946day.year
Emperor Suzaku abdicates the throne in favor of his brother Murakami who becomes the 62nd emperor of Japan.
In 946, Emperor Suzaku of Japan abdicated, passing the throne to his brother Murakami, who became the 62nd emperor.
Heian era ruler Emperor Suzaku stepped down in favor of his brother, ushering in the reign of Emperor Murakami.
Suzaku's abdication reflected the period's courtly politics and the influence of powerful aristocratic families.
Murakami's ascension marked continuity in imperial lineage during a time of shifting power dynamics.
This transfer of power played a role in the Fujiwara clan's growing prominence at court.
The event exemplified the ceremonial nature of Japanese imperial succession.
946
Emperor Suzaku
Murakami
Japan
1204day.year
Baldwin IX, Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire.
Baldwin IX, Count of Flanders, was crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire following the Fourth Crusade.
After the capture of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade, Baldwin IX established the Latin Empire in 1204.
His coronation signified a major shift in Byzantine politics, dividing the old empire among Western crusaders.
As leader, Baldwin faced resistance from Greek successor states and challenges in consolidating authority.
The new Latin Empire aimed to integrate feudal Western systems into the former Byzantine territories.
Despite early successes, it struggled to maintain stability amid ongoing conflicts and internal strife.
1204
Baldwin IX, Count of Flanders
Emperor
Latin Empire
1426day.year
Gov. Thado of Mohnyin becomes King of Ava.
In 1426, Thado of Mohnyin ascended the throne to become King of Ava, consolidating power in the Burmese kingdom.
Thado of Mohnyin, previously governor of Mohnyin, claimed the Ava throne amid dynastic struggles in 1426.
His rise to power ended a period of internal conflict and regional rivalries within the Burmese-speaking states.
As King of Ava, Thado worked to restore stability, reinforce royal authority, and reform administrative structures.
He faced ongoing challenges from rival chiefs and had to navigate the complex landscape of Southeast Asian politics.
Thado's reign laid foundations for the future expansion and cultural development of the Ava Kingdom.
1426
Thado of Mohnyin
Ava
1527day.year
The Florentines drive out the Medici for a second time and Florence re-establishes itself as a republic.
Florentines expelled the Medici family for a second time in 1527, restoring the Republic of Florence.
Amid wider Italian Wars and foreign interference, the people of Florence ousted the Medici in May 1527.
This uprising re-established the republican government after decades of Medici ducal rule.
Republican leaders implemented political reforms and attempted to align Florence with other anti-Habsburg states.
The expulsion reflected local resentment towards Medici alliances and papal influence under Clement VII.
Although short-lived, this republican revival highlighted the era’s turbulent power shifts in Renaissance Italy.
1527
Medici
Florence
a republic
1532day.year
Sir Thomas More resigns as Lord Chancellor of England.
Sir Thomas More resigned as Lord Chancellor of England in 1532, resisting King Henry VIII's policies.
In 1532, Sir Thomas More stepped down from the office of Lord Chancellor over disagreements with Henry VIII’s challenge to papal authority.
More’s resignation stemmed from his refusal to endorse the king’s plans to annul his marriage and break with the Catholic Church.
A renowned humanist and scholar, More had served the crown with distinction but chose conscience over royal favor.
His departure marked a critical moment in the English Reformation and signaled deepening church-state conflicts.
Thomas More’s principled stand ultimately led to his trial and martyrdom a decade later.
1532
Thomas More
Lord Chancellor
England
1568day.year
Mary, Queen of Scots, flees to England.
Mary, Queen of Scots, fled to England in 1568 seeking protection after being deposed by Scottish nobles.
Following her defeat at the Battle of Langside, Mary Stuart escaped to England in May 1568.
She sought refuge from her cousin Queen Elizabeth I, hoping for support against Scottish rebel lords.
Mary’s arrival sparked a political crisis, as Elizabeth had to balance dynastic claims and religious tensions.
Imprisoned for 19 years, Mary became central to plots and conspiracies that threatened English security.
Her plight underscored the turbulent religious and dynastic struggles of 16th-century Britain.
1568
Mary, Queen of Scots
1584day.year
Santiago de Vera becomes sixth governor-general of the Spanish colony of the Philippines.
Santiago de Vera was appointed the sixth Governor-General of the Spanish Philippines in 1584.
Santiago de Vera took office as Governor-General of the Philippines in May 1584 during Spain’s colonial era.
He inherited a colony grappling with local revolts, trade disputes, and missionary expansion.
De Vera focused on strengthening defenses, improving colonial administration, and fostering commerce.
Under his leadership, Manila’s fortifications were enhanced, and efforts to pacify outlying islands intensified.
His tenure contributed to the consolidation of Spanish authority in the archipelago.
1584
Santiago de Vera
Philippines
1770day.year
The 14-year-old Marie Antoinette marries 15-year-old Louis-Auguste, who later becomes king of France.
Marie Antoinette married Louis-Auguste in 1770, forging a dynastic alliance that shaped France’s future.
On May 16, 1770, 14-year-old Marie Antoinette of Austria wed 15-year-old Louis-Auguste at Versailles.
The marriage aimed to cement the Franco-Austrian alliance under the Treaty of Versailles (1756).
Their union was celebrated with lavish festivities and symbolized European diplomacy through royal matches.
Marie Antoinette’s arrival at the French court marked the beginning of a figure who would captivate and polarize public opinion.
Their marriage set the stage for events leading up to the French Revolution and the end of the Ancien Régime.
1770
Marie Antoinette
Louis-Auguste
France
1777day.year
Continental Army officer Lachlan McIntosh fatally wounds Button Gwinnett, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, in a duel in Savannah, Georgia.
Continental Army officer Lachlan McIntosh mortally wounds Declaration signer Button Gwinnett in a duel in Savannah, Georgia.
On May 16, 1777, Colonel Lachlan McIntosh and Button Gwinnett engaged in a duel near Savannah, Georgia. Gwinnett was a prominent Georgia politician and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, while McIntosh was a respected Continental Army officer. The duel resulted from a bitter political feud over military command and personal honor. McIntosh shot Gwinnett, who died of his wounds three days later. The incident shocked the colonies and underscored the volatile politics of the Revolutionary era. Both men's reputations were tarnished, and the duel heightened tensions within the Patriot leadership in Georgia. Today, the event is remembered as one of the few deadly duels among American Founding Fathers.
1777
Continental Army
Lachlan McIntosh
Button Gwinnett
United States Declaration of Independence
a duel
Savannah, Georgia
1812day.year
Imperial Russia signs the Treaty of Bucharest, ending the Russo-Turkish War. The Ottoman Empire cedes Bessarabia to Russia.
Russia and the Ottoman Empire sign the Treaty of Bucharest, ending the Russo-Turkish War and ceding Bessarabia to Russia.
The Treaty of Bucharest was signed on May 16, 1812 between Imperial Russia and the Ottoman Empire, concluding the Russo-Turkish War of 1806–1812. Under its terms, the Ottomans ceded the territory of Bessarabia to Russia, significantly expanding Russian influence in Eastern Europe. Russia agreed to return some previously captured territories and maintain the status quo in the Balkans. The treaty marked a diplomatic victory for Tsar Alexander I, who balanced conflict with Napoleon's looming invasion. It also secured Russia's southwestern frontier and improved its strategic position in the Black Sea. The settlement influenced future Russo-Ottoman relations and regional power dynamics for decades. Many historians view the treaty as a prelude to Russia’s focus on central Europe during the Napoleonic Wars.
1812
Imperial Russia
Treaty of Bucharest
Russo-Turkish War
Ottoman Empire
Bessarabia
1834day.year
The Battle of Asseiceira is fought; it was the final and decisive engagement of the Liberal Wars in Portugal.
The Battle of Asseiceira, the final decisive engagement of the Portuguese Liberal Wars, is fought.
On May 16, 1834, liberal constitutionalist forces under the Duke of Terceira clashed with absolutist troops of Dom Miguel at Asseiceira near Santarém, Portugal. The liberals secured a decisive victory, effectively ending the civil conflict known as the Liberal Wars. The outcome forced Miguelite forces to retreat and opened the path for negotiations that would restore constitutional monarchy in Portugal. This battle marked the collapse of absolutist resistance and the triumph of liberal constitutional governance. Following Asseiceira, the Concession of Évora-Monte formalized peace and the political transition. The victory had lasting effects on Portuguese politics, affirming parliamentary rule and civil liberties. Historians consider Asseiceira a pivotal moment in the European wave of liberal revolutions.
1834
Battle of Asseiceira
Liberal Wars
1868day.year
The United States Senate fails to convict President Andrew Johnson by one vote.
In 1868, the U.S. Senate failed to convict President Andrew Johnson during his impeachment trial by a single vote.
The impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson in 1868 saw the United States Senate debate his removal from office.
Johnson faced charges related to his violation of the Tenure of Office Act and clashes with Congress.
On May 16, the Senate fell one vote short of the necessary two-thirds majority to convict him.
This narrow margin allowed Johnson to remain in office, making him the first U.S. president tried by impeachment.
The outcome highlighted tensions between the executive branch and Congress during Reconstruction.
Johnson served out the rest of his term but lost significant political influence afterwards.
1868
United States Senate
convict
Andrew Johnson