May 30 is a special day in history. Many important things have happened on this day over the years, and some famous people were also born on May 30. Let’s learn about these events and people.
Historical Events on May 30
Conrad II crowned King of Germany
In 1087, Henry IV was the Emperor of Germany. He made his son, Conrad II, the King of Germany. This was a big deal because it meant that Conrad II would be the next Emperor after Henry IV.
Joan of Arc burned at the stake
Joan of Arc was a young French woman who fought in the Hundred Years’ War. She helped the French fight against the English. But the English caught her and put her on trial. They said she was guilty and burned her at the stake in 1431. Joan of Arc is still remembered today as a brave hero.
Margaret of Anjou crowned Queen of England
In 1445, Margaret of Anjou married King Henry VI of England. She became the Queen of England in a big ceremony at Westminster Abbey. As Queen, Margaret helped her husband rule the country.
Portuguese leave Goa
In 1510, the Portuguese took over a place called Goa in India. But later that year, the King of Bijapur, Yusuf Adil Shah, took Goa back. The Portuguese had to leave Goa.
Peace of Prague
The Thirty Years’ War was a big war in Europe. In 1635, the Peace of Prague was signed. This helped end some of the fighting between different groups in the Holy Roman Empire.
W. G. Grace scores 1000 runs
W. G. Grace was a famous English cricket player. In 1895, he scored 1000 runs in just 22 days. This was a big deal in cricket and showed how good Grace was at the sport.
Famous Birthdays on May 30
Alexander Nevsky (1220-1263)
- Born: 1220 in Pereslavl-Zalessky, Russia
- Died: 1263
- Known for: Prince of Novgorod, military leader
Alexander Nevsky was a Russian prince. He ruled Novgorod and became a great military leader. He fought against enemies like the Swedes and Germans to protect Russia. Nevsky is still a hero in Russia today.
Henry Addington (1757-1844)
- Born: 1757 in London, England
- Died: 1844
- Known for: British Prime Minister (1801-1804)
Henry Addington was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1804 and then worked in government for many more years.
Benny Goodman (1909-1986)
- Born: 1909 in Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Died: 1986
- Known for: Jazz clarinetist, bandleader
Benny Goodman was an American jazz musician. He played the clarinet and led a famous band. People called him the “King of Swing” because his music was so popular in the 1930s and 1940s. Goodman helped make jazz music more popular.
George Headley (1909-1983)
- Born: 1909 in Colón, Panama
- Died: 1983
- Known for: West Indies cricketer
George Headley was a cricketer from the West Indies. He played in 22 Test matches and scored 2,190 runs. He was one of the best batsmen of his time. Headley is remembered as one of the greatest West Indian cricket players ever.
Alexey Leonov (1934-2019)
- Born: 1934 in Listvyanka, Soviet Union
- Died: 2019
- Known for: Soviet cosmonaut, first spacewalk
Alexey Leonov was a Russian cosmonaut. In 1965, he became the first person to walk in space. He went outside his spacecraft, Voskhod 2, for 12 minutes. After being a cosmonaut, Leonov was also an artist and wrote books.
Takeaways
As we have seen, May 30 is a day filled with important historical events and the birthdays of remarkable people. From coronations and peace treaties to amazing sports achievements, this date has seen it all. The famous people born on May 30 have left their mark on the world in many different ways – as leaders, musicians, athletes, and explorers. By learning about these events and people, we can appreciate how much has happened on this one day throughout history.
References:
- Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Henry IV. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-IV-Holy-Roman-emperor
- History.com Editors. (2009, November 9). Joan of Arc. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/saint-joan-of-arc
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Margaret of Anjou. Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Margaret-of-Anjou
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Portuguese India. Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Portuguese-India
- History.com Editors. (2017, December 8). Thirty Years’ War. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/reformation/thirty-years-war
- Williamson, M. (n.d.). WG Grace. ESPNcricinfo. https://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/13836.html
- Kuznetsov, V. (n.d.). Alexander Nevsky: Russian prince and hero. Study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/alexander-nevsky-russian-prince-and-hero.html
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-Addington-1st-Viscount-Sidmouth
- History.com Editors. (2009, November 9). Benny Goodman. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/benny-goodman
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). George Headley. https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Headley
- NASA. (2019, October 11). Alexei Leonov, the first person to walk in space, dies at 85. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/alexei-leonov-the-first-person-to-walk-in-space-dies-at-85