By: HISTORY.com Editors

Charge of the Light Brigade

Published: July 21, 2010Last Updated: May 27, 2025

In an event alternately described as one of the most heroic or disastrous episodes in British military history, Lord James Cardigan leads a charge of the Light Brigade cavalry against well-defended Russian artillery during the Crimean War. The British were winning the Battle of Balaklava when Cardigan received his order to attack the Russians. His cavalry gallantly charged down the valley and were decimated by the heavy Russian guns, suffering 40 percent casualties. It was later revealed that the order was the result of confusion and was not given intentionally. Lord Cardigan, who survived the battle, was hailed as a national hero in Britain.

Timeline

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1415

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1853

Native Americans attack transcontinental railroad survey crew in Utah

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1881

Pablo Picasso born

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1920

Greece’s King Alexander dies after being bitten by a monkey

On October 25, 1920, Greece’s King Alexander dies from wounds he received after a monkey attacked him earlier in the month. He was 27 years old. The incident leading to King Alexander’s death occurred while he was walking on the grounds of the castle outside of Athens. A Barbary macaque that belonged to a resident […]

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1929

Cabinet member found guilty in Teapot Dome scandal

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1944

First kamikaze attack of the war begins

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1954

President Eisenhower pledges support to South Vietnam

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1957

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1964

Minnesota Vikings’ Jim Marshall runs wrong way with recovered fumble

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1971

The U.N. seats the People’s Republic of China and expels Taiwan

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1980

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1983

United States invades Grenada

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1994

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Citation Information

Article Title: Charge of the Light Brigade
Author: HISTORY.com Editors
Website Name: History
URL: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/october-25/charge-of-the-light-brigade

Date Accessed: October 21, 2026
Publisher: A&E Television Networks
Last Updated: May 27, 2025
Original Published Date: July 21, 2010

Charge of the Light Brigade

Related

European History

How the 1966 Aberfan Mine Disaster Became Elizabeth II’s Biggest Regret

Is ‘Ring Around the Rosie’ Really About the Plague?

8 Facts About the Celts

About the author

Fact Check

Citation Information