This list includes 40 Historical events that start with N, from “Nagorno-Karabakh War” to “Nuremberg Trials”. Entries range from major international trials to regional conflicts and social movements. Use it for research, lesson planning, or quick historical reference.
Historical events that start with N are notable moments, conflicts, decisions, or movements whose common English names begin with the letter N. They include landmark trials like the Nuremberg Trials and territorial conflicts such as the Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Below you’ll find the table with Year, Location and Significance.
Year: The year or date range shows when the event occurred, helping you place it in chronological context and timelines.
Location: Gives the city, region, or country where the event happened, so you quickly see its geographic relevance.
Significance: A concise summary explains why the event matters and describes its main historical impact in context.
Historical events that start with N
| Event | Year(s) | Location | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napoleonic Wars | 1803–1815 | Europe | Regional |
| Nanjing Massacre | 1937–1938 | Nanjing, China | National, ~300,000 casualties |
| Norman Conquest | 1066 | England | National |
| Normandy landings | 1944 | Normandy, France | Regional, ~160,000 troops |
| Night of the Long Knives | 1934 | Germany | National |
| Nuremberg Trials | 1945–1946 | Nuremberg, Germany | Global |
| Night of Broken Glass | 1938 | Germany | National |
| New Deal | 1933–1939 | United States | National |
| Nullification Crisis | 1832–1833 | United States | National |
| North Atlantic Treaty | 1949 | Washington, D.C. | Regional, ~12 founding members |
| North American Free Trade Agreement | 1994 | North America | Regional |
| Non-Aligned Movement | 1961 | Belgrade, Yugoslavia | Global |
| Northern Expedition | 1926–1928 | China | National |
| North-West Rebellion | 1885 | Saskatchewan, Canada | National |
| Nagorno-Karabakh War | 1988–1994 | Nagorno-Karabakh | Regional, ~30,000 casualties |
| November Revolution | 1918 | Germany | National |
| November Uprising | 1830–1831 | Poland | National |
| Nazi rise to power | 1932–1933 | Germany | National |
| Nationalization of the Suez Canal | 1956 | Egypt | Regional |
| New Imperialism | 1870s–1914 | Global | Global |
| New Zealand Wars | 1845–1872 | New Zealand | National |
| Nika Revolt | 532 | Constantinople (Istanbul) | Local |
| Nat Turner’s Rebellion | 1831 | Virginia, United States | Local, ~55 casualties |
| Nootka Crisis | 1789–1794 | Pacific Northwest | Regional |
| Nineteenth Amendment | 1920 | United States | National |
| New Economic Policy | 1921–1928 | Soviet Russia | National |
| New Madrid earthquakes | 1811–1812 | Missouri, United States | Local, ~1,000 affected |
| Nakba | 1948 | Palestine/Israel | Regional, ~700,000 displaced |
| Nuremberg Laws | 1935 | Germany | National |
| Nigerian Civil War | 1967–1970 | Nigeria | National, ~1,000,000 casualties |
| Nivelle Offensive | 1917 | Western Front, France | Regional |
| Newport Rising | 1839 | Newport, Wales | Local |
| Norwegian independence | 1905 | Norway | National |
| Nicaraguan Revolution | 1979 | Nicaragua | National |
| Neolithic Revolution | c. 10,000 BCE | Fertile Crescent | Global |
| Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty | 1968 | New York, United States | Global |
| New York Draft Riots | 1863 | New York City, United States | Local |
| Northern Ireland civil rights movement | late 1960s–early 1970s | Northern Ireland | National |
| Nazi book burnings | 1933 | Germany | National |
| Northwest Ordinance | 1787 | United States | National |
Descriptions
Napoleonic Wars
Major wars led by Napoleon reshaped Europe, ending ancien régime and redrawing political boundaries across the continent.
Nanjing Massacre
Japanese troops killed and raped tens of thousands in Nanjing, a devastating atrocity during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Norman Conquest
Invasion by William of Normandy that toppled Anglo-Saxon rule, transforming English language, law, and aristocracy.
Normandy landings
Allied amphibious invasion on D-Day that began liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation in World War II.
Night of the Long Knives
Hitler’s purge eliminated SA leadership and political opponents, consolidating Nazi control and strengthening Hitler’s dictatorship.
Nuremberg Trials
International tribunals prosecuting Nazi leaders, establishing precedents for crimes against humanity and modern international law.
Night of Broken Glass
Coordinated Nazi pogrom that destroyed Jewish businesses, synagogues, and escalated state-sponsored persecution of Jews across Germany.
New Deal
Roosevelt-era programs and reforms aimed at economic recovery, social safety nets, and reshaping American governance after the Great Depression.
Nullification Crisis
South Carolina’s challenge to federal tariffs tested constitutional limits between states and federal authority, foreshadowing sectional conflict.
North Atlantic Treaty
Signing created NATO, a collective defense alliance that shaped Cold War security in the North Atlantic region.
North American Free Trade Agreement
Trade pact among Canada, Mexico, and the United States that significantly increased continental economic integration.
Non-Aligned Movement
Gathering of states seeking independence from Cold War blocs, influencing postcolonial diplomacy and alternative international alignments.
Northern Expedition
Chiang Kai-shek’s campaign unified much of China under the Kuomintang, ending warlord rule and reshaping Chinese politics.
North-West Rebellion
Métis and Indigenous uprising against Canadian authority led by Louis Riel, highlighting longstanding settler-Indigenous tensions.
Nagorno-Karabakh War
Ethnic and territorial war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, causing massive displacement and regional instability.
November Revolution
Mass movement that toppled the German monarchy, leading to the Weimar Republic and ending Imperial rule after World War I.
November Uprising
Polish insurrection against Russian rule aiming for independence, marked by fierce battles and eventual suppression by imperial forces.
Nazi rise to power
Electoral gains and political maneuvers allowed the Nazi Party to seize government control, dismantling democratic institutions rapidly.
Nationalization of the Suez Canal
Egyptian leader Nasser’s seizure precipitated the Suez Crisis, challenging colonial control and altering Middle Eastern geopolitics.
New Imperialism
European powers rapidly expanded overseas empires, intensifying colonization, competition, and transforming global political and economic relations.
New Zealand Wars
Series of conflicts between Māori and British colonial forces over land and sovereignty, shaping New Zealand’s colonial history.
Nika Revolt
Violent riots against Byzantine Emperor Justinian nearly toppled his rule, prompting major urban destruction and legal reforms.
Nat Turner’s Rebellion
Slave rebellion led by Nat Turner caused widespread panic, harsher laws, and intensified U.S. antislavery tensions.
Nootka Crisis
Naval and diplomatic dispute between Britain and Spain over Pacific Northwest territory, averting war through negotiations.
Nineteenth Amendment
Constitutional amendment granting American women the right to vote, a milestone in the women’s suffrage movement.
New Economic Policy
Lenin’s market-oriented reforms temporarily revived Soviet economy, allowing limited private trade and small-scale private enterprise.
New Madrid earthquakes
Series of powerful quakes on the Mississippi River altered landscapes and shocked early American settlers.
Nakba
Palestinian exodus during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, central to Palestinian national memory and ongoing conflict.
Nuremberg Laws
Nazi racial laws stripped Jewish Germans of citizenship and rights, institutionalizing antisemitic discrimination before the Holocaust.
Nigerian Civil War
Biafran secessionist conflict caused massive famine and casualties, shaping postcolonial African politics and humanitarian responses.
Nivelle Offensive
French WWI offensive promising breakthrough, resulted in heavy casualties and widespread mutinies among French troops.
Newport Rising
Chartist-led protest for political reform ended in defeat, highlighting working-class demands for suffrage in Britain.
Norwegian independence
1905 peaceful dissolution of union with Sweden, establishing Norway as an independent constitutional monarchy and modern nation-state.
Nicaraguan Revolution
Sandinista uprising that toppled Somoza in 1979, leading to revolutionary government and prolonged Cold War-era regional conflict.
Neolithic Revolution
Transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture and settled life, sparking population growth and the rise of civilizations.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Treaty to prevent spread of nuclear weapons, promote peaceful use and disarmament, central to arms control diplomacy.
New York Draft Riots
Violent riots against the Civil War draft in New York City, revealing deep class and racial tensions on the Union home front.
Northern Ireland civil rights movement
Movement demanding equal rights for Catholics in Northern Ireland, escalating tensions that contributed to the Troubles.
Nazi book burnings
Coordinated public burnings of books deemed “un-German” by Nazis, symbolizing early censorship and cultural repression.
Northwest Ordinance
Legislation organizing the Northwest Territory, setting rules for settlement, statehood, and banning slavery in new territories.