946day.year
England is left temporarily without a monarch after the death of King Edmund I in a street fight, resulting in Edmund's brother Eadred assuming the throne for the minority of Edmund's two sons.
King Edmund I of England was killed in a street fight, and his brother Eadred succeeded him as king.
On May 26, 946, King Edmund I was fatally wounded during a fight at Pucklechurch in Gloucestershire.
The unexpected death left the English throne without a clear adult ruler, as Edmund's two sons were minors.
Edmund's younger brother, Eadred, was quickly proclaimed king to prevent a power vacuum.
Eadred's ascension ensured the continuity of the House of Wessex's rule over England.
This succession highlighted the fragility of medieval monarchies and the importance of strong heirs.
The event underscored the era's turbulent politics and the constant threat to royal authority.
946
England
Edmund I
Eadred
961day.year
King Otto I elects his six-year-old son Otto II as heir apparent and co-ruler of the East Frankish Kingdom. He is crowned at Aachen, and placed under the tutelage of his grandmother Matilda.
Emperor Otto I crowned his six-year-old son Otto II as co-ruler of the East Frankish Kingdom at Aachen.
On May 26, 961, Emperor Otto I formally declared his son Otto II as heir and co-ruler at Aachen's cathedral.
The young prince, only six years old, was crowned alongside his father to secure dynastic succession.
Otto II was placed under the tutelage of his grandmother, Matilda, to oversee his education and governance.
This co-regency strengthened the stability of the East Frankish Kingdom and deterred rival claims.
Otto I's decision set a precedent for shared imperial rule in the Holy Roman Empire.
The event reinforced the Ottonian dynasty's hold on Central Europe during the medieval era.
961
Otto I
Otto II
heir apparent
East Frankish Kingdom
Aachen
Matilda
1135day.year
Alfonso VII of León and Castile is crowned in León Cathedral as Imperator totius Hispaniae (Emperor of all of Spain).
Alfonso VII was crowned Imperator totius Hispaniae in León Cathedral, declaring himself Emperor of all Spain.
On May 26, 1135, Alfonso VII of León and Castile was anointed emperor in the grand León Cathedral.
He adopted the title Imperator totius Hispaniae, asserting authority over the Christian kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula.
The coronation symbolized his ambition to unify Spain under his rule and to lead the Reconquista against Muslim states.
Nobles and church leaders attended the ceremony, lending religious legitimacy to his imperial claim.
Alfonso's reign marked a high point in medieval Spanish monarchy and influenced Iberian politics for decades.
His imperial title inspired later Spanish rulers to pursue broader territorial and spiritual leadership.
1135
Alfonso VII of León and Castile
León Cathedral
Imperator totius Hispaniae
1328day.year
William of Ockham, the Franciscan Minister-General Michael of Cesena, and two other Franciscan leaders secretly leave Avignon, fearing a death sentence from Pope John XXII.
William of Ockham and other Franciscan leaders secretly fled Avignon to escape a papal death sentence.
On May 26, 1328, philosopher William of Ockham, Michael of Cesena, and fellow Franciscans escaped from Avignon.
Fearing condemnation and execution by Pope John XXII, they slipped away under cover of darkness.
This flight marked a significant clash between the Franciscan order and papal authority over property and poverty debates.
Ockham's subsequent writings in exile laid the groundwork for nominalist philosophy and challenges to church dogma.
Their escape underscored tensions within the medieval church and the growing call for reform.
The event influenced later scholars and foreshadowed the Reformation's questioning of ecclesiastical power.
1328
William of Ockham
Franciscan
Michael of Cesena
Avignon
Pope John XXII
1538day.year
Geneva expels John Calvin and his followers from the city. Calvin lives in exile in Strasbourg for the next three years.
John Calvin and his followers were expelled from Geneva, leading him into exile in Strasbourg.
On May 26, 1538, the government of Geneva voted to exile reformer John Calvin and his followers.
Disputes over church governance and strict moral regulations led to Calvin's departure.
He relocated to Strasbourg, where he continued his work and refined his theological ideas.
During his exile, Calvin forged key alliances and wrote influential treatises on church discipline.
His time in Strasbourg prepared him for his eventual return to Geneva in 1541.
Calvin's expulsion highlighted the turbulent origins of the Protestant Reformation in Europe.
1538
Geneva
John Calvin
Strasbourg
1805day.year
Napoléon Bonaparte assumes the title of King of Italy and is crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy in Milan Cathedral, the gothic cathedral in Milan.
Napoléon Bonaparte assumed the title King of Italy and was crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy in Milan Cathedral.
On May 26, 1805, Napoléon Bonaparte crowned himself King of Italy in a lavish ceremony at the Gothic Milan Cathedral.
He placed the medieval Iron Crown of Lombardy on his own head, symbolizing continuity with historical monarchs.
The coronation reinforced French influence in northern Italy and bolstered Napoleon’s imperial ambitions.
Attended by Italian nobles and clergy, the event showcased grand pageantry and military display.
By adopting a royal title beyond Emperor of the French, Napoleon sought to legitimize his rule across Europe.
The new Kingdom of Italy became a key component of the Napoleonic state until his downfall in 1814.
1805
Napoléon Bonaparte
King of Italy
Iron Crown of Lombardy
Milan Cathedral
gothic cathedral
Milan
1821day.year
Establishment of the Peloponnesian Senate by the Greek rebels.
Greek revolutionaries established the Peloponnesian Senate to govern liberated regions during the Greek War of Independence.
Amid the early stages of the Greek War of Independence, rebels in the Peloponnese formed a provisional governing body on May 26, 1821.
The Peloponnesian Senate coordinated military efforts, managed supplies, and administered justice in liberated territories.
Led by prominent leaders such as Theodoros Kolokotronis, it represented one of the first attempts at Greek self-governance since Ottoman rule.
The Senate issued decrees, collected taxes, and negotiated with local leaders to maintain unity among the fighters.
Though temporary and localized, this institution laid groundwork for the later national government of independent Greece.
The establishment of the Senate remains a milestone in the creation of modern Greek statehood.
1821
Peloponnesian Senate
Greek rebels
1864day.year
Montana is organized as a United States territory.
Montana Territory was officially organized, establishing formal U.S. governance over the region rich in gold and resources.
By an act of Congress on May 26, 1864, the Montana Territory was created from parts of the Idaho Territory.
The move responded to a surge of settlers following gold discoveries at Bannack and Virginia City.
Virginia City was designated the territorial capital and became a hub for commerce and government.
The new territorial government included a governor, secretary, and bicameral legislature to manage law and order.
Territorial laws regulated mining claims, land use, and relations with Native American tribes.
This organization paved the way for Montana’s admission to the Union in 1889 and shaped its early development.
1864
Montana
United States territory
1868day.year
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson: President Andrew Johnson is acquitted by one vote in the United States Senate.
President Andrew Johnson was acquitted in his impeachment trial by a single vote in the U.S. Senate.
On May 26, 1868, the U.S. Senate voted 35 to 19 to acquit President Andrew Johnson of all impeachment charges.
He had been accused of violating the Tenure of Office Act by removing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.
Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase presided over the trial, which captivated the nation’s attention.
Johnson secured his acquittal by persuading moderate Republicans to break ranks with his critics.
Though he remained in office, his political authority was severely weakened for the remainder of his term.
The trial established important precedents regarding the separation of powers and executive removal authority.
1868
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
United States Senate
1879day.year
Russia and the United Kingdom sign the Treaty of Gandamak establishing an Afghan state.
In 1879, the Treaty of Gandamak was signed between Russia and the United Kingdom, creating an autonomous Afghan state under British influence.
In May 1879, amid the Second Anglo-Afghan War, Russia and the United Kingdom signed the Treaty of Gandamak. This agreement recognized Afghanistan as an autonomous state under British influence while delineating spheres of influence. It ceded frontier areas to British India and secured British military roads. The treaty aimed to balance Russian expansion with British interests in South Asia. Afghan ruler Mohammad Yaqub Khan accepted the terms, but the agreement sparked internal unrest. The Treaty of Gandamak marked a key moment in the Great Game of imperial rivalry in Central Asia. It shaped Afghanistan's modern boundary and influenced future diplomatic relations. Although intended to stabilize the region, it left a legacy of foreign intervention.
1879
Russia
Treaty of Gandamak
Afghan state
1896day.year
Nicholas II is crowned as the last Tsar of Imperial Russia.
In 1896, Nicholas II was crowned as the last Tsar of Imperial Russia, ushering in the final reign of the Romanov dynasty.
Nicholas II, son of Alexander III, ascended to the throne in 1894, and on May 26, 1896, he was crowned in a lavish ceremony in Moscow. The coronation featured ornate regalia, imperial rituals, and a dramatic display of autocratic power. It marked the beginning of the last Romanov ruler's reign over the vast Russian Empire. Nicholas II's rule would face mounting social unrest, political turmoil, and the pressures of modernization. He promised reforms but struggled to address the demands of industrial workers and peasants. The coronation era would be overshadowed by events leading to the 1905 Revolution. Ultimately, Nicholas II's reign ended with the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the fall of the monarchy. His legacy remains a subject of debate among historians.
1896
Nicholas II
crowned
Tsar
Imperial Russia
1918day.year
The Democratic Republic of Georgia is established.
In 1918, the Democratic Republic of Georgia declared independence, establishing a brief period of democracy before Soviet rule.
On May 26, 1918, the Democratic Republic of Georgia declared independence from the crumbling Russian Empire. Led by the Menshevik party, the new republic established parliamentary democracy and progressive social reforms. It introduced universal suffrage, land redistribution, and labor legislation. Despite external threats from Bolshevik Russia and internal challenges, it maintained autonomy until 1921. Tbilisi became the capital of an emerging Caucasus state with diplomatic ties to European powers. Cultural and educational institutions flourished during this period of nation-building. Ultimately, the Red Army invaded in 1921, ending the republic and incorporating Georgia into the Soviet Union. The 1918–1921 republic remains a symbol of Georgian self-determination.
1918
Democratic Republic of Georgia