70day.year
Siege of Jerusalem: Titus and his Roman legions breach the Second Wall of Jerusalem. Jewish defenders retreat to the First Wall. The Romans build a circumvallation, cutting down all trees within fifteen kilometres (9.3 mi).
In 70 CE, Roman forces under Titus breached Jerusalem’s second wall, pushing defenders back amid extensive fortifications.
In the spring of 70 CE, during the First Jewish–Roman War, Emperor Vespasian’s son Titus led the Roman legions in a decisive assault on Jerusalem.
As Roman engineers cut down trees and erected a circumvallation around the city, Jewish defenders fell back from the Second Wall to the inner fortifications.
The siege showcased Rome’s military engineering prowess and determination to crush the revolt.
Massive ramparts and siege engines were employed to break through the walls, marking a turning point in the conflict.
The fall of Jerusalem’s outer defenses foreshadowed the city’s eventual destruction and had profound consequences for the Jewish diaspora.
70
Siege of Jerusalem
Titus
Roman legions
Jerusalem
circumvallation
1381day.year
Beginning of the Peasants' Revolt in England.
In 1381, widespread discontent among English peasants erupted into an armed uprising demanding political and economic reforms.
In May 1381, a combination of high taxes, labor shortages and social tensions sparked the Peasants' Revolt across southeastern England.
Led by figures such as Wat Tyler, thousands of peasants marched on London to protest the poll tax and feudal oppression.
The insurgents seized control of key towns, destroyed records of indebtedness, and confronted royal authorities.
King Richard II met the rebels, promising reforms, but the concessions were later revoked and the uprising brutally suppressed.
Although ultimately crushed, the revolt marked a significant challenge to medieval social order and foreshadowed future demands for justice and representation.
1381
Peasants' Revolt
1416day.year
The Council of Constance, called by Emperor Sigismund, a supporter of Antipope John XXIII, burns Jerome of Prague following a trial for heresy.
In 1416, the Council of Constance condemned reformer Jerome of Prague as a heretic and executed him by burning at the stake.
Called by Emperor Sigismund to end the Western Schism, the Council of Constance sought to restore unity in the Church.
Jerome of Prague, a follower of Jan Hus, defended his theological views on the Eucharist and Church reform.
Accused of heresy, Jerome underwent trial and recantation efforts but ultimately refused to abandon his beliefs.
On May 30, 1416, he was led to the stake and executed, becoming a martyr for religious reform.
Jerome’s death fueled calls for change that would resonate throughout Bohemia and the broader Christian world.
1416
Council of Constance
Emperor Sigismund
Antipope John XXIII
Jerome of Prague
heresy
1431day.year
Hundred Years' War: In Rouen, France, the 19-year-old Joan of Arc is burned at the stake by an English-dominated tribunal.
In 1431, Joan of Arc was executed by burning in Rouen after being tried for heresy by an English-backed court.
Captured by Burgundian allies of England in 1430, Joan of Arc was handed over for trial in Rouen.
At just 19 years old, she faced charges of heresy and cross-dressing before an ecclesiastical tribunal dominated by English interests.
Despite her steadfast defense of divine guidance and her pivotal role in lifting the siege of Orléans, she was found guilty.
On May 30, 1431, Joan was burned at the stake, sparking outrage and later canonization as a saint.
Her martyrdom transformed her into a powerful symbol of French national identity and religious faith.
1431
Hundred Years' War
Rouen
Joan of Arc
burned at the stake
1434day.year
Hussite Wars: Battle of Lipany: Effectively ending the war, Utraquist forces led by Diviš Bořek of Miletínek defeat and almost annihilate Taborite forces led by Prokop the Great.
In 1434, Utraquist forces won a decisive victory at the Battle of Lipany, effectively ending the Hussite Wars.
The Battle of Lipany pitted moderate Utraquist Hussites under Diviš Bořek of Miletínek against radical Taborites led by Prokop the Great.
On May 30, 1434, near Lipany in Bohemia, the Utraquists feigned weakness to lure the radicals into a trap.
Once engaged, the Taborites were surrounded and nearly annihilated, suffering heavy casualties.
This triumph by the moderates paved the way for negotiations with the Catholic Church and imperial authorities.
The defeat at Lipany marked the official end of the Hussite Wars and ushered in a period of religious compromise in Bohemia.
1434
Hussite Wars
Battle of Lipany
Utraquist
Taborite
Prokop the Great
1510day.year
During the reign of the Zhengde Emperor, Ming dynasty rebel leader Zhu Zhifan is defeated by commander Qiu Yue, ending the Prince of Anhua rebellion.
In 1510, Ming dynasty forces under Qiu Yue crushed Zhu Zhifan’s Prince of Anhua rebellion, restoring imperial control.
During the Zhengde Emperor’s reign, Zhu Zhifan, Prince of Anhua, led a revolt against corrupt officials in Shaanxi.
In early 1510, the rebel army gathered support from disaffected soldiers and local gentries.
Imperial commander Qiu Yue mobilized loyalist forces to confront the uprising.
On May 30, 1510, the rebels were decisively defeated, effectively ending the Prince of Anhua rebellion.
The suppression reaffirmed Ming central authority and led to harsh punishments for the insurgents, stabilizing the region.
1510
Zhengde Emperor
Ming dynasty
Zhu Zhifan
Prince of Anhua rebellion
1536day.year
King Henry VIII of England marries Jane Seymour, a lady-in-waiting to his first two wives.
On May 30, 1536, King Henry VIII wed Jane Seymour, his third wife and the one who would bear his only legitimate male heir.
Following the execution of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII sought a politically prudent union and chose Jane Seymour, a lady-in-waiting to his former queens.
The royal wedding took place at Hampton Court Palace with modest ceremonies reflecting Seymour’s low profile.
Jane quickly gained the king’s favor through her gentle demeanor and devout piety.
In October 1537, she gave birth to Edward VI, securing the Tudor line, but tragically died days later.
Her marriage to Henry VIII had lasting repercussions on the English succession and court politics.
1536
Henry VIII of England
Jane Seymour
lady-in-waiting
1539day.year
In Florida, Hernando de Soto lands at Tampa Bay with 600 soldiers with the goal of finding gold.
In 1539, explorer Hernando de Soto landed at Tampa Bay with an expedition aiming to discover riches and new territories in Florida.
Departing from Havana with over 600 men, de Soto sought gold and glory in the uncharted lands of La Florida.
On May 30, 1539, he made landfall at modern-day Tampa Bay, marking one of the first European incursions into the North American interior.
The expedition encountered native Calusa tribes, forging tense exchanges that foreshadowed conflict.
De Soto’s party pressed northward, chronicling the region’s geography and indigenous cultures.
Although wealth proved elusive, the voyage opened the southeastern continent to Spanish colonization and map-making.
1539
Florida
Hernando de Soto
Tampa Bay
gold
1574day.year
Henry III becomes King of France.
On May 30, 1574, Henry III became King of France upon his brother’s death, beginning the final Valois reign.
Born Alexandre de Valois, Henry III first ruled as King of Poland before returning to France.
Following the death of his brother Charles IX, he was proclaimed King Henry III on May 30, 1574.
His reign faced intense religious conflict between Catholics and Huguenots during the French Wars of Religion.
Henry’s attempts at political moderation and tolerance proved unpopular with hardliners on both sides.
His death in 1589 ended the Valois dynasty and paved the way for the Bourbon accession under Henry IV.
1574
Henry III
1588day.year
The last ship of the Spanish Armada sets sail from Lisbon heading for the English Channel.
In 1588, the Spanish Armada set sail from Lisbon aiming to invade England, marking a pivotal naval campaign.
Under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia and commissioned by King Philip II, the fleet comprised over 130 ships.
On May 30, 1588, the Armada departed Lisbon, planning to secure control of the English Channel and facilitate a land invasion.
England had been harboring Dutch rebels and privateering Spanish vessels, prompting Philip’s punitive expedition.
The ensuing naval battles tested emerging maritime tactics and the resilience of both navies.
Though ultimately unsuccessful, the Armada’s voyage marked a turning point in the rise of English sea power and decline of Spanish dominance.
1588
Spanish Armada
Lisbon
English Channel
1631day.year
Publication of Gazette de France, the first French newspaper.
The first French newspaper, Gazette de France, is published in 1631, marking a milestone in European journalism.
On May 30, 1631, Théophraste Renaudot publishes the first issue of Gazette de France under royal privilege.
Based in Paris, the gazette carries official announcements, foreign news, and cultural reports.
It establishes the framework for regular news publication in France and influences other European papers.
Issued weekly, the Gazette becomes the voice of the monarchy and a source of information for the public.
This pioneering periodical remains in circulation until the early 20th century, shaping the history of print media.
Its success cements Renaudot's legacy as the father of French journalism.
1631
Gazette de France
1635day.year
Thirty Years' War: The Peace of Prague is signed.
The Peace of Prague is signed in 1635, bringing a temporary halt to hostilities in the Thirty Years' War.
On May 30, 1635, the Peace of Prague is concluded between Emperor Ferdinand II and the Electorate of Saxony.
It reunites many Protestant states of the Holy Roman Empire with the Catholic emperor, ending a major phase of conflict.
The treaty annuls the Edict of Restitution and restores religious rights to Lutheran princes.
External powers such as Sweden and France remain outside the agreement, keeping wider war tensions alive.
Despite its provisions, the peace proves temporary as hostilities resume within months.
The treaty marks a pivotal diplomatic effort to restore imperial authority amid Europe’s devastating war.
1635
Thirty Years' War
Peace of Prague