Top 10 Lesser-Known Massacres

Discover ten lesser-known massacres, from the Granada Massacre of 1066 to the Nanking Massacre of 1937, each illustrating the brutal and tragic consequences of historical conflicts.

1. Granada Massacre, 1066

On December 30, 1066, a Muslim mob in Granada stormed the Royal Palace, crucified Vizier Joseph ibn Naghrela, and slaughtered four thousand Jewish residents. The violence was fueled by religious tensions and political strife, with inflammatory writings contributing to the massacre.

2. St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, 1572

Starting on August 24, 1572, this massacre in Paris was a brutal reaction by the Catholic monarchy against Huguenots (Protestants) following a failed assassination attempt. The violence spread throughout the city and countryside, resulting in over five thousand deaths.

3. Batak Massacre, 1876

During the April Uprising of 1876, the Ottoman Empire attacked the city of Batak, killing over five thousand Bulgarians who had declared independence. The massacre, characterized by brutal beheadings, led to international outrage and eventually contributed to the formation of Bulgaria.

4. Massacre of Thessaloniki, 390

Triggered by the arrest of a charioteer, this massacre in Thessaloniki saw thousands of people killed by enraged soldiers. The incident, occurring in the Hippodrome, led to a significant backlash from the church, which compelled the emperor to seek penance.

5. Srebrenica Massacre, 1995

In July 1995, during the Bosnian War, the Serbian army executed eight thousand Bosniak men and boys in Srebrenica. The UN-protected zone fell despite international efforts, leading to widespread atrocities including mass executions and forced evacuations.

6. Massacre of Elphinstone’s Army, 1842

In what is now Afghanistan, the British and Indian forces under Major-General William Elphinstone were ambushed and nearly wiped out by Akbar Khan’s rebels. The massacre was exacerbated by Elphinstone’s poor leadership and failed negotiations, leading to the deaths of thousands.

7. Katyn Massacre, 1940

The Soviet NKVD executed 21,768 Polish military officers and civilians across several locations, including the Katyn Forest. The massacre was part of a larger Soviet strategy to weaken Poland and suppress potential resistance.

8. Babi Yar Massacre, 1941

At Babi Yar near Kiev, over two days in September 1941, the Nazis executed 33,371 Jewish civilians. This event remains one of the largest single massacres of the Holocaust, with victims deceived into believing they were being deported.

9. NKVD Prisoner Massacre, 1941

During World War II, the Soviet NKVD executed over one hundred thousand prisoners across Eastern Europe, including Poland and the Baltic States. The massacres were part of a broader Soviet effort to eliminate perceived enemies of the state.

10. Nanking Massacre, 1936/37

After capturing Nanking, the Japanese Army committed atrocities over six weeks, including mass executions and systematic rape. Over 250,000 people were killed, and eighty thousand women were raped in what was later condemned as war crimes by international tribunals.