Today:
1. 1453: Fall of Constantinople – The capital of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople, falls to the Ottoman Turks led by Sultan Mehmed II, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire and a significant turning point in world history.
2. 1660: Restoration of the English Monarchy – Charles II is restored to the English throne after the collapse of the Commonwealth and the Protectorate, ending over a decade of republican rule.
3. 1790: Rhode Island Ratifies the Constitution – Rhode Island becomes the last of the original thirteen American colonies to ratify the United States Constitution, securing its status as a state.
4. 1848: Wisconsin Becomes a State – Wisconsin is admitted as the 30th state of the United States.
5. 1913: The Rite of Spring Premiere – Igor Stravinsky’s ballet “The Rite of Spring” premieres in Paris, causing a riot due to its avant-garde music and choreography.
6. 1953: Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Summit Everest – Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa of Nepal, become the first climbers confirmed to have reached the summit of Mount Everest.
7. 1964: Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Founded – The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is established in Jerusalem with the aim of creating an independent State of Palestine.
8. 1985: Heysel Stadium Disaster – A tragic event occurs at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, where 39 football fans die and hundreds are injured before the European Cup Final between Juventus and Liverpool.
9. 1999: Discovery of Ötzi the Iceman – Researchers announce the discovery of Ötzi the Iceman, a well-preserved natural mummy of a man who lived around 3300 BCE, found in the Ötztal Alps on the border between Austria and Italy.
10. 2004: The World War II Memorial Dedication – The National World War II Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C., honoring the 16 million who served in the American armed forces during World War II and the more than 400,000 who died.