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.

Europe has seen many battles and wars throughout history, shaping its cultures, governments, and relationships. These conflicts range from small disputes between neighboring countries to large wars involving many nations. Understanding these events helps us learn about the past and why countries today work together to keep peace.

There are various definitions of Europe, and there is debate about where Europe’s eastern and southeastern borders lie, especially concerning countries from the former Soviet Union. This list uses a broad definition that includes areas where Europe meets Western Asia, giving a complete picture of conflicts across this wide region.

BC

Battle of Cape Ecnomus, 256 BC

This section lists many old battles and wars that happened in Europe before the year 0. Some of these fights were between groups of people who lived long ago, like the Trojan War around 1200 BC. Others include wars such as the Roman–Etruscan Wars and the Gallic Wars. These conflicts show how people in ancient times often fought over land, power, and control. Many of these events took place in places that are now part of countries like Greece, Italy, and France.

1st–10th century AD

Revolt of the Batavi, 69

This period saw many conflicts across Europe, including wars between Roman forces and local tribes, civil wars within the Roman Empire, and battles involving emerging kingdoms. Key events include the Roman conquest of Britain, Boudica's uprising against Roman rule, and the Gothic Wars, which challenged Roman authority and helped shape the later medieval landscape. These conflicts often involved shifting alliances and the rise and fall of various leaders and empires.

Main article: List of conflicts in Europe

11th century

Battle of Hastings (1066)

The 11th century in Europe was a time of many battles and wars. Some important conflicts included 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, among many others. This period saw many struggles for power and territory across the continent.

Other conflicts included the Pisan–Genoese expeditions to Sardinia, Miecław's Rebellion, and the Uprising of Peter Delyan. There were also battles like the Battle of Ménfő, the Vata pagan uprising, and the Invasion of Denmark. The Byzantine–Norman wars and the German-Hungarian War were also part of this busy time in European history.

12th century

Monument of Didgori Battle, Georgia

The 12th century was a time of many battles and wars across Europe. Some important conflicts included the Battle of Głogów in 1109, the Battle of Welfesholz in 1115, and the Battle of Bremule in 1119. There were also longer conflicts such as the Guelphs and Ghibellines dispute and the Byzantine-Hungarian War. Many of these wars involved different groups fighting for control of land and power.

13th century

Battle of Muret, 1213

This century saw many battles and wars across Europe. Some important conflicts include the Anglo-French War, which lasted from 1202 to 1214, and the Mongol invasion of Europe from 1223 to 1241. There were also several smaller battles and uprisings, such as the Welsh uprising of 1211 and the Conquest of Estonia between 1208 and 1227. These conflicts shaped the history of many European regions during this time.

Other notable events include the Albigensian Crusade from 1209 to 1229 and the Wars of Scottish Independence which began in 1296 and lasted until 1357. Many of these wars involved powerful families and kingdoms fighting for control and influence.

14th century

Battle of Sluys, 1340, from a manuscript

The 14th century was a time of many conflicts across Europe. Some of the notable wars and battles included the Hungarian Interregnum, the Battle of the Golden Spurs, and the long Hundred Years' War between England and France, which lasted from 1337 to 1453. There were also civil wars, such as the Byzantine civil war of 1321–28 and the Byzantine civil war of 1341–47, as well as conflicts involving the Ottoman Empire like the Bulgarian–Ottoman wars. These conflicts shaped the history and politics of Europe during this period.

15th century

Battle of Formigny, 1450

The 15th century in Europe was a time of many conflicts and wars. Some important wars included the Glyndŵr Rising, which was a rebellion in Wales, and the Hussite Wars in the Czech lands. There were also several wars involving Italian city-states, like the Wars in Lombardy and the Italian War of 1494–98. Other notable conflicts were the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, when the Ottoman Empire captured the capital of the Byzantine Empire, and the Wars of the Roses in England, a series of civil wars over the throne. These wars shaped the history of Europe during this time.

16th century

Battle of Pavia, 1525

The 16th century in Europe was a time of many conflicts and wars. These wars included fights between different countries, rebellions within countries, and battles involving groups like peasants and knights. Some of the notable conflicts were the War of the League of Cambrai, the German Peasants' War, the Eighty Years' War, and the French Wars of Religion. These wars shaped the history of Europe during this period.

17th century

The 17th century was a time of many wars and conflicts across Europe. Some of the major conflicts included the Thirty Years' War from 1618 to 1648, which involved many European countries. There were also several wars between big powers like Spain, France, and the Ottoman Empire. Some smaller conflicts, such as uprisings and civil wars, also took place during this time. These conflicts shaped the history and borders of many European nations.

Some of the conflicts included:

18th century

The 18th century in Europe was marked by many conflicts and wars. Some of the major wars included the Great Northern War, which lasted from 1700 to 1721, and the War of the Spanish Succession from 1701 to 1714. Other significant conflicts were the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) and the Seven Years' War (1756–1763). These wars involved many European nations and had major effects on the political landscape of the continent.

19th century

The 19th century in Europe was a time of many conflicts and wars. Some of the major wars and uprisings included the Napoleonic Wars from 1803 to 1815, which involved many European countries as Napoleon Bonaparte of France fought to expand his empire. Other significant conflicts were the Greek War of Independence from 1821 to 1829, where Greece fought to free itself from Ottoman rule, and the Crimean War from 1853 to 1856, fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, Britain, and Sardinia.

There were also many smaller uprisings and revolts throughout the century, such as the Belgian Revolution in 1830, which led to Belgium becoming independent from the Netherlands, and the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, where Hungarians tried to gain independence from the Austrian Empire. These conflicts shaped the political map of Europe and led to many changes in leadership and borders.

Main article: List of conflicts in Europe

20th century

The 20th century in Europe was marked by numerous conflicts, starting with uprisings and wars in the early 1900s. Key events included World War I, which began in 1914 and involved many European nations, and the Russian Revolution in 1917, which led to significant political changes. The period also saw the rise of totalitarian regimes and led to World War II, one of the deadliest conflicts in history, starting in 1939. After World War II, Europe faced several more conflicts, including the Cold War era tensions and various regional disputes. These events reshaped the political landscape of Europe and had lasting effects on global history.

The century concluded with ongoing conflicts and efforts toward peace and stability across the continent. Notable later conflicts included the Balkan Wars in the 1990s and various insurrections and resistance movements throughout the mid-20th century. Each conflict contributed to the complex history of Europe, influencing its modern geopolitical structure.

21st century

The 21st century has seen many conflicts across Europe. Some of these include the 2001 insurgency in Macedonia, the Pankisi Gorge crisis, and the ongoing Abkhazia conflict. Other notable conflicts are the Russo-Georgian War in 2008, and the Russo-Ukrainian War which began in 2014 and includes the Russian invasion of Ukraine that started in 2022.

Ongoing conflicts include the North Kosovo crisis (2022–2026) and the Iran War, which began in 2026 and has had spillover effects in Europe.