What Happened in May 1648

Historical Events

  • May 15 Treaty of Munster ratified by Spain & Netherlands
  • May 16 Battle of Zhovti Vody: Ukrainian Cossacks, commanded by Bohdan Khmelnytsky and Crimean Tatars led by Tuhaj Bej, defeat Polish King John II Casimir, after 18 days of battle
  • May 17 Emperor Ferdinand III defeats Maximilian I of Bavaria

Charles I Tries to Escape

May 29 King Charles I of England attempts to escape captivity at Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight, for second time by hacksawing through a barred window but caught in the act [1]


Famous Deaths

  • May 20 Władysław IV Vasa, King of Poland (1632-48), dies of kidney stones at 52
  • May 23 Luis de Nain, painter, dies
  • May 26 Vincent Voiture, French poet (b. 1597)