752day.year
Mayan king Bird Jaguar IV of Yaxchilan in modern-day Chiapas, Mexico, assumes the throne.
On May 3, 752, Bird Jaguar IV ascended the throne of the Maya city-state of Yaxchilan in modern-day Chiapas, ushering in a new dynastic era.
On May 3, 752, Bird Jaguar IV ascended the throne of Yaxchilan following the death of his predecessor, strengthening the city's political and religious institutions. He commissioned the construction of impressive monuments and stelae that recorded his lineage and military campaigns. Under his reign, Yaxchilan engaged in alliances and conflicts with neighboring Maya city-states, enhancing its regional influence. His architectural and artistic patronage left a lasting legacy in the Usumacinta River valley. Bird Jaguar IV's rule is noted for its continuity of dynastic traditions and the expansion of Yaxchilan's ceremonial center.
752
Bird Jaguar IV
Yaxchilan
Chiapas
1481day.year
The largest of three earthquakes strikes the island of Rhodes and causes an estimated 30,000 casualties.
A devastating earthquake struck Rhodes on May 3, 1481, killing an estimated 30,000 people and causing widespread destruction.
On May 3, 1481, Rhodes experienced the most powerful of three successive earthquakes that shook the island. Contemporary accounts record the collapse of fortifications, public buildings, and private homes across the city. The death toll is estimated at 30,000, making it one of the deadliest seismic events of the medieval Mediterranean. The disaster disrupted trade and defense, leaving the Knights Hospitaller vulnerable to future attacks. Reconstruction efforts took decades, reshaping the urban landscape and prompting new architectural techniques for earthquake resistance.
1481
largest of three earthquakes
Rhodes
1491day.year
Kongo monarch Nkuwu Nzinga is baptised by Portuguese missionaries, adopting the baptismal name of João I.
On May 3, 1491, King Nkuwu Nzinga of the Kingdom of Kongo was baptized by Portuguese missionaries, taking the Christian name João I and initiating cultural and religious transformation.
King Nkuwu Nzinga, the ruler of the Kingdom of Kongo, accepted baptism from Portuguese missionaries on May 3, 1491, adopting the name João I. This event marked the beginning of Christianity's spread among the Kongo elite and opened diplomatic relations with Portugal. João I sponsored the translation of Christian texts and the construction of churches, integrating European religious practices into Kongo society. The royal conversion influenced subsequent rulers and reshaped the kingdom's cultural and political orientation. While Christianity coexisted with traditional beliefs, the baptism laid the groundwork for centuries of Kongo-Portugal interactions.
1491
Kongo
Nkuwu Nzinga
Portuguese
João I
1568day.year
Angered by the brutal onslaught of Spanish troops at Fort Caroline, a French force burns the San Mateo fort and massacres hundreds of Spaniards.
Angered by the Spanish assault at Fort Caroline, French forces burned the San Mateo fort and massacred hundreds of Spaniards on May 3, 1568.
On May 3, 1568, a French attack force retaliated against Spanish settlers at San Mateo fort in present-day Florida. Prompted by the brutal massacre of French Huguenots at Fort Caroline, the French captured and executed hundreds of Spanish soldiers and colonists. The assault underscored the fierce rivalry between France and Spain for control of Florida's strategic coastline. It highlighted the religious and imperial tensions that fueled European colonization in North America. The violence at San Mateo influenced subsequent military deployments and settlement patterns in the region.
1568
Fort Caroline
1616day.year
Treaty of Loudun ends a French civil war.
The Treaty of Loudun, signed on May 3, 1616, ended a French civil conflict and temporarily restored peace by granting concessions to rebellious nobles.
On May 3, 1616, the Treaty of Loudun was agreed between King Louis XIII, his mother Marie de' Medici, and dissident nobles after a period of civil unrest. The conflict arose from power struggles at the French court following the assassination of Henry IV. The treaty granted amnesty to the rebels and restored their positions, while reaffirming royal authority. It eased tensions between the crown and high-ranking aristocrats such as the Duke of Vendôme. Although the peace held only briefly, the Treaty of Loudun set a precedent for negotiated settlements in early 17th-century France.
1616
Treaty of Loudun
1715day.year
A total solar eclipse is visible across northern Europe and northern Asia, as predicted by Edmond Halley to within four minutes accuracy.
A total solar eclipse crossed northern Europe and Asia on May 3, 1715, its path and timing accurately predicted by Edmond Halley.
On May 3, 1715, observers across northern Europe and Asia witnessed a total solar eclipse, with the path of totality stretching from the Atlantic coast to Siberia. English astronomer Edmond Halley had published a detailed prediction of the eclipse's timing and trajectory, achieving accuracy within four minutes. The event drew large crowds and scientific observers who recorded measurements of the solar corona and atmospheric changes. Halley's successful forecast cemented his reputation and advanced the field of celestial mechanics. The 1715 eclipse remains a landmark in the history of astronomy and public engagement with scientific phenomena.
1715
total solar eclipse
Edmond Halley
1791day.year
The Constitution of May 3 (the first modern constitution in Europe) is proclaimed by the Sejm of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
The Constitution of May 3, 1791, was proclaimed by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's Sejm, establishing the first modern codified constitution in Europe.
On May 3, 1791, the Great Sejm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth enacted the Constitution of May 3, recognized as Europe's first modern written constitution. It introduced political reforms including a separation of powers, hereditary monarchy restrictions, and broadened representation for the bourgeoisie. The document sought to strengthen the state against internal corruption and external aggression by Russia and Prussia. Despite initial acclaim, the surrounding powers viewed the reforms as a threat and subsequently partitioned the Commonwealth. The May 3 Constitution endures as a symbol of Polish and Lithuanian aspirations for democracy and national sovereignty.
1791
Constitution of May 3
constitution
Sejm
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
1802day.year
Washington, D.C. is incorporated as a city after Congress abolishes the Board of Commissioners, the District's founding government. The "City of Washington" is given a mayor-council form of government.
Washington, D.C. was officially incorporated as a city on May 3, 1802, adopting a mayor-council form of government.
On May 3, 1802, the United States Congress formally incorporated Washington, D.C. as the city of Washington, abolishing the Board of Commissioners that had previously governed the district. The new charter established a mayor-council government, with an elected mayor serving as the city's chief executive. This change aimed to improve local administration and encourage civic participation in the capital. Early city officials oversaw street planning, public building construction, and basic municipal services. The incorporation marked a milestone in the development of America's national capital and set an example for urban governance.
1802
Washington, D.C.
Congress
mayor-council
1808day.year
Finnish War: Sweden loses the fortress of Sveaborg to Russia.
During the Finnish War, Swedish forces surrendered the fortress of Sveaborg to Russia on May 3, 1808, shifting control of Finland's defenses.
The sea fortress of Sveaborg, guarding the approaches to Helsinki, capitulated to Russian forces on May 3, 1808, amid the Finnish War between Sweden and Russia. The Swedish garrison, outnumbered and low on supplies, surrendered after a difficult siege. Russian control of the fortress allowed them to secure a strategic foothold in Finland and pressured Sweden to negotiate. The fall of Sveaborg was a pivotal moment that led to Russia's annexation of Finland in 1809. The event highlighted the importance of the fortress in Baltic naval and territorial power dynamics.
1808
Finnish War
Sveaborg
1808day.year
Peninsular War: The Madrid rebels who rose up on May 2 are executed near Príncipe Pío hill.
On May 3, 1808, Madrid rebels from the uprising of May 2 were executed near Príncipe Pío hill by French authorities during the Peninsular War.
In the aftermath of the popular revolt against French occupation on May 2, 1808, Spanish insurgents in Madrid were rounded up and executed near Príncipe Pío hill on May 3. The severe reprisals by French and allied forces aimed to crush resistance and intimidate the population. Eyewitness reports describe mass shootings and public executions that claimed dozens of lives. The brutality of the crackdown fueled outrage across Spain and galvanized support for the broader Peninsular War against Napoleon's army. The events at Príncipe Pío became emblematic of Spanish determination and the harsh realities of insurgent warfare.
Peninsular War
Madrid
rose up
May 2
Príncipe Pío
1815day.year
Neapolitan War: Joachim Murat, King of Naples, is defeated by the Austrians at the Battle of Tolentino, the decisive engagement of the war.
The decisive Battle of Tolentino in 1815 saw Neapolitan forces under King Joachim Murat routed by the Austrian army, marking a turning point in the Neapolitan War.
On May 3, 1815, near Tolentino, the armies of King Joachim Murat of Naples faced an Austrian offensive under Field Marshal Frederick Bianchi.
The Neapolitan forces, despite initial resistance, were overwhelmed by disciplined Austrian infantry and artillery fire.
The defeat shattered Murat’s hopes of maintaining his throne and hastened the collapse of his regime.
This battle effectively ended the Neapolitan War and paved the way for Austrian dominance in southern Italy.
Murat’s subsequent flight marked the end of Napoleonic influence in the region.
1815
Neapolitan War
Joachim Murat
Naples
Battle of Tolentino
1830day.year
The Canterbury and Whitstable Railway is opened; it is the first steam-hauled passenger railway to issue season tickets and include a tunnel.
Opened in 1830, the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway was the first steam-hauled passenger line to offer season tickets and feature a tunnel, pioneering modern rail travel.
On May 3, 1830, the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway commenced operations in Kent, England.
It introduced steam locomotives for passenger service, a novelty at the time.
The line was the first to issue season tickets, laying groundwork for regular commuter travel.
Its engineering feats included the "Crabble" tunnel, one of Britain's earliest railway tunnels.
The railway boosted local economies and influenced the expansion of nationwide rail networks.
It remains a landmark in transportation history, symbolizing the dawn of the railway age.
1830
Canterbury and Whitstable Railway