May 28

Events

585 BC

A solar eclipse occurs, as predicted by the Greek philosopher and scientist Thales, while Alyattes is battling Cyaxares in the Battle of the Eclipse, leading to a truce. This is one of the cardinal dates from which other dates can be calculated. It is also the earliest event of which the precise date is known.

In 585 BC, Greek philosopher Thales predicts a solar eclipse that interrupts the Battle of the Eclipse between Alyattes and Cyaxares, leading to a truce.
Greek philosopher and scientist Thales is said to have predicted the solar eclipse of May 28, 585 BC. The eclipse occurs during the Battle of the Eclipse between the Lydian king Alyattes and the Median king Cyaxares. Stunned by the sudden darkness, the warring armies call a truce and negotiate peace. This event becomes a pivotal reference point in ancient chronology, allowing historians to anchor other dates. It is also recognized as the earliest historical event for which an exact date is known, highlighting Thales' contributions to early scientific thought.
585 BC solar eclipse Thales Alyattes Cyaxares
621day.year

Battle of Hulao: Li Shimin, the son of the Chinese emperor Gaozu, defeats the numerically superior forces of Dou Jiande near the Hulao Pass (Henan). This victory decides the outcome of the civil war that followed the Sui dynasty's collapse in favour of the Tang dynasty.

In 621, Prince Li Shimin wins the Battle of Hulao Pass, crushing Dou Jiande’s larger army and securing a decisive victory for the Tang dynasty.
During the civil war that followed the fall of the Sui dynasty, Li Shimin, son of Emperor Gaozu, confronts the forces of warlord Dou Jiande near Hulao Pass in Henan. Despite being outnumbered, Tang troops use superior tactics and leadership to rout the enemy. This victory at Hulao Pass effectively ends resistance to the nascent Tang dynasty. The triumph solidifies Li Shimin's reputation as a military strategist and paves the way for his eventual ascension as Emperor Taizong. The outcome shapes the future of Chinese imperial rule and marks a turning point in the early Tang era.
621 Battle of Hulao Li Shimin Gaozu Dou Jiande Hulao Pass Henan civil war Sui dynasty Tang dynasty
1242day.year

Avignonet massacre: A group of Cathars, with the probable connivance of Count Raymond VII of Toulouse, murdered the inquisitor William Arnaud and eleven of his companions.

In 1242, Cathar sympathizers ambush and kill inquisitor William Arnaud and his companions at Avignonet, deepening the conflict between heretics and the Catholic Church.
The Avignonet massacre occurs when a group of Cathars, possibly aided by Count Raymond VII of Toulouse, attacks and slays the Dominican inquisitor William Arnaud and eleven of his associates. The ambush takes place near Avignonet in southern France amid growing tensions over the Albigensian Crusade. This violent act signals the fierce resistance of the Cathar movement against papal authority. It escalates the brutal campaign to eradicate heresy in the Languedoc region. The massacre underscores the deadly stakes of religious conflict in medieval Europe and the lengths to which both sides would go in the name of faith.
1242 Avignonet massacre Cathars Raymond VII of Toulouse William Arnaud
1533day.year

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, declares the marriage of King Henry VIII of England to Anne Boleyn valid.

On May 28, 1533, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer validates King Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne Boleyn, a pivotal act in England’s break with the Catholic Church.
Amid King Henry VIII's quest for a male heir and desire to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer declares the royal union with Anne Boleyn valid. This bold declaration contravenes papal authority and solidifies the King's control over ecclesiastical matters. Cranmer's decision lays the groundwork for the English Reformation and the establishment of the Church of England. It marks a defining moment in Tudor history, reshaping religious and political landscapes. The act accelerates Henry's split from Rome and leads to profound changes in English society and governance.
1533 Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer Henry VIII Anne Boleyn
1588day.year

The Spanish Armada, with 130 ships and 30,000 men, sets sail from Lisbon, Portugal, heading for the English Channel. (It will take until May 30 for all ships to leave port.)

In 1588, the Spanish Armada sets sail from Lisbon with over 130 ships and 30,000 men, aiming to invade England and reverse Protestant gains.
Ordered by King Philip II of Spain, the Armada departs Lisbon on May 28, 1588, embarking on a formidable naval expedition against England. Consisting of 130 warships and support vessels carrying some 30,000 soldiers and sailors, the fleet's mission is to secure control of the English Channel for an invasion. The Armada's departure marks the culmination of escalating religious and political tensions between Catholic Spain and Protestant England. Adverse weather, logistical challenges, and the agility of the English navy soon hamper the fleet's progress. Although the Armada initially appears unstoppable, the campaign ultimately fails, reshaping the balance of naval power in Europe.
1588 Spanish Armada Lisbon English Channel
1644day.year

English Civil War: Bolton Massacre by Royalist troops under the command of James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby.

On May 28, 1644, Royalist forces under the Earl of Derby massacre civilians and garrison troops in Bolton during the English Civil War.
The Bolton Massacre occurs when Royalist soldiers commanded by James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, storm the Parliamentarian-held town of Bolton in Lancashire. Over the course of two days, the attackers kill up to 1,600 defenders and noncombatants in one of the war's most notorious atrocities. The brutal action underscores the ferocity and personal vendettas that characterized the English Civil War. Parliamentarian morale is shaken by the massacre's scale and brutality. The event becomes emblematic of the conflict's bitter divisions and the heavy toll exacted on local communities.
1644 English Civil War Bolton Massacre Royalist James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby
1754day.year

French and Indian War: In the first engagement of the war, Virginia militia under the 22-year-old Lieutenant colonel George Washington defeat a French reconnaissance party in the Battle of Jumonville Glen in what is now Fayette County in southwestern Pennsylvania.

In 1754, a young Lieutenant Colonel George Washington leads Virginia militia to victory against a French reconnaissance party at the Battle of Jumonville Glen.
In the opening clash of the French and Indian War, 22-year-old George Washington and his Virginia militia ambush a French reconnaissance force at Jumonville Glen in southwestern Pennsylvania. The surprise attack results in the death of the French commander Joseph Coulon de Jumonville and several of his men. This skirmish escalates regional tensions into a wider conflict between Britain and France over North American territories. Washington's leadership and the engagement's diplomatic fallout contribute significantly to his emerging reputation. The battle's aftermath sets the stage for a protracted struggle that will shape the future of the continent.
1754 French and Indian War Virginia militia Lieutenant colonel George Washington Battle of Jumonville Glen Fayette County Pennsylvania
1802day.year

In Guadeloupe, 400 rebellious slaves, led by Louis Delgrès, blow themselves up rather than submit to Napoleon's troops.

In 1802, Louis Delgrès and 400 rebellious slaves in Guadeloupe choose mass suicide by explosion over surrender to Napoleon’s forces.
During France's attempt to reassert colonial control over Guadeloupe, former French revolutionary Louis Delgrès leads a band of 400 enslaved people in armed resistance. On May 28, 1802, facing overwhelming odds against Napoleon's troops, Delgrès and his followers detonate their fort's powder magazine. The explosion kills many resisters and stands as a desperate act of defiance against reimposed slavery. Delgrès' sacrifice becomes a symbol of the fight for freedom and human dignity. The event highlights the brutal realities of colonial repression and the enduring struggle against oppression in the Caribbean.
1802 Guadeloupe Louis Delgrès Napoleon
1830day.year

U.S. President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act which denies Native Americans their land rights and forcibly relocates them.

On May 28, 1830, President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act, authorizing the forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands.
The Indian Removal Act grants the U.S. federal government authority to negotiate land-exchange treaties with Native American tribes in the southeastern United States. Proponents, led by President Andrew Jackson, argue the policy will protect indigenous peoples from encroaching settlers. In practice, it results in the coercion and displacement of thousands of Native Americans, including the Cherokee, Creek, and Choctaw nations. The forced marches known as the Trail of Tears cause widespread suffering and significant loss of life. The act profoundly alters the landscape of American society and leaves a lasting legacy of injustice and displacement.
1830 U.S. President Andrew Jackson Indian Removal Act Native Americans
1871day.year

The Paris Commune falls after two months.

After a two-month rule, the revolutionary Paris Commune is suppressed on May 28, 1871, ending a radical experiment in worker-led government.
The Paris Commune rises after France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and the collapse of the Second Empire. On May 28, 1871, government troops retake the city in a final assault during the Bloody Week (La Semaine Sanglante). The suppression results in thousands of deaths and the arrest of many working-class insurgents and civilians. The Commune's radical policies, including workers' control of industry and secular education, leave a lasting influence on socialist and anarchist movements. Its fall marks a tragic end to one of modern history's most famous uprisings and continues to inspire debates on democracy and social justice.
1871 Paris Commune
1892day.year

In San Francisco, John Muir organizes the Sierra Club.

John Muir founds the Sierra Club in San Francisco, marking a major milestone in American conservation.
On May 28, 1892, naturalist John Muir spearheaded the founding of the Sierra Club with a mission to preserve the Sierra Nevada mountains. The organization quickly became a leading force in the early American conservation movement, advocating for the protection of wilderness areas and the creation of national parks. Through scientific research, legal action, and public outreach, the Sierra Club influenced landmark legislation protecting Yosemite and other iconic landscapes. Over the decades, it expanded its focus to include climate change, clean energy, and public lands management. Today, the Sierra Club remains one of the oldest and most influential grassroots environmental organizations in the United States, inspiring conservation efforts around the world.
1892 San Francisco John Muir Sierra Club
1905day.year

Russo-Japanese War: The Battle of Tsushima ends with the destruction of the Russian Baltic Fleet by Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō and the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō's fleet decisively defeats the Russian Baltic Fleet at the Battle of Tsushima, shifting the balance in the Russo-Japanese War.
On May 28, 1905, the naval Battle of Tsushima concluded when Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō led the Imperial Japanese Navy to a crushing victory over the Russian Baltic Fleet in the Tsushima Strait. This decisive engagement shattered Russia's naval power, with most of its ships sunk or captured. The battle demonstrated the effectiveness of modern naval tactics, wireless communications, and well-trained crews. Japan's triumph at Tsushima forced Russia to seek peace, leading to the Treaty of Portsmouth later that year. The outcome marked the first time an Asian power had defeated a European empire in a major conflict, altering global perceptions of naval supremacy and geopolitical influence.
1905 Russo-Japanese War Battle of Tsushima Baltic Fleet Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō Imperial Japanese Navy