Did you know
Zviad Gamsakhurdia was a professor of English language studies and American literature at Tbilisi State University before entering politics.
May 26 in History
1991 — Zviad Gamsakhurdia becomes the first elected President of the Republic of Georgia in the post-Soviet era
May 26 spans 61 recorded events across recorded history, from 17 to 2025. Below is a curated digest of the most significant moments tied to this date.
By thisDay.info Editorial Team · — Wikipedia
Historical Events
61 events
17 – 2025
Today in history
More major events on May 26
The featured story and these ranked highlights form a quick summary. Every recorded event remains available in the chronology below.
- 451 Battle of Avarayr between Armenian rebels and the Sasanian Empire takes place. The Sasanids defeat the Armenians militarily but guarantee them freedom to openly practice Christianity. Source
- 1972 Cold War: The United States and the Soviet Union sign the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Source
- 1948 The U.S. Congress passes Public Law 80-557, which permanently establishes the Civil Air Patrol as an auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Source
Did you know
Gamsakhurdia became a prominent human rights activist and dissident in the Soviet era, advocating for Georgian independence.
Did you know
He was elected as the first President of Georgia in May 1991, marking a significant shift towards democracy in the country.
Did you know
Gamsakhurdia's presidency was marked by a series of challenges, including a deteriorating economy and rising ethnic tensions.
Did you know
Tbilisi State University, where Gamsakhurdia taught, is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher education in Georgia.
17
Germanicus celebrates a triumph in Rome for his victories over the Cherusci, Chatti, and other German tribes west of the Elbe.
Second decade of the first century AD
451
Battle of Avarayr between Armenian rebels and the Sasanian Empire takes place.
The Sasanids defeat the Armenians militarily but guarantee them freedom to openly practice Christianity.
866
Basil I is crowned as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire by Michael III.
Byzantine emperor from 867 to 886
946
England is left temporarily without a monarch after the death of King Edmund I in a street fight, resulting in Edmund's brother Eadred assuming the throne for the minority of Edmund's two sons.
Sovereign state in Europe before 1707
961
King Otto I elects his six-year-old son Otto II as heir apparent and co-ruler of the East Frankish Kingdom.
He is crowned at Aachen, and placed under the tutelage of his grandmother Matilda.
1135
Alfonso VII of León and Castile is crowned in León Cathedral as Imperator totius Hispaniae (Emperor of all of Spain).
King of León, Castile, and Galicia from 1126 to 1157
1293
An earthquake strikes Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan, killing about 23,000.
Earthquake and tsunami in Japan
1328
William of Ockham, the Franciscan Minister-General Michael of Cesena, and two other Franciscan leaders secretly leave Avignon, fearing a death sentence from Pope John XXII.
English Franciscan friar and theologian (c. 1287–1347)
1538
Geneva expels John Calvin and his followers from the city.
Calvin lives in exile in Strasbourg for the next three years.
1573
The Battle of Haarlemmermeer, a naval engagement in the Eighty Years' War.
1573 naval battle of the Eighty Years' War
1637
Pequot War: A combined English and Mohegan force under John Mason attacks a village in Connecticut, massacring approximately 500 Pequots.
1630s conflict in New England
1644
Portuguese Restoration War: Portuguese and Spanish forces both claim victory in the Battle of Montijo.
1640–1668 war between Portugal and Spain
1736
The Battle of Ackia is fought near the present site of Tupelo, Mississippi.
British and Chickasaw soldiers repel a French and Choctaw attack on the then-Chickasaw village of Ackia.
1783
A Great Jubilee Day held at North Stratford, Connecticut, celebrates the end of fighting in the American Revolutionary War.
U.S. holiday celebrating the end of the American Revolutionary War (May 26, 1783)
1805
Napoléon Bonaparte assumes the title of King of Italy and is crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy in Milan Cathedral, the gothic cathedral in Milan.
French general and emperor (1769–1821)
1821
Establishment of the Peloponnesian Senate by the Greek rebels.
Provisional government of the Peloponnese Islands (1821–23)
1822
At least 113 people die in the Grue Church fire, the biggest fire disaster in Norway's history.
1822 fire in Norway
1864
President Abraham Lincoln signs legislation organizing the Montana Territory.
President of the United States from 1861 to 1865
1865
Conclusion of the American Civil War: The Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith, commander of the Trans-Mississippi division, is the last full general of the Confederate Army to surrender, at Galveston, Texas.
1868
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson: President Andrew Johnson is acquitted by one vote in the United States Senate.
1868 US charging of president
1869
Boston University is chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Private university in Boston, Massachusetts, US
1879
Russia and the United Kingdom sign the Treaty of Gandamak establishing an Afghan state.
Russian state from 1721 to 1917
1896
Nicholas II is crowned as the last Tsar of Imperial Russia.
Emperor of Russia from 1894 to 1917
1896
Charles Dow publishes the first edition of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
American journalist (1851–1902)
1900
Thousand Days' War: The Colombian Conservative Party turns the tide of war in their favor with victory against the Colombian Liberal Party in the Battle of Palonegro.
Civil war in Colombia from 1899 to 1902
1903
Românul de la Pind, the longest-running newspaper by and about Aromanians until World War II, is founded.
Aromanian Romanian-language newspaper
1908
The first major commercial oil strike in the Middle East is made at Masjed Soleyman in southwest Persia.
The rights to the resource were quickly acquired by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company.
1918
The Democratic Republic of Georgia is established.
State in the Caucasus (1918–1921)
1923
The first 24 Hours of Le Mans is held in France.
Run annually in June thereafter, it became the oldest endurance racing event in the world.
1926
Abd el-Krim ends surrenders to the French, bringing an end to the Rif War.
Moroccan political and military leader (1882/1883–1963)
1927
The last Ford Model T rolls off the assembly line after a production run of 15,007,003 vehicles.
American car (1908–1927)
1936
In the House of Commons of Northern Ireland, Tommy Henderson begins speaking on the Appropriation bill.
By the time he sits down in the early hours of the following morning, he had spoken for ten hours.
1937
Walter Reuther and members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) clash with Ford Motor Company security guards at the River Rouge Complex in Dearborn, Michigan, during the Battle of the Overpass.
American labor union leader and progressive activist (1907–1970)
1938
In the United States, the House Un-American Activities Committee begins its first session.
American investigative committee (1938–1975)
1940
World War II: Operation Dynamo: In northern France, Allied forces begin a massive evacuation from Dunkirk, France.
The Battle of Dunkirk begins simultaneously as Allied defenders fight to slow down the German offensive.
1940
World War II: The Siege of Calais ends with the surrender of the British and French garrison.
1940 battle during the Nazi German invasion of France
1942
World War II: The Battle of Gazala begins, in present-day Libya.
1942 battle during the Western Desert Campaign of World War II
1948
The U.S.
Congress passes Public Law 80-557, which permanently establishes the Civil Air Patrol as an auxiliary of the United States Air Force.
1966
British Guiana gains independence, becoming Guyana.
British colony from 1814 to 1966
1968
H-dagurinn in Iceland: Traffic changes from driving on the left to driving on the right overnight.
Day Iceland changed from left hand to right hand traffic (26 May 1968)
1969
Apollo program: Apollo 10 returns to Earth after a successful eight-day test of all the components needed for the forthcoming first crewed Moon landing.
1961–1972 American crewed lunar exploration program
1970
The Soviet Tupolev Tu-144 becomes the first commercial transport to exceed Mach 2.
Country in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991
1971
Bangladesh Liberation War: The Pakistan Army slaughters at least 71 Hindus in Burunga, Sylhet, Bangladesh.
1971 Bangladesh–Pakistan armed conflict
1972
Cold War: The United States and the Soviet Union sign the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
1947–1991 geopolitical rivalry between US and USSR
1981
Italian Prime Minister Arnaldo Forlani and his coalition cabinet resign following a scandal over membership of the pseudo-masonic lodge P2 (Propaganda Due).
Head of government
1981
An EA-6B Prowler crashes on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, killing 14 crewmen and injuring 45 others.
American carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft
1983
The 7.8 Mw Sea of Japan earthquake shakes northern Honshu with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe).
A destructive tsunami is generated that leaves about 100 people dead.
1986
The European Community adopts the European flag.
Regional organisation from 1958 to 1993
1991
Lauda Air Flight 004 breaks apart in mid-air and crashes in the Phu Toei National Park in the Suphan Buri province of Thailand, killing all 223 people on board.
1991 aircraft accident in Thailand
1998
The Supreme Court of the United States rules in New Jersey v.
New York that Ellis Island, the historic gateway for millions of immigrants, is mainly in the state of New Jersey, not New York.
1998
The first "National Sorry Day" is held in Australia.
Reconciliation events are held nationally, and attended by over a million people.
1998
A MIAT Mongolian Airlines Harbin Y-12 crashes near Erdenet, Orkhon Province, Mongolia, resulting in 28 deaths.
National airline of Mongolia
2002
The tugboat Robert Y.
Love collides with a support pier of Interstate 40 on the Arkansas River near Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, resulting in 14 deaths and 11 others injured.
2003
Ukrainian-Mediterranean Airlines Flight 4230 crashes in the Turkish town of Maçka, killing 75.
2003 aviation accident
2008
Severe flooding begins in eastern and southern China that will ultimately cause 148 deaths and force the evacuation of 1.3 million.
2008 natural disaster in southern China
2014
Narendra Modi takes oath as the 15th Prime Minister of India.
Prime Minister of India since 2014
2020
Protests triggered by the murder of George Floyd erupt in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, later becoming widespread across the United States and around the world.
2020–2023 police brutality protests
2021
Ten people are killed in a shooting at a VTA rail yard in San Jose, California, United States.
Mass shooting in California, U.S.
2025
65 people are injured when a car rams into a crowd on Water Street, near Liverpool F.C.'s Premier League trophy parade.
Traffic collision in Liverpool, England