What happened on May 4

51 documented historical events happened on May 4, from antiquity to the present day. The best known is this: Pope Alexander VI (pictured) issued the papal bull Inter caetera, establishing a line of demarcation dividing the New World between Spain and Portugal. On the same day, in another year: Having been appointed the director-general of New Netherland, Peter Minuit arrived in Manhattan. 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.

121 people with a Wikipedia article were born on May 4, including Abdullah Ansari, Alice Spencer, Countess of Derby, Katherine Ferrers. 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.

109 people with a Wikipedia article died on May 4, including Venerius (bishop of Milan), Coluccio Salutati, Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson. 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.

26 observances are celebrated on May 4 around the world: Anti-Bullying Day (United Nations), Bird Day (United States), Cassinga Day (Namibia), Christian feast day: Blessed Ceferino Giménez Malla, Christian feast day: Blessed Michał Giedroyć, Christian feast day: English Saints and Martyrs of the Reformation Era (Church of England). 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.