May 22
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Abolition Day(Martinique)
Abolition Day in Martinique commemorates the 1848 decree that abolished slavery in the French colony, celebrated with ceremonies and cultural events.
Aromanian National Day(marginal, celebration on May 23 is more common)
Aromanian National Day honors the culture, language, and heritage of the Aromanian people through gatherings, music, and folklore activities.
Christianfeast day:
Castus and Emilius, Fulk, Humilita, Michael Hồ Đình Hy(one ofVietnamese Martyrs), Quiteria, Rita of Cascia, Romanus of Subiaco, May 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Multiple Christian saints are honored today in Western and Eastern liturgies, including Castus and Emilius, St. Rita of Cascia, and Vietnamese martyr Michael Hồ Đình Hy.
Harvey Milk Day(California)
Harvey Milk Day honors the legacy of the pioneering gay rights activist and politician who fought for equality and social justice in California.
International Day for Biological Diversity(International)
The International Day for Biological Diversity raises awareness about the importance of biodiversity for sustaining life and ecological balance.
United States National Maritime Day
National Maritime Day in the US honors the contributions of the maritime industry and merchant marine to the nation’s commerce and defense.
National Sovereignty Day (Haiti)
Haiti’s National Sovereignty Day commemorates the historic victory at the Battle of Vertières in 1803, a key moment in the nation’s fight for independence.
Republic Day (Sri Lanka)
Republic Day in Sri Lanka commemorates the country’s transition to a republic in 1972, marking full independence and the adoption of a new constitution.
Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas from Myra to Bari(Ukraine)
The Orthodox Church in Ukraine commemorates the 1087 translation of Saint Nicholas’s relics from Myra to Bari with solemn liturgies and processions.
Events
Dong Zhuo is assassinated by his adopted son Lü Bu.
In 192, Chinese warlord Dong Zhuo was assassinated by his adopted son Lü Bu, shaking the Han dynasty’s court.
Fourteenth recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet.
In 760, Halley’s Comet completed its fourteenth recorded perihelion passage, captivating medieval sky watchers.
A Byzantine fleet sacks and destroys undefended Damietta in Egypt.
In 853, a Byzantine naval force attacked and razed the undefended port of Damietta in Egypt.
The Hashshashin (Assassins) attempt to assassinate Saladin near Aleppo.
In 1176, Nizari Ismaili Assassins launched a bold plot to kill Saladin near Aleppo but failed.
King John of England and King Philip II of France sign the Treaty of Le Goulet.
In 1200, King John of England and King Philip II of France signed the Treaty of Le Goulet, redefining their feudal relationship.
Henry Raspe is elected anti-king of the Kingdom of Germany in opposition to Conrad IV.
In 1246, Henry Raspe was proclaimed anti-king of Germany, challenging Emperor Conrad IV.
Serbian King Stefan Uroš I and the Republic of Venice sign a peace treaty.
In 1254, King Stefan Uroš I of Serbia and the Republic of Venice concluded a peace treaty, easing Adriatic tensions.
Brussels massacre: An estimated 13 Jews are murdered and the rest of the Jewish community is banished from Brussels, Belgium, for allegedly desecrating consecrated Host.
In 1370, Brussels witnessed a massacre of Jews and the expulsion of survivors amid accusations of host desecration.
Pope Gregory XI issues five papal bulls to denounce the doctrines of English theologian John Wycliffe.
In 1377, Pope Gregory XI condemned John Wycliffe’s reformist teachings by issuing five papal bulls.
Births
Itzam K'an Ahk I
Itzam K'an Ahk I was a 7th-century Mayan ruler of the city-state Ucanal in present-day Guatemala.
Su Xun
Su Xun was a Northern Song dynasty Chinese essayist renowned for his critical thinking and prose style.
Annamacharya
Annamacharya was a 15th-century Hindu saint and composer celebrated for his devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateswara.
Edward Seymour
Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford, was an English nobleman and diplomat at the Tudor court.
Louis de Buade de Frontenac
Louis de Buade de Frontenac was a French soldier and the third Governor General of New France.
Gabriël Grupello
Gabriël Grupello was a Flemish Baroque sculptor renowned for his dynamic religious and allegorical works.
Richard Brakenburgh
Richard Brakenburgh was a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his lively genre scenes and tavern interiors.
Magnus Stenbock
Magnus Stenbock was a Swedish field marshal who achieved a major victory at the Battle of Gadebusch during the Great Northern War.
Daniel Gran
Daniel Gran was an Austrian painter of the Rococo period, celebrated for his grand frescoes in churches and palaces.
Deaths
Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo was a powerful Chinese warlord and politician of the late Eastern Han dynasty. He is known for his ruthless tactics and brief but influential grip on China's imperial government.
Constantine the Great
Constantine the Great was Roman emperor from 306 to 337 AD and the first ruler to convert to Christianity.
Empress Genshō was the 44th monarch of Japan, reigning from 715 to 724 AD as one of the few ruling empresses in Japanese history.
Emperor Go-Reizei was the 70th emperor of Japan, ruling from 1045 until his death in 1068.
Saint Humility
Saint Humility was an Italian nun who founded the Vallumbrosan convent and was canonized for her devout life and charitable works.
Blanche of England
Blanche of England was a 15th-century English princess, the youngest daughter of King Henry IV and the sister of King Henry V.
Edmund Beaufort
Edmund Beaufort was the 2nd Duke of Somerset and a prominent English military commander during the Wars of the Roses.
Thomas Clifford
Thomas Clifford was the 8th Baron de Clifford, an English nobleman and Lancastrian commander during the Wars of the Roses.
Henry Percy
Henry Percy was the 2nd Earl of Northumberland and a leading English commander in the Wars of the Roses.