensions.source
1891October – Eugène Dubois finds the first fragmentary bones of Pithecanthropus erectus (later redesignated Homo erectus), or "Java Man", at Trinil on the Solo River.source
1895October – Rudyard Kipling publishes the story "Mowgli Leaves the Jungle Forever" in The Cosmopolitan illustrated magazine in the United States, collected in The Second Jungle Book, published in England in November.source

20th century

1905October – Fauvist artists, led by Henri Matisse and André Derain, first exhibit their works, at the Salon d'Automne in Paris.source
1907October – A committee of the Delegation for the Adoption of an International Auxiliary Language, made up of academics including Otto Jespersen, Wilhelm Ostwald and Roland Eötvös, meet in Paris to select a language for international use. The committee ultimately decides to reform Esperanto.source
1908October – Gus Rogers, American vaudevillian (born 1869)source
1911October – Blanche Atkinson, British novelist (born 1847)source
1915March – The 1915 Palestine locust infestation breaks out in Palestine; it continues until October.source
1922October – 3,000 German marks are now needed to buy a single American dollar – triple the figure three months ago due to hyperinflation.source
1925October – The major money forgery and fraud of Alves dos Reis is exposed in Portugal.source
1927October – Niels Bohr presents his theoretical principle of complementarity at the Fifth Solvay Conference on Physics.source
1928October – The women's organisation Gruaja Shiqiptare is founded in Albania, with Princess Senije as its chair.source
1930October – The Indochinese Communist Party is formed.source
1932October – Hergé's Tintin in America (Tintin en Amérique) concludes serial publication and is issued in book format (in black and white) in Belgium.source
1945October – Arthur C. Clarke puts forward the idea of a geosynchronous communications satellite, in a Wireless World magazine article.source
1947October – First recorded use of the word computer in its modern sense, referring to an electronic digital machine.source
1953October – The UNIVAC 1103 is the first commercial computer to use random-access memory.source
1972October – In Somalia, the government of President Siad Barre formally introduces the Somali alphabet as the country's official writing script.source
1980October - The religious show Ang Dating Daan starts its radio broadcast through DWWA.source