What year did the Gunpowder Plot occur?

The Gunpowder Plot occurred in 1605. On 5 November that year, conspirators led by Robert Catesby planned to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament.

Guy Fawkes was discovered guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder in an undercroft beneath Parliament during a search on the night of 4 November. The plotters hoped to kill King James VI and I, destroy the government, and trigger a Catholic uprising.

The conspiracy grew from intense religious conflict in post-Reformation England. Its failure led to arrests, trials, and the execution of surviving conspirators in January 1606. The event later became the historical basis of Guy Fawkes Night, also called Bonfire Night or Fireworks Night.

A frequent mistake is confusing the year with the date. The plot was uncovered on 4 November, but the planned attack and the annual commemoration are associated with 5 November 1605.