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
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
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
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
1796day.year
War of the First Coalition: In the Battle of Borghetto, Napoleon Bonaparte manages to cross the Mincio River against the Austrian army. This crossing forces the Austrians to abandon Lombardy and retreat to the Tyrol, leaving the fortress of Mantua as the sole remaining Austrian stronghold in Northern Italy.
Napoleon’s forces secure a crucial crossing at the Battle of Borghetto, forcing the Austrians to abandon Lombardy in 1796.
On May 30, 1796, during the War of the First Coalition, General Napoleon Bonaparte leads the French Army of Italy to a decisive crossing at Borghetto.
Facing Austrian forces, he executes a bold maneuver across the Mincio River under heavy fire.
Despite strong resistance, French troops secure the far bank, threatening the Austrian line of retreat.
The victory compels the Austrians to abandon Lombardy and fall back toward the Tyrol.
It leaves Mantua as the only major Austrian stronghold in northern Italy.
Borghetto showcases Napoleon's tactical genius and accelerates his rise to prominence.
1796
War of the First Coalition
Battle of Borghetto
Napoleon Bonaparte
Mincio River
1862day.year
American Civil War: The Siege of Corinth ends in a Union victory, with General Henry Halleck capturing the critical rail junction of Corinth, Mississippi from retreating Confederate forces under General P. G. T. Beauregard.
Union forces captured the vital rail hub at Corinth, Mississippi, concluding the 1862 Siege of Corinth during the American Civil War.
Corinth sat at the junction of two major railroads, making it a strategic objective for both sides. General Henry Halleck assembled Union troops to besiege the town in April 1862. Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard, outnumbered and low on supplies, withdrew under cover of darkness. On May 30, Union forces occupied Corinth with minimal resistance. This victory opened the path for further Union advances into the Confederate heartland and disrupted Southern supply lines.
1862
American Civil War
Siege of Corinth
Union
Henry Halleck
Corinth, Mississippi
Confederate
P. G. T. Beauregard
1941day.year
World War II: Manolis Glezos and Apostolos Santas climb the Athenian Acropolis and tear down the German flag.
Greek resistance fighters climbed the Acropolis and removed the Nazi flag from the Parthenon.
On May 30, 1941, Greek patriots Manolis Glezos and Apostolos Santas defied Nazi occupation by scaling the Athenian Acropolis.
Under cover of darkness, they tore down the swastika flag flying above the Parthenon.
Their daring act became a powerful symbol of resistance across occupied Europe.
News of their deed spread rapidly, inspiring underground movements.
Despite risking execution, the two men evaded capture and continued their fight.
Their courage remains a proud chapter in Greece's struggle during World War II.
1941
World War II
Manolis Glezos
Apostolos Santas
Acropolis
1942day.year
World War II: One thousand British bombers launch a 90-minute attack on Cologne, Germany.
A massive RAF bombing raid pounded Cologne for 90 minutes in the first 1,000-bomber raid of WWII.
On May 30, 1942, the Royal Air Force launched its first 1,000-bomber raid targeting Cologne, Germany.
Over 1,000 heavy bombers dropped destructive payloads, aiming to break German morale.
The 90-minute attack caused extensive damage to industrial and civilian areas.
It marked a shift to area bombing tactics against German cities.
German defenses struggled to counter the unprecedented scale of the raid.
Though civilian casualties were high, the operation demonstrated Allied airpower might.
1942
90-minute attack on Cologne
1943day.year
The Holocaust: Josef Mengele becomes chief medical officer of the Zigeunerfamilienlager (Romani family camp) at Auschwitz concentration camp.
Nazi physician Josef Mengele assumed control of medical operations at the Romani family camp in Auschwitz.
On May 30, 1943, Josef Mengele was appointed chief medical officer of the Zigeunerfamilienlager at Auschwitz.
Known for his cruel experiments, Mengele oversaw the medical selection of Romani prisoners.
Under his watch, families were subjected to inhumane treatment and pseudoscientific study.
This appointment cemented his role in the Holocaust's atrocities.
His actions at Auschwitz contributed to the suffering of thousands of innocent people.
Mengele's legacy is a stark reminder of the perils of unchecked medical authority in wartime.
1943
The Holocaust
Josef Mengele
Romani
Auschwitz concentration camp