639day.year
Ashina Jiesheshuai and his tribesmen assaulted Emperor Taizong at Jiucheng Palace.
Ashina Jiesheshuai and his Turkic tribesmen launch an assassination attempt on Emperor Taizong at Jiucheng Palace in 639. This rebellion highlights tensions between the Tang dynasty and Eastern Turkic tribes.
Ashina Jiesheshuai was a prince of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate who felt marginalized under Tang rule. On 19 May 639, he led a group of tribesmen in a daring assault on Jiucheng Palace in Chang'an. The rebels aimed to overthrow Emperor Taizong and restore Turkic independence. The attack ultimately failed as palace guards repelled the assault and arrested the conspirators. Emperor Taizong responded by tightening security and revising frontier policies. The suppression of the plot reinforced Tang authority over the steppes. It also demonstrated the dangers of neglecting border defenses during an era of rapid imperial expansion.
639
Ashina Jiesheshuai
Emperor Taizong
715day.year
Pope Gregory II is elected.
On 19 May 715, Pope Gregory II is elected as head of the Catholic Church. His papacy would later face challenges from Byzantine iconoclasm and Lombard incursions.
Gregory II was elected pope at a time of political and religious turmoil in the Italian peninsula. His election on 19 May 715 marked the beginning of a 13-year pontificate. He strongly opposed Byzantine iconoclasm and defended the veneration of holy images. Gregory also negotiated with the Lombards to protect Papal territories. He fostered missionary activity in Germany by supporting Saint Boniface's efforts. Under his leadership, the papacy grew more independent from Constantinople. His reign set precedents for papal authority in both spiritual and temporal matters.
715
Pope Gregory II
934day.year
The Byzantine Empire reconquers Melitene under the leadership of John Kourkouas.
In 934, Byzantine forces under John Kourkouas recapture Melitene, extending imperial control in the east. This victory represents a crucial triumph in the Byzantine-Arab wars.
John Kourkouas, the strategos of the eastern frontier, led a campaign to seize the fortress city of Melitene from Arab control. On 19 May 934, Byzantine troops stormed the city's defenses after a brief siege. Melitene had served as a launching point for Arab raids into Anatolia for decades. Its reconquest bolstered Byzantine strategic depth and secured trade routes along the upper Euphrates. The victory also enhanced Kourkouas's reputation as one of the empire's most effective generals. Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos rewarded him with honors and extended military reforms. The capture of Melitene set the stage for further Byzantine advances into the Jazira region.
934
Byzantine Empire
Melitene
John Kourkouas
1051day.year
Henry I of France marries the Rus' princess, Anne of Kiev.
Henry I of France marries Anne of Kiev in 1051, forging a dynastic alliance between France and Kievan Rus'.
In 1051, King Henry I of France wed Anne of Kiev, daughter of Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise. The marriage took place at the church of the Abbey of Saint-Médard in Soissons. This alliance strengthened ties between the Capetian monarchy and the emerging Kievan Rus' state. Anne brought Eastern Orthodox practices and cultural influences to the French court. As queen consort, she acted as regent during Henry's absences and introduced administrative reforms. The union produced three children, securing the succession of the Capetian line. Anne's legacy includes the transmission of Slavic art and diplomacy to Western Europe.
1051
Henry I of France
Rus'
Anne of Kiev
1445day.year
John II of Castile defeats the Infantes of Aragon at the First Battle of Olmedo.
John II of Castile defeats the Infantes of Aragon at the First Battle of Olmedo in 1445. This victory affirms his authority over Castile amid internal strife.
The First Battle of Olmedo was fought on 19 May 1445 as part of a civil war within the Crown of Castile. King John II faced off against his brother Henry and Alfonso, the Infantes of Aragon. John secured a decisive victory on the plains near Olmedo, routing the rebel forces. The outcome strengthened royal power and curtailed Aragonese influence in Castilian affairs. Despite the battlefield success, John continued to navigate court factions and noble rivalries. The battle is remembered as a key moment in consolidating the Castilian monarchy. It also foreshadowed the centralization policies pursued by subsequent Spanish monarchs.
1445
John II of Castile
Infantes of Aragon
First Battle of Olmedo
1499day.year
Catherine of Aragon is married by proxy to Arthur, Prince of Wales. Catherine is 13 and Arthur is 12.
Catherine of Aragon, aged 13, is married by proxy to Arthur, Prince of Wales, in 1499. The union laid groundwork for future Anglo-Spanish relations.
On 19 May 1499, Catherine of Aragon and Arthur, Prince of Wales, were joined in marriage by proxy at Medina del Campo. Catherine traveled to England the following year to meet her husband in person. The alliance aimed to solidify peace between England and Spain under the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella. Catherine's youth and royal lineage made her a valuable diplomatic asset. Tragically, Arthur died in 1502, ending the marriage prematurely. Catherine later became the first wife of Arthur's brother, King Henry VIII. Her marriage would ultimately spark religious and political upheaval in England during the Reformation.
1499
Catherine of Aragon
married by proxy
Arthur, Prince of Wales
1535day.year
French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships, 110 men, and Chief Donnacona's two sons (whom Cartier had kidnapped during his first voyage).
French explorer Jacques Cartier embarks on his second voyage to North America in 1535, carrying three ships and 110 men. He also brings two sons of Chief Donnacona as hostages to secure local alliances.
Jacques Cartier set sail on 19 May 1535 from Saint-Malo, France, to expand French claims in the New World. His fleet comprised three vessels and a diverse crew of sailors, soldiers, and craftsmen. Cartier's mission was to find a Northwest Passage to Asia and establish profitable trade. He also retained Chief Donnacona's sons as leverage to build alliances with the Iroquoian peoples. Navigating the St. Lawrence River, Cartier charted new territories and encountered indigenous settlements. The expedition laid early groundwork for the future colony of New France. Despite harsh conditions and navigational challenges, Cartier gathered valuable geographical and ethnographic information.
1535
Jacques Cartier
Chief Donnacona
1536day.year
Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII of England, is beheaded for adultery, treason, and incest.
Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII of England, is executed for adultery, treason, and incest in 1536. Her execution paved the way for Henry VIII's third marriage and further religious transformation.
Anne Boleyn was arrested and charged with adultery, incest, and high treason in April 1536. Her trial convened at the Tower of London drew widespread attention and controversy. On 19 May 1536, she was beheaded on Tower Green before a crowd of onlookers. The charges are now widely regarded as politically motivated, intended to allow Henry VIII to marry Jane Seymour. Anne's death shocked both the English court and European observers. It accelerated the spread of Protestant ideas and reshaped the monarchy's relationship with the Catholic Church. Anne Boleyn's legacy endures as a symbol of ambition and tragic downfall.
1536
Anne Boleyn
Henry VIII of England
1542day.year
The Prome Kingdom falls to the Taungoo Dynasty in present-day Myanmar.
The Prome Kingdom falls to the Taungoo Dynasty in present-day Myanmar in 1542. This conquest marks a crucial step in the reunification of Burma under Taungoo rule.
In 1542, the Taungoo Dynasty under King Tabinshwehti besieged and captured the Prome Kingdom. The fall of Prome ended centuries of fragmentation among Burmese principalities. Tabinshwehti used both military tactics and diplomatic strategies to secure submission. The conquest provided the Taungoo court with strategic access to Upper Burma's trade routes. It also bolstered the kingdom's manpower and resources for further expansion. Prome's annexation paved the way for the Taungoo Empire to become one of Southeast Asia's most powerful states. The unification effort would later influence regional politics and culture.
1542
Prome Kingdom
Taungoo Dynasty
Myanmar
1643day.year
Thirty Years' War: French forces under the duc d'Enghien decisively defeat Spanish forces at the Battle of Rocroi, marking the symbolic end of Spain as a dominant land power.
French forces under the duc d'Enghien achieve a decisive victory at the Battle of Rocroi against Spanish troops in 1643. This battle signals the decline of Spanish military supremacy in Europe.
The Battle of Rocroi took place on 19 May 1643 during the Thirty Years' War. French forces led by the young Louis II de Bourbon, duc d'Enghien, engaged Spanish tercios near the fortified town of Rocroi. Despite facing veteran Spanish infantry, the French executed a bold cavalry charge that broke enemy lines. The victory shattered the myth of Spanish invincibility on land. It marked the beginning of France's rise as the dominant military power in Europe. The battle also influenced European warfare tactics, favoring flexibility over rigid formations. Duc d'Enghien earned the title of Prince of Condé for his leadership at Rocroi.
1643
Thirty Years' War
duc d'Enghien
Battle of Rocroi
1649day.year
An Act of Parliament declaring England a Commonwealth is passed by the Long Parliament. England would be a republic for the next eleven years.
In 1649, the Rump Parliament formally abolished the monarchy in England, declaring the nation a Commonwealth and ushering in over a decade of republican rule.
In 1649, the Rump Parliament formally abolished the monarchy in England.
An Act of Parliament declared the country to be a Commonwealth, making England a republic.
This radical shift followed the execution of King Charles I and civil war turmoil.
For the next eleven years, England was governed without a monarch under parliamentary rule.
Oliver Cromwell emerged as a leading figure, eventually becoming Lord Protector.
The Commonwealth period reshaped ideas about governance and the balance of power in Britain.
1649
Act of Parliament
Commonwealth
Long Parliament
republic
1655day.year
The Invasion of Jamaica begins during the Anglo-Spanish War.
During the Anglo-Spanish War, English forces launched the invasion of Jamaica in 1655, marking the start of British colonial rule.
On May 19, 1655, English forces launched the Invasion of Jamaica during the Anglo-Spanish War.
An expedition under Admiral William Penn and General Robert Venables set sail to seize Spanish territories.
Despite logistical challenges, the English aimed to weaken Spain’s maritime power in the Caribbean.
The capture of Jamaica marked a turning point, establishing a long-lasting British colony.
Jamaica would remain under British rule for over three centuries, profoundly altering its history.
This campaign showcased the global reach of 17th-century European conflicts.
1655
Invasion of Jamaica
Anglo-Spanish War