Byzantium was renamed Constantinople (now Istanbul) and dedicated to Emperor Constantine. Constantinople is generally considered to be the center and the "cradle of Orthodox Christian civilization". Constantinople was the largest and wealthiest city in Europe, from the mid-5th century to the early 13th century.
View Historical Events by Day:
On This Day in History: May 11
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on May 11th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
Note: Sources for the historical content shown, include research and reviews of relevant Online History Resources or printed material. When possible, we show a link to a source which provides additional or unique perspective about the event.
We do our best to provide accurate information but would appreciate being notified if any incorrect information is found. You may do so by using our Feedback link.
Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa and 100,000 crusaders depart Regensburg for the Third Crusade on May 11, 1189. Called the Kings's Crusade, led by three European monarchs of Western Christianity (Philip II of France, Richard I of England and Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor); it attempted to reconquer the Holy Land following the capture of Jerusalem by the Ayyubid sultan Saladin in 1187.
The Crusade did not achieve its primary goal to recapture Jerusalem from Saladin, but it successfully regained vital coastal territory, including Jaffa and Acre and Jaffa and it established a stable, Crusader presence that lasted for another century
Christopher Columbus begins his fourth and final voyage to the New World, departing from Cádiz, Spain on May 11, 1502.
England King Charles II, issues a proclamation , on May 11, 1666 for prevention of the spreading of the infection of the plague. The proclamation ("The "Plague Orders") was entitled, "Rules and orders to be observed by all justices of peace, mayors, bailiffs, and other officers". It followed initial actions taken in early June 1665 which were implemented rapidly through the summer.
The charter for the Pennsylvania Hospital is granted on May 11, 1751. The nation's first hospital, was founded by Dr. Thomas Bond and Benjamin Franklin "to care for the sick-poor and insane who were wandering the streets of Philadelphia. The first patients were admitted on February 11, 1753. More
Photograph by Chandra Lampreich. (Cropped)
Minnesota is admitted to the Union and becomes the 32nd State.
An enormous dust storm, 1,500 miles long and 600 miles wide, that originated on the west coast, moved eastward across the Great Plains. A total of 300 million tons of topsoil, parched to dust by drought were blown out of the Great Plains. More
More than 170 countries agree to extend the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) indefinitely and without conditions to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. A total of 191 States have now joined the Treaty, including the five nuclear-weapon States More