254day.year
Pope Stephen I succeeds Pope Lucius I, becoming the 23rd pope of the Catholic Church, and immediately takes a stand against Novatianism.
Pope Stephen I became the 23rd pope, succeeding Lucius I, and took a decisive stance against the Novatianist schism.
On May 12, 254 AD, Pope Stephen I ascended as the 23rd pontiff of the Catholic Church.
He immediately confronted the Novatianist sect, which had split over issues of church discipline.
Novatianism advocated a strict approach to readmitting Christians who committed grave sins.
Stephen’s firm opposition helped to reaffirm the authority of mainstream church leadership.
His papacy set important precedents for how the Church would handle internal dissent.
Though brief, his tenure influenced theological debates on mercy and punishment.
254
Pope Stephen I
Pope Lucius I
23rd
pope
Catholic Church
Novatianism
907day.year
Zhu Wen forces Emperor Ai into abdicating, ending the Tang dynasty after nearly three hundred years of rule.
Military leader Zhu Wen deposed Emperor Ai, bringing the nearly three-century Tang dynasty to an end.
On May 12, 907 AD, powerful warlord Zhu Wen compelled the young Emperor Ai to renounce the throne.
This act terminated the Tang dynasty, which had ruled China for almost 300 years.
Zhu Wen established the Later Liang regime, marking the start of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
The fall of the Tang plunged China into a time of fragmentation and regional conflict.
Scholars view this transition as a pivotal moment that reshaped Chinese political landscapes.
The legacy of the Tang’s cultural achievements persisted even amid ensuing turmoil.
907
Zhu Wen
Emperor Ai
Tang dynasty
1191day.year
Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre in Cyprus; she is crowned Queen consort of England the same day.
King Richard I of England wed Berengaria of Navarre in Cyprus, crowning her Queen consort on the same day.
On May 12, 1191, Richard the Lionheart celebrated his marriage to Berengaria of Navarre at Limassol in Cyprus.
The union was arranged to secure Richard’s political alliances during the Third Crusade.
Berengaria became England’s first crowned queen consort on foreign soil.
Acclaimed for her grace and piety, she accompanied Richard through his crusading efforts.
Despite spending little time in England afterwards, Berengaria’s marriage had lasting dynastic significance.
Their partnership exemplified the diplomatic use of royal marriages in medieval Europe.
1191
Richard I of England
Berengaria of Navarre
Cyprus
Queen consort of England
1328day.year
Antipope Nicholas V, a claimant to the papacy, is consecrated in Rome by the Bishop of Venice.
Antipope Nicholas V was consecrated in Rome by the Bishop of Venice, claiming the papacy against John XXII.
On May 12, 1328, followers of the deposed Pope John XXII consecrated Pietro Rainalducci as Antipope Nicholas V.
The ceremony took place in Rome under the auspices of the Bishop of Venice.
Nicholas V’s claim intensified the Avignon Papacy controversy, splitting loyalties in Christendom.
His papal seal circulated in parts of Italy and Germany, challenging official papal authority.
Although his influence waned, this schism highlighted the era’s deep political-religious tensions.
The episode underscored the struggle for spiritual and temporal power within the Church.
1328
Antipope Nicholas V
papacy
Bishop of Venice
1364day.year
Jagiellonian University, the oldest university in Poland, is founded in Kraków.
The Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland’s oldest university, was established to foster academic learning.
On May 12, 1364, King Casimir III the Great officially founded the Jagiellonian University in Kraków.
It became the second oldest university in Central Europe, following Charles University in Prague.
Modeled on the University of Bologna, it offered studies in liberal arts, law, medicine, and theology.
Over centuries, it educated renowned scholars like Nicolaus Copernicus.
The university played a crucial role in the intellectual and cultural development of Poland.
Today, it remains a leading center of research and higher education.
1364
Jagiellonian University
university
Kraków
1497day.year
Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola.
Pope Alexander VI excommunicated the reformer Girolamo Savonarola, deepening the crisis in Florence.
On May 12, 1497, Pope Alexander VI issued a bull excommunicating the Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola.
Savonarola had gained power in Florence by preaching against corruption and moral decay.
His Bonfire of the Vanities campaign targeted luxurious art and secular items.
The excommunication marked the peak of his conflict with the papacy and secular rulers.
Despite his fall, Savonarola’s advocacy for church reform influenced later movements.
His fiery sermons and tragic end continue to fascinate historians and artists alike.
1497
Alexander VI
Girolamo Savonarola
1510day.year
The Prince of Anhua rebellion begins when Zhu Zhifan kills all the officials invited to a banquet and declares his intent on ousting the powerful Ming dynasty eunuch Liu Jin during the reign of the Zhengde Emperor.
Prince of Anhua’s revolt erupted in chaos as Zhu Zhifan slaughtered officials, challenging Ming dynasty power.
On May 12, 1510, Zhu Zhifan, the Prince of Anhua, initiated a rebellion against the Ming court.
During a banquet, he had court officials murdered to protest the dominance of eunuch Liu Jin.
Liu Jin’s influence over the Zhengde Emperor had provoked widespread resentment.
The uprising briefly seized local strongholds before imperial forces suppressed it.
This revolt exposed the volatile relations between imperial princes and eunuch administrators.
The aftermath strengthened Liu Jin’s authority but foreshadowed continued court conflicts.
1510
Prince of Anhua rebellion
Zhu Zhifan
Ming dynasty
Liu Jin
Zhengde Emperor
1551day.year
National University of San Marcos, the oldest university in the Americas, is founded in Lima, Peru.
The National University of San Marcos was founded in Lima, becoming the oldest university in the Americas.
On May 12, 1551, the Spanish Crown established the National University of San Marcos in Lima.
It became the first institution of higher learning in the New World.
The university initially taught theology, law, medicine, and the arts.
It played a central role in educating colonial administrators and clergy.
Its alumni influenced Latin American politics, culture, and intellectual life.
Today, San Marcos remains a prestigious university with a rich academic tradition.
1551
National University of San Marcos
Americas
Lima
1588day.year
French Wars of Religion: Henry III of France flees Paris after Henry I, Duke of Guise, enters the city and a spontaneous uprising occurs.
Amid the French Wars of Religion, King Henry III fled Paris as the Duke of Guise’s forces sparked an uprising.
On May 12, 1588, during the tumult of the French Wars of Religion, Henry III abandoned Paris.
Henry I, Duke of Guise, had entered the city, rallying Catholic League supporters.
A spontaneous uprising forced the king to seek refuge at Blois.
This confrontation intensified the struggle between royal authority and extremist factions.
It foreshadowed the Day of the Barricades and further civil strife.
The incident marked a critical turning point in France’s religious and political conflicts.
1588
French Wars of Religion
Henry III of France
Henry I, Duke of Guise
spontaneous uprising
1593day.year
London playwright Thomas Kyd is arrested and tortured by the Privy Council for libel.
Playwright Thomas Kyd was arrested and tortured by the Privy Council under suspicion of libel.
On May 12, 1593, English authorities detained Thomas Kyd, acclaimed for his drama Locrine.
The Privy Council accused him of authoring libelous writings against influential figures.
Under torture, Kyd sought to dissociate any radical pamphlets found in his home.
His arrest highlighted the risks faced by Elizabethan authors and printers.
The scandal contributed to the evolving censorship and licensing laws.
Although later released, Kyd’s career never fully recovered from this ordeal.
1593
Thomas Kyd
Privy Council
1743day.year
Maria Theresa of Austria is crowned Queen of Bohemia after defeating her rival, Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor.
Maria Theresa of Austria was crowned Queen of Bohemia in 1743 after defeating Charles VII.
After the death of her father Emperor Charles VI, Maria Theresa faced rival claims to the Bohemian crown and solidified her rule by defeating Charles VII. Her coronation in Prague symbolized the strength of the Habsburg dynasty. The ceremony showcased imperial pageantry and reinforced Habsburg authority in Central Europe. This event bolstered her legitimacy across the Holy Roman Empire and beyond. It set the stage for further diplomatic and military struggles during the War of the Austrian Succession. Her reign would shape European politics for decades to come.
1743
Maria Theresa
Bohemia
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
1778day.year
Heinrich XI, count of the Principality of Reuss-Greiz, is elevated to Prince by Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor.
Heinrich XI of Reuss-Greiz was elevated from count to prince by Emperor Joseph II in 1778.
In 1778, Joseph II elevated Heinrich XI from count to prince of Reuss-Greiz, reflecting his efforts to consolidate support among German principalities. The ceremony formalized Reuss-Greiz's increased standing within the Holy Roman Empire. Heinrich XI's new title granted greater prestige and autonomy to his territory. The elevation underscored Joseph II's broader reforms and political alliances. It signified a shift in regional power dynamics in the late 18th century and strengthened imperial cohesion.
1778
Heinrich XI
Principality of Reuss-Greiz
Prince
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor