1527day.year
Spanish and German troops sack Rome; many scholars consider this the end of the Renaissance.
In 1527, Spanish and German troops sacked Rome, an assault often regarded as signaling the end of the Renaissance.
In May 1527, troops of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, composed largely of Spanish and German soldiers, marched on Rome amid unpaid wages and religious tensions. Over several days, they looted churches, palaces, and artworks, causing widespread destruction and civilian suffering. The violent sack shattered the city’s economic and cultural institutions, dispersing leading artists and scholars. Rome’s fall symbolized a broader shift away from the ideals of the High Renaissance toward an era of political fragmentation. The event weakened the Papacy’s temporal power and altered the trajectory of European art and thought.
1527
sack Rome
Renaissance
1536day.year
The Siege of Cuzco commences, in which Incan forces attempt to retake the city of Cuzco from the Spanish.
In 1536, Manco Inca led Incan forces in a siege of Spanish-held Cuzco in an effort to reclaim their capital.
In 1536, following uprisings across the former Inca Empire, Manco Inca Yupanqui assembled his army to surround Cuzco, then under Spanish control. The siege lasted several months, with the attackers cutting off supplies and mounting assaults on fortifications. Spanish conquistadors and settlers, aided by indigenous allies, defended the city walls with muskets and artillery. Harsh conditions and intermittent relief efforts characterized the standoff. Although the Incas won several skirmishes, they ultimately failed to retake Cuzco until later campaigns. The siege remains a notable episode in the struggle between the Inca civilization and European colonizers.
1536
Siege of Cuzco
Incan
Cuzco
1594day.year
The Dutch city of Coevorden held by the Spanish, falls to a Dutch and English force.
In 1594, Dutch and English forces captured the strategic city of Coevorden from Spain during the Eighty Years’ War.
In May 1594, a joint Dutch-English army under Prince Maurice of Nassau and Francis Vere besieged Coevorden, a fortified city held by Spanish troops. The defenders, well-entrenched behind medieval walls, resisted prolonged bombardment and mining operations. After weeks of siege, the Spanish garrison capitulated due to shortages of men and materials. The victory disrupted Spanish supply lines and boosted morale among the Dutch rebels fighting for independence. Coevorden’s fall also strengthened the Anglo-Dutch alliance and demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated military engineering. The town’s capture marked a turning point in the protracted conflict that ultimately led to the Dutch Republic’s recognition.
1594
Coevorden
falls to a Dutch and English force
1757day.year
Battle of Prague: A Prussian army fights an Austrian army in Prague during the Seven Years' War.
During the Seven Years’ War in 1757, Prussian forces engaged the Austrian army in the Battle of Prague, a major clash in Central Europe.
On May 6, 1757, Frederick the Great’s Prussian army confronted Austrian troops near Prague’s suburbs in a bid to relieve the besieged city. Despite facing strong defensive positions and entrenchments, Frederick launched aggressive assaults that ultimately forced the Austrians to withdraw. The battle demonstrated the effectiveness of Prussian infantry tactics and artillery coordination. Heavy casualties on both sides underscored the war’s brutal nature. Although Prussia claimed a tactical victory, the engagement did not end the siege nor decisively shift the war in Prussia’s favor. The Battle of Prague remains notable for its demonstration of 18th-century warfare and Frederick’s leadership under fire.
1757
Battle of Prague
Prussian army
Prague
Seven Years' War
1757day.year
The end of Konbaung–Hanthawaddy War, and the end of Burmese Civil War (1740–1757).
In 1757, the Konbaung–Hanthawaddy War ended, concluding the Burmese Civil War and unifying Burma under the Konbaung dynasty.
The conflict between the Konbaung dynasty and the Hanthawaddy Kingdom, which began in 1752, reached its climax with the fall of Pegu in May 1757. Alaungpaya, founder of the Konbaung dynasty, had rallied Shan and Burman forces to roll back Hanthawaddy rule in Lower Burma. His forces captured the capital after a protracted siege, effectively ending the civil war that had fragmented the region for nearly two decades. The victory allowed the Konbaung rulers to consolidate control over all Burmese territories and initiate administrative reforms. The reunified kingdom embarked on military campaigns against Siam and other neighbors. Burma’s cultural and political renaissance under the Konbaung dynasty can be traced to this decisive moment.
Konbaung–Hanthawaddy War
1801day.year
Captain Thomas Cochrane in the 14-gun HMS Speedy captures the 32-gun Spanish frigate El Gamo.
In 1801, Captain Thomas Cochrane leads HMS Speedy to a daring victory, capturing the larger Spanish frigate El Gamo during the Napoleonic Wars.
During the Napoleonic Wars in May 1801, British naval officer Thomas Cochrane commanded the 14-gun sloop HMS Speedy against the 32-gun Spanish frigate El Gamo off the coast of Spain. Despite being outgunned and outmanned, Cochrane employed bold tactics, including close-quarters maneuvering and deception to sow confusion among the Spanish crew. His leadership and the crew’s ferocity forced the larger frigate’s surrender after a fierce engagement. This victory earned Cochrane widespread acclaim and cemented his reputation as one of the Royal Navy’s most audacious commanders. The capture of El Gamo demonstrated the importance of innovative tactics over sheer firepower. Cochrane’s exploits later inspired literary figures such as Patrick O'Brian and C.S. Forester in their naval fiction.
1801
Thomas Cochrane
HMS Speedy
captures
Spanish frigate El Gamo
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
1863day.year
American Civil War: The Battle of Chancellorsville ends with a major defeat of the Union's Army of the Potomac under Joseph Hooker by the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Lee.
The Battle of Chancellorsville ends on May 6, 1863, with Confederate forces under Robert E. Lee defeating the larger Union Army led by Joseph Hooker.
On May 6, 1863, the Battle of Chancellorsville culminated in a spectacular Confederate victory against Union forces during the American Civil War. General Robert E. Lee divided his outnumbered army to launch a daring flank attack led by Lieutenant General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. Hooker’s Army of the Potomac was caught off guard, suffering heavy losses and forced into retreat. The battle showcased Lee’s audacity and Jackson’s tactical brilliance, becoming one of the Confederate Army’s most celebrated triumphs. Despite the victory, the Confederates incurred significant casualties, including the mortal wounding of Jackson. The outcome boosted Southern morale but also deprived Lee of one of his finest commanders. Chancellorsville is often studied for its risky maneuvers and the effectiveness of interior lines.
1863
Battle of Chancellorsville
Army of the Potomac
Joseph Hooker
Confederate
Army of Northern Virginia
Robert E. Lee
1877day.year
Chief Crazy Horse of the Oglala Lakota surrenders to United States troops in Nebraska.
Chief Crazy Horse surrenders to U.S. forces in Nebraska on May 6, 1877, ending major Lakota resistance in the Northern Plains.
On May 6, 1877, Oglala Lakota leader Crazy Horse surrendered to United States Army troops at Fort Robinson in present-day Nebraska. His decision followed months of resistance during the Great Sioux War, as the U.S. sought control over the Black Hills and northern Plains. Crazy Horse’s surrender effectively ended large-scale armed opposition by the Lakota and allied tribes. The warrior was subsequently taken to Fort Robinson, where he was fatally wounded during a confrontation later that year. His legacy endures as a symbol of Native American resistance and resilience. Today, Crazy Horse is honored at monuments and in cultural memory across the United States.
1877
Crazy Horse
Oglala Lakota
Nebraska
1916day.year
Twenty-one Lebanese nationalists are executed in Martyrs' Square, Beirut by Djemal Pasha.
Twenty-one Lebanese nationalists are executed in Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square by Ottoman authorities, galvanizing future independence movements.
On May 6, 1916, Djemal Pasha ordered the public execution of twenty-one prominent Lebanese nationalists in Beirut’s central Martyrs’ Square. The executions were intended to suppress growing demands for Arab autonomy during World War I. Most of the victims were writers, journalists, and public figures who had advocated for reform and independence from Ottoman rule. Rather than quelling dissent, the killings made martyrs of the victims and fueled nationalist sentiment. Martyrs’ Square became a symbol of resistance and is still commemorated in Lebanon’s struggle for sovereignty. The event is remembered annually to honor those who sacrificed their lives for freedom.
1916
Martyrs' Square, Beirut
Djemal Pasha
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