- May 2 Dartmoor Prison in England opens to house French prisoners of war
- May 5 Citizenship is denied to Jews of Aargau Canton, Switzerland
- May 5 Mary Kies is the first woman too be issued a US patent for weaving straw
- May 17 Papal States annexed by France
Battle of Aspern-Essling
May 21 Battle of Aspern-Essling: Austrian Archduke Charles beats Napoleon and his army. Napoleon's first defeat in 10 years.
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