May 11 has marked many landmark moments across centuries, from the birth of empires and printed literature to political assassinations, scientific breakthroughs, and cultural icons. Here's a selection of some of the most significant events that occurred on this day in history.

Ancient and Medieval Milestones

330: Emperor Constantine the Great formally dedicated the expanded and rebuilt city of Byzantium as "New Rome," establishing it as the new capital of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire—later known as Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul).

868: The Diamond Sūtra, a Buddhist text, was printed in China—the earliest known dated printed book in existence.
1068: Matilda of Flanders, wife of William the Conqueror, was crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey—the first coronation of a queen consort in English history.

19th and Early 20th Century Turning Points

1812: British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval was assassinated in the lobby of the House of Commons by John Bellingham—the only British prime minister ever to be assassinated.
1858: Minnesota was admitted as the 32nd U.S. state.

1960: Israeli intelligence agents captured Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann (one of the main organizers of the Holocaust) near Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was later tried and executed in Israel.

Late 20th and 21st Century Events

1985: A devastating fire at Bradford City stadium in England killed 56 spectators and injured more than 200 during a football match.

1996: ValuJet Airlines Flight 592 crashed in the Florida Everglades after a fire in the cargo hold, killing all 110 people on board.
1997: IBM's supercomputer Deep Blue defeated world chess champion Garry Kasparov in their rematch, becoming the first computer to beat a reigning world champion in a full chess match under classical time controls.

2024: A powerful series of solar storms (the strongest geomagnetic activity since 2003) began impacting Earth, while the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden, crowned Nemo (Switzerland) as the first non-binary winner.

Notable Births on May 11

1888: Irving Berlin, legendary American composer and songwriter ("White Christmas," "God Bless America").

1894: Martha Graham, pioneering American modern dancer and choreographer.

1904: Salvador Dalí, iconic Spanish surrealist painter (known for The Persistence of Memory).

1918: Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize-winning American physicist renowned for his work in quantum electrodynamics and popular science.

Notable Deaths on May 11

1812: Spencer Perceval (also the assassination event noted above).
1981: Bob Marley, Jamaican reggae legend and global icon of peace and social justice.

2001: Douglas Adams, English author best known for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

May 11 in History: Key Events, Famous Births & Deaths That Shaped the World

Explore the most significant events that happened on May 11 throughout history — from Emperor Constantine founding Constantinople in 330 AD and the world’s oldest printed book in 868, to the assassination of a British Prime Minister, the capture of Adolf Eichmann, Deep Blue defeating Garry Kasparov, and the births of Irving Berlin, Salvador Dalí, and more. A must-read “On This Day” historical overview.

17GEN4.com

News on this day in 2026: May 11, 2026 - 5/11/2026

On this day in 2026 - 5/11/2026

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