1541day.year
King Henry VIII orders English-language Bibles be placed in every church. In 1539 the Great Bible would be provided for this purpose.
In 1541, King Henry VIII ordered English-language Bibles to be placed in every church, increasing public access to scripture.
In 1541, as part of his religious reforms, Henry VIII decreed that an English translation of the Bible be made available in all parish churches across England. This mandate built on the publication of the Great Bible in 1539, overseen by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer and Thomas Cromwell. Public readings of scripture in the vernacular aimed to reduce clerical mediation and promote personal faith. The policy reflected the broader English Reformation, balancing royal authority over the church with emerging Protestant ideas. Churchwardens were held accountable for ensuring copies were accessible to congregations. The move helped foster literacy and shaped religious life in Tudor England.
1541
Henry VIII
English-language Bibles
Great Bible
1659day.year
English Restoration: A faction of the British Army removes Richard Cromwell as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth and reinstalls the Rump Parliament.
In 1659, army officers deposed Lord Protector Richard Cromwell and reinstated the Rump Parliament, setting the stage for the Restoration.
In April 1659, dissatisfaction within the New Model Army over pay and political direction led to the ousting of Richard Cromwell as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth. A group of senior officers, frustrated by civilian interference, forcibly dissolved the Protectorate’s governance structure. They summoned the Rump Parliament, which had been dissolved by Cromwell’s father five years earlier. This intervention by military factions undermined the republican experiment and revealed the fragility of Cromwellian rule. The Rump Parliament’s return created a power vacuum that ultimately paved the way for negotiations with Charles II. By early 1660, these developments culminated in the Restoration of the monarchy.
1659
English Restoration
faction
British Army
Richard Cromwell
Lord Protector
Rump Parliament
1682day.year
Louis XIV of France moves his court to the Palace of Versailles.
In 1682, King Louis XIV relocated his royal court to the Palace of Versailles, transforming it into the heart of French absolutist power.
On May 6, 1682, Louis XIV officially established his residence and the seat of government at the Palace of Versailles, having expanded and embellished the former hunting lodge. The move centralized administrative functions and placed the nobility under the king’s watchful eye through elaborate court rituals. Versailles became a showcase of Baroque opulence, with grand gardens, mirrors, and galleries symbolizing royal magnificence. Courtiers competed for favor in a meticulously orchestrated hierarchy, reinforcing the king’s personal authority. The palace’s architectural innovations set stylistic trends across Europe. Versailles remained the political hub of France until the Revolution, embodying the ideals of absolute monarchy.
1682
Louis XIV of France
Palace of Versailles
1782day.year
Construction begins on the Grand Palace, the royal residence of the King of Siam in Bangkok, at the command of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke.
King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke orders the construction of Bangkok's Grand Palace, establishing the official royal residence of Siam.
In 1782, King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke moved the Siamese capital to Thonburi and commissioned the Grand Palace in Bangkok as his official residence. The palace complex was designed with traditional Thai architecture, ornate spires, and elaborate murals reflecting Buddhist cosmology. Construction brought together craftsmen, artisans, and materials from across the kingdom, symbolizing the newly founded Chakri dynasty's power. Over the centuries, the Grand Palace has been the site of royal ceremonies, coronations, and state functions. Despite expansions and restorations, the core structures remain largely intact and continue to draw millions of visitors annually. Today, the palace stands as an iconic cultural landmark and a testament to Thailand's royal heritage.
1782
Grand Palace
King of Siam
Bangkok
Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
1857day.year
The East India Company disbands the 34th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry whose sepoy Mangal Pandey had earlier revolted against the British in the lead up to the War of Indian Independence.
In 1857, the East India Company disbands the 34th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry after sepoy Mangal Pandey’s revolt, foreshadowing the Indian Rebellion.
On May 6, 1857, the East India Company officially disbanded the 34th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry following an uprising led by sepoy Mangal Pandey in Barrackpore. Pandey’s protest against British rule and policies sparked widespread unrest among Indian soldiers and civilians alike. The regiment’s dissolution was intended to quell dissent but ultimately inflamed tensions across northern India. Historians view this action as a pivotal moment leading directly to the larger-scale Indian Rebellion of 1857. The revolt challenged the Company’s control and hastened the end of its rule, transferring authority over India to the British Crown in 1858. Today, Mangal Pandey is remembered as one of the earliest heroes of India’s independence movement.
1857
East India Company
Bengal Native Infantry
sepoy
Mangal Pandey
War of Indian Independence
1861day.year
American Civil War: Arkansas secedes from the Union.
Arkansas votes to secede from the United States on May 6, 1861, joining the Confederacy as the American Civil War erupts.
Amid rising sectional tensions, Arkansas officially declared its secession from the United States on May 6, 1861, by popular referendum. The decision followed the outbreak of hostilities at Fort Sumter and marked Arkansas as the eighth state to join the Confederate States of America. Many Arkansans were divided over secession, but Confederate sympathies ultimately prevailed. The move contributed to the consolidation of Confederate territory and resources early in the Civil War. Arkansas’ secession reshaped military strategies in the trans-Mississippi region. The state would later witness key battles and campaigns, including the Battle of Pea Ridge and the capture of Little Rock.
1861
American Civil War
Arkansas
Union
1882day.year
Thomas Henry Burke and Lord Frederick Cavendish are stabbed to death by Fenian assassins in Phoenix Park, Dublin.
Fenian assassins murder British officials Thomas Henry Burke and Lord Frederick Cavendish in Phoenix Park, Dublin, in 1882.
On May 6, 1882, members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood ambushed and killed Chief Clerk Thomas Henry Burke and newly appointed Chief Secretary Lord Frederick Cavendish in Phoenix Park, Dublin. The assassinations were carried out by Fenian activists protesting British rule in Ireland and demanding political concessions. The brazen daylight attack shocked both British and Irish public opinion, intensifying tensions on the island. Burke was a senior civil servant, while Cavendish had only just taken office, making their deaths particularly stunning. The incident led to increased security measures and a political backlash that hindered moderate reform efforts. Phoenix Park Murders remain one of the most notorious acts of political violence in 19th-century Ireland.
1882
Thomas Henry Burke
Lord Frederick Cavendish
Fenian
Phoenix Park, Dublin
1882day.year
The United States Congress passes the Chinese Exclusion Act.
U.S. Congress enacts the Chinese Exclusion Act on May 6, 1882, restricting Chinese immigration for decades.
On May 6, 1882, the United States Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, barring Chinese laborers from immigrating to the country and denying citizenship to existing residents. This landmark legislation was fueled by economic anxiety, labor competition, and widespread anti-Chinese sentiment on the Pacific Coast. The act marked the first major U.S. law to explicitly exclude a specific nationality from migration. Chinese communities faced increased discrimination and legal obstacles, and the law remained in effect in various forms until its repeal in 1943. The exclusion policy had profound social and demographic impacts, shaping American immigration law for generations. Historians view the act as a significant example of institutionalized racial discrimination in U.S. policy.
United States Congress
Chinese Exclusion Act
1906day.year
The Russian Constitution of 1906 is adopted (on April 23 by the Julian calendar).
The Russian Constitution of 1906 is adopted, creating the Duma and introducing limited parliamentary governance under Tsarist rule.
In response to the 1905 Revolution, Tsar Nicholas II promulgated the Russian Constitution of 1906, also known as the Fundamental Laws. The new constitution established a State Duma with legislative powers, marking Russia’s first attempt at a parliamentary system. However, the Tsar retained veto power and authority over key areas such as the military and foreign policy. This half-measure aimed to quell popular unrest while preserving autocratic control. Although the Duma was soon dissolved and its influence limited, the constitution represented a significant shift in Russian governance. It set the stage for further political struggles that would culminate in the 1917 revolutions.
1906
Russian Constitution of 1906
Julian calendar
1910day.year
George V becomes King of Great Britain, Ireland, and many overseas territories, on the death of his father, Edward VII.
Upon Edward VII’s death, George V ascends the British throne, ushering in an era that would see the monarchy through World War I.
On May 6, 1910, Prince George, Duke of York, became King George V following the death of his father, Edward VII. His reign would oversee significant transformations within the British Empire, including World War I and the transition to the modern Commonwealth. George V was known for his sense of duty, personal integrity, and efforts to modernize the monarchy. He changed the royal house name to Windsor in 1917 to downplay German connections amid anti-German sentiment. His leadership during wartime and his close relationship with the public helped stabilize the monarchy. George V’s reign lasted until 1936 and set precedents for his successors.
1910
George V
Edward VII
1916day.year
Vietnamese Emperor Duy Tân is captured while calling upon the people to rise up against the French, and is later deposed and exiled to Réunion island.
Vietnamese Emperor Duy Tân is captured amid a plan to revolt against French colonial rule, then deposed and exiled to Réunion.
Emperor Duy Tân, who had ascended the Vietnamese throne as a child, secretly encouraged his countrymen to rise against French colonial authorities in 1916. On May 6, he was betrayed and captured by French forces before the planned uprising could begin. The colonial government immediately deposed him and sent him into exile on Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean. His removal allowed the French to install a more compliant emperor and tighten their control over Vietnam. Despite his exile, Duy Tân remained a symbol of resistance, and his legacy inspired future generations of Vietnamese nationalists. He later attempted to join Free French forces during World War II but died in a plane crash in 1945.
Vietnamese
Duy Tân
Réunion
1933day.year
The Deutsche Studentenschaft attacked Magnus Hirschfeld's Institut für Sexualwissenschaft, later burning many of its books.
Nazi-aligned students ransack Magnus Hirschfeld’s Institute of Sexual Science in Berlin, burning its archives and books.
On May 6, 1933, members of the Deutsche Studentenschaft, aligned with the Nazi movement, stormed Magnus Hirschfeld’s Institut für Sexualwissenschaft in Berlin. They looted laboratories, destroyed irreplaceable research materials, and publicly burned thousands of books on sexuality, gender, and human rights. Hirschfeld’s institute had been a pioneering center for the study of sexology and a refuge for LGBT individuals. The attack not only destroyed years of scientific work but also marked an early instance of the regime’s campaign against what it labeled 'degenerate' ideas. The loss of archives and research represented a major setback for sexual science. Hirschfeld, who was abroad at the time, never returned, and the institute was permanently closed.
1933
Deutsche Studentenschaft
Magnus Hirschfeld
Institut für Sexualwissenschaft