May 19

Events - Politics & Government

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
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
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
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
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
1749day.year

King George II of Great Britain grants the Ohio Company a charter of land around the forks of the Ohio River.

King George II chartered the Ohio Company in 1749, opening vast lands along the Ohio River to British settlers.
In 1749, King George II granted a charter to the Ohio Company, opening lands along the Ohio River. The company sought to promote settlement and trade in the western frontier of British North America. Prominent investors included colonial statesmen like Thomas Lee and Christopher Gist. The charter covered vast tracts near the forks of the Ohio, sparking speculation and migration. This move intensified competition with French colonial interests and native tribes. The Ohio Company’s establishment foreshadowed westward expansion and the shaping of America.
1749 George II of Great Britain Ohio Company Ohio River
1802day.year

Napoleon Bonaparte founds the Legion of Honour.

Napoleon Bonaparte established the Legion of Honour in 1802, France’s highest order of merit for military and civil achievements.
In 1802, Napoleon Bonaparte founded the Legion of Honour, France’s premier order of merit. He created it to reward military bravery and civil achievement across all social classes. The order was structured into ranks, from Chevalier to Grand Cross. Its distinctive insignia featured a five-armed Maltese Aigrette and the motto Honneur et Patrie. Napoleon’s initiative professionalized state recognition and inspired similar honors worldwide. The Legion of Honour endures today as a symbol of excellence and national pride in France.
1802 Napoleon Bonaparte Legion of Honour
1828day.year

U.S. President John Quincy Adams signs the Tariff of 1828 into law, sparking outrage in the South and leading to the Nullification crisis.

President John Quincy Adams signed the Tariff of 1828 into law, fueling Southern outrage and igniting the Nullification Crisis.
On May 19, 1828, President John Quincy Adams signed the Tariff of 1828 into law. Known as the 'Tariff of Abominations,' it imposed high duties on imported goods. Northern manufacturers welcomed the protection, while Southern planters decried the increased costs. The measure provoked the Nullification Crisis, as South Carolina asserted states’ rights to reject federal laws. Vice President John C. Calhoun became a leading voice for nullification theory. This clash foreshadowed growing sectional tensions that would culminate in the Civil War.
1828 John Quincy Adams Tariff of 1828 Nullification crisis
1848day.year

Mexican–American War: Mexico ratifies the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo thus ending the war and ceding California, Nevada, Utah and parts of four other modern-day U.S. states to the United States for US$15 million.

Mexico ratified the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, officially ending the Mexican–American War and ceding vast territories to the U.S.
On May 19, 1848, Mexico ratified the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, officially ending the Mexican–American War. The treaty transferred California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of four other states to the United States. Mexico received US$15 million and assumption of certain American claims. This vast land cession reshaped North America’s map and fueled debates over slavery in new territories. The treaty established the Rio Grande as the border between Texas and Mexico. Its legacy influenced U.S. expansion, diplomacy, and territorial politics for decades.
1848 Mexican–American War Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo California Nevada Utah
1900day.year

Great Britain annexes Tonga Island.

Great Britain establishes a protectorate over Tonga, bringing the island nation into its colonial network.
On May 19, 1900, representatives of the British Crown signed a treaty bringing the Kingdom of Tonga under British protection as a sovereign protectorate. This arrangement allowed Tonga to retain its monarchy under King George Tupou II while ceding foreign affairs and defense to Britain. The annexation reflected Britain's strategic interests in the Pacific and its network of naval coaling stations. Tonga's internal governance continued under its own laws, ensuring cultural autonomy for its people. The protected state status remained in place until Tonga achieved full independence on June 4, 1970. Throughout the colonial period, Tongan customs and traditions endured alongside British oversight.
1900 Great Britain Tonga Island
1919day.year

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk lands at Samsun on the Anatolian Black Sea coast, initiating what is later termed the Turkish War of Independence.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk lands in Samsun, sparking the national movement that leads to modern Turkey.
On May 19, 1919, Mustafa Kemal Pasha landed in Samsun on the Anatolian Black Sea coast, defying Allied occupation terms. His arrival marked the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence, rallying nationalist forces. Atatürk organized resistance committees that convened congresses in Erzurum and Sivas to set national objectives. Under his leadership, Turkish forces expelled occupying armies and abolished the Ottoman sultanate in 1922. The movement laid the foundation for the Republic of Turkey, officially proclaimed on October 29, 1923. May 19th is celebrated in Turkey as Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day in honor of this historic landing.
1919 Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Samsun Anatolian Black Sea Turkish War of Independence