1609day.year
Daimyō (Lord) Shimazu Tadatsune of the Satsuma Domain in southern Kyūshū, Japan, completes his successful invasion of the Ryūkyū Kingdom in Okinawa.
In 1609, Lord Shimazu Tadatsune of Satsuma completed his invasion of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, extending his domain’s influence.
On May 5, 1609, Shimazu Tadatsune, daimyō of the Satsuma Domain, concluded his campaign against the Ryūkyū Kingdom.
The invasion aimed to secure Ryūkyū as a tributary state under Satsuma’s control.
Shimazu forces landed on Okinawa and swiftly overcame local resistance.
Following victory, the Ryūkyū Kingdom retained nominal independence but paid tribute to Satsuma.
This military conquest expanded Satsuma’s influence and boosted its strategic position in East Asia.
It also began an era of dual diplomacy for Ryūkyū between Japan and China, shaping regional relations for centuries.
1609
Shimazu Tadatsune
Satsuma Domain
Kyūshū
Japan
his successful invasion
Ryūkyū Kingdom
Okinawa
1862day.year
Cinco de Mayo: Troops led by Ignacio Zaragoza halt a French invasion in the Battle of Puebla in Mexico.
Mexican forces under Ignacio Zaragoza defeated a French invasion in the Battle of Puebla, remembered today as Cinco de Mayo.
During the Franco-Mexican War, a smaller Mexican army led by General Ignacio Zaragoza repelled a better-equipped French force at Puebla on May 5, 1862. The victory halted the French advance toward Mexico City and symbolized Mexican resilience and national unity. Casualties were heavy on both sides, but the morale boost for Mexico was significant. Though the French would later occupy the capital, the Battle of Puebla became a lasting emblem of resistance. Cinco de Mayo has since evolved into a cultural celebration of Mexican heritage and pride, particularly prominent in the United States.
1862
Cinco de Mayo
Ignacio Zaragoza
Battle of Puebla
Mexico
1864day.year
American Civil War: The Battle of the Wilderness begins in Spotsylvania County.
The Battle of the Wilderness commenced as Union and Confederate armies engaged in fierce combat amid dense Virginia woods.
General Ulysses S. Grant led Union forces against General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia in Spotsylvania County beginning on May 5, 1864. The tangled undergrowth and thick forests made conventional tactics deadly and chaotic, with troops often losing direction and communication. Over two days of brutal fighting, both sides suffered heavy casualties, with no clear victor emerging immediately. This battle marked the first clash of Grant’s Overland Campaign, signaling a war of attrition against Confederate forces. The Wilderness campaign ultimately pushed south toward Richmond but foreshadowed the war’s harrowing final phase.
1864
American Civil War
Battle of the Wilderness
Spotsylvania County
1865day.year
American Civil War: The Confederate government was declared dissolved at Washington, Georgia.
The Confederate government formally dissolved in Washington, Georgia, signaling the definitive end of the Confederacy.
Following the surrender of General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House in April 1865, remaining Confederate officials gathered in Washington, Georgia. On May 5, 1865, they voted to disband the Confederate cabinet and cease governmental functions, acknowledging the collapse of their cause. President Jefferson Davis and his administration self-dissolved, leaving no centralized authority to resist Union advances. This act officially terminated the Confederate States of America and paved the way for Reconstruction efforts in the South. The dissolution underscored the Confederacy’s total defeat and reshaped the political landscape of postwar America.
1865
Confederate government
Washington, Georgia
1877day.year
American Indian Wars: Sitting Bull leads his band of Lakota into Canada to avoid harassment by the United States Army under Colonel Nelson Miles.
Sitting Bull led his Lakota followers into Canada to evade U.S. Army pursuit following conflicts in the Plains.
After their victory at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, Sitting Bull and several hundred Lakota Sioux crossed into Canada to escape retaliation by the U.S. military under Colonel Nelson Miles. They reached the Wood Mountain region of Saskatchewan, seeking asylum from the British-Canadian authorities. Despite harsh winters and scarcity of supplies, the Lakota maintained their autonomy for nearly four years. In 1881, diminishing resources and increased pressure prompted many to return to the United States. Sitting Bull eventually surrendered in 1881, solidifying this episode as a profound moment of resistance and diaspora in Native American history.
1877
American Indian Wars
Sitting Bull
Lakota
United States Army
Colonel
Nelson Miles
1936day.year
Italian troops occupy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Italian forces occupy Addis Ababa, asserting control over Ethiopia during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.
On May 5, 1936, the Royal Italian Army entered Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, following months of brutal combat in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. Emperor Haile Selassie had fled the city days earlier, leaving Italy to proclaim victory and annex Ethiopia into Italian East Africa. The occupation triggered international condemnation and highlighted the failures of the League of Nations to curb aggression. Italy imposed harsh colonial rule, including forced labor and repression of dissent. Ethiopian resistance endured through guerrilla warfare, laying the groundwork for eventual liberation.
1936
occupy
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
1940day.year
World War II: Norwegian Campaign: Norwegian squads in Hegra Fortress and Vinjesvingen capitulate to German forces after all other Norwegian forces in southern Norway had laid down their arms.
Norwegian forces at Hegra Fortress and Vinjesvingen surrender to German troops in the Norwegian Campaign of WWII.
Following the German invasion of Norway in April 1940, Allied and Norwegian defenders mounted fierce resistance at key strongholds. On May 5, 1940, isolated garrisons in Hegra Fortress and Vinjesvingen laid down their arms after exhausting ammunition and supplies. Their capitulation marked the end of organized resistance in southern Norway, allowing German forces to consolidate control. Despite their surrender, these defenders were celebrated for their courage and tactical tenacity. The fall of Hegra symbolized both the valor and the vulnerability of small nations facing overwhelming military power.
1940
World War II
Norwegian Campaign
Hegra Fortress
Vinjesvingen
German forces
1941day.year
Emperor Haile Selassie returns to Addis Ababa; the country commemorates the date as Liberation Day or Patriots' Victory Day.
Emperor Haile Selassie returns to Addis Ababa, marking Ethiopia's Liberation Day from Italian occupation.
On May 5, 1941, Emperor Haile Selassie triumphantly re-entered Addis Ababa alongside Allied forces, ending five years of Italian colonial rule. His return fulfilled a promise of national sovereignty and rekindled hope among Ethiopians. The day has since been celebrated as Liberation Day or Patriots’ Victory Day, honoring resistance fighters and foreign allies. Festivities include parades, speeches, and remembrances of those who sacrificed for Ethiopia's freedom. The liberation also strengthened the emperor’s international stature and contributed to the decline of European colonialism in Africa.
1941
Haile Selassie
Liberation Day
1945day.year
World War II: The Prague uprising begins as an attempt by the Czech resistance to free the city from German occupation.
The Prague uprising begins as Czech resistance attempts to liberate the city from German occupation in World War II.
On May 5, 1945, Czech resistance groups launched the Prague uprising against occupying German forces in the final days of World War II. Spontaneous street battles erupted as citizens seized arms to free their capital from tyranny. Despite limited support and heavy casualties, the insurgents held key positions until the arrival of Soviet and Allied troops. Their bravery hastened the German surrender in Bohemia and signaled the end of Nazi control in Czechoslovakia. The uprising is remembered as a symbol of national unity, resilience, and the struggle for self-determination.
1945
Prague uprising
Czech resistance
German occupation
1945day.year
World War II: A Fu-Go balloon bomb launched by the Japanese Army kills six people near Bly, Oregon.
On May 5, 1945, a Japanese Fu-Go balloon bomb exploded near Bly, Oregon, killing six civilians.
During the closing months of World War II, Japan launched Fu-Go balloon bombs aimed at North America.
On May 5, 1945, one of these bombs exploded near Bly, Oregon, catching locals by surprise.
The blast killed a woman and five children on a picnic, marking the only civilian deaths on US soil from enemy action.
These unmanned weapons harnessed high-altitude winds to cross the Pacific and represented an early attempt at intercontinental attacks.
After the tragedy, the US government imposed censorship on the incident to prevent public panic.
Memorial sites in Oregon today honor the victims and remind visitors of this rare wartime occurrence.
Fu-Go balloon bomb
Bly, Oregon
1945day.year
World War II: Battle of Castle Itter, one of only two battles in that war in which American and German troops fought cooperatively.
On May 5, 1945, American and German soldiers united at Castle Itter to defend French prisoners from an SS assault.
On May 5, 1945, US and German Wehrmacht soldiers cooperated to defend Castle Itter in the Austrian Alps from an SS assault.
This rare alliance formed to protect French VIP prisoners held by the Nazis, including former prime ministers and generals.
American troops joined forces with former enemies to repel the SS attackers, showcasing a remarkable moment of unity.
The defenders held out until reinforcements arrived, saving the high-profile captives from execution.
The battle stands out as one of only two instances in WWII where German and American forces fought alongside each other.
This extraordinary event has since captured public imagination as a testament to wartime complexity and humanity.
Battle of Castle Itter
1980day.year
Operation Nimrod: The British Special Air Service storms the Iranian embassy in London after a six-day siege.
On May 5, 1980, the SAS stormed the Iranian embassy in London, ending a six-day hostage siege in Operation Nimrod.
After a six-day siege by armed Iranian dissidents, the British Special Air Service launched Operation Nimrod on May 5, 1980.
The SAS stormed the Iranian embassy in London to rescue hostages taken by militants.
Using surprise tactics, they secured the building and freed all but one hostage within minutes.
The operation showcased the SAS’s precision and rapid intervention capabilities.
It inspired future counter-terrorism strategies worldwide and elevated public awareness of hostage rescue tactics.
Operation Nimrod remains a landmark in special forces history.
1980
Operation Nimrod
Special Air Service
Iranian
embassy