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
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
1883day.year
Alexander III is crowned Tsar of Russia.
Alexander III is crowned Tsar of Russia, ushering in an era of conservative policies and autocratic rule.
On May 27, 1883, Alexander III was officially crowned Emperor of Russia at the Dormition Cathedral in the Kremlin. His ascension followed the assassination of his reform-minded father, Alexander II, two years earlier. During his coronation ceremony, Alexander pledged to uphold autocratic rule and strengthen the Russian Empire’s unity. Known for his reactionary stance, he reversed many of his father’s liberal reforms and expanded the policy of Russification across diverse nationalities. Despite his conservative domestic agenda, Alexander III oversaw significant industrial growth and the expansion of the Trans-Siberian Railway. His reign maintained peace with European powers, earning him the nickname 'Peacemaker Tsar.' The policies established during his coronation set the course for Russia on the eve of the 20th century.
1883
Alexander III
1917day.year
Pope Benedict XV promulgates the 1917 Code of Canon Law, the first comprehensive codification of Catholic canon law in the legal history of the Catholic Church.
Pope Benedict XV promulgates the first comprehensive Code of Canon Law, unifying centuries of Church regulations into a single legal framework.
On May 27, 1917, Pope Benedict XV formally promulgated the 1917 Code of Canon Law, representing the first systematic consolidation of Catholic Church legislation. The code brought together papal decrees, council canons, and centuries of ecclesiastical tradition into a coherent legal system. Initiated by Pope Pius X in 1904, the codification process aimed to simplify and clarify church governance for bishops, clergy, and lay faithful worldwide. Comprising over 2,400 canons, the code addressed matters of doctrine, sacraments, clerical discipline, and church administration. It remained the principal legal reference for the Church until the Second Vatican Council prompted its revision in the 1980s. The 1917 Code shaped modern canon law practice and underscored the Church's commitment to legal order. Its promulgation remains a landmark in religious and legal history.
1917
Pope Benedict XV
1917 Code of Canon Law
codification
Catholic canon law
legal history of the Catholic Church
1933day.year
New Deal: The U.S. Federal Securities Act is signed into law requiring the registration of securities with the Federal Trade Commission.
In 1933, President Roosevelt signed the Federal Securities Act, establishing federal oversight of securities trading.
On May 27, 1933, the U.S. Federal Securities Act became law as part of the New Deal.
It required companies to register securities with the Federal Trade Commission and disclose financial information.
The act aimed to restore investor confidence after the 1929 stock market crash.
It introduced transparency and accountability to the capital markets.
This legislation laid the foundation for modern securities regulation in the United States.
1933
New Deal
Federal Securities Act
Federal Trade Commission
1935day.year
New Deal: The Supreme Court of the United States declares the National Industrial Recovery Act to be unconstitutional in A.L.A. Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States, (295 U.S. 495).
In 1935, the Supreme Court struck down the National Industrial Recovery Act in the A.L.A. Schechter Poultry case.
On May 27, 1935, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in A.L.A. Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States.
The justices held the National Industrial Recovery Act unconstitutional for exceeding congressional power.
The decision marked a significant check on President Roosevelt's New Deal legislation.
It forced the administration to seek alternative methods for economic recovery.
This ruling reshaped the balance of power between the federal government and the economy.
1935
Supreme Court of the United States
National Industrial Recovery Act
A.L.A. Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States
1941day.year
World War II: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaims an "unlimited national emergency".
On May 27, 1941, President Roosevelt declared an "unlimited national emergency" as the United States prepared for war.
Facing global conflict, Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed an unlimited national emergency on May 27, 1941.
This declaration granted the president broad powers to allocate resources and personnel.
It allowed for expanded military production and coordination with Allied nations.
The emergency status remained in effect until the end of World War II.
It marked a pivotal step in America's transition from neutrality to active engagement.
1941
Franklin D. Roosevelt
1960day.year
In Turkey, a military coup removes President Celâl Bayar and the rest of the democratic government from office.
On May 27, 1960, the Turkish military staged a coup d'etat, ousting President Celal Bayar and his government. This marked the first military intervention in Turkey's democratic process.
The coup was orchestrated by a faction of mid-ranking officers who formed the National Unity Committee. Citing political instability, economic challenges, and concerns over authoritarianism, they seized control of parliament and national institutions. President Celal Bayar and Prime Minister Adnan Menderes were arrested and detained on Yassıada Island. The military dissolved the ruling Democrat Party and imposed nationwide martial law. It marked a decisive end to the party's decade in power and initiated a period of direct military governance. The event set a precedent for future interventions by the Turkish armed forces and reshaped the nation's civil-military relations.
1960
Turkey
military coup
Celâl Bayar