This list includes 45 Historical events that start with L, from “Laki Eruption” to “Lützen, Battle of (1632)”. It highlights global upheavals, cultural shifts, and military milestones across centuries.
Historical events that start with L are notable occurrences, movements, or conflicts whose common English names begin with L. Many entries, like the Laki eruption, altered societies and how people understood climate impacts.
Below you’ll find the table with Year, Location and Significance.
Year: The calendar year or range when the event occurred, helping you place it in chronological context and compare timelines.
Location: Concise city, region or country where the event happened, so you can map geographic patterns quickly.
Significance: A concise summary of why the event matters, outlining immediate causes, key effects, and lasting cultural or political legacy.
Historical events that start with L
| Name | Year(s) | Location | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Purchase | 1803 | North America | Land Acquisition |
| Lexington and Concord, Battles of | 1775 | Massachusetts, USA | Military Engagement |
| Leningrad, Siege of | 1941–1944 | Leningrad, Soviet Union | Military Siege |
| Lewis and Clark Expedition | 1804–1806 | Western United States | Exploration Expedition |
| Lisbon Earthquake | 1755 | Lisbon, Portugal | Natural Disaster |
| Long March | 1934–1935 | China | Military Retreat |
| Lend-Lease Act | 1941 | United States | Legislation |
| Lusitania, Sinking of the | 1915 | Atlantic Ocean | Maritime Disaster |
| Luddite Movement | 1811–1816 | England | Social Movement |
| Lepanto, Battle of | 1571 | Ionian Sea | Naval Battle |
| Leipzig, Battle of | 1813 | Leipzig, Germany | Battle |
| London, Great Fire of | 1666 | London, England | Urban Fire |
| League of Nations, Formation of | 1920 | Geneva, Switzerland | International Organization |
| Leyte Gulf, Battle of | 1944 | Philippines | Naval Battle |
| Lateran Treaty | 1929 | Vatican City | Treaty |
| Locarno Treaties | 1925 | Locarno, Switzerland | International Treaties |
| Lockerbie Bombing | 1988 | Lockerbie, Scotland | Terrorist Attack |
| Lost Colony of Roanoke | c. 1587–1590 | North Carolina, USA | Colonial Disappearance |
| Little Ice Age | c. 1300–c. 1850 | Global | Climatic Period |
| Lower Canada Rebellion | 1837–1838 | Lower Canada (Quebec) | Rebellion |
| Lushan Rebellion | 755–763 | Tang China | Rebellion |
| London, Great Plague of | 1665–1666 | London, England | Epidemic |
| Long Parliament | 1640–1660 | England | Political Assembly |
| Laki Eruption | 1783–1784 | Iceland & Global | Volcanic Eruption |
| Lamian War | 323–322 BCE | Greece | War |
| Lateran Council, Fourth | 1215 | Rome, Papal States | Religious Council |
| Livonian War | 1558–1583 | Eastern Baltic | War |
| Love Canal Disaster | 1978 | New York, USA | Environmental Disaster |
| Levellers Movement | c. 1645–1649 | England | Political Movement |
| Lützen, Battle of (1632) | 1632 | Lützen, Germany | Battle |
| Loma Prieta earthquake | 1989 | California, USA | Natural Disaster |
| Lisbon, Treaty of (2007) | 2007 | Lisbon, Portugal | International Treaty |
| Li Zicheng’s Rebellion | 1629–1645 | Ming China | Peasant Rebellion |
| Lodi, Battle of | 1796 | Lodi, Italy | Battle |
| Lausanne, Treaty of | 1923 | Lausanne, Switzerland | Peace Treaty |
| Liberation of Paris | 1944 | Paris, France | Military Liberation |
| Little Bighorn, Battle of the | 1876 | Montana, USA | Battle |
| Limerick, Treaty of | 1691 | Limerick, Ireland | Peace Treaty |
| Lancaster, Treaty of | 1744 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Treaty |
| Latin War | 340–338 BCE | Latium, Italy | War |
| Leuthen, Battle of | 1757 | Leuthen, Silesia | Battle |
| Liberian Civil Wars | 1989–2003 | Liberia | Civil Wars |
| Loi Cadre | 1956 | French Colonies | Political Reform |
| Los Angeles Riots (1992) | 1992 | Los Angeles, USA | Civil Unrest |
| Lucknow, Siege of | 1857 | Lucknow, India | Military Siege |
Descriptions
Louisiana Purchase
A landmark land deal between the United States and France, in which the U.S. acquired approximately 828,000 square miles of territory, effectively doubling the size of the country.
Lexington and Concord, Battles of
The first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War, marking the outbreak of open armed conflict between Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in America.
Leningrad, Siege of
A prolonged and devastating siege by Axis forces during World War II. It was one of the longest and most destructive sieges in history, causing immense starvation and over a million civilian deaths.
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The first American expedition to cross the western portion of the United States, it charted the new territory of the Louisiana Purchase and established an American presence there.
Lisbon Earthquake
A catastrophic earthquake, followed by fires and a tsunami, that virtually destroyed Lisbon. The event had a profound impact on European Enlightenment philosophy and science.
Long March
A massive military retreat undertaken by the Red Army of the Communist Party of China to evade the pursuit of the Kuomintang army. It secured Mao Zedong’s leadership of the party.
Lend-Lease Act
A pivotal U.S. policy that allowed it to supply Allied nations with food, oil, and materiel during World War II without violating its official stance of neutrality at the time.
Lusitania, Sinking of the
The sinking of the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania by a German U-boat. The event, which killed 1,198 people, played a significant role in turning public opinion against Germany in the U.S.
Luddite Movement
A movement of English textile workers who protested against newly developed, labor-economizing machinery by destroying it. They feared the machines would take their jobs.
Lepanto, Battle of
A major naval engagement where a fleet of the Holy League, a coalition of Catholic states, decisively defeated the main fleet of the Ottoman Empire, halting its expansion in the Mediterranean.
Leipzig, Battle of
Also known as the Battle of Nations, it was the most decisive defeat suffered by Napoleon Bonaparte. The coalition victory forced him to abdicate and go into exile on Elba.
London, Great Fire of
A massive fire that swept through the central parts of London, gutting the medieval city inside the old Roman wall. It led to major rebuilding and urban planning reforms.
League of Nations, Formation of
The first worldwide intergovernmental organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace, founded after World War I. It was a precursor to the United Nations.
Leyte Gulf, Battle of
Considered the largest naval battle in history, it was a decisive Allied victory that crippled the Imperial Japanese Navy and isolated Japan’s forces in Southeast Asia.
Lateran Treaty
An agreement between the Kingdom of Italy and the Holy See that recognized Vatican City as an independent state, settling the long-standing “Roman Question.”
Locarno Treaties
A series of seven agreements intended to secure the post-World War I territorial settlements and normalize relations with Germany, fostering an era of international cooperation.
Lockerbie Bombing
The bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Scotland, which killed all 259 people on board and 11 on the ground. A Libyan intelligence officer was later convicted of the attack.
Lost Colony of Roanoke
The mysterious disappearance of an entire English settlement founded on Roanoke Island. The fate of the more than 100 colonists remains one of America’s oldest unsolved mysteries.
Little Ice Age
A period of regional cooling, particularly in the North Atlantic region, that had significant adverse effects on agriculture, health, and political stability across the globe.
Lower Canada Rebellion
An armed conflict between French-Canadian Patriotes and the British colonial government. It sought political reforms and an end to the perceived domination of the Anglophone elite.
Lushan Rebellion
A devastating rebellion led by general An Lushan against the Tang dynasty. It severely weakened the empire, leading to significant loss of life and territory.
London, Great Plague of
The last major epidemic of the bubonic plague to occur in England, it killed an estimated 100,000 people—almost a quarter of London’s population—in 18 months.
Long Parliament
An English Parliament whose fractious relationship with King Charles I was a major cause of the English Civil War, leading to the king’s execution and the establishment of a republic.
Laki Eruption
A massive volcanic eruption in Iceland that spewed poisonous gases across the Northern Hemisphere, causing widespread crop failures, famine, and extreme weather.
Lamian War
A revolt by a coalition of Greek city-states, including Athens, against Macedonian rule following the death of Alexander the Great. The rebellion was ultimately crushed by Macedon.
Lateran Council, Fourth
Considered one of the most important councils in Church history, it formalized key Catholic doctrines such as transubstantiation and mandated annual confession for all Christians.
Livonian War
A long and brutal military conflict for control of the territory of modern-day Estonia and Latvia, involving the Tsardom of Russia, Denmark–Norway, Sweden, and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Love Canal Disaster
A major public health emergency caused by the discovery of 21,000 tons of toxic waste buried beneath a neighborhood, leading to the creation of the U.S. Superfund law.
Levellers Movement
A radical political movement during the English Civil War that advocated for popular sovereignty, extended suffrage, equality before the law, and religious tolerance.
Lützen, Battle of (1632)
A pivotal battle of the Thirty Years’ War where the Protestant forces of Sweden defeated the Catholic Habsburg army, though their charismatic king, Gustavus Adolphus, was killed in action.
Loma Prieta earthquake
A major 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area, causing 63 deaths, thousands of injuries, and billions of dollars in damage, famously interrupting the 1989 World Series.
Lisbon, Treaty of (2007)
An agreement that reformed the governance of the European Union, amending its core treaties to improve decision-making efficiency and strengthen its global role.
Li Zicheng’s Rebellion
A massive peasant revolt that overthrew the Ming dynasty. The ensuing power vacuum allowed the Manchu-led Qing dynasty to conquer China and establish its long-lasting rule.
Lodi, Battle of
An early and significant victory for Napoleon Bonaparte in his first Italian campaign. It was crucial in establishing his reputation as a formidable military leader and boosting his army’s morale.
Lausanne, Treaty of
The final peace treaty concluding World War I. It settled the conflict between the Allied Powers and the Ottoman Empire, defining the modern borders of the Republic of Turkey.
Liberation of Paris
The freeing of the French capital from Nazi German occupation by the French 2nd Armored Division and the U.S. 4th Infantry Division, a moment of immense symbolic importance in WWII.
Little Bighorn, Battle of the
A stunning victory for the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes over the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment, led by Lt. Col. George Custer, who was killed with his entire command.
Limerick, Treaty of
The treaty that ended the Williamite War in Ireland. It offered civil and religious liberties to the defeated Catholic Jacobites, although many of its terms were later ignored.
Lancaster, Treaty of
A treaty between the Iroquois Confederacy and the British colonies of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania which ceded large tracts of land and influenced colonial westward expansion.
Latin War
A conflict between the Roman Republic and its neighboring Latin peoples. Rome’s victory resulted in the dissolution of the Latin League and the incorporation of its territories into Roman domain.
Leuthen, Battle of
A tactical masterpiece of the Seven Years’ War, where Frederick the Great’s smaller Prussian army decisively defeated a much larger Austrian force through brilliant maneuvering.
Liberian Civil Wars
A series of interconnected conflicts characterized by extreme violence and the use of child soldiers. The wars devastated the country, leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths.
Loi Cadre
A key French legal reform that granted universal suffrage and created elected local governments in its African colonies, marking a major step toward decolonization and independence.
Los Angeles Riots (1992)
Six days of widespread rioting, looting, and arson following the acquittal of police officers involved in the videotaped beating of Rodney King, exposing deep racial and economic tensions.
Lucknow, Siege of
A pivotal 147-day siege during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. A small British garrison held out against a vastly superior force of rebels, becoming a symbol of British resilience.