Historical Events Commemorated on May 17
A summary of significant milestones and occurrences from various decades on this date.
On this date, May 17, various historical events have marked significant moments across different eras and regions.
In 1102, Coloman of Hungary became the first king of the Arpad dynasty to be crowned as the king of Croatia and Dalmatia in Biograd.
This event laid the foundation for the development of a unified Croatian state.
The year 1510 marked the death of the Italian painter Sandro Botticelli, renowned for works such as 'The Birth of Venus' and 'Primavera', which embody the spirit of the Renaissance.
Botticelli was the first Italian painter to illustrate Dante's 'Divine Comedy' upon the commission of Lorenzo de' Medici.
Edward Jenner, the English physician known as the pioneer of the smallpox vaccine, was born in 1749. His groundbreaking work has had a lasting impact on public health.
In 1814, Norway declared its independence from Sweden and adopted a new constitution, marking a pivotal moment in its national history.
Morris de Talleyrand-Périgord, a prominent French politician and diplomat, passed away in 1838. He was a key figure during the Congress of Vienna, successfully maintaining French borders despite the nation's defeat in the Napoleonic Wars.
The first-ever tourist package was organized by Thomas Cook in 1861, encompassing a six-day journey from London to Paris, thus revolutionizing travel.
French composer Erik Satie was born in 1866, known for his composition 'Gymnopédies' and for his influential role in the development of modern music.
In 1900, Ruhollah Khomeini, the future Iranian religious leader, was born.
He returned from exile in 1979 after leading the Islamic revolution that resulted in the overthrow of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
The year 1903 witnessed the nationalization of church property in Spain, accompanied by the abolishment of church-run schools.
Zinka Kunc, a prominent Croatian singer and soprano at the Zagreb Opera, was born in 1906.
Tragically, in 1917, Serbian Duke Radomir Putnik died in Nice.
He was celebrated as a military leader during the Balkan Wars and World War I, where he skillfully directed the Serbian army's withdrawal in 1915.
In a significant political refusal, Sweden, Norway, and Finland rejected Adolf Hitler's proposal for a non-aggression pact in 1939, while Denmark, Estonia, and Lithuania did sign.
The German military entered Brussels during World War II on May 17, 1940.
In 1946, Romanian Prime Minister Ion Antonescu, a key figure during the war, was sentenced to death for his collaboration with the Nazis.
On this day in 1949, the United Kingdom recognized the independence of the Republic of Ireland while reaffirming Northern Ireland's status within the United Kingdom.
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled against racial segregation in public education on May 17, 1954, effectively overriding the 'separate but equal' doctrine established in 1896.
In 1965, the first color television broadcast was transmitted from the UK to the US, showcasing NBC's 'A New Look at Old England' via the commercial telecommunications satellite 'Early Bird'.
The Watergate scandal investigation began on this date in 1973, involving accusations against members of President Richard Nixon's administration for a break-in at Democratic National Committee headquarters.
In 1974, Dublin experienced three car bomb explosions resulting in 32 fatalities and hundreds wounded.
An incident involving an Iraqi warplane and a US Navy destroyer occurred on May 17, 1987, claiming 37 lives and injuring 62 others.
In 1997, Laurent Kabila entered Kinshasa and assumed leadership in Zaire, subsequently renaming it the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In 1998, the mayor of Jaffna, Sarojini Yogeswaran, was assassinated by the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka.
Israeli elections in 1999 led to Ehud Barak of the Labor Party succeeding Benjamin Netanyahu, concluding a three-year term for the latter.
By the year 2000, the Serbian government forcibly took control of Belgrade’s Studio B radio and television station amid pressures to curtail independent media.
First human rights trials commenced in Indonesia in 2000, targeting military and civilian personnel for their involvement in killings during the Aseh massacre in 1999.
In a tragic aviation accident in 2001, a Russian-made aircraft crashed in northern Iran, resulting in the deaths of all 30 passengers, including the Iranian Minister of Transport and several deputies.
Catastrophic flooding in Sri Lanka in 2003 caused approximately 250 fatalities and left around 150,000 people homeless, marking it as the worst flood in 50 years.
The state of Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage in 2004, becoming the first in the United States to do so.
In 2009, Kuwaiti women made history by securing four seats in the national parliament, following their right to vote and be elected established in 2005.
On May 17, 2010, the Serbian dinar was officially valued at over 100 dinars to one euro for the first time since the euro's introduction in 2002.
Queen Elizabeth II made her historic visit to Ireland in 2011, the first by a British monarch since Ireland gained independence in 1922.
American disco icon Donna Summer, known for her influential music, passed away in 2012.
Lastly, in 2019, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe readmitted Russia, restoring its voting rights after they had been suspended following the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
In 1102, Coloman of Hungary became the first king of the Arpad dynasty to be crowned as the king of Croatia and Dalmatia in Biograd.
This event laid the foundation for the development of a unified Croatian state.
The year 1510 marked the death of the Italian painter Sandro Botticelli, renowned for works such as 'The Birth of Venus' and 'Primavera', which embody the spirit of the Renaissance.
Botticelli was the first Italian painter to illustrate Dante's 'Divine Comedy' upon the commission of Lorenzo de' Medici.
Edward Jenner, the English physician known as the pioneer of the smallpox vaccine, was born in 1749. His groundbreaking work has had a lasting impact on public health.
In 1814, Norway declared its independence from Sweden and adopted a new constitution, marking a pivotal moment in its national history.
Morris de Talleyrand-Périgord, a prominent French politician and diplomat, passed away in 1838. He was a key figure during the Congress of Vienna, successfully maintaining French borders despite the nation's defeat in the Napoleonic Wars.
The first-ever tourist package was organized by Thomas Cook in 1861, encompassing a six-day journey from London to Paris, thus revolutionizing travel.
French composer Erik Satie was born in 1866, known for his composition 'Gymnopédies' and for his influential role in the development of modern music.
In 1900, Ruhollah Khomeini, the future Iranian religious leader, was born.
He returned from exile in 1979 after leading the Islamic revolution that resulted in the overthrow of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
The year 1903 witnessed the nationalization of church property in Spain, accompanied by the abolishment of church-run schools.
Zinka Kunc, a prominent Croatian singer and soprano at the Zagreb Opera, was born in 1906.
Tragically, in 1917, Serbian Duke Radomir Putnik died in Nice.
He was celebrated as a military leader during the Balkan Wars and World War I, where he skillfully directed the Serbian army's withdrawal in 1915.
In a significant political refusal, Sweden, Norway, and Finland rejected Adolf Hitler's proposal for a non-aggression pact in 1939, while Denmark, Estonia, and Lithuania did sign.
The German military entered Brussels during World War II on May 17, 1940.
In 1946, Romanian Prime Minister Ion Antonescu, a key figure during the war, was sentenced to death for his collaboration with the Nazis.
On this day in 1949, the United Kingdom recognized the independence of the Republic of Ireland while reaffirming Northern Ireland's status within the United Kingdom.
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled against racial segregation in public education on May 17, 1954, effectively overriding the 'separate but equal' doctrine established in 1896.
In 1965, the first color television broadcast was transmitted from the UK to the US, showcasing NBC's 'A New Look at Old England' via the commercial telecommunications satellite 'Early Bird'.
The Watergate scandal investigation began on this date in 1973, involving accusations against members of President Richard Nixon's administration for a break-in at Democratic National Committee headquarters.
In 1974, Dublin experienced three car bomb explosions resulting in 32 fatalities and hundreds wounded.
An incident involving an Iraqi warplane and a US Navy destroyer occurred on May 17, 1987, claiming 37 lives and injuring 62 others.
In 1997, Laurent Kabila entered Kinshasa and assumed leadership in Zaire, subsequently renaming it the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In 1998, the mayor of Jaffna, Sarojini Yogeswaran, was assassinated by the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka.
Israeli elections in 1999 led to Ehud Barak of the Labor Party succeeding Benjamin Netanyahu, concluding a three-year term for the latter.
By the year 2000, the Serbian government forcibly took control of Belgrade’s Studio B radio and television station amid pressures to curtail independent media.
First human rights trials commenced in Indonesia in 2000, targeting military and civilian personnel for their involvement in killings during the Aseh massacre in 1999.
In a tragic aviation accident in 2001, a Russian-made aircraft crashed in northern Iran, resulting in the deaths of all 30 passengers, including the Iranian Minister of Transport and several deputies.
Catastrophic flooding in Sri Lanka in 2003 caused approximately 250 fatalities and left around 150,000 people homeless, marking it as the worst flood in 50 years.
The state of Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage in 2004, becoming the first in the United States to do so.
In 2009, Kuwaiti women made history by securing four seats in the national parliament, following their right to vote and be elected established in 2005.
On May 17, 2010, the Serbian dinar was officially valued at over 100 dinars to one euro for the first time since the euro's introduction in 2002.
Queen Elizabeth II made her historic visit to Ireland in 2011, the first by a British monarch since Ireland gained independence in 1922.
American disco icon Donna Summer, known for her influential music, passed away in 2012.
Lastly, in 2019, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe readmitted Russia, restoring its voting rights after they had been suspended following the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
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