In 1575, the Mughal Empire was expanding at full throttle, and Bengal was next on Emperor Akbar’s to-do list. The Battle of Tukaroi, fought on March 3, pitted the mighty Mughal army against the forces of the Sultanate of Bengal, led by Daud Khan Karrani. Akbar’s troops, a well-disciplined mix of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, took on the Bengali forces near the village of Tukaroi, in present-day West Bengal. The result? A decisive Mughal victory that set the stage for Bengal’s eventual incorporation into the empire.

Daud Khan Karrani’s army fought fiercely, but they were no match for the superior strategy and firepower of Akbar’s forces. After suffering heavy losses, the Bengali army retreated in chaos, allowing the Mughals to take control of key territories. The victory was so overwhelming that Daud Khan was forced into a treaty, conceding parts of Bengal and Bihar to the Mughals. However, as history loves a dramatic sequel, Daud Khan later broke the treaty, leading to his complete defeat and execution in 1576.

This battle wasn’t just another military conquest; it was a pivotal moment in Mughal history. Akbar’s success in Bengal demonstrated his ability to extend the empire’s reach and establish central authority in a region notorious for its resistance to outside rule. The campaign also showcased his blend of military might and political shrewdness—while he won on the battlefield, his policies of administration and integration ensured lasting Mughal control.

In the grand scheme of Akbar’s reign, the Battle of Tukaroi was another stepping stone toward consolidating Mughal dominance over the Indian subcontinent. It reinforced his legacy as a ruler who wasn’t just a conqueror but also an administrator who understood the value of diplomacy alongside warfare. Bengal would remain under Mughal rule for over a century, proving that sometimes, winning the battle is only the beginning of the real victory.

If crime had an all-star league, John Dillinger would be the MVP of 1934. America’s most notorious bank robber, Dillinger had a reputation for slick getaways, but his escape from an Indiana jail on March 3 is the stuff of legend. Armed with nothing but a fake wooden pistol—yes, you read that right—he managed to outsmart his captors and walk right out the front door. It was a Houdini act so audacious that Hollywood couldn’t have scripted it better.

Dillinger had been arrested in Arizona and extradited to Indiana, where authorities thought they had him locked up for good in the supposedly escape-proof Lake County Jail. But Dillinger, carved a fake pistol out of wood, blackened it with shoe polish, and used it to bluff his way past armed guards. Whether he had outside help or just relied on sheer confidence remains a debate, but either way, he managed to disarm real officers and steal a sheriff’s car on his way to freedom.

The jailbreak was an embarrassment for law enforcement and turned Dillinger into a folk hero overnight. Newspapers ate up the story, painting him as the ultimate outlaw who could outwit the system with nothing but wit and a bit of craftiness. Of course, the feds weren’t as amused—this escape put him at the top of the FBI’s most-wanted list, with J. Edgar Hoover making his capture a top priority.

Dillinger’s luck, however, ran out just a few months later. On July 22, 1934, after a series of high-profile heists and chases, he was ambushed and gunned down by federal agents outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago. His daring escape from jail may have cemented his legend, but in the end, no amount of trickery could outrun the long arm of the law. Still, breaking out of a maximum-security jail with a wooden pistol? That’s the kind of criminal genius that keeps history interesting.

The Bat Bomb💣
During World War II, the U.S. developed a bizarre weapon: the Bat Bomb. The idea? Strap tiny incendiary devices to bats, release them over Japanese cities, and let them roost in wooden buildings before igniting. In 1943, during a test in New Mexico, things went horribly wrong—the bats escaped and accidentally set fire to a U.S. military base. Despite proving weirdly effective, the project was scrapped in favor of the atomic bomb. But for a brief moment in history, America’s most dangerous bombers had wings and echolocation.

The Witch Bottle🧙
In 17th-century England, people were terrified of witches—so they came up with a charmingly disgusting solution: the Witch Bottle. To ward off dark magic, homeowners buried bottles filled with urine, rusty nails, hair, and even fingernail clippings under their floors or near doorways. The belief? The nasty mix would “trap” a witch’s curse before it could harm them. Archaeologists still find these bottles today, proving that centuries ago, people really thought peeing in a jar was the ultimate supernatural defense.

London Beer Flood🍺
In 1814, a massive beer vat at the Meux Brewery in London suddenly burst, unleashing 320,000 gallons of porter into the streets. The tidal wave of beer knocked down walls, flooded basements, and tragically drowned eight people—some were trapped in their homes, while others reportedly rushed in with buckets to "help clean up." The brewery was taken to court, but since the disaster was deemed an "Act of God," they faced no penalties. Moral of the story? Even too much beer can be a bad thing.

Laughing Gas Party🤣
In the 1800s, before dentists used nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for anesthesia, it was the Victorian party drug of choice. Wealthy socialites hosted "laughing gas evenings," where guests would inhale the gas and then giggle uncontrollably, stumble around, and generally make fools of themselves. Even scientists got in on the fun—chemist Humphry Davy, who studied nitrous oxide, noted that it made him feel “sublimely happy” and suggested it could be used for pain relief. Eventually, doctors realized it was better for surgery than slapstick, but for a while, Victorian raves were fueled by giggles, not gin.

If you enjoy this edition of Today In History be sure to send it to a friend and force them to sign up because that’s what good friends do. Until next time, stay curious, question everything, and keep uncovering the mysteries of the past. - Zach⛺️