What happened on May 17

60 documented historical events happened on May 17, from antiquity to the present day. The best known is this: An outnumbered Wallachian army repulsed invading Ottoman forces at the Battle of Rovine. On the same day, in another year: Edward Stafford (pictured), whose father had been beheaded for rebelling against King Richard III of England, was himself executed for treason against King Henry VIII. On Almanaccolo every event is listed in chronological order, grouped by century, and links to the Wikipedia article it comes from, so you can always read further or check the source. Alongside the events you find who was born and who died on this date, and which observances are celebrated around the world.

160 people with a Wikipedia article were born on May 17, including Michael Beetham, Francis Tombs, Baron Tombs, Dietmar Schönherr. The list spans every era and every field — art, science, politics, sport, entertainment — ordered by year of birth, from the earliest to the most recent. The six featured people are those most has been written about: the ordering uses the length of their Wikipedia article as an indicator of prominence. For each one you find their occupation, year of birth and a link to the full biography.

107 people with a Wikipedia article died on May 17, including Empress Dowager Hu (Northern Wei), Al-Qa'im (Fatimid caliph), Emperor Go-Fushimi. The list is in chronological order by year of death and spans all of documented history, from antiquity to the present day. For each person you find their occupation, the year and a link to the Wikipedia biography, where the full story and its sources can be read.

18 observances are celebrated on May 17 around the world: Birthday of the Raja (Perlis), Christian feast day: Giulia Salzano, Christian feast day: Blessed Ivan Ziatyk, Christian feast day: Paschal Baylon, Christian feast day: Peter Lieou, Christian feast day: William Hobart Hare (Episcopal Church (USA)). The list gathers national holidays, international days and religious or civil observances falling on this date in different countries, as recorded on Wikipedia. Some are fixed and recur on the same day every year; others depend on the local calendar. Each links to the article explaining its origin and meaning.