Battles of January 26 including descriptions of the battles, geographic locations, associated artwork, and museums where a person can find associated artifacts and artwork.
Songs of the day:
Ula Grave (Traditional Russian Bylina)
Vilnius Victorious (Lithuanian traditional 16th century ballad)
1. Battle of Ula (Battle of Chashniki)
Date: January 26, 1564
War: Livonian War (1558–1583)
Cause: The Tsardom of Russia, seeking to expand its access to the Baltic Sea, launched a massive invasion into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Two Russian armies intended to link up near Orsha to march on the capital, Vilnius.
Result: A decisive Lithuanian victory. Despite being outnumbered (approx. 4,000 Lithuanians against 20,000–30,000 Russians), the Lithuanian forces led by Mikołaj “the Red” Radziwiłł surprised the Russian column. The Russian commander, Pyotr Shuysky, was killed, and the Russian advance was halted, saving Vilnius from siege.
Paintings & Art
- Art: Battle of Ula (Commemorative Medal)
- Artist: Lina Kalinauskaitė
- Year: 2016 (Modern commemorative art in the style of Renaissance medals)
- Note: While contemporary 16th-century woodcuts exist in chronicles, this modern relief medal is a significant artistic work dedicated specifically to this battle.
Museums & Artifacts
- National Museum of Lithuania (Vilnius, Lithuania): Holds armor, weaponry, and numismatic collections from the Grand Duchy era, including items related to the campaigns of the Radziwiłł family.
- Kremlin Armory Museum (Moscow, Russia): Contains weaponry and regalia from the era of Ivan the Terrible, providing context for the Russian forces involved.
Location
- General: Ula River, north of Chashniki, Vitebsk Region, modern-day Belarus.
- Coordinates: 54°53′51″N 29°09′18″E
Recommended Book
- The Livonian War 1558–1582 by Alexander Filjushkin.
2. Battle of Talikota
Date: January 26, 1565
War: Conflicts between the Deccan Sultanates and the Vijayanagara Empire
Cause: Four Deccan Sultanates (Bijapur, Bidar, Ahmadnagar, and Golconda) formed a grand alliance to crush the power of the Vijayanagara Empire, whose dominance and interference in Sultanate affairs had become intolerable to them.
Result: Decisive Sultanate victory. The Vijayanagara leader Rama Raya was captured and beheaded. The capital city of Vijayanagara (Hampi) was sacked and destroyed, leading to the collapse of the empire.
Paintings & Art
- Painting: Battle of Talikota (Miniature painting from the Ta’rif-i Husain Shahi)
- Artist: Unknown Court Artists of Ahmadnagar
- Year: c. 1565–1569
- Painting: Panorama of the Battle of Talikota
- Artist: Unknown (Deccan School)
- Year: Late 16th Century
Museums & Artifacts
- Bharata Itihasa Samshodhaka Mandala (Pune, India): Houses the original Ta’rif-i Husain Shahi manuscript containing miniatures of the battle.
- Salar Jung Museum (Hyderabad, India): Contains an extensive collection of Deccan arms, armor, and manuscripts from the Sultanate period.
- Archaeological Museum (Kamalapura/Hampi, India): Located near the ruins, it houses sculptures and weapons recovered from the destroyed capital.
Location
- General: Near the villages of Rakkasagi and Tangadigi, south of the Krishna River, Karnataka, India.
- Coordinates: 16.4799° N, 76.2735° E.
Recommended Book
3. Battle of Montjuïc
Date: January 26, 1641
War: The Reapers’ War (Catalan Revolt)
Cause: The principality of Catalonia revolted against the Spanish Crown due to the stationing of troops and heavy taxation. A large Spanish army was sent to crush the rebellion and advanced to the walls of Barcelona.
Result: A Catalan victory. A hasty force of Catalan militia, aided by French cavalry, successfully defended the strategic hill of Montjuïc against the seasoned Spanish tercios. The Spanish commander, the Marquis of Los Vélez, was forced to retreat, consolidating the rebellion.
Paintings & Art
- Painting: Batalla de Montjuïc, el 1641
- Artist: Pandolfo Reschi
- Year: c. 1641–1670 (17th Century)
Museums & Artifacts
- Montjuïc Castle (Barcelona, Spain): The fortress itself is the primary artifact, housing a military museum with weapons, uniforms, and maps detailing the battle and the defense of the city.
- Galleria Corsini (Florence, Italy): Holds the original Pandolfo Reschi painting depicting the battle scene.
Location
- General: Montjuïc Hill, overlooking Barcelona, Spain.
- Coordinates: 41°21′49″N 2°09′54″E
Recommended Book
4. Fall of Khartoum
Date: January 26, 1885 (Part of the Siege of Khartoum March 13, 1884-January 26, 1885)
War: The Mahdist War
Cause: An Islamist revolt led by the Mahdi (Muhammad Ahmad) besieged the Egyptian-held city of Khartoum, which was defended by the British General Charles Gordon. The Mahdist forces launched a final assault before a British relief column could arrive.
Result: Mahdist victory. The city’s defenses were breached, the garrison was massacred, and General Gordon was killed. The British relief force arrived two days too late, leading to the withdrawal of British forces from Sudan for over a decade.
Paintings & Art
- Painting: General Gordon’s Last Stand
- Artist: George William Joy
- Year: 1893
Museums & Artifacts
- Leeds Art Gallery (Leeds, United Kingdom): Houses the famous painting by George William Joy.
- The Gordon Highlanders Museum (Aberdeen, Scotland): Contains personal artifacts, letters, and uniforms associated with General Gordon and the relief expedition.
- Khalifa House Museum (Omdurman, Sudan): Located across the Nile from Khartoum, this museum (the former house of the Mahdi’s successor) houses weapons, banners, and relics from the Mahdist forces.
Location
- General: The Governor-General’s Palace, Khartoum, Sudan.
- Coordinates: 15°36′11″N 32°31′39″E
Recommended Book
5. Battle of Seattle
Date: January 26, 1856
War: Puget Sound War
Cause: Native American tribes (including elements of the Yakama and Nisqually), frustrated by treaty violations and land encroachment, launched an attack on the fledgling settlement of Seattle.
Result: US/Settler victory. The settlers, aided by Marines from the USS Decatur anchored in Elliott Bay, repelled the attack using cannon fire. The battle marked a turning point in securing the settlement, though tensions remained high.
Paintings & Art
- Painting: Battle of Seattle
- Artist: Emily Inez Denny
- Year: c. 1890s (Painted by a survivor of the pioneer era)
Museums & Artifacts
- MOHAI (Museum of History & Industry) (Seattle, USA): Holds the original Emily Inez Denny painting, as well as a cannonball fired during the battle and other pioneer-era artifacts.
- Log House Museum (Seattle, USA): Located near Alki Beach, offering local history on the Duwamish tribe and early settler relations.
Location
- General: Downtown Seattle (Pioneer Square area), Washington, USA.
- Coordinates: 47°36′02″N 122°19′56″W
Recommended Book
6. Operation Ring (Meeting of the Fronts at Stalingrad)
Date: January 26, 1943 (Part of the Battle of Stalingrad July 17, 1942-February 2, 1943)
War: World War II (Eastern Front)
Cause: Part of “Operation Ring,” the final Soviet offensive to destroy the encircled German forces in Stalingrad. The goal was to slice the German pocket in half.
Result: Soviet victory. The Soviet 21st Army linked up with the 62nd Army at Mamayev Kurgan. This meeting physically split the German 6th Army into two isolated pockets (North and South), making coordinated German resistance impossible and leading to their surrender days later.
Paintings & Art
- Painting: The Defeat of Fascist Forces at Stalingrad (The Stalingrad Panorama)
- Artists: A collective of artists from the Grekov Studio of War Art
- Year: Completed 1982 (Depicts the January fighting)
Museums & Artifacts
- The Battle of Stalingrad Museum-Panorama (Volgograd, Russia): Houses the massive 360-degree panoramic painting of the battle and thousands of artifacts, including weapons, uniforms, and personal letters from both sides.
- Mamayev Kurgan Memorial Complex (Volgograd, Russia): The actual site of the fierce fighting and the meeting of the fronts, now a massive memorial park dominated by “The Motherland Calls” statue.
Location
- General: Mamayev Kurgan hill, Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad), Russia.
- Coordinates: 48°44′33″N 44°32′13″E
Recommended Book
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