1869 – The Naval Battle of Hakodate is fought in Japan.1859 – The Cornwall Railway opens across the Royal Albert Bridge linking Devon and Cornwall in England.1836 – Formation of Ancient Order of Hibernians.1814 – King Ferdinand VII abolishes the Spanish Constitution of 1812, returning Spain to absolutism.1814 – Emperor Napoleon arrives at Portoferraio on the island of Elba to begin his exile.

1799 – Fourth Anglo-Mysore War : The Battle of Seringapatam : The siege of Seringapatam ends when the city is invaded and Tipu Sultan killed by the besieging British army, under the command of General George Harris.

1776 – Rhode Island becomes the first American colony to renounce allegiance to King George III.

1686 – The Municipality of Ilagan is founded in the Philippines.

1626 – Dutch explorer Peter Minuit arrives in New Netherland (present day Manhattan Island ) aboard the See Meeuw.

1493 – Pope Alexander VI divides the New World between Spain and Portugal along the Line of Demarcation.

1471 – Wars of the Roses : The Battle of Tewkesbury : Edward IV defeats a Lancastrian Army and kills Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales.

1436 – Assassination of the Swedish rebel (later national hero) Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson.

1415 – Religious reformers John Wycliffe and Jan Hus are condemned as heretics at the Council of Constance.

1256 – The Augustinian monastic order is constituted at the Lecceto Monastery when Pope Alexander IV issues a papal bull Licet ecclesiae catholicae.

May 4 is the 124th day of the year (125th in leap years ) in the Gregorian calendar 241 days remain until the end of the year.

Red army by ralph peters