455day.year
Emperor Petronius Maximus is stoned to death by an angry mob while fleeing Rome.
Emperor Petronius Maximus was violently killed by a Roman mob as he attempted to flee the city.
In 455 AD, with the Western Roman Empire in turmoil, Emperor Petronius Maximus attempted to flee the capital.
Facing widespread resentment for his role in political assassinations and unpopular rule, he sought safety amid the chaos.
An enraged crowd intercepted him outside Rome, displaying the depth of public fury against imperial authority.
The mob brutally stoned him to death, making him one of the few Roman emperors to suffer a violent, public demise.
His fall exemplified the crumbling power of the Western Empire as internal strife and external pressures mounted.
The assassination paved the way for the Vandal sack of Rome later that summer, further hastening the empire's decline.
455
Petronius Maximus
stoned to death
angry mob
Rome
1775day.year
American Revolution: The Mecklenburg Resolves are adopted in the Province of North Carolina.
The Mecklenburg Resolves, asserting local governance, are adopted in North Carolina during the early American Revolution.
On May 31, 1775, delegates in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, adopted the Mecklenburg Resolves amidst growing revolutionary fervor.
The Resolves declared British laws null within the county and asserted local self-governance.
Though distinct from the more famous Mecklenburg Declaration, these measures reflected colonial resistance.
The document urged citizens to arm for defense and established committees to oversee local affairs.
It marked one of the earliest acts of defiance against British authority in the American colonies.
The Resolves helped lay the groundwork for the push toward independence the following year.
1775
American Revolution
Mecklenburg Resolves
Province of North Carolina
1790day.year
The United States enacts its first copyright statute, the Copyright Act of 1790.
The United States enacts its first federal copyright law, establishing legal protection for creative works.
On May 31, 1790, the United States Congress passed the first federal copyright law, the Copyright Act of 1790.
The statute granted authors exclusive rights to their maps, charts, and books for a limited term.
Modeled in part on British legislation, it aimed to promote learning and the progress of useful arts.
The Act required registration and deposit of copies in government archives for official record-keeping.
This landmark law laid the foundation for American copyright doctrine and creative enterprise.
Subsequent amendments would expand protections as technology and publishing evolved.
copyright statute
Copyright Act of 1790
1795day.year
French Revolution: The Revolutionary Tribunal is suppressed.
The Revolutionary Tribunal, infamous for its political trials during the Reign of Terror, was abolished by the National Convention.
The Revolutionary Tribunal was established in 1793 by the Committee of Public Safety to try suspects of counter-revolution. It became synonymous with the Reign of Terror and expedited political killings. Following the fall of Robespierre and growing backlash against mass executions, the National Convention moved to dismantle its most extreme institutions. On May 31, 1795, the Convention formally abolished the Tribunal, ending its summary judgments. The suppression marked a decisive turn towards moderation and paved the way for the Directory government. This act allowed France to begin stabilizing its judiciary and political landscape. The Tribunal's dissolution symbolized the end of revolutionary excesses.
1795
French Revolution
Revolutionary Tribunal
1884day.year
The arrival at Plymouth of Tāwhiao, King of Maoris, to claim the protection of Queen Victoria.
Māori King Tāwhiao arrives in Plymouth to petition Queen Victoria for protection of his people and their lands.
On May 31, 1884, Tāwhiao, the second Māori King, arrived in Plymouth to seek formal protection from Queen Victoria. He led the Kīngitanga movement, which aimed to unite Māori tribes and resist European colonization pressures in New Zealand. His visit to England represented a diplomatic effort to secure Māori land rights under British law. During his stay, Tāwhiao met with colonial officials but was unable to secure the official decree he sought. Nevertheless, the journey raised international awareness of the Māori cause and their grievances. Tāwhiao's mission underscored the complexities of indigenous and colonial relations in the late 19th century. The trip fostered ongoing dialogue that would influence New Zealand's future governance.
1884
Plymouth
Tāwhiao
Maoris
Queen Victoria
1906day.year
The attempted regicide of Spanish King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie on their wedding day instead kills 24
An assassination attempt on the wedding day of Spanish King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie results in 24 bystander deaths.
On May 31, 1906, during the royal wedding procession in Madrid, a bomb was thrown at the carriage of King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie.
The explosive device detonated prematurely, killing 24 spectators and injuring many others.
Despite the chaos, the monarchs emerged unharmed, having narrowly escaped a fatal attack.
This dramatic event highlighted the political tensions and security challenges facing the Spanish monarchy in the early 20th century.
The attempted regicide shocked European courts and led to tightened safety measures at public ceremonies.
1906
The attempted regicide
Alfonso XIII
Victoria Eugenie
their wedding
1910day.year
The South Africa Act comes into force, establishing the Union of South Africa.
The South Africa Act takes effect, uniting British colonies into the Union of South Africa.
On May 31, 1910, the South Africa Act, passed by the British Parliament, officially came into force, merging the Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange River Colony into a single dominion.
The newly formed Union of South Africa operated under a parliamentary system with a Governor-General representing the British Crown.
This unification established centralized governance and set up a bicameral legislature, laying the groundwork for the country's political institutions.
However, the act also institutionalized racial segregation by restricting political rights and land ownership to the white minority.
The union would later evolve through tumultuous decades leading to the apartheid era and its eventual dismantling.
1910
South Africa Act
Union of South Africa
1911day.year
The President of Mexico Porfirio Díaz flees the country during the Mexican Revolution.
Mexican President Porfirio Díaz resigns and flees amid revolutionary uprisings, ending decades of authoritarian rule.
Facing escalating rebellion during the Mexican Revolution, long-time ruler Porfirio Díaz relinquished power and fled Mexico on May 31, 1911.
Díaz’s departure marked the collapse of a 35-year-long presidency characterized by modernization and political repression.
Revolutionary leaders, including Francisco Madero, had mobilized widespread support against Díaz’s centralized authority and electoral fraud.
Díaz's resignation opened the path for democratic reforms and social change, though Mexico would endure years of continued conflict.
His exile in France symbolized the end of an era and the beginning of a tumultuous chapter in Mexican history.
President of Mexico
Porfirio Díaz
Mexican Revolution
1947day.year
Ferenc Nagy, the democratically elected Prime Minister of Hungary, resigns from office after blackmail from the Hungarian Communist Party accusing him of being part of a plot against the state. This grants the Communists effective control of the Hungarian government.
Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Nagy resigns under pressure from the Communist Party, handing the Communists de facto control of the government.
In May 1947, Ferenc Nagy, the democratically elected Prime Minister of Hungary, faced growing pressure from the Soviet-backed Hungarian Communist Party. The Communists accused him of being part of a plot against the state and used blackmail tactics to force his resignation. Under threat of fabricated charges, Nagy stepped down on May 31, leaving a power vacuum in the Hungarian government. This resignation removed a key obstacle to Communist consolidation of power and allowed Mátyás Rákosi to tighten his grip on the country. The event effectively ended Hungary’s multi-party democracy and ushered in decades of one-party rule under Soviet influence. It stands as a stark example of early Cold War political maneuvering in Eastern Europe.
1947
Ferenc Nagy
Prime Minister of Hungary
Hungarian Communist Party
1951day.year
The Uniform Code of Military Justice takes effect as the legal system of the United States Armed Forces.
The Uniform Code of Military Justice becomes the standardized legal framework for all branches of the United States Armed Forces.
On May 31, 1951, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) officially took effect, unifying military law across the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Prior to this, each branch operated under its own separate legal regulations, leading to inconsistencies in discipline and judicial proceedings. The UCMJ established a comprehensive set of statutes, procedures, and courts-martial to ensure fairness and accountability within the military justice system. It addressed issues ranging from courts-martial procedures and punishments to the rights of the accused and the appeals process. By creating a single legal code, Congress aimed to improve efficiency, coherence, and respect for service members’ rights. The UCMJ remains the foundational legal authority governing conduct, discipline, and justice in the U.S. military today.
1951
Uniform Code of Military Justice
United States Armed Forces
1955day.year
The U.S. Supreme Court expands on its Brown v. Board of Education decision by ordering district courts and school districts to enforce educational desegregation "at all deliberate speed."
The U.S. Supreme Court orders district courts to enforce school desegregation "with all deliberate speed," expanding on its landmark Brown v. Board decision.
On May 31, 1955, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in Brown v. Board of Education II, directing that schools across the nation desegregate "with all deliberate speed." This follow-up decision aimed to guide lower federal courts and local school districts in implementing the 1954 unanimous decision that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The Court recognized the complex challenges of dismantling entrenched segregation and called for district-by-district integration plans. Despite its strong language, the ambiguous timeline allowed many jurisdictions to delay meaningful action. Nevertheless, Brown II laid the legal groundwork for future civil rights enforcement and federal intervention. It underscored the judiciary’s commitment to ending racial discrimination in public education and inspired further legislative and social efforts during the Civil Rights Movement.
1955
U.S. Supreme Court
Brown v. Board of Education
district courts
school districts
educational desegregation
1961day.year
The South African Constitution of 1961 becomes effective, thus creating the Republic of South Africa, which remains outside the Commonwealth of Nations until 1 June 1994, when South Africa is returned to Commonwealth membership.
The 1961 South African Constitution comes into force, establishing the Republic of South Africa and departing from the Commonwealth.
On May 31, 1961, South Africa’s new republican constitution officially took effect, transforming the nation from a Union under the British monarchy into an independent republic. This change followed a 1960 referendum among white voters endorsing the break from British rule and the Commonwealth. The move entrenched apartheid policies in a sovereign republic, further isolating South Africa on the international stage. The country withdrew from the Commonwealth, only rejoining in 1994 after the end of apartheid. This constitution solidified the National Party’s authority and defined South African politics until the democratic transition. It remained in place until it was replaced by a new post-apartheid constitution in the early 1990s.
1961
South African Constitution of 1961
Republic of South Africa
Commonwealth of Nations