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
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
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
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
1877day.year
Mihail Kogălniceanu reads, in the Chamber of Deputies, the Declaration of Independence of Romania. The date will become recognised as the Independence Day of Romania.
Mihail Kogălniceanu reads Romania’s Declaration of Independence to the Chamber of Deputies, a defining moment in the nation’s history.
On May 9, 1877, the Romanian statesman Mihail Kogălniceanu delivered the Declaration of Independence before the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest. This formal proclamation severed Romania’s suzerainty under the Ottoman Empire and asserted its sovereign status. The reading was met with widespread acclaim and later became celebrated as Romania’s Independence Day. Inspired by nationalist movements across Europe, Romanian leaders sought full autonomy after centuries of Ottoman domination. The declaration paved the way for international recognition at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. It marked a turning point in Romania’s path toward modern nationhood and regional influence.
1877
Mihail Kogălniceanu
Chamber of Deputies
Romania
1901day.year
Australia opens its first national parliament in Melbourne.
Australia inaugurates its first national parliament in Melbourne, marking the start of federal governance in the Commonwealth of Australia.
On May 9, 1901, the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia opened its first federal parliament in a temporary building in Melbourne. Over 700 people attended the ceremony, including Prime Minister Edmund Barton and Governor-General Lord Hopetoun. The opening symbolized the federation of six British colonies into one nation under the Constitution enacted earlier that year. Lawmakers convened to draft legislation and establish federal institutions, laying foundations for Australia’s democratic government. Melbourne served as the provisional capital until Canberra was established decades later. This event set Australia on a path toward self-governance and international prominence.
1901
national parliament
Melbourne
1927day.year
The Old Parliament House, Canberra, Australia, officially opens.
The Old Parliament House in Canberra opens, becoming the first permanent home of Australia’s federal legislature.
On May 9, 1927, the first permanent building for Australia’s Parliament officially opened in Australia’s purpose-built capital, Canberra. Designed in a restrained classical style, the Old Parliament House provided offices, debating chambers, and ceremonial spaces for federal lawmakers. The inauguration marked Canberra’s emergence as the nation’s political center after decades of rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne. Over the next six decades, the building witnessed key debates, amendments, and national decisions. Its opening symbolized the maturation of Australia’s democratic institutions. Today, it stands as a heritage site, reflecting the country’s political journey.
1927
Old Parliament House, Canberra
1936day.year
Italy formally annexes Ethiopia after taking the capital Addis Ababa on May 5.
Italy officially annexes Ethiopia on May 9, 1936, after capturing Addis Ababa, marking formal colonial rule.
Italy's formal annexation of Ethiopia on May 9, 1936, followed the capture of Addis Ababa four days earlier. Under Mussolini's Fascist regime, Italy sought to expand its colonial empire in Africa. Emperor Haile Selassie's government was deposed, and Ethiopia was absorbed into Italian East Africa. The annexation ended Ethiopia's sovereignty and sparked international condemnation. Despite resistance efforts, Italian authorities imposed strict rule over the population. The event foreshadowed Italy's aggressive expansionist policies leading up to World War II.
1936
Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
May 5
1946day.year
King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy abdicates and is succeeded by Umberto II.
King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy abdicates on May 9, 1946, passing the throne to his son Umberto II.
Facing criticism for his association with Mussolini's Fascist regime, King Victor Emmanuel III announced his abdication on May 9, 1946. He transferred the crown to his son, Umberto II, in an attempt to bolster the monarchy ahead of a national referendum. The Italian public voted on June 2, 1946, to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic. Umberto II's brief reign of 34 days became known as the 'May King.' Victor Emmanuel III's abdication marked the end of the House of Savoy's rule over Italy. The decision reflected the seismic political shifts in post-war Italy and the desire for democratic reform.
1946
Victor Emmanuel III of Italy
Umberto II
1948day.year
Czechoslovakia's Ninth-of-May Constitution comes into effect.
Czechoslovakia's Ninth-of-May Constitution takes effect on May 9, 1948, solidifying Communist control.
Promulgated on May 9, 1948, the Ninth-of-May Constitution of Czechoslovakia formalized the Communist Party's dominance after the 1948 coup. The new constitution reorganized the government structure, emphasizing socialist principles and centralized authority. It guaranteed certain rights while effectively consolidating one-party rule. Karl Gottwald became the first president under the new legal framework. The document served as the fundamental law until it was replaced following the Velvet Revolution in 1990. Historians view the constitution as a key instrument in the Communist consolidation of power in Eastern Europe.
1948
Czechoslovakia
Ninth-of-May Constitution
1950day.year
Robert Schuman presents the "Schuman Declaration", considered by some to be the beginning of the creation of what is now the European Union.
Robert Schuman presents the Schuman Declaration on May 9, 1950, proposing European integration.
On May 9, 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman unveiled a proposal to place Franco-German coal and steel production under a single supranational authority. The Schuman Declaration aimed to bind European nations together economically and politically to prevent future conflicts. It laid the foundation for the European Coal and Steel Community, a precursor to the European Union. Schuman's vision emphasized reconciliation and cooperation, particularly between France and Germany. May 9 is now celebrated as Europe Day in honor of this initiative. The declaration set in motion a process of integration that reshaped post-war Europe.
1950
Robert Schuman
Schuman Declaration