1096day.year
Count Emicho enters Mainz, where his followers massacre Jewish citizens. At least 600 Jews are killed.
In May 1096, crusader bands led by Count Emicho descended on Mainz and carried out a brutal pogrom against its Jewish population, killing at least 600 men, women, and children.
In May 1096, emboldened crusader mobs under Count Emicho of Flonheim besieged the Jewish quarter of Mainz, accusing its residents of impeding Christian pilgrims.
The attackers demanded conversion, seized property, and unleashed indiscriminate violence over several days.
Local authorities were powerless to stop the bloodshed as the mob slaughtered at least 600 Jewish men, women, and children.
This massacre marked one of the earliest large-scale anti-Jewish pogroms linked to the fervor of the First Crusade.
It set a grim precedent for further violence against Jewish communities along the Rhine.
Historians view the Mainz atrocity as a tragic reflection of medieval intolerance and religious zealotry.
1096
Count Emicho
Mainz
massacre Jewish citizens
1120day.year
Richard III of Capua is anointed as Prince two weeks before his untimely death.
Richard III of Capua was ceremonially anointed Prince in 1120, only to die unexpectedly two weeks later.
On May 27, 1120, Richard III of Capua underwent a formal anointing ceremony as Prince of Capua, solidifying his dynastic claim.
The event took place in the heart of his Italian principality, attended by high-ranking nobles and clergy.
Despite the grandeur of his elevation, Richard’s reign was cut tragically short when he died suddenly just two weeks afterward.
His unexpected death plunged Capua into a succession crisis, with rival factions vying for power.
The brief tenure and abrupt end of Richard III’s rule underscored the fragility of medieval principalities and the perils of hereditary politics.
His passing reshaped the balance of influence among the Norman states in southern Italy.
1120
Richard III of Capua
Prince
1153day.year
Malcolm IV becomes King of Scotland.
At just twelve years old, Malcolm IV ascended the Scottish throne in 1153 following the death of his grandfather, King David I.
On May 27, 1153, Malcolm IV was crowned King of Scotland at Scone, succeeding his grandfather, David I.
Nicknamed "Malcolm the Maiden" due to his reputed piety and youth, he was only around twelve years old at his accession.
His reign witnessed efforts to maintain stability amid pressures from powerful nobles and encroaching English interests.
Malcolm renewed oaths of loyalty with neighboring rulers and confirmed land rights to secure internal peace.
Despite his youth, he took active steps to uphold the administrative reforms initiated by David I.
Malcolm’s unexpected early death in 1165 at age 24 left his kingdom in the hands of his brother William, shaping Scotland’s medieval trajectory.
1153
Malcolm IV
1199day.year
John is crowned King of England.
John, youngest son of Henry II, was crowned King of England on this day in 1199, beginning a reign that would ultimately lead to the Magna Carta.
On May 27, 1199, John, the youngest son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey.
He succeeded his brother, Richard the Lionheart, and faced immediate challenges to his claim, including rival nephew Arthur of Brittany.
Archbishop Hubert Walter officiated the coronation, aiming to legitimize John’s rule amid noble dissent.
John’s reign would become infamous for heavy taxation, disputes with the barons, and conflicts with the Church.
Tensions with his barons culminated in the sealing of the Magna Carta in 1215, a landmark in constitutional history.
Despite his controversies, John’s reign significantly shaped the evolution of English law and governance.
1199
John
1257day.year
Richard of Cornwall, and his wife, Sanchia of Provence, are crowned King and Queen of the Germans at Aachen Cathedral.
Richard of Cornwall and his wife Sanchia of Provence were crowned King and Queen of the Romans at Aachen Cathedral in 1257, marking his election as German monarch.
On May 27, 1257, Richard of Cornwall was crowned King of the Romans, the title for the German king-elect, at the historic Aachen Cathedral, alongside his wife, Sanchia of Provence.
He secured the throne by paying hefty sums to the prince-electors, reflecting the era’s complex electoral politics.
Richard’s dual role as English prince and German monarch required him to split his time and attention between his realms.
Sanchia’s presence at Aachen underscored the importance of dynastic alliances in strengthening royal legitimacy.
Although crowned with full ceremony, Richard’s practical influence in Germany remained limited by local power struggles.
His reign highlighted the transactional nature of medieval imperial elections and foreshadowed the challenges of multi-territorial rule.
1257
Richard of Cornwall
Sanchia of Provence
Aachen Cathedral
1644day.year
Manchu regent Dorgon defeats rebel leader Li Zicheng of the Shun dynasty at the Battle of Shanhai Pass, allowing the Manchus to enter and conquer the capital city of Beijing.
In 1644, Manchu regent Dorgon routed rebel leader Li Zicheng at Shanhai Pass, paving the way for Qing forces to seize Beijing and establish their dynasty.
On May 27, 1644, Manchu forces under regent Dorgon decisively defeated the Shun dynasty’s rebel army led by Li Zicheng at the strategic Shanhai Pass.
This victory opened the gates to Beijing just as the Ming capital was reeling from internal rebellion.
The Manchus formed an alliance with defected Ming generals, using their support to legitimize the Qing advance.
Following the battle, Dorgon’s troops marched into a largely undefended Beijing, proclaiming the start of Qing rule.
The fall of Beijing marked the end of the Ming dynasty and the consolidation of Manchu authority across China.
This turning point ushered in nearly three centuries of Qing dynasty governance, profoundly shaping China’s imperial history.
1644
Manchu
Dorgon
Li Zicheng
Shun dynasty
Battle of Shanhai Pass
1703day.year
Tsar Peter the Great founds the city of Saint Petersburg.
Peter the Great officially founded Saint Petersburg in 1703 on the Neva River delta as Russia’s new 'window to Europe'.
On May 27, 1703, Tsar Peter I of Russia laid the foundations for Saint Petersburg on marshy islands along the Neva River, intending to secure a Baltic port.
Amid the Great Northern War against Sweden, the site was chosen for its strategic access to European trade routes.
Peter ordered the construction of the Peter and Paul Fortress, initiating an ambitious city-building project.
European architects and artisans were invited to design grand boulevards and baroque palaces, reflecting Peter’s vision of modernization.
By 1712, Saint Petersburg had become Russia’s capital, symbolizing the empire’s shift toward Western ideas and culture.
The city’s founding marked a major milestone in Russian history, transforming its geopolitical and cultural landscape.
1703
Peter the Great
Saint Petersburg
1798day.year
The Pitt–Tierney duel takes place on Putney Heath outside London. A bloodless duel between the Prime Minister of Great Britain William Pitt the Younger and his political opponent George Tierney.
On Putney Heath in 1798, Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger and opposition leader George Tierney faced off in a pistol duel that ended without injury.
On May 27, 1798, political tensions in London culminated in a rare duel on Putney Heath between Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger and Whig leader George Tierney.
The dispute arose from bitter parliamentary debates on war policy and alleged personal insults.
Both men exchanged pistol shots at the agreed distance but intentionally aimed wide to avoid fatal harm.
Witnessed by seconds and aides, the duel defused a volatile political feud without bloodshed.
Though illegal, the event captured public imagination and underscored the era’s notions of honor among gentlemen.
In the aftermath, both statesmen resumed their roles in government, their political rivalry left largely intact.
1798
Pitt–Tierney duel
Putney Heath
London
duel
Prime Minister of Great Britain
William Pitt the Younger
George Tierney
1798day.year
The Battle of Oulart Hill takes place in Wexford, Ireland; Irish rebel leaders defeat and kill a detachment of militia.
During the Irish Rebellion of 1798, United Irishmen rebels achieved a dramatic victory against government militia at Oulart Hill near Wexford.
On May 27, 1798, rebel forces in County Wexford ambushed and routed a government militia detachment at Oulart Hill.
Led by local United Irishmen, the insurgents used guerrilla tactics and intimate knowledge of the terrain.
The militia suffered heavy casualties, including the death of their commanding officers, while rebel losses were minimal.
This victory emboldened the rebellion in Wexford, encouraging more volunteers to join the uprising.
Though ultimately suppressed later that summer, the battle became a symbol of Irish resistance.
Oulart Hill remains remembered in nationalist memory as a bold assertion of local defiance against British rule.
Battle of Oulart Hill
Wexford
1799day.year
War of the Second Coalition: Austrian forces defeat the French at Winterthur, Switzerland.
Austrian troops secured a key victory over French forces at Winterthur in 1799, shaping the Swiss theater of the War of the Second Coalition.
On May 27, 1799, during the War of the Second Coalition, Austrian forces under Archduke Charles clashed with French troops at Winterthur near Zurich.
The Austrians won a decisive engagement, forcing the French to withdraw and consolidating Allied control over northeastern Switzerland.
Winterthur’s strategic position at the junction of several Alpine passes made it vital for supply lines and troop movements.
This success bolstered Coalition morale and disrupted French plans to dominate the Swiss plateau.
Despite later reversals elsewhere, the battle at Winterthur demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated Austrian-Russian operations.
It stands as a notable episode in the shifting fortunes of Europe’s revolutionary and coalition armies.
1799
War of the Second Coalition
Austrian
French
Winterthur
1813day.year
War of 1812: In Canada, American forces capture Fort George.
American troops capture Fort George in Canada during the War of 1812, gaining a strategic foothold on the Niagara frontier.
On May 27, 1813, during the War of 1812, US forces under General Henry Dearborn launched a successful operation against Fort George on the Canadian side of the Niagara River. Fort George was a key British stronghold guarding the approach to the Niagara Peninsula. The American assault overwhelmed the garrison, forcing the British to retreat inland. Securing Fort George allowed the Americans to control the river crossing and supply lines in the region. This victory boosted American morale and set the stage for further advances into Upper Canada. However, supply issues and counterattacks would later complicate the American position. The capture of Fort George marked one of the first major US successes on Canadian soil in the conflict.
1813
War of 1812
Fort George
1860day.year
Giuseppe Garibaldi begins the Siege of Palermo, part of the wars of Italian unification.
Giuseppe Garibaldi initiates the Siege of Palermo to challenge Bourbon rule in Sicily as part of the Italian unification movement.
On May 27, 1860, the Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi initiated the Siege of Palermo, aiming to overthrow Bourbon control in Sicily. Commanding his famous Expedition of the Thousand, Garibaldi coordinated attacks against the fortified positions around the city. The siege involved street fighting and naval support from the Piedmontese fleet. Local Sicilian rebels joined forces with Garibaldi's troops to weaken Bourbon defenses. After intense skirmishes, the city fell in late June, paving the way for the annexation of Sicily to the Kingdom of Sardinia. The capture of Palermo was a critical step in the Italian unification movement. Garibaldi's success at Palermo demonstrated the power of popular uprising combined with military strategy.
1860
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Siege of Palermo
Italian unification