May 11th

330- Having reunited the Roman Empire and built his new city Constantinople, Emperor Constantine declares Constantinople to be the new capital of the Roman Empire

1189- Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and 100,000 followers march out of Regensburg initiating the Third Crusade.  The Crusaders recaptured Acre and Jaffa but were unable to get to Jerusalem.

1310- 54 Knights Templar are burned at the stake.  The Knights Templar were an order that arose during the Crusades.  They protected pilgrims making pilgrimages to Jerusalem.  They grew in power and wealth as they developed a banking system for pilgrims.  They also made loans and by 1307, French King Philip IV owed them a large debt.  When the Crusades ended in failure, they lost much of their purpose.  Philip arrested the Templars across France on charges of heresy including their Grand Master Jacques de Molay.  Philip seized the Order’s assets and canceled his debts.  The Templars were tortured with many confessing and many more executed.  Philip’s mass arrests took place on Friday the 13th which may be the origin of the folk tale holding that date was unlucky.  

1751- Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond found Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia.  It was the first public hospital in the US and is still in operation.  

1858- Minnesota is admitted as the 32nd state.  

1864- Confederate cavalry catch up to Union General Philip Sheridan’s cavalry raiding south from Spotsylvania resulting in the Battle of Yellow Tavern at the South Anna River.  Confederate General JEB Stuart receives mortal wounds and the Confederate cavalry is badly defeated.  The Confederates had enjoyed an advantage as the better cavalry force thus far.  That ended at Yellow Tavern.  Wade Hampton succeeded Stuart.  

1960- The Israeli intelligence agency, the Mossad, kidnaps Adolf Eichmann living in cognito in Buenos Aires.  The Israelis whisked him to Israel to stand trial for war crimes.

1969- Legendary British comedy troupe Monty Python forms.  The members included John Cleese, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, and Terry Gilliam.  The group created an innovative and wildly successful television program, Monty Python’s Flying Circus and wrote several successful movies (The Quest for the Holy Grail, The Meaning of Life, And Now for Something Completely Different, The Life of Brian), numerous live performances, at least 17 albums and a play.