List of conflicts in Europe

This is a list of conflicts in Europe ordered chronologically, including wars between European states, civil wars within European states, wars between a European state and a non-European state that took place within Europe, militarized interstate disputes, and global conflicts in which Europe was a theatre of war.

Wars and battles have shaped the history of Europe for thousands of years. From ancient times to the modern day, many countries have fought for land, power, or to protect their people. Understanding these conflicts helps us learn about the past and how nations interact.

There are various definitions of Europe, and there is debate about where Europe’s borders end, especially in parts near Western Asia. This list uses a broad view that includes areas where Europe meets Asia, such as parts of the former Soviet Union. This helps give a full picture of the many battles and wars that have happened across this wide region.

BC

Battle of Cape Ecnomus, 256 BC

This section lists many old battles and wars that happened in Europe long ago, starting from around 5000 BC. These conflicts include fights between early groups of people, wars involving ancient cities like Troy, and many battles led by famous leaders such as Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. The list continues through the years, showing how different cultures and nations clashed over land, power, and resources throughout history.

c. 5000 BC Talheim Death Pit
c. 5000 BC Massacre of Schletz
c. 5000 BC Massacre at Kilianstädten
c. 1300 BC Tollense valley battlefield
c. 1200 BC Trojan War
c. 1104–900 BC Dorian invasion
c. 753–351 BC Roman–Etruscan Wars
c. 753–494 BC Roman–Sabine wars
743–724 BC First Messenian War
710–650 BC Lelantine War
circa 700–601 BC Alban war with Rome
685–668 BC Second Messenian War
669–668 BC Sparta–Argos War
600–265 BC Greek–Punic Wars
595–585 BC First Sacred War
560 BC Second Arcadian War
540 BC Battle of Alalia
538–522 BC Polycrates wars
509–396 BC Early Italian campaigns
500–499 BC Persian invasion of Naxos
499–493 BC Ionian Revolt
492–490 BC First Persian invasion of Greece
482–479 BC Second Persian invasion of Greece
480–307 BC Sicilian Wars
460–445 BC First Peloponnesian War
449–448 BC Second Sacred War
440–439 BC Samian War
431–404 BC Second Peloponnesian War
404–403 BC Phyle Campaign
395–387 BC Corinthian War
390–387 BC Celtic invasion of Italia
378–371 BC Boeotian War
378–362 BC Theban-Spartan War
357–355 BC Social War
356–346 BC Third Sacred War
346-344 BC Foreign War
335 BC Alexander's Balkan campaign
323–322 BC Lamian War
280–275 BC Pyrrhic War
272 BC Pyrrhus' invasion of the Peloponnese
267–261 BC Chremonidean War
264–241 BC First Punic War
229– 222 BC Cleomenean War
229–228 BC First Illyrian War
220–216 BC Lyttian War
220–217 BC Social War
220–219 BC Second Illyrian War
218–201 BC Second Punic War
214–205 BC First Macedonian War
200–197 BC Second Macedonian War
195 BC Laconian War
191–189 BC Aetolian War
171–168 BC Third Macedonian War
146 BC Achaean War
135–132 BC First Servile War
113–101 BC Cimbrian War
113 BC – 476 AD Germanic Wars
104–100 BC Second Servile War
91–87 BC Social War
87 BC Bellum Octavianum
85 BC Colchis uprising against Pontus
80–72 BC Sertorian War
82–81 BC Sulla's civil war
77 BC Marcus Aemilius Lepidus
73–71 BC Third Servile War
73–63 BC Roman Expansion in Syria & Judea
65–63 BC Pompey's campaign in Caucasus
63–62 BC Second Catilinarian conspiracy
55–54 BC Caesar's invasions of Britain
58–51 BC Gallic Wars
49–45 BC Caesar's Civil War
42–36 BC Bellum Siculum
43 BC Battle of Mutina
43–42 BC Liberators' civil war
41–40 BC Perusine War
32–30 BC Final War of the Roman Republic
29–19 BC Cantabrian Wars
12 BC - 16 AD Early Germanic campaigns

1st–10th century AD

This period saw many battles and wars across Europe. Some important conflicts include the Roman conquest of Britain from 49 to 96, where the Romans expanded their control over the island. There was also Boudica's uprising in 60–61, when a leader named Boudica led a rebellion against Roman rule in Britain.

Revolt of the Batavi, 69

Other notable conflicts include the Year of the Four Emperors in 69, a time when four different leaders claimed to be the ruler of Rome. The Gothic War (376–382) was another significant conflict, involving the Goths and the Roman Empire. Many of these wars shaped the history and cultures of Europe during this time.

Main articles: Bellum Batonianum, Revolt of Sacrovir, Roman conquest of Britain, Armenian–Iberian war, Boudica's uprising, Year of the Four Emperors, Revolt of the Batavi, Domitian's Dacian War, Trajan's Dacian Wars, Marcomannic Wars, Year of the Five Emperors, Roman invasion of Caledonia, Crisis of the Third Century, Year of the Six Emperors, Gothic War (267–269), Battle of Châlons, Civil wars of the Tetrarchy, Roman-Alamanni War, Great Conspiracy, Gothic War (367–369), Gothic War (376–382), Roman civil war (394), Revolt of Alaric I, Stilicho's Pictish War, Gothic War (401–403), War of Radagaisus, Vandal-Frankish war, Gothic War (409–418), Bagaudae Revolt, Gothic War in Spain (416-418), Battle of the Nervasos Mountains, Battle of Tarraco, Gothic revolt of Theodoric I, Frankish War (428), Gothic revolt of Anaolsus, Aetius campaign in the Alps, Frankish War (431–432), Roman civil war of 432, Burgundian Revolt of Gunther, Gothic War (436-439), Vandal War, Attila's invasion of the Roman Empire, Vandalic Sack of Rome, Gothic War in Spain (456), Gothic War (461–476), Battle of Soissons, Franco-Visigothic Wars, Iberian War, Vandalic War, Gothic War (535–554), Lazic War, Maurice's Balkan campaigns, Frisian–Frankish wars, Arab–Khazar wars, Byzantine–Bulgarian wars, Twenty Years' Anarchy, Byzantine–Bulgarian battle of Anchialus, Umayyad conquest of Hispania, Second Siege of Constantinople, Reconquista, Umayyad invasion of Gaul, Marwan ibn Muhammad's invasion of Georgia, Byzantine-Bulgarian battle of the Rishki Pass, Saxon Wars, Byzantine-Bulgarian battle of Marcellae, Sack of Lisbon, Hungarian invasions of Europe, Siege of Serdica (Sofia), Byzantine-Bulgarian battle of Vărbitsa Pass, Byzantine-Bulgarian battle of Versinikia, Paphlagonian expedition of the Rus', Bulgarian–Serb Wars (medieval), Bulgarian–Serb War (839–842), Bulgarian–Serb War (853), Bulgarian–Serb wars of 917–924, Croatian–Bulgarian wars, Croatian–Bulgarian battle of 854, Croatian–Bulgarian battle of 926, Siege of Zadar, Rus'–Byzantine War (860), Invasion of the Great Heathen Army, Bulgarian–Hungarian wars, Battle of Southern Buh, Byzantine–Bulgarian war of 894–896, Muslim conquest of Majorca, Rus'–Byzantine War (907), Byzantine–Bulgarian war of 913–927, Battle of Achelous, Arab-Georgian War, Battle of Andernach, Rus'–Byzantine War (941), Battle of Recknitz, Polish–Veletian War, Sviatoslav's invasion of Bulgaria, Battle of Tara, Battle of Stilo, Great Slav Rising, Battle of the Gates of Trajan, Battle of Fyrisvellir

11th century

Battle of Hastings (1066)

The 11th century in Europe saw many battles and wars. Some important conflicts include the Battle of Svolder, the German–Polish War, and the Byzantine–Georgian wars. There were also notable battles such as the Battle of Clontarf and the Battle of Kleidion. Other significant events were Cnut's invasion of England, the Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria, and the Norman conquest of England. This period was marked by frequent clashes between different kingdoms and empires across Europe.

12th century

Monument of Didgori Battle, Georgia

The 12th century in Europe saw many battles and wars. Some important battles include the Battle of Głogów in 1109 and the Battle of Welfesholz in 1115. There were also larger conflicts such as the Guelphs and Ghibellines, which lasted from 1125 to 1186, and the Byzantine-Hungarian War from 1127 to 1129. Other notable wars include the Luso–Leonese War from 1130 to 1137 and the Civil war era in Norway from 1130 to 1240. The 12th century was a time of frequent fighting and changing power among European states.

13th century

Battle of Muret, 1213

This list shows many battles and wars that took place in Europe during the 1200s. Some of these conflicts were between kings and empires, while others were fights within countries. For example, there were wars like the Anglo-French War, where two big countries fought over land, and the Mongol invasion of Europe, where a powerful group from far away attacked many places in Europe. There were also smaller fights, such as the Welsh uprising of 1211, where people in one part of a country tried to stand up for their rights. These events helped shape the history of Europe.

Other notable conflicts include the Wars of Scottish Independence, where Scotland fought to remain its own country, and the War of the Sicilian Vespers, a big fight that changed the rules of power in southern Europe. Many of these battles and wars show how countries and people worked, argued, and sometimes fought for what they believed was right.

14th century

Battle of Sluys, 1340, from a manuscript

The 14th century was a time of many conflicts across Europe. Some important wars and battles from this period include the Hungarian Interregnum, the Battle of the Golden Spurs, and the long Hundred Years' War between England and France. There were also civil wars, such as the Byzantine civil war of 1321–28 and the Peasant revolt in Flanders. Other notable conflicts include the Polish–Teutonic War and the Bulgarian–Ottoman wars, which shaped the history of many regions.

15th century

Battle of Formigny, 1450

This list shows many conflicts that happened in Europe during the 1400s. These wars and battles involved different countries and regions, sometimes within Europe and sometimes with places far away. Some of these fights changed the history of entire areas.

Here are some of the main conflicts from that time:

16th century

Battle of Pavia, 1525

The 16th century was a time of many conflicts across Europe. These included wars between countries, civil wars within countries, and battles involving groups of people fighting for change. Some important conflicts from this time include the Dano-Swedish War (1501–1512), the War of the League of Cambrai, and the German Peasants' War. There were also many battles and uprisings, such as the Revolt of the Comuneros and the Eighty Years' War, which lasted for many years and involved many people. These conflicts shaped the history of Europe during this time.

17th century

The 17th century was a time of many battles and wars across Europe. Some of the important conflicts included the Polish–Swedish War, the Thirty Years' War which lasted from 1618 to 1648, and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms that involved several nations. These wars often involved many soldiers and had big effects on the countries involved. Other notable conflicts were the Polish–Ottoman War, the Anglo-Dutch Wars, and the Franco-Dutch War. Each of these conflicts shaped the history of Europe in important ways.

18th century

The 18th century was a time of many wars and conflicts across Europe. Some of the major conflicts included the Great Northern War, fought between 1700 and 1721, and the War of the Spanish Succession, from 1701 to 1714. Other notable wars were the War of the Austrian Succession, lasting from 1740 to 1748, and the Seven Years' War, which took place from 1756 to 1763. These conflicts involved many European countries and had significant effects on the history and politics of the continent.

19th century

The 19th century was a time of many conflicts and changes across Europe. Some of the major events included the Napoleonic Wars, which involved many European countries and reshaped the continent. There were also several independence movements, like the Greek War of Independence, where people fought to create their own nations. Other notable conflicts were the Crimean War and the Franco-Prussian War, which had big effects on European history. These wars and uprisings showed how countries and people were trying to find new ways to govern themselves and settle disputes.

20th century

The 20th century saw many conflicts across Europe. Some were large wars involving many countries, while others were smaller uprisings or battles between neighboring nations.

Key events included World War I from 1914 to 1918, and World War II from 1939 to 1945, both of which caused major changes in the continent. There were also many civil wars and revolutions, such as the Russian Revolution in 1917 and the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939. Other notable conflicts include the Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913, and the Cold War period conflicts like the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
Main article: List of conflicts in Europe by century

21st century

The 21st century has seen many conflicts across Europe. Some of these include disputes in regions like Macedonia, the Pankisi Gorge, and Abkhazia. There have also been tensions in places such as the Preševo Valley, Adjara, and South Ossetia.

Larger conflicts include the Russo-Georgian War, the ongoing issues in Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began with events in Crimea and the Donbas region. More recent tensions include the North Kosovo crisis and the beginning of what is known as the Iran War, with some actions affecting Europe.

BC