May 18

Events

332day.year

Emperor Constantine the Great announces free distributions of food to the citizens in Constantinople.

Emperor Constantine I initiated state-sponsored food distributions in Constantinople in AD 332, pioneering imperial welfare.
In 332, Emperor Constantine the Great established a large-scale grain distribution program in his newly founded capital, Constantinople. This 'annona' aimed to prevent shortages and secure the loyalty of the city's inhabitants through generous provisions. By guaranteeing free food, Constantine demonstrated the expanding role of the imperial government in public welfare. This initiative not only addressed immediate hunger but also reinforced the social contract between ruler and subjects. The success of this program laid the foundation for Byzantine welfare policies that would endure for centuries.
332 Constantine the Great Constantinople
872day.year

Louis II of Italy is crowned for the second time as Holy Roman Emperor at Rome, at the age of 47. His first coronation was 28 years earlier, in 844, during the reign of his father Lothair I.

In 872, Louis II of Italy was crowned Holy Roman Emperor for the second time at Rome, asserting his rule at age 47.
In the year 872, Louis II, son of Emperor Lothair I, returned to Rome to receive his second imperial coronation, 28 years after his first in 844. This ceremony at the Lateran Palace reaffirmed his authority over the fragmented Carolingian realms amid ongoing dynastic struggles. At age 47, Louis sought to strengthen his legitimacy against rival claimants and regional nobles. His renewed crowning underscored the papacy’s role in legitimating imperial power and the intertwining of church and state. The event marked a pivotal moment in the consolidation of the Holy Roman Empire during the turbulent 9th century.
872 Louis II of Italy Holy Roman Emperor Rome Lothair I
1096day.year

First Crusade: Around 800 Jews are massacred in Worms, Germany.

In 1096, around 800 Jews were massacred in Worms, Germany, during the anti-Jewish violence of the First Crusade.
Amid the fervor of the First Crusade, the city of Worms became the site of one of the earliest and most tragic episodes of crusader violence in Europe. Between May 18 and 20, 1096, mobs of crusaders and local rioters attacked the Jewish ghetto, slaughtering around 800 men, women, and children. Many Jews chose martyrdom over forced baptism, seeking refuge in a local synagogue which was later set ablaze. This massacre foreshadowed further atrocities along the Rhine and marked a dark chapter in Jewish-Christian relations. The events at Worms would resonate through history as a harbinger of medieval anti-Semitic persecution.
1096 First Crusade massacred in Worms, Germany
1152day.year

The future Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. He would become king two years later, after the death of his cousin once removed King Stephen of England.

Henry, future King of England, married the wealthy duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152, shaping medieval European dynasties.
On May 18, 1152, Henry Plantagenet, heir to the English throne, wed Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful and wealthy rulers of her time. Eleanor had recently annulled her marriage to Louis VII of France, bringing the vast duchy of Aquitaine under English influence. Their union dramatically expanded the Angevin domains and set the stage for the Plantagenet dynasty’s dominance in both England and France. The marriage produced eight children, including future kings Richard the Lionheart and John. This alliance would have lasting repercussions for the balance of power in medieval Western Europe.
1152 Henry II of England Eleanor of Aquitaine King Stephen of England
1268day.year

The Principality of Antioch, a crusader state, falls to the Mamluk Sultan Baibars in the Siege of Antioch.

In 1268, Mamluk Sultan Baibars captured the Principality of Antioch, ending the crusader state’s four-decade presence.
The siege of Antioch culminated in February 1268 when Sultan Baibars led Mamluk forces against the longstanding crusader stronghold. The fall of Antioch marked the end of nearly two centuries of Latin Christian rule established after the First Crusade. Baibars ordered the city’s defenses breached, resulting in a brutal sack that decimated the population and destroyed fortifications. This victory solidified Mamluk control over Syria and shifted the balance of power in the Levant. The loss of Antioch demoralized the remaining crusader states, presaging further Mamluk advances. The event underscored the waning influence of Western powers in the Near East.
1268 Principality of Antioch crusader state Mamluk Sultan Baibars Siege of Antioch
1291day.year

Fall of Acre, the end of Crusader presence in the Holy Land.

The fall of Acre in 1291 marked the end of the Crusader era in the Holy Land.
Acre had stood as the last major stronghold of the Crusader states since the late 12th century. In May 1291, Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil led the Mamluk army in a decisive siege, breaching medieval fortifications with powerful siege engines. After intense fighting, the defenders were overwhelmed and the city was captured on May 18. The fall of Acre forced the evacuation of the remaining European inhabitants and ended over two centuries of Latin Christian rule east of the Mediterranean. This pivotal event shifted the focus of crusading efforts back to Europe and left a lasting legacy in Christian and Muslim histories.
1291 Fall of Acre Crusader Holy Land
1302day.year

Bruges Matins, the nocturnal massacre of the French garrison in Bruges by members of the local Flemish militia.

In 1302, Flemish insurgents executed a surprise attack on the French garrison in Bruges, known as the Bruges Matins.
The Bruges Matins were a pre-dawn massacre on May 18, 1302, when local Flemish militias rose against the occupying French forces in the city. Sparked by resentment over heavy taxation and French dominance in Flanders, the insurgents stormed the garrison and killed hundreds of soldiers. The revolt was orchestrated by leaders such as Pieter de Coninck and symbolized the growing assertiveness of the urban merchant class. The uprising precipitated the larger Franco-Flemish conflict and led directly to the Battle of the Golden Spurs later that year. The event became emblematic of regional resistance against foreign rule.
1302 Bruges Matins Bruges Flemish
1388day.year

During the Battle of Buyur Lake, General Lan Yu leads a Ming army forward to crush the Mongol hordes of Tögüs Temür, the Khan of Northern Yuan.

At the Battle of Buyur Lake in 1388, Ming General Lan Yu delivered a crushing defeat to the Northern Yuan hordes.
On May 18, 1388, General Lan Yu led a well-disciplined Ming army against the forces of Tögüs Temür, the Khan of the Northern Yuan dynasty. The Mongol army, long a threat to the newly established Ming dynasty, was caught off guard by Lan Yu’s strategic deployment and superior numbers. The Ming forces achieved a decisive victory, capturing or killing large portions of the enemy and dispersing the remainder. Tögüs Temür was pursued into exile, weakening the Mongol presence in Inner Asia. This triumph secured China’s northern borders and demonstrated the Ming dynasty’s growing military prowess. The battle remains a notable example of early Ming consolidation.
1388 Battle of Buyur Lake Lan Yu Ming Tögüs Temür Northern Yuan
1499day.year

Alonso de Ojeda sets sail from Cádiz on his voyage to what is now Venezuela.

Spanish navigator Alonso de Ojeda set sail from Cádiz in 1499, embarking on an expedition to chart the coast of modern Venezuela.
A veteran of Columbus’s voyages, Alonso de Ojeda obtained royal backing to explore new lands in the wake of Spain’s early successes in the New World. On May 18, 1499, he departed Cádiz with a fleet of three ships, aiming to discover riches and establish Spanish claims. Ojeda’s expedition navigated along the northeastern coast of South America, making contact with indigenous tribes and producing some of the first European maps of Venezuela’s shoreline. Although his venture did not yield vast treasures, it laid the groundwork for subsequent colonization efforts. The voyage enhanced European geographic knowledge and intensified the race for overseas empires.
1499 Alonso de Ojeda Cádiz Venezuela
1565day.year

The Great Siege of Malta begins, in which Ottoman forces attempt and fail to conquer Malta.

The Great Siege of Malta began in 1565, as the Ottoman Empire launched a massive assault on the Knights Hospitaller.
On May 18, 1565, Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent dispatched a formidable force to capture Malta, home to the Knights of St. John. The island’s defenders, under Grand Master Jean de Valette, repelled wave after wave of assaults despite being heavily outnumbered. The siege saw brutal combat at key fortifications such as Fort St. Elmo and Birgu, with both sides suffering immense casualties. After three months of ferocious fighting and dwindling supplies, the Ottomans lifted the siege, marking a turning point in Mediterranean power dynamics. Malta’s successful defense halted Ottoman expansion in the West and became celebrated as a symbol of Christian resistance.
1565 Great Siege of Malta Ottoman Malta
1593day.year

Playwright Thomas Kyd's accusations of heresy lead to an arrest warrant for Christopher Marlowe.

In 1593, playwright Thomas Kyd's allegations of heresy implicate Christopher Marlowe and trigger an arrest warrant, plunging the famed dramatist into mystery.
On May 18, 1593, the aftermath of Thomas Kyd’s interrogation cast suspicion upon Christopher Marlowe, one of the era’s most innovative playwrights. Kyd, detained and accused of heresy, allegedly named Marlowe as a heretical associate, prompting authorities to issue a warrant for his arrest. Forced into hiding, Marlowe’s fate became a subject of intrigue in Elizabethan society, blending literary genius with dangerous religious politics. The episode highlights the precarious position of artists under the scrutiny of the Church and Crown. Marlowe’s subsequent disappearance and mysterious death fueled legends that endure in literary history.
1593 Thomas Kyd heresy Christopher Marlowe
1631day.year

In Dorchester, Massachusetts, John Winthrop takes the oath of office and becomes the first Governor of Massachusetts.

On May 18, 1631, John Winthrop was sworn in as the first Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, laying the foundations of its government.
John Winthrop, one of the leading figures in the Puritan migration, took the oath of office in Dorchester and assumed the governorship of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. His leadership established key principles of self-governance and communal responsibility in the fledgling settlement. Winthrop’s vision of a “city upon a hill” guided colonial policies on religion, law, and social order. Under his authority, Dorchester served as the initial seat of power before the colony’s government moved to Boston. Winthrop’s tenure shaped early American political traditions and the identity of New England.
1631 Dorchester, Massachusetts John Winthrop Governor of Massachusetts