Otto III is crowned Holy Roman Emperor at the age of 16 by Pope Gregory V, on May 21, 996 in Rome. Ottos' mother Theophanu and grandmother Adelaide had served as regents for him since he was a child, when he was crowned King of Germany at age three.
View Historical Events by Day:
On This Day in History: May 21
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on May 21st. 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Note: Sources for the historical content shown, include research and reviews of relevant Online History Resources or printed material.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.
Henry V of England and Charles VI of France sign the Treaty of Troyes on May 21, 1420, during the Hundred Years' War, establishing Henry V of England as heir to the French throne.
The agreement signed in the French city of Troyes during the Hundred Years' War, following Henry V's military successes in France, was intended to end the war by recognizing Henry V as Charles's heir and cementing his marriage to Charles's daughter, Catherine of Valois. It declared Henry and his heirs would inherit the French throne, disinheriting the Dauphin Charles (later Charles VII)
The Island of Saint Helena, a remote volcanic island located in the South Atlantic Ocean is discovered by Portuguese navigator João da Nova on May 21, 1502 who names it after Saint Helena of Constantinople. (mother of Emperor Constantine I). The island was uninhabited.
The date of discovery coincided with the feast day of Saint Helena of Constantinople (mother of Emperor Constantine I) in the Eastern Orthodox calendar. The English East India Company (EIC) took possession in 1659 and founded its capital, Jamestown, in honor of the Duke of York. The island was passed from the EIC to the British Crown in 1834.
Pro-slavery forces attacked and burned the free-state town of Lawrence, Kansas, in what became known as the "Sacking of Lawrence." More
The American Red Cross is founded in Washington, D.C. by Clara Barton and a circle of her acquaintances. Barton led the Red Cross for 23 years. More
Queen Victoria officially opens the Manchester Ship Canal in England to traffic. The 36-mile waterway, linking Manchester to the Irish Sea, became the largest navigation canal in the world and transformed Manchester into a major port. It was a monumental feat of civil engineering, taking six years to construct and costing £15 million. The Canal had started to allow commercial traffic almost 6 months earlier on January 1, 1894.
Charles Lindbergh becomes the first man to complete a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, flying 3,610 miles from New York to Paris in his plane, the Spirit of St. Louis,in 33 1/2 hours. More
.jpg?auto=format,compress&fit=clip&max-w=1600)
Indian politician Rajiv Gandhi, who had served as the country's prime minister from 1984 to 1989, was assassinated in a suicide bombing attack. More