Battles of January 20 including descriptions of the battles, geographic locations, associated artwork, and museums where a person can find associated artifacts and artwork.
Mini-album of the day: Battle of Yungay (4 songs – 2 Latin Pop, two traditional)
1. Battle of Rio de Janeiro (Battle of Uruçumirim)
Date: January 20, 1567
War: The Portuguese conquest of French Antarctica (France Antarctique)
Cause: The Portuguese, led by Estácio de Sá, sought to definitively expel the French colonists and their Tamoio indigenous allies from Guanabara Bay to secure the territory for Portugal.
Result: A decisive Portuguese victory. The French fortification at Uruçumirim was destroyed, effectively ending the French colony of France Antarctique. Estácio de Sá was mortally wounded by a poisoned arrow during the fighting and died a month later.
Paintings & Art
- Painting/Illustration: Estácio de Sá wounded by an arrow from the Tamoio Indians
- Artist: Ivan Wasth Rodrigues
- Year: 1959 (Illustration for historical text)
- Engraving: Attack on the French Fort (Depictions of the conflict in Guanabara Bay)
- Artist: Theodor de Bry
- Year: 1592–1595
Museums & Artifacts
- Museu Histórico Nacional (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil): Holds vast collections related to the colonial period, including weaponry and maps from the 16th century.
- Monument to Estácio de Sá (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil): Located in Aterro do Flamengo, near the site of the battle, containing the crypt of Estácio de Sá.
Location
- General: Flamengo Beach / Morro da Viúva area, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Coordinates: 22°55′S 43°10′W
Recommended Book
- France Antarctique: The French Colony in Brazil by Mario Balbiano di Colarme.
2. Battle of Millstone (Battle of Van Nest’s Mill)
Date: January 20, 1777
War: American Revolutionary War
Cause: Part of the “Forage War” in New Jersey. A British foraging party of roughly 500 men attempted to seize flour and supplies from Van Nest’s Mill.
Result: American victory. New Jersey militia, led by General Philemon Dickinson, crossed an icy river to flank the British, forcing them to retreat and capturing wagons, horses, and cattle.
Paintings & Art
- Watercolor: Uniforms of the American Revolution (Associated with the Millstone Valley history)
- Artist: Charles M. Lefferts
- Year: 1909
- Modern Art: Skirmish at Millstone (Various local historical illustrations often depicted in NJ historical societies)
- Artist: Local historical artists
- Year: Late 20th Century
Museums & Artifacts
- Wallace House & Old Dutch Parsonage (Somerville, New Jersey): Located near the action, offering context on the Forage War and winter cantonments.
- Museum of the American Revolution (Philadelphia, USA): Contains artifacts and exhibits detailing the New Jersey campaign and militia warfare.
Location
- General: Manville, New Jersey, USA (near the Millstone River).
- Coordinates: 40°32′28″N 74°35′35″W
Recommended Book
- Washington’s Crossing by David Hackett Fischer (Contains details on the Forage War).
3. Battle of Rạch Gầm-Xoài Mút
Date: January 20, 1785
War: Tây Sơn Rebellion (Siamese–Vietnamese War)
Cause: Siamese forces invaded southern Vietnam to restore the Nguyen Lord, Nguyễn Ánh, to power. The Tây Sơn leader, Nguyễn Huệ, lured the Siamese navy into an ambush.
Result: A decisive Tây Sơn victory. The Siamese navy was almost completely destroyed in a surprise attack involving hidden infantry and artillery along the Mekong River banks.
Paintings & Art
- Monument/Relief: Statue of Nguyen Hue and Relief of the Battle
- Artist: Vietnamese State Commissioned Artists
- Year: 2005 (Inauguration of the renovated relic site)
- Folk Art: Ambush at Rạch Gầm (Woodcuts and propaganda posters)
- Artist: Unknown
- Year: 20th Century
Museums & Artifacts
- Rạch Gầm – Xoài Mút Victory Historical Relic (Tiền Giang Province, Vietnam): A dedicated museum site featuring a massive bronze statue of Nguyễn Huệ, galleries of weapons, and ceramics from the period.
- Vietnam National Museum of History (Hanoi, Vietnam): Houses weaponry and documents relating to the Tây Sơn dynasty.
Location
- General: Tiền Giang Province, Vietnam (Section of the Mekong/Tien River).
- Coordinates: 10°20′N 106°19′E
Recommended Book
4. Battle of Yungay
Date: January 20, 1839
War: War of the Confederation
Cause: The Peru-Bolivian Confederation, led by Andrés de Santa Cruz, threatened the regional balance of power. Chile and Peruvian dissidents (the United Restoration Army) sought to dissolve it.
Result: A decisive Chilean and Restorationist victory. The Confederation was dissolved, and Santa Cruz went into exile.
Paintings & Art
- Drawing: Panorama of the Battle of Yungay (From a Pacific Watercolor Album)
- Artist: Unknown (Soldier or Campaign Artist)
- Year: 1840
- Sculpture: Monument to the Roto Chileno (Commemorating the common soldier at Yungay)
- Artist: Virginio Arias
- Year: 1888
Museums & Artifacts
- Museo del Carmen de Maipú (Santiago, Chile): Houses significant collections of military art, uniforms, and relics from 19th-century Chilean wars.
- Museo Nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia del Perú (Lima, Peru): Holds artifacts related to the Republican era and the Confederation.
Location
- General: Yungay, Ancash Region, Peru.
- Coordinates: 9°08′S 77°44′W
Recommended Book
- The Making of Modern Chile by Simon Collier and William F. Sater.
5. Battle of Imbros (Battle of Kusu Bay)
Date: January 20, 1918
War: World War I
Cause: An Ottoman naval sortie led by the battlecruiser Yavuz Sultan Selim (formerly Goeben) and light cruiser Midilli (formerly Breslau) attempted to attack Allied transport ships and monitors.
Result: Strategic Allied victory. While the Ottomans sank two British monitors, they ran into a minefield. The Midilli sank, and the Yavuz was heavily damaged and beached, ceasing to be an offensive threat.
Paintings & Art
- Watercolor: The Wreck of HMS Raglan: in Kusa Bay, Imbros, after action with the “Goeben”
- Artist: Frank Mason
- Year: c. 1918
- Illustration: Sinking of the Breslau (Daily Sketch illustration)
- Artist: Period War Artists
- Year: 1918
Museums & Artifacts
- Imperial War Museum (London, UK): Holds the Frank Mason painting and naval logs from the engagement.
- Istanbul Naval Museum (Istanbul, Turkey): Contains artifacts related to the Yavuz and Midilli, including bells, nameplates, and uniforms.
Location
- General: Off the island of Imbros (Gökçeada), Aegean Sea.
- Coordinates: 40°14′N 25°58′E
Recommended Book
Books for sale
Contact Information
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