5 May 1260

Kublai Khan becomes ruler of the Mongol Empire.

Kublai Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, was a pivotal figure in world history who ruled as the fifth Khagan of the Mongol Empire and the founder of the Yuan dynasty in China. Ascending to power in 1260, Kublai not only expanded the empire’s reach but also shifted its focus from nomadic conquest to administrative consolidation and cultural integration. Unlike his more war-driven predecessors, Kublai embraced aspects of Chinese governance, Confucianism, and Buddhism, effectively blending Mongol and Chinese traditions. His reign marked the first time a non-Han ruler successfully governed all of China, culminating in the establishment of the Yuan dynasty in 1271. He moved the capital to what is now Beijing and fostered international trade, notably supporting the Silk Road and welcoming foreign travelers like Marco Polo. Kublai’s legacy is complex—he’s remembered as both a powerful unifier and as a ruler whose Mongol identity was softened by his deep immersion in Chinese culture.

4 May 1919

May Fourth Movement: Student demonstrations take place in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, protesting the Treaty of Versailles, which transferred Chinese territory to Japan.

The May Fourth Movement was a pivotal cultural and political movement in early 20th-century China that began on May 4, 1919, sparked by student protests in Beijing against the Chinese government’s weak response to the Treaty of Versailles—specifically, the decision to allow Japan to retain territories in Shandong that had been surrendered by Germany. Beyond the immediate political outrage, the movement quickly evolved into a broader intellectual awakening that rejected traditional Confucian values in favor of science, democracy, and modernity. It mobilized a wide spectrum of society—students, workers, intellectuals—and laid the ideological groundwork for future revolutionary movements, including the rise of Chinese communism. The May Fourth Movement also marked a shift in Chinese literature and education, as vernacular Chinese (???) replaced classical Chinese in efforts to make learning more accessible and reflective of contemporary life.

3 May 1616

Treaty of Loudun ends a French civil war.

The Treaty of Loudun, signed in 1616, marked the end of a brief but intense French civil conflict centered around political power struggles during the early reign of Louis XIII. This conflict wasn’t a full-scale religious war like earlier ones between Catholics and Huguenots, but rather a factional dispute among the French nobility. It primarily involved the Queen Mother, Marie de’ Medici, and her favorites—most notably Concino Concini—clashing with the young king’s faction, which was eager to assert independence from her influence. The treaty was negotiated to prevent further escalation, restore relative stability, and bring powerful nobles back into alignment with the crown. It granted concessions and appointments to rebellious nobles, including the influential Prince of Condé, essentially buying peace through compromise. While the Treaty of Loudun temporarily calmed tensions, it was more of a political band-aid than a lasting solution, as deeper power struggles within the French court continued to simmer.

2 May 1920

The first game of the Negro National League baseball is played in Indianapolis.

The Negro National League (NNL) was a groundbreaking professional baseball league founded in 1920 by Andrew “Rube” Foster, a former pitcher and influential executive. Created during an era of racial segregation when Black players were barred from Major League Baseball, the NNL provided a platform for African American athletes to showcase their talents at a high level. The league featured legendary teams like the Kansas City Monarchs, Chicago American Giants, and Homestead Grays, and it helped launch the careers of iconic players such as Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and Cool Papa Bell. Though the NNL faced financial and organizational challenges, especially during the Great Depression, it left a lasting legacy by elevating Black baseball and laying the groundwork for the eventual integration of the sport. The league disbanded in 1931, but its impact lived on, influencing later leagues and shaping the future of American baseball.

1 May 1921

The Jaffa Riots, which erupted in April 1921, were a significant outbreak of intercommunal violence in Mandatory Palestine, primarily between Arab and Jewish populations. Sparked by growing tensions over Jewish immigration, land purchases, and political aspirations amidst a backdrop of British colonial rule, the violence began when a peaceful May Day workers’ parade in Jaffa escalated into clashes. The situation quickly deteriorated, with Arab mobs attacking Jewish neighborhoods, resulting in the deaths of nearly 50 Jews and around a dozen Arabs, as well as hundreds of injuries on both sides. The British authorities responded with military force to restore order, but the riots marked a turning point in Arab-Jewish relations, intensifying mutual distrust and solidifying divisions. These events underscored the fragile nature of British governance and foreshadowed the escalating conflict that would define the region for decades.

29 April 1945

Dachau concentration camp is liberated by United States troops.

The Dachau Concentration Camp, established in March 1933, was the first regular concentration camp set up by the Nazi regime in Germany. Located near the town of Dachau, about 10 miles northwest of Munich, it initially served as a detention center for political opponents like Communists, Social Democrats, and trade unionists. However, as Nazi policies radicalized, Dachau evolved into a prototype and training center for the broader camp system across Europe, eventually imprisoning Jews, Roma (Gypsies), homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and other groups deemed “undesirable.” Conditions in the camp were brutal—prisoners endured forced labor, inhumane medical experiments, malnutrition, psychological torture, and systematic violence. By the time Dachau was liberated by American forces on April 29, 1945, it had become a symbol of Nazi cruelty, with an estimated 41,500 deaths recorded among the tens of thousands who passed through its gates. Today, Dachau remains a memorial site, serving as a solemn reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust and the consequences of unchecked hatred and authoritarianism.

28 April 1789

Mutiny on the Bounty: Lieutenant William Bligh and 18 sailors are set adrift, and the rebel crew returns to Tahiti briefly before setting sail for Pitcairn Island.

Mutiny on the Bounty is one of the most famous maritime rebellions in history, packed with drama, tension, and a serious clash of personalities. It all went down in 1789, when the British ship HMS Bounty, under the strict command of Lieutenant William Bligh, was on a mission to transport breadfruit plants from Tahiti to the West Indies. After spending several blissful months in Tahiti, many of the crew grew super attached to the easy island life—and not so much to Bligh’s harsh discipline. Led by Fletcher Christian, a group of disillusioned sailors mutinied, setting Bligh and a few loyalists adrift in a small boat. What’s wild is that Bligh somehow managed an incredible 3,600-mile journey to safety, proving he was a pretty badass navigator despite being, well, kind of a nightmare boss. Meanwhile, Christian and the other mutineers bounced around the Pacific trying to avoid British justice. Over time, the story has been romanticized in books, movies, and plays, turning it into a legendary tale about authority, freedom, and the high-stakes life on the open sea.

27 April 1861

American President Abraham Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus.

In one of the most controversial moves of his presidency, Abraham Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus during the American Civil War, specifically in 1861. The writ of habeas corpus, a cornerstone of individual liberty, protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment — basically, it forces the government to justify why they’re holding someone. Lincoln’s decision came after riots in Baltimore and the sabotage of Union troop movements, which he saw as clear threats to national security. He argued that extraordinary times called for extraordinary measures, believing that preserving the Union was more urgent than sticking to standard legal processes. Critics immediately cried foul, accusing him of trampling on constitutional rights, but Lincoln stood firm, insisting that if the country itself was destroyed, no law would matter anyway. Congress eventually backed him up with the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act of 1863, but the debate about executive power versus civil liberties has echoed ever since.

26 April 1943

The Easter Riots break out in Uppsala, Sweden.

The 1943 Easter Riots in Uppsala, Sweden, were a surprising and intense outbreak of violence, especially given Sweden’s generally peaceful World War II era. The trouble centered around a meeting of the Swedish Socialist Union (Svensk Socialistisk Samling), a far-right, pro-Nazi political group led by Sven Olov Lindholm. During Easter weekend, when the Union held a rally at Uppsala University’s main hall, a large group of anti-fascist students and citizens gathered outside, furious that such ideologies were being platformed in an academic setting. Things quickly escalated: protesters broke into the hall, disrupted the speeches, and clashed with police and Union supporters. Windows were smashed, scuffles turned into full-blown fights, and the scene became chaotic enough that authorities had to intervene heavily. This riot wasn’t just a random outbreak — it symbolized the growing domestic rejection of extremist ideologies in Sweden during the war. Although Sweden officially maintained neutrality, incidents like this showed how public sentiment was shifting firmly against anything associated with Nazism. The Easter Riots in Uppsala stand today as a strong early example of Swedish anti-fascist action.

25 April 1916

Anzac Day is commemorated for the first time on the first anniversary of the landing at ANZAC Cove.

Anzac Day, observed annually on April 25th, is a significant national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, honoring the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The date marks the anniversary of the ANZAC troops landing at Gallipoli, Turkey, in 1915 during World War I—a campaign that, despite its military failure, became a defining moment in the national consciousness of both countries. Anzac Day has since evolved to commemorate all servicemen and women who have served in conflicts, symbolizing values such as courage, mateship, sacrifice, and resilience. Traditional observances include dawn services, parades, and moments of silence, often accompanied by the phrases “Lest we forget” and the playing of the “Last Post.” The day not only honors fallen soldiers but also fosters reflection on the broader costs of war and the enduring impact of military service.