Historical events on May 17
MAY 17, 1914
Under the Protocol of Corfu, the Principality of Albania officially recognized Northern Epirus as an autonomous self-governing region.
The Protocol of Corfu, signed on May 17, 1914, was an agreement between the representatives of the Albanian Government and the Provisional
Read More
MAY 17, 1395
An outnumbered Wallachian army repulsed invading Ottoman forces at the Battle of Rovine.
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of modern-day Romania. It is situated north of the Lower Danube and south
Read More
MAY 17, 1865
The International Telecommunication Union, which standardizes and regulates international radio and telecommunications, was founded as the International Telegraph Union in Paris.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for many matters related to information and communication
Read More
MAY 17, 1590
Anne of Denmark (pictured) was crowned the queen consort of Scotland in a ceremony at Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh.
Anne of Denmark was the wife of King James VI and I. She was Queen of Scotland from their marriage on 20
Read More
MAY 17, 1890
The opera Cavalleria rusticana by Pietro Mascagni, premieres at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome, beginning the verismo period in Italian opera.
Cavalleria rusticana is an opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni to an Italian libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci, adapted
Read More
MAY 17, 2000
Following the killing of two English football fans by Galatasaray supporters in the previous month, British and Turkish hooligans rioted on the day of the UEFA Cup Final in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The 2000 UEFA Cup semi-final violence in Istanbul, Turkey, between fans of English football team Leeds United and Turkish team Galatasaray on
Read More
MAY 17, 1900
The first copies of the children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum were printed.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a 1900 children's novel written by author L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. It is the
Read More
MAY 17, 1947
After renegotiating a contract with the makers of her signature perfume Chanel No. 5, Coco Chanel (pictured) received a share of wartime profits from its sale, making her one of the richest women in the world.
Chanel No. 5 is the first perfume launched by French couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel in 1921. The scent formula for the fragrance
Read More
MAY 17, 1987
An Iraqi jet fired two Exocet missiles at the American frigate USS Stark, killing 37 personnel and injuring 21 others.
The USS Stark incident occurred during the Iran–Iraq War in the Persian Gulf on 17 May 1987, when an Iraqi jet aircraft
Read More
MAY 17, 1863
American Civil War: At the Battle of Big Black River Bridge in Mississippi, Union forces under John A. McClernand defeated a Confederate rearguard and captured around 1,700 men.
The American Civil War was a civil war in the United States between the Union and the Confederacy, which was formed in
Read More
MAY 17, 2004
Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage.
Massachusetts, officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the
Read More
MAY 17, 1974
The Troubles: The Ulster Volunteer Force detonated a series of car bombs in Dublin and Monaghan, Ireland, killing 34 people and injuring almost 300 others.
The Troubles were an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted for about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998. Also
Read More
MAY 17, 1954
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education, outlawing racial segregation in public schools because "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal" and therefore unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has
Read More
MAY 17, 1902
The Antikythera mechanism, the oldest known surviving geared mechanism, was discovered among artifacts retrieved from a shipwreck off the Greek island of Antikythera.
The Antikythera mechanism is an Ancient Greek hand-powered orrery. It is the oldest known example of an analogue computer. It could be
Read More
MAY 17, 1521
Edward Stafford, whose father had been beheaded for rebelling against King Richard III of England, was himself executed for treason against King Henry VIII.
Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham was an English nobleman. He was the son of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and
Read More