May 21 has witnessed a series of pivotal events throughout history, spanning various centuries and impacting diverse fields such as exploration, politics, art, and science.
From the discovery of remote islands to groundbreaking achievements in aviation, and from the tragic loss of notable figures to the rise and fall of leaders, this date offers a rich tapestry of historical milestones.
This article delves into 20 significant occurrences that have taken place on May 21, providing insights into their historical context and lasting impact on the world.
May 21st – On this Day in History
878 – Syracuse, in Sicily, is captured by the Muslim sultanate of Ifriqiya
In the year 878, the city of Syracuse, located on the island of Sicily, was captured by the Aghlabids, a Muslim dynasty that ruled the region known as Ifriqiya (modern-day Tunisia and eastern Algeria).
This event marked a significant point in the Muslim conquest of Sicily, which had begun in the early 9th century. The capture of Syracuse was part of the broader Arab expansion into the Mediterranean, which saw numerous key cities and regions fall under Muslim control.
Syracuse, with its strategic location and historical significance, was a valuable prize for the Aghlabids.
996 – Sixteen-year-old Otto III is crowned Holy Roman Emperor
On May 21, 996, Otto III was crowned as the Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Gregory V in Rome. Otto III was born in 980 and became King of Germany in 983, following the death of his father, Otto II.
His coronation as Emperor at the young age of sixteen marked the continuation of the Ottonian dynasty’s control over the Holy Roman Empire.
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Otto III was a highly educated and ambitious ruler who sought to revive the glory of the Roman Empire and integrate the cultural and political traditions of the Byzantine and Carolingian Empires.
1216 – French forces led by Prince Louis capture the city of Lincoln
In the context of the First Barons’ War in England, Prince Louis of France (later King Louis VIII) led French forces to capture the city of Lincoln on May 21, 1216.
The conflict arose from a rebellion by English barons against King John, who had become increasingly unpopular due to his heavy taxation and arbitrary rule. The barons invited Prince Louis to take the English throne, and he accepted, leading to his invasion of England.
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The capture of Lincoln was a significant event in this conflict, though Louis’ efforts ultimately failed after the death of King John and the subsequent rallying of support for John’s son, Henry III.
1420 – Treaty of Troyes: Henry V of England and Charles VI of France agree that Henry will marry Charles’ daughter Catherine and inherit the French throne
The Treaty of Troyes, signed on May 21, 1420, was a pivotal agreement during the Hundred Years’ War between England and France. Under the terms of the treaty, King Henry V of England married Catherine of Valois, the daughter of King Charles VI of France.
The treaty stipulated that Henry V and his heirs would inherit the French throne upon Charles VI’s death, effectively disinheriting Charles’ own son, the Dauphin Charles (later Charles VII).
This agreement aimed to bring peace between the two warring nations and unite their crowns. However, Henry V’s premature death in 1422 and the ongoing conflict led to the treaty’s eventual failure, with Charles VII reclaiming the French throne.
1471 – King Henry VI of England is murdered in the Tower of London
On May 21, 1471, King Henry VI of England was murdered in the Tower of London. Henry VI’s reign had been tumultuous, marked by the Wars of the Roses, a series of dynastic conflicts between the houses of Lancaster and York.
Following the decisive Yorkist victory at the Battle of Tewkesbury in May 1471, Henry VI, who had been imprisoned in the Tower, was killed, likely on the orders of Edward IV, the Yorkist king.
Henry VI’s death symbolized the end of significant Lancastrian resistance to Yorkist rule and the consolidation of Edward IV’s power, although the conflict would later resurface in the struggle between Richard III and Henry Tudor.
1502 – The island of Saint Helena is discovered by Portuguese explorer João da Nova
On May 21, 1502, the Portuguese explorer João da Nova discovered the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. Named after Saint Helena of Constantinople, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, the island was uninhabited and provided an important stopover point for ships traveling between Europe and Asia via the Cape of Good Hope.
Saint Helena later became a crucial supply station for ships of the British East India Company and was famously used as the place of exile for Napoleon Bonaparte, who was confined there from 1815 until his death in 1821.
1674 – John Sobieski is elected King of Poland
On May 21, 1674, John Sobieski was elected King of Poland by the Polish nobility. He took the throne as John III Sobieski and reigned until his death in 1696.
Sobieski is best known for his military prowess, particularly his role in the Battle of Vienna in 1683, where he led a coalition of European forces to a decisive victory against the Ottoman Empire, effectively ending the Ottoman advance into Europe.
His reign is often regarded as one of the last periods of strength and stability in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth before its eventual decline.
1725 – The Order of St. Alexander Nevsky is instituted in Russia by Empress Catherine I
On May 21, 1725, Empress Catherine I of Russia established the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. This chivalric order was named in honor of the 13th-century Russian prince and military hero, Alexander Nevsky, who was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church for his defense of the Russian territories against foreign invaders.
The order was intended to reward military officers and civil servants for their exceptional service to the state. It became one of the highest honors in the Russian Empire, symbolizing bravery and dedication.
1780 – The Great Siege of Gibraltar: The first major assault by the Spanish and French forces against the British garrison begins
On May 21, 1780, during the American Revolutionary War, the first major assault by Spanish and French forces on the British garrison in Gibraltar began, marking a significant escalation in the Great Siege of Gibraltar.
The siege, which lasted from 1779 to 1783, was part of the broader conflict as Spain and France sought to capture this strategic British stronghold at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea.
Despite repeated attacks and immense pressure, the British defenders, under the leadership of General George Augustus Eliott, successfully held out, ensuring that Gibraltar remained under British control.
1809 – The first day of the Battle of Aspern-Essling in which Austrian Archduke Charles defeats Napoleon
On May 21, 1809, the Battle of Aspern-Essling began near Vienna, marking the first major defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte in the Napoleonic Wars. The battle took place over two days, with the Austrian forces led by Archduke Charles clashing with Napoleon’s Grande Armée.
The Austrians managed to repel the French attempts to cross the Danube River, inflicting heavy casualties and disrupting Napoleon’s plans.
Although the French were forced to retreat, the battle demonstrated the resilience and effectiveness of the Austrian army. It was a significant morale booster for the anti-French coalition and showed that Napoleon could be challenged on the battlefield.
1856 – Lawrence, Kansas is captured and burned by pro-slavery forces
On May 21, 1856, the town of Lawrence, Kansas, was attacked and sacked by pro-slavery forces in an event known as the “Sack of Lawrence.” Lawrence was a stronghold of anti-slavery settlers, and the attack was part of the violent conflict known as “Bleeding Kansas,” a series of confrontations between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the Kansas Territory.
The attackers, led by Sheriff Samuel J. Jones, destroyed printing presses, looted businesses, and set the Free State Hotel on fire. This violent episode heightened tensions leading up to the American Civil War, showcasing the deep divisions over the issue of slavery in the United States.
1881 – The American Red Cross is established by Clara Barton
On May 21, 1881, Clara Barton and a group of her associates founded the American Red Cross. Inspired by the International Red Cross movement in Europe, Barton established the organization to provide emergency assistance, disaster relief, and education in the United States.
Clara Barton, who had gained fame as a nurse during the American Civil War, served as its first president. The American Red Cross played a crucial role in providing aid during wars and natural disasters, including helping soldiers during the Spanish-American War and assisting victims of the Johnstown Flood.
1904 – The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is founded in Paris
On May 21, 1904, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded in Paris, France. The founding members included Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. FIFA was established to oversee international competitions and promote the growth of association football (soccer) worldwide.
It has since grown to become the governing body for global football, organizing major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup, which is the world’s most widely viewed and followed sporting event.
1927 – Charles Lindbergh lands in Paris, completing the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight
On May 21, 1927, American aviator Charles Lindbergh landed in Paris, completing the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight. Lindbergh’s journey began on May 20 when he took off from Roosevelt Field in New York in his monoplane, the Spirit of St. Louis.
After flying for approximately 33.5 hours, he landed at Le Bourget Field near Paris. This remarkable achievement earned Lindbergh international fame and marked a significant milestone in aviation history, demonstrating the potential for long-distance air travel and inspiring advancements in aviation technology.
1932 – Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean
On May 21, 1932, Amelia Earhart made history by becoming the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean. She took off from Harbor Grace, Newfoundland, on May 20 and landed in a field near Derry, Northern Ireland, after a flight lasting about 15 hours.
Earhart faced numerous challenges during the flight, including mechanical issues and adverse weather conditions. Her successful journey solidified her status as a pioneering aviator and a symbol of women’s achievement in a male-dominated field.
Earhart’s accomplishment came five years after Charles Lindbergh’s historic flight and further promoted the advancement of aviation.
1946 – Physicist Louis Slotin is fatally irradiated in a criticality accident during an experiment with the Demon core at Los Alamos National Laboratory
On May 21, 1946, Canadian physicist Louis Slotin suffered a fatal radiation exposure during a criticality experiment with the “Demon core” at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. The experiment involved manually bringing two halves of a beryllium shell together around a plutonium core to test the core’s critical mass. Slotin accidentally allowed the two halves to come too close, initiating a fission reaction and a burst of radiation.
Despite his immediate response to separate the halves and stop the reaction, Slotin received a lethal dose of radiation. He succumbed to acute radiation sickness nine days later, on May 30, 1946. This incident highlighted the dangers of handling fissile materials and led to significant changes in safety protocols for nuclear experiments.
1951 – The Ninth Street Show, otherwise known as the 9th Street Art Exhibition, a gathering of notable artists in New York, opens
On May 21, 1951, the Ninth Street Show, also known as the 9th Street Art Exhibition, opened in New York City.
Organized by the artists themselves and funded by the artist and gallerist Leo Castelli, this groundbreaking exhibition featured works by many of the leading figures of the Abstract Expressionist movement. Participants included Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, and Lee Krasner, among others.
The show was held in a makeshift gallery space on Ninth Street in Manhattan and marked a defining moment in the recognition and celebration of Abstract Expressionism as a major force in American art. It helped establish New York City as the center of the contemporary art world in the post-World War II era.
1972 – Michelangelo’s Pietà in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is damaged by a vandal
On May 21, 1972, Michelangelo’s renowned sculpture, the Pietà, located in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, was severely damaged by a vandal. Laszlo Toth, a Hungarian-born Australian geologist, attacked the sculpture with a hammer while shouting that he was Jesus Christ.
Toth struck the marble statue multiple times, breaking off parts of Mary’s arm, hand, and nose. The attack shocked the art world and led to an extensive restoration effort to repair the damage.
The restored Pietà was subsequently placed behind bulletproof glass to protect it from further harm. This incident underscored the vulnerability of priceless works of art to acts of vandalism.
1991 – Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated by a suicide bomber in Tamil Nadu
On May 21, 1991, Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India, was assassinated by a suicide bomber in Tamil Nadu. Gandhi was campaigning for the upcoming national elections when he was killed by Thenmozhi Rajaratnam, a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a Sri Lankan Tamil separatist organization.
The assassination was carried out using a bomb concealed under a belt worn by Rajaratnam, who approached Gandhi during a public rally and detonated the device. The blast killed Gandhi and several others on the spot.
His assassination was a tragic moment in Indian history and highlighted the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka, as well as the broader issues of political violence and terrorism.
1998 – Indonesian President Suharto resigns after 31 years in power
On May 21, 1998, Indonesian President Suharto resigned after 31 years of authoritarian rule, amid widespread protests, economic turmoil, and demands for democratic reform. Suharto’s resignation marked the end of the New Order regime, which he had established after taking power in 1967.
His rule was characterized by rapid economic development but also by widespread corruption, human rights abuses, and suppression of political dissent. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998 severely impacted Indonesia’s economy, leading to public outrage and mass demonstrations against his government.
Suharto’s resignation paved the way for a democratic transition in Indonesia, beginning a new era in the nation’s political history.