First Council of Nicaea - the first ecumenical council of Christian bishops at Nicaea, Asia Minor.
THE COUNCIL OF NICEA Fresco in the Sistine Salon Vatican. Thes painting depicts the debate over what became the Nicene Creed.
View Historical Events by Day:
What Happened Today in History on May 20
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on May 20th. 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Note: Sources for the historical content shown, include research and reviews of relevant Online History Resources or printed material.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.
Italian explorer Christopher Columbus discovered the island of Trinidad during his third voyage to the Americas.
Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama reaches India, opening the sea route to the East. Da Gama departed from Lisbon, Portugal, in July 1497, sailed around the Cape of Good Hope and up the east coast of Africa where he hired a pilot in Malindi to help him cross the Indian Ocean, arriving at the port of Calicut on May 20 1498.
His voyage proved the sea route to India was viable and profitable, paving the way for Portuguese dominance in Asian trade and for a new era of European colonization in the East.
Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama becomes the first European to reach India via the Atlantic Ocean. Arriving in Calicut, where he erected a padrão (stone pillar) to prove he had reached India. More
The Siege of Famagusta begins during the Ottoman-Venetian War, with the city of Famagusta in Cyprus being besieged by the Ottoman Empire.
North Carolina became the last of the Confederate states to secede rom the United States, triggering the start of the American Civil War.
President Abraham Lincoln signs the Homestead Act making millions of government owned acres in the west available to "homesteaders". The Act granted 160 acres of surveyed public land to US citizens who agreed to live on and improve the land for five years. The act took effect on January 1, 1863.
It was a major, progressive piece of legislation encouraging the settlement and development of the American West and providing opportunities for many groups, including immigrants, single women, and formerly enslaved people, to become landowners. More
Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis obtained a U.S. patent for the process of putting rivets in men’s work pants for the very first time creating what we now call jeans. More
Cuba gained its independence from the United States and the Cuban Republic is formally established. The United States governed Cuba as a protectorate after the end of the Spanish-American war when Spain ceded Cuba to the U.S. as part of the Treaty of Paris in 1898.
"The Nine Sovereigns at Windsor", all present for the funeral of King Edward VII In 1910, represents one of the largest gatherings of European royalty in that period of history.
Standing, from left to right: King Haakon VII of Norway, Tsar Ferdinand of Bulgaria, King Manuel II of Portugal, Kaiser Wilhelm II of the German Empire, King George I of Greece and King Albert I of Belgium. Seated, from left to right: King Alfonso XIII of Spain, King-Emperor George V of the United Kingdom and King Frederick VIII of Denmark.
Photographer: W. & D. Downey. Date taken: May 20, 1910 - Location taken: Windsor, England Source: Wikimedia Commons - Public Domain.
Cameroon National Day. Cameroon gained independence on 1 January 1960, but does not celebrate that date. Instead, it celebrates the National Day on 20 May commemorating the 1972 Cameroonian constitutional referendum.
Cameroon National Day, commemorating the 1972 Cameroonian constitutional referendum. French Cameroon achieved independence from France on January 1, 1960 becoming the Republic of Cameroon. This marked the start of the decolonization process. The nation was later unified with the former British Cameroons to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon on October 1, 1961.