328day.year
Athanasius is elected Patriarch of Alexandria.
In 328, Athanasius is elected Patriarch of Alexandria, marking the start of his influential tenure in the early Christian Church.
In 328, Athanasius became the Patriarch of Alexandria, a seat of immense religious influence in the Roman Empire. He emerged as a staunch defender of Nicene orthodoxy against Arian controversies that threatened church unity. His writings and exiles over theological disputes solidified his reputation as a key architect of Christian doctrine. Athanasius navigated imperial politics and rival bishops to maintain the triumph of the Nicene Creed. Throughout his 45-year tenure, he shaped the structure and creed of the Coptic and wider Christian communities. His legacy endures in both Eastern and Western Christian traditions as a champion of orthodoxy and ecclesiastical authority.
328
Athanasius
Patriarch of Alexandria
1009day.year
Lombard Revolt: Lombard forces led by Melus revolt in Bari against the Byzantine Catepanate of Italy.
In 1009, Lombard forces under Melus staged a revolt in Bari against Byzantine rule in southern Italy.
In 1009, Melus, a Lombard noble, led a revolt in Bari challenging the authority of the Byzantine Catepanate of Italy. The uprising reflected widespread Lombard discontent with heavy taxation and distant imperial administration. Melus sought support from neighboring powers but faced the formidable infrastructure of Byzantium. Initial successes in seizing local strongholds gave hope to the rebels. However, the Byzantine response eventually suppressed the revolt, reasserting Constantinople's control. Although short-lived, the Lombard Revolt foreshadowed later fragmentation of Byzantine holdings in Italy and shifting power dynamics in medieval Europe.
1009
Lombard Revolt
Melus
Bari
Catepanate of Italy
1386day.year
England and Portugal formally ratify their alliance with the signing of the Treaty of Windsor, making it the oldest diplomatic alliance in the world which is still in force.
In 1386, England and Portugal ratified the Treaty of Windsor, creating the oldest continuous alliance in history.
On May 9, 1386, the Treaty of Windsor was formally ratified by England and Portugal, cementing a strategic alliance against Castile and France. Negotiated during the reigns of King Richard II and King John I, it established mutual military support and trade agreements. The treaty fostered centuries of diplomatic cooperation, cultural exchange, and commercial ties between the two kingdoms. It endured through dynastic changes, wars, and political upheavals, adapting to evolving European power structures. The Anglo-Portuguese alliance played crucial roles in the Hundred Years' War, the Age of Discovery, and both World Wars. Today, it stands as the longest-standing diplomatic alliance still in effect, symbolizing enduring friendship in European history.
1386
England
Portugal
their alliance
Treaty of Windsor
1450day.year
Timurid monarch 'Abd al-Latif is assassinated.
In 1450, the Timurid monarch ’Abd al-Latif was assassinated amid court intrigues and power struggles.
In 1450, ’Abd al-Latif, a ruler of the Timurid dynasty, fell victim to a fatal assassination that underscored the era’s political volatility. His reign had been marked by internal dissent among powerful nobles and rival claimants to the throne. Purported conspirators exploited factional rivalries, orchestrating the sudden attack that ended his rule. The assassination triggered a succession crisis and temporary fragmentation of Timurid territories. Competing heirs and regional governors jostled for control, weakening central authority in the empire founded by Timur. The power vacuum paved the way for subsequent fragmentation and eventual decline of Timurid dominance in Central Asia. ’Abd al-Latif’s untimely death remains a stark example of the lethal stakes of court politics in the Islamic world of the 15th century.
1450
Timurid
'Abd al-Latif
1540day.year
Hernando de Alarcón sets sail on an expedition to the Gulf of California.
In 1540, Spanish navigator Hernando de Alarcón embarked on an expedition to explore and map the Gulf of California.
On May 9, 1540, Hernando de Alarcón set sail from Mexico City with the aim of discovering a navigable route to the Pacific and exploring the Gulf of California. Commissioned by the Spanish crown, his small fleet sought to link previous voyages by Cortés and gather geographic intelligence. Alarcón’s voyage reached the mouth of the Colorado River, where he made the earliest European contact with indigenous tribes in the region. His detailed logs and maps provided valuable information on coastal geography, climate, and native peoples. Despite facing harsh conditions and supply shortages, the expedition expanded Spain’s understanding of the North American west coast. Alarcón’s journey laid groundwork for future exploration, contributing to the mapping of what would become Baja California. His reports influenced colonial policy and maritime navigation for decades to come.
1540
Hernando de Alarcón
Gulf of California
1662day.year
The figure who later became Mr. Punch makes his first recorded appearance in England.
In 1662, the character who would become Mr. Punch made his first recorded appearance in England.
The first known appearance of a Punch-like puppet occurred in London in 1662, when Italian 'Punchinello' marionettes were introduced to English audiences. This figure evolved into Mr. Punch, the central character of the traditional 'Punch and Judy' shows. Punch’s mischievous antics and dark humor quickly captured public imagination in street performances and fairs. Over time, the puppet’s distinctive hook-nosed mask and shrill voice became iconic elements of British popular culture. The shows satirized social norms and authority figures, making them both entertaining and subversive. Mr. Punch’s legacy endures through centuries of performances, inspiring theatre, literature, and contemporary puppetry. His enduring appeal reflects the universal resonance of humor, satire, and the absurd.
1662
Mr. Punch
1671day.year
Thomas Blood, disguised as a clergyman, attempts to steal England's Crown Jewels from the Tower of London.
In 1671, Colonel Thomas Blood, disguised as a clergyman, audaciously attempted to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London.
On May 9, 1671, Irish-born adventurer Thomas Blood infiltrated the Tower of London in clerical disguise and attempted to abscond with the Crown Jewels. Blood and his accomplices overpowered the guard, seizing the Imperial State Crown and other regalia in a bold midnight raid. The plot collapsed when the massive gold took too long to load, alerting the castle’s defenders. Blood was captured, brought before King Charles II, and astonishingly pardoned and rewarded for his audacity, rumoredly due to the king’s amusement. The incident became legendary, showcasing both the vulnerabilities of royal security and Charles II’s capricious mercy. Blood lived comfortably afterward in England, his daring exploit immortalized in brochures and ballads. The attempted heist remains one of history’s most infamous crimes against the crown.
1671
Thomas Blood
clergyman
Crown Jewels
Tower of London
1726day.year
Five men arrested during a raid on Mother Clap's molly house in London are executed at Tyburn.
In 1726, five men arrested at Mother Clap’s 'molly house' in London were executed at Tyburn, marking a grim moment in early LGBT history.
Mother Clap’s molly house was a notorious meeting place for homosexual men in 18th-century London, offering refuge from legal persecution. On May 9, 1726, authorities raided the house, arresting five men for sodomy under the Buggery Act of 1533. The men were tried and condemned, and later hanged at the Tyburn gallows, becoming some of the first recorded executions for homosexual acts in England. Their deaths instilled fear throughout the underground community and underscored the brutal enforcement of anti-sodomy laws. Contemporary accounts decried the harsh punishments and the moral panic that justified them. The tragic episode highlights the precarious existence of sexual minorities in Georgian Britain. Today, the event is remembered as a stark reminder of past injustices and the long struggle for LGBT rights.
1726
Mother Clap
molly house
Tyburn
1761day.year
Exhibition of 1761, the inaugural exhibition of the Society of Artists of Great Britain opens at Spring Gardens in London.
In 1761, the Society of Artists of Great Britain held its first exhibition at Spring Gardens in London.
On May 9, 1761, the Society of Artists of Great Britain opened its inaugural public exhibition at Spring Gardens, marking a milestone in the promotion of fine arts. Formed by a group of painters, architects, and sculptors seeking independence from the royal court, the society aimed to foster professional artistic development. The exhibition showcased over 70 works by leading and emerging artists, attracting art patrons and the curious public alike. It introduced novel works across genres, from portraiture to landscape, fueling a growing market for contemporary British art. The success of the event challenged the exclusivity of nobility-sponsored collections and led to annual exhibitions. This pioneering display laid the foundation for future institutions, including the Royal Academy of Arts. The Society’s exhibition signaled a democratization of art appreciation and patronage in 18th-century London.
1761
Exhibition of 1761
Society of Artists of Great Britain
Spring Gardens
1864day.year
Second Schleswig War: The Danish navy defeats the Austrian and Prussian fleets in the Battle of Heligoland.
On May 9, 1864, during the Second Schleswig War, the Danish navy defeated Austrian and Prussian fleets at the Battle of Heligoland.
During the Second Schleswig War, the Battle of Heligoland saw the Royal Danish Navy engage combined Austrian and Prussian naval forces on May 9, 1864. Fought near the Frisian island of Heligoland, the Danish squadron exploited superior tactics and better-trained crews to repel the larger allied fleet. Though tactically inconclusive in terms of ship losses, the engagement boosted Danish morale and maintained control of northern waters. The battle prevented Austria and Prussia from imposing a naval blockade, allowing Denmark to sustain supply lines. Its strategic impact, however, was limited by the war’s land campaigns, which ultimately favored the German powers. Despite the eventual Danish defeat in the war, the Battle of Heligoland remains celebrated as a rare naval victory for Denmark in the 19th century. It highlighted the evolving role of steam-powered ships and modern naval warfare tactics.
1864
Second Schleswig War
Austrian
Prussian
Battle of Heligoland
1865day.year
American Civil War: Nathan Bedford Forrest surrenders his forces at Gainesville, Alabama.
Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest formally surrenders his troops in Gainesville, Alabama, marking one of the final capitulations of Confederate forces in the American Civil War.
On May 9, 1865, Confederate Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest surrendered his forces to Union troops at Gainesville, Alabama. His cavalry had been one of the most feared units during the war, but dwindling supplies and strategic setbacks forced his decision. The ceremony took place under a flag of truce and included formal paroles for Forrest’s men. This surrender occurred just weeks after the fall of Richmond and General Lee’s capitulation at Appomattox Court House. It symbolized the collapse of Confederate resistance in the Deep South. Forrest’s decision helped spare further bloodshed and hastened the end of the Civil War.
1865
American Civil War
Nathan Bedford Forrest
Gainesville, Alabama
1865day.year
American Civil War: President Andrew Johnson issues a proclamation ending belligerent rights of the rebels and enjoining foreign nations to intern or expel Confederate ships.
President Andrew Johnson ends the Confederate states’ belligerent status and instructs foreign nations to intern or expel Confederate vessels.
On May 9, 1865, President Andrew Johnson issued a historic proclamation terminating the Confederate states’ status as belligerents in the Civil War. The document declared that former rebel forces would no longer enjoy the rights of war, including safe harbor and neutral treatment abroad. Johnson urged foreign governments to intern or expel any Confederate ships from their ports. This move aimed to isolate remaining Confederate leaders and prevent them from acquiring supplies. It marked a critical step in reasserting federal authority and curbing Confederate activity overseas. The proclamation laid groundwork for Reconstruction policies by legally ending the Confederacy’s claim to sovereign status.
President Andrew Johnson
proclamation ending belligerent rights