28 October: Milvian Bridge, White Plains and the Penang raid

Quick answer

On 28 October a battle for Rome, a hard-fought hill of the American Revolution and one of the boldest raids of World War I all took place. In 312 Constantine, his soldiers' shields marked with a new sign, met his rival Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge outside Rome, and Maxentius drowned in the Tiber when the bridge gave way under his fleeing army. In 1776 British and Hessian troops stormed Chatterton Hill at White Plains, but George Washington's army slipped away to fight on. In 1914 the German cruiser Emden, disguised with a dummy funnel, steamed into Penang harbor before dawn and sank a Russian cruiser and a French destroyer.

The Battle of the Milvian Bridge

28 October 312 · 1714 years ago

Constantine won a decisive victory at the Milvian Bridge on 28 October 312, defeating his rival Maxentius for control of Rome and the western empire.

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The Battle of White Plains

28 October 1776 · 250 years ago

The Battle of White Plains was fought on 28 October 1776 in Westchester County, New York. William Howe's British and Hessian troops stormed Chatterton's Hill and forced George Washington's army back, a British victory.

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Battle of Penang, 1914: the Emden's raid on a sleeping harbor

28 October 1914 · 112 years ago

In the harbor of Penang in British Malaya, the German light cruiser SMS Emden made a surprise raid during World War I. It sank two Allied warships, a Russian cruiser and a French destroyer, without suffering any casualties of its own.

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Also on this day

In 1940 Italy handed Greece an ultimatum demanding that Italian troops be allowed into the country. The Greek prime minister, Ioannis Metaxas, refused, and Italian troops already in Albania invaded Greece the same day. The next day's newspapers reported his answer as "Ochi" (No), but according to Hérodote.net he reportedly put it more simply, in French: "Alors, c'est la guerre!" (Then it is war). The Greeks drove the invaders back into Albania, and, as Hérodote.net notes, 28 October is now a national holiday in Greece.¹

Frequently asked questions

Who won the Battle of the Milvian Bridge?

Constantine defeated Maxentius on 28 October 312 at the Milvian Bridge outside Rome. Maxentius drowned in the Tiber when the bridge collapsed under his retreating army.

What did Constantine see before the Milvian Bridge?

The sources differ. Lactantius says a dream told him to mark the heavenly sign, the monogram of Christ, on his soldiers' shields. Eusebius's Life of Constantine describes a cross of light above the sun with the words "Conquer by this", which the emperor said he and his army saw.

What happened at White Plains on 28 October 1776?

British and Hessian troops under William Howe took Chatterton Hill after Johann Rall's Hessians dislodged the militia on the American right. It was a British victory, but Washington's army withdrew intact, and Howe turned back to take Fort Washington on 16 November.

What did the Emden do at Penang?

Disguised with a dummy fourth funnel, she entered Penang harbor before dawn on 28 October 1914, sank the Russian cruiser Zhemchug without a man of her own wounded, then sank the French destroyer Mousquet and picked up 36 French survivors (37 by one count).

How many men died on the Zhemchug?

The sources differ, from 81 killed (a midshipman and 80 sailors) to 89 dead, with 129 to 143 wounded. Her captain was ashore at the time and was later court-martialed.