Byzantium is renamed Nova Roma during a dedication ceremony, but it is more popularly referred to as Constantinople.

ByzantiumNew RomeConstantinople

A copy of the Diamond Sutra is printed in China, making it the oldest known dated printed book.

Diamond Sutra

Alexander becomes Emperor of the Byzantine Empire.

Alexander (Byzantine emperor)Byzantine Empire

In France, fifty-four members of the Knights Templar are burned at the stake as heretics.

Knights TemplarBurned at the stakeHeresy

Christopher Columbus departs Cádiz on his fourth and final voyage to the Americas.

Christopher ColumbusCádiz

Peter Stuyvesant arrives in New Amsterdam to replace Willem Kieft as Director-General of New Netherland, the Dutch colonial settlement in present-day New York City.

Peter StuyvesantNew AmsterdamWillem KieftDirector-General of New NetherlandDutch colonization of the Americas

Franco-Dutch War: Louis XIV of France invades the Netherlands.

Franco-Dutch WarLouis XIV of France

War of the Austrian Succession: Battle of Fontenoy: French forces defeat an Anglo-Dutch-Hanoverian army.

War of the Austrian SuccessionBattle of FontenoyElectorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg

Captain Robert Gray becomes the first documented white person to sail into the Columbia River.

Sea captainRobert Gray (sea captain)White peopleColumbia River

Prime Minister Spencer Perceval is assassinated by John Bellingham in the lobby of the House of Commons, London.

Prime Minister of the United KingdomSpencer PercevalJohn BellinghamBritish House of Commons

In Australia, William Lawson, Gregory Blaxland and William Wentworth lead an expedition to cross the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. Their route opens up inland Australia for continued expansion throughout the 19th century.

William Lawson (explorer)Gregory BlaxlandWilliam Wentworth1813 crossing of the Blue Mountains

The Aberdeen-built brig Lady of the Lake struck an iceberg and sank off the coast of Newfoundland with the loss of up to 265 passengers and crew.

Lady of the Lake (brig)

President James K. Polk asked for a Declaration of War against Mexico, starting the Mexican-American War. It is approved on May 13.

James K. PolkMexican-American War

Indian Rebellion of 1857: Indian rebels seize Delhi from the British.

Indian Rebellion of 1857Delhi

Minnesota is admitted as the 32nd U.S. State.

MinnesotaU.S. State

American Civil War: The ironclad CSS Virginia is scuttled in the James River northwest of Norfolk, Virginia.

American Civil WarIroncladCSS VirginiaJames River (Virginia)Norfolk, Virginia

Luxembourg gains its independence.

Luxembourg

Seven people are killed in the Mussel Slough Tragedy, a gun battle in California.

Mussel Slough TragedyCalifornia

An attack upon a U.S. Army paymaster and escort results in the theft of over $28,000 and the award of two Medals of Honor.

Wham Paymaster robberyMedal of Honor

The Ōtsu incident: Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich of Imperial Russia (later Nicholas II) suffers a critical head injury during a sword attack by Japanese policeman Tsuda Sanzō. He is rescued by Prince George of Greece and Denmark.

Ōtsu incidentTsarevichImperial RussiaNicholas IIPrince George of Greece and Denmark

Pullman Strike: Four thousand Pullman Palace Car Company workers go on a wildcat strike in Illinois.

Pullman StrikePullman Palace Car CompanyWildcat strike action

An act of the U.S. Congress establishes Glacier National Park in Montana.

United States CongressGlacier National Park (U.S.)Montana

The Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus is officially established.

Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is founded.

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

William Faulkner's collections of short stories, Go Down, Moses, is published.

William FaulknerShort storyGo Down, Moses (book)

World War II: American troops invade Attu Island in the Aleutian Islands in an attempt to expel occupying Japanese forces.

World War IIBattle of AttuAttu IslandAleutian Islands

World War II: The Allies begin a major offensive against the Axis powers on the Gustav Line.

Allies of World War IIAxis powersGustav Line

World War II: Off the coast of Okinawa, the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill is hit by two kamikazes, killing 346 of its crew. Although badly damaged, the ship is able to return to the U.S. under its own power.

OkinawaAircraft carrierUSS Bunker Hill (CV-17)Kamikaze

Siam officially changes its name to Thailand for the second time. The name had been in use since 1939 but was reverted in 1945.

Thailand

The 1953 Waco tornado outbreak: An F5 tornado hits downtown Waco, Texas, killing 114.

1953 Waco tornado outbreakFujita scaleWaco, Texas