A republican uprising known as the June Rebellion was put down by French authorities in Paris on June 6, 1832. The rebels sought the abdication of French King Louis Philippe I, who assumed the throne two years prior following the overthrow of King Charles X. Louis Philippe would go on to rule until 1848 when [...]

Nepalese Crown Prince Dipendra killed his father, King Birendra, and eight other royal family members on June 1, 2001 in an event which would come to be known as the Nepalese Royal Massacre. Dipendra then shot himself in the head and died three days later. The crown prince’s motives are still shrouded in mystery, although [...]

Radical Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola was burned at the stake in the Republic of Florence on May 23, 1498 for preaching against the practices of the powerful within the Catholic Church, including Pope Alexander VI, and celebrating mass while excommunicated. Learn more about the life of Savonarola and his execution.

Citizens of Montenegro voted by 55.5-45.5% on May 21, 2006 to secede from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and declare independence. The new country formally declared independence on June 3 of that year. Learn more about the 2006 Montenegro independence referendum.

French revolutionaries guillotined chemist Antoine Lavoisier on May 8, 1794 over his investment in a private tax collecting company purchased 26 years prior. Learn more about the life of Antoine Lavoisier.

English Queen consort Anne Boleyn, whom King Henry VIII married after famously divorcing Catherine of Aragon, was arrested on charges of adultery on May 2, 1536. The following trial, orchestrated by prominent minister of state Thomas Cromwell, led to Anne’s conviction and eventual execution two weeks after her arrest despite Anne’s denial of the charges. [...]

The Memphis Massacre of 1866 broke out on May 1 of that year after Black Union veterans and police were involved in an altercation surrounding the arrest of a Black soldier. The ensuing skirmish spiralled out of control due to the racial tensions that followed the end of the US Civil War, lasting for two [...]

Riots that would grip the city of Los Angeles, California for six days broke out on April 29, 1992, after LAPD officers who beat Rodney King while being filmed were acquitted by a jury. The verdict ignited a powder keg of discontent about police discrimination against LA’s Black community. The riots would result in more [...]

Eritrea’s referendum for independence from Ethiopia began on April 23, 1993. The effort would later be successful, with over 99 percent of voters choosing independence. The referendum followed an independence war that lasted over thirty years. Learn more about the Eritrea/Ethiopia Conflict and Eritrea’s independence.

Charles II was crowned King of England on April 23, 1661, officially marking the restoration of the monarchy following a period of republican rule under Oliver and Richard Cromwell. The king’s coronation took place 12 years after his father, Charles I, was executed for treason. Charles II was already recognized as King of Scotland more [...]