351day.year
The Jewish revolt against Constantius Gallus breaks out after his arrival at Antioch.
In 351, a Jewish revolt broke out against Constantius Gallus in Antioch, marking a significant conflict in the later Roman Empire.
In 351 AD, the Jewish population of Antioch revolted against Constantius Gallus upon his arrival.
The uprising reflected deep-seated resentment over taxation and religious restrictions.
Rebels seized parts of the city, challenging the young Caesar's authority.
Imperial legions were dispatched to quell the disturbance, leading to violent clashes.
Though eventually suppressed, the revolt exposed the fragility of imperial rule in the East.
This event foreshadowed ongoing tensions between Roman administrators and provincial communities.
351
Jewish revolt against Constantius Gallus
Antioch
1487day.year
The Siege of Málaga commences during the Spanish Reconquista.
The Siege of Málaga began in 1487 as part of the final campaigns of the Spanish Reconquista against the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada.
In May 1487, Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella launched a siege on the strategic port city of Málaga.
The operation aimed to cut off Granada's coastal supply lines and accelerate the Reconquista.
Spanish forces encircled the city, bombarding its medieval walls and disrupting water supplies.
After months of hardship, the defenders capitulated, and Málaga fell in August of the same year.
The victory paved the way for the conquest of Granada two years later, ending centuries of Muslim rule in Iberia.
The siege demonstrated the effectiveness of gunpowder artillery in late medieval warfare.
1487
Siege of Málaga
Reconquista
1544day.year
The Burning of Edinburgh by an English army is the first action of the Rough Wooing.
In 1544, English forces under the Earl of Hertford burned Edinburgh, marking the start of the Rough Wooing conflict with Scotland.
In May 1544, during the conflict known as the Rough Wooing, Thomas Seymour, Earl of Hertford, led English troops into Scotland.
The army sacked and razed Edinburgh, including Holyrood Palace, inflicting widespread destruction.
This punitive expedition sought to force a marriage alliance between Mary, Queen of Scots, and Edward VI.
Civilians and clergy suffered heavy losses as churches and homes went up in flames.
The devastation hardened Scottish resistance and deepened hostilities between the two kingdoms.
The Burning of Edinburgh became a symbol of English aggression in Scottish memory.
1544
Burning of Edinburgh
Rough Wooing
1685day.year
Battle of Vrtijeljka between rebels and Ottoman forces.
The Battle of Vrtijeljka occurred in 1685, pitting Balkan rebels against Ottoman troops in a fierce mountain engagement.
In May 1685, local insurgents in the Balkans rose up against Ottoman garrisons near Vrtijeljka Pass.
The rebels hoped to capitalize on the Ottoman Empire's involvement in wider European conflicts.
Clashes in rugged terrain tested the fighters' endurance and tactical skills.
Despite initial rebel successes, Ottoman reinforcements ultimately overwhelmed the insurgents.
The battle underscored the strategic importance of mountain strongholds in resisting imperial rule.
While defeated, the rebels inspired subsequent uprisings against Ottoman authority.
1685
Battle of Vrtijeljka
1763day.year
Pontiac's War begins with Pontiac's attempt to seize Fort Detroit from the British.
Pontiac's War began in 1763 when the Ottawa leader Pontiac launched an attack on Fort Detroit, initiating widespread Native American resistance against British rule.
In 1763, following the British victory in the French and Indian War, dissatisfaction among Native American tribes over British policies sparked a unified uprising. Ottawa war chief Pontiac led a surprise attack on Fort Detroit on May 7, attempting to reclaim former French territories. Although the initial assault failed, the conflict spread across the Great Lakes region. This series of engagements, known as Pontiac's War, highlighted the fractures in British colonial administration and the determination of Indigenous peoples to defend their lands. The warfare prompted the British Crown to issue the Royal Proclamation of 1763, limiting colonial expansion beyond the Appalachians.
1763
Pontiac's War
Pontiac
seize
Fort Detroit
1798day.year
French Revolutionary Wars: A French force attempting to dislodge a small British garrison on the Îles Saint-Marcouf is repulsed with heavy losses.
During the French Revolutionary Wars in 1798, French forces suffered heavy losses while attempting to capture the British-held Îles Saint-Marcouf.
As part of the wider French Revolutionary Wars, French troops launched an amphibious assault on the Îles Saint-Marcouf on May 7, 1798. These small islands off the Normandy coast were fortified by a determined British garrison. The French attackers underestimated the British defenses and faced fierce resistance from regulars and local volunteers. The failed operation resulted in significant French casualties and marked a rare British victory in coastal engagements. The defense bolstered British naval morale and secured a strategic foothold in the English Channel. The episode exemplified the challenges both sides faced in projecting power along occupied European shores.
1798
French Revolutionary Wars
Îles Saint-Marcouf
repulsed with heavy losses
1864day.year
American Civil War: The Army of the Potomac, under General Ulysses S. Grant, breaks off from the Battle of the Wilderness and moves southwards.
During the American Civil War in 1864, the Army of the Potomac under General Grant withdrew from the Battle of the Wilderness and maneuvered south toward Richmond.
On May 7, 1864, Union General Ulysses S. Grant ordered the Army of the Potomac to disengage from the brutal Battle of the Wilderness. This dense forest had inflicted heavy casualties on both sides without decisive advantage. Grant's decision to move south demonstrated his strategy of continuous pressure rather than retreat. He aimed to confront Confederate forces near Richmond and Petersburg, cutting off supply lines. This maneuver began the protracted Overland Campaign, characterized by relentless fighting and attrition. The shift in tactics marked a turning point in Union strategy, leading ultimately to the fall of the Confederate capital.
1864
American Civil War
Army of the Potomac
Ulysses S. Grant
Battle of the Wilderness
1915day.year
World War I: German submarine U-20 sinks RMS Lusitania, killing 1,199 people, including 128 Americans. Public reaction to the sinking turns many former pro-Germans in the United States against the German Empire.
During World War I in 1915, German submarine U-20 torpedoed RMS Lusitania, killing 1,199 people and shifting American sentiment against Germany.
On May 7, 1915, the German U-boat U-20 fired a torpedo at the British passenger liner RMS Lusitania off the coast of Ireland. The attack sank the ship in under twenty minutes, resulting in the deaths of 1,199 passengers and crew, including 128 Americans. The loss of civilian life outraged the international community and fueled anti-German sentiment in the United States. Public pressure and diplomatic protests against Germany mounted, setting the stage for America's eventual entry into World War I. The sinking highlighted the dangers of submarine warfare and the vulnerability of civilian vessels during conflict. The tragedy of the Lusitania remains a pivotal moment in maritime and military history, remembered for its tragic human cost and geopolitical impact.
1915
World War I
submarine
U-20
sinks
RMS Lusitania
German Empire
1920day.year
Polish–Soviet War: Kyiv offensive: Polish troops led by Józef Piłsudski and Edward Rydz-Śmigły and assisted by a symbolic Ukrainian force capture Kyiv only to be driven out by the Red Army counter-offensive a month later.
In 1920, Polish and Ukrainian forces captured Kyiv during the Polish–Soviet War but were expelled by the Red Army a month later.
On May 7, 1920, Polish troops under Marshal Józef Piłsudski and General Edward Rydz-Śmigły, supported by a symbolic Ukrainian contingent, launched the Kyiv Offensive in the Polish–Soviet War. Their swift advance took the Ukrainian capital with minimal resistance, raising hopes for a united anti-Bolshevik front. The operation aimed to establish a friendly Ukrainian state allied with Poland and to thwart Soviet influence in the region. However, overstretched supply lines and determined Soviet resistance allowed the Red Army to regroup. By mid-June, a powerful counter-offensive drove Polish and Ukrainian forces out of Kyiv. The episode underscored the fluid and volatile nature of Eastern European borders after World War I. Though temporary, the capture of Kyiv remains a significant episode in both Polish and Ukrainian history.
1920
Polish–Soviet War
Kyiv offensive
Polish
Józef Piłsudski
Edward Rydz-Śmigły
Ukrainian
Kyiv
Red Army
1937day.year
Spanish Civil War: The German Condor Legion, equipped with Heinkel He 51 biplanes, arrives in Spain to assist Francisco Franco's forces.
In 1937, Germany's Condor Legion arrived in Spain with Heinkel He 51 biplanes to support Franco's forces in the Spanish Civil War.
On May 7, 1937, the German Condor Legion, comprised of military volunteers and Luftwaffe equipment, landed in Spain to aid General Francisco Franco's Nationalist forces. Among their assets were Heinkel He 51 biplanes, which provided vital aerial reconnaissance and support. The deployment marked one of the first major tests of modern airpower, allowing Germany to refine tactics and technology. The Condor Legion's involvement significantly bolstered Nationalist capabilities, while also drawing international attention and controversy. Their operations included bombing raids and direct combat support, shaping the course of the war. The Spanish Civil War thus became a proving ground for tactics later used in World War II. The Condor Legion's legacy lives on in both military history and cultural memory.
1937
Spanish Civil War
Condor Legion
Heinkel He 51
Francisco Franco
1942day.year
World War II: During the Battle of the Coral Sea, United States Navy aircraft carrier aircraft attack and sink the Imperial Japanese Navy light aircraft carrier Shōhō; the battle marks the first time in naval history that two enemy fleets fight without visual contact between warring ships.
During the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942, US Navy aircraft sank the Japanese light carrier Shōhō without any visual contact between opposing fleets.
The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from May 4 to 8, 1942, marked a turning point in naval warfare. On May 7, carrier-based aircraft from the US Navy launched a surprise attack that sank the Imperial Japanese Navy’s light aircraft carrier Shōhō. This action underscored the emerging dominance of air power at sea, as ships never directly sighted one another during the engagement. For the first time in naval history, opposing fleets fought solely through their aircraft, leading to new tactics and strategies. Both sides suffered losses, and the battle halted Japanese plans to seize Port Moresby, protecting Australia from potential invasion. The engagement set the stage for the American victory at Midway and provided a vital boost to Allied morale as the Pacific campaign intensified.
1942
Battle of the Coral Sea
aircraft carrier
Imperial Japanese Navy
light aircraft carrier
Shōhō
1945day.year
World War II: Last German U-boat attack of the war, two freighters are sunk off the Firth of Forth, Scotland.
On May 7, 1945, German U-boats carried out their final wartime attack, sinking two freighters off Scotland’s Firth of Forth.
As World War II drew to a close, the German Kriegsmarine launched its final U-boat operation on May 7, 1945. Submarines patrolling the North Sea torpedoed and sank two merchant vessels near the Firth of Forth in Scotland. This last attack underscored the continuing danger posed by German submarines even as Allied victory loomed. The operation followed years of intense undersea warfare that had decimated supply lines across the Atlantic. Just days later, Germany would surrender, ending the U-boat offensive that had once dominated the naval theater. The loss of life and cargo in this final strike served as a somber reminder of the war’s human and economic toll.
1945
U-boat
Firth of Forth