In History, Today on May 12

Richard I of England, also known as Richard the Lionheart, arrived in the city of Acre during the Third Crusade. His arrival marked a significant moment in the Crusades as he was one of the leading figures in the Christian efforts to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control.

Jagiellonian University, one of the oldest universities in the world, was founded in Kraków, Poland. It became a major center of learning and culture in Central Europe.

The National University of San Marcos, the oldest university in the Americas, was founded in Lima, Peru. It played a crucial role in the intellectual and cultural development of Latin America.

The Day of the Barricades in Paris, a turning point in the French Wars of Religion.

Charleston, South Carolina, fell to British forces during the American Revolutionary War, marking one of the worst American defeats of the war.

The birth of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

The General Strike in the United Kingdom ends after nine days.

The body of Charles Lindbergh Jr., the kidnapped son of Charles Lindbergh, is found in Hopewell, New Jersey.

The coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth took place at Westminster Abbey in London, marking the beginning of their reign following the abdication of King Edward VIII.

The Soviet Union launches the unsuccessful Kharkov offensive against the German Army during World War II.

The Soviet Union lifted the Berlin Blockade, which had been in place since June 1948, allowing supplies to flow into West Berlin and marking a significant moment in the early Cold War.

The Soviet spacecraft Luna 5 crashed on the Moon, marking a failed attempt to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia was established by the United Nations to prosecute serious crimes committed during the Yugoslav Wars, marking a significant step in international justice.

A devastating earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck Sichuan Province in China, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The earthquake resulted in nearly 87,000 deaths and left millions homeless.

A second major earthquake struck Nepal, measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale, just weeks after a previous devastating quake. This earthquake caused further casualties and damage in a country already struggling with the aftermath of the April 2015 earthquake.

The WannaCry ransomware attack began, affecting hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide, particularly impacting the UK's National Health Service.