1010day.year
Ferdowsi completes his epic poem Shahnameh.
In 1010, the Persian poet Ferdowsi completed his Shahnameh, an epic poem chronicling the legendary and historical past of Iran.
Ferdowsi devoted over three decades to composing the Shahnameh, which spans more than 50,000 couplets. He drew upon oral traditions and earlier chronicles to narrate the mythical and historical past of Persia. Completed in 1010, the epic preserved the Persian language and cultural identity following the Arab conquests. Its heroic tales of legendary kings and moral lessons resonated across generations. The Shahnameh became a cornerstone of Persian literature and art. It remains celebrated today as a masterpiece that shaped Iran's national epic legacy.
1010
Ferdowsi
Shahnameh
1126day.year
Following the death of his mother, queen Urraca of León, Alfonso VII is proclaimed king of León.
In 1126 Alfonso VII succeeded his mother Urraca as king of León, marking a new chapter in Iberian monarchy.
In 1126, following the death of Queen Urraca, her son Alfonso VII was proclaimed King of León. His ascension marked the continuation of the Jiménez dynasty in the Iberian Peninsula. Alfonso inherited a kingdom recovering from internal strife and external threats. He later styled himself Emperor of all Spain in ambitions to unite the Christian realms. His reign laid foundations for the expansion of Leonese power in the region. Alfonso VII's rule became a pivotal chapter in medieval Spanish history.
1126
Urraca of León
Alfonso VII
León
1262day.year
Battle of Hausbergen between bourgeois militias and the army of the bishop of Strasbourg.
The Battle of Hausbergen in 1262 saw the Strasbourg bourgeois militias clash with the bishop’s forces, reshaping the city's governance.
The Battle of Hausbergen in 1262 pitted the Strasbourg bourgeois militias against the bishop’s army. Tensions had risen as the city’s citizens sought greater autonomy from ecclesiastical rule. On March 8, the well-organized militias achieved a decisive victory on the battlefield. The defeat forced the bishop to relinquish temporal authority over Strasbourg. This triumph ushered in an era of communal self-governance and civic pride. The event is remembered as a landmark in the urban autonomy movements of medieval Europe.
1262
Battle of Hausbergen
Strasbourg
1558day.year
The city of Pori (Swedish: Björneborg) is founded by Duke John on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia.
Duke John founded the city of Pori on the Finnish coast in 1558, expanding Swedish influence in the region.
Duke John of Finland founded the city of Pori on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia in 1558. Originally named Björneborg in Swedish, the settlement served as a commercial and defensive outpost. The city’s strategic coastal position facilitated trade between Finland and the wider Baltic region. Early settlers established sawmills and shipbuilding operations to harness the nearby forests. Over the centuries, Pori evolved into an important industrial and cultural center in western Finland. Its founding reflects the expansion of Swedish influence during the 16th century.
1558
Pori
Swedish
Duke John
Gulf of Bothnia
1658day.year
Treaty of Roskilde: After a devastating defeat in the Northern Wars (1655–1661), Frederick III, the King of Denmark–Norway is forced to give up nearly half his territory to Sweden.
The 1658 Treaty of Roskilde forced Denmark–Norway to cede nearly half its territory to Sweden after a crushing defeat.
The Treaty of Roskilde was signed on March 8, 1658, after Denmark–Norway suffered a crushing defeat in the Northern Wars. King Frederick III ceded nearly half his realm, including Scania, Halland, and Blekinge, to Sweden. The loss marked a dramatic shift in the balance of power in Scandinavia. Sweden emerged as the dominant Baltic power, while Denmark–Norway entered a period of rebuilding. The treaty’s terms altered borders and left a lasting legacy in Danish and Norwegian history. Roskilde remains a symbol of one of Scandinavia’s most consequential diplomatic agreements.
1658
Treaty of Roskilde
Northern Wars
Frederick III
Denmark–Norway
1702day.year
Queen Anne, the younger sister of Mary II, becomes Queen regnant of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Queen Anne ascended to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland in 1702, becoming the last monarch of the House of Stuart.
Queen Anne ascended to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland in 1702 after her sister Mary II’s death. She became the last monarch of the House of Stuart and presided over the unification of England and Scotland. Anne’s reign saw the Acts of Union in 1707, creating the Kingdom of Great Britain. Her leadership coincided with the War of the Spanish Succession and significant political changes at home. Despite personal tragedies and political factionalism, she maintained stability in her realms. Anne’s legacy includes contributions to the modern British state and patronage of the arts.
1702
Queen Anne
Mary II
Queen regnant
England
Scotland
Ireland
1722day.year
The Safavid Empire of Iran is defeated by an army from Afghanistan at the Battle of Gulnabad.
In 1722, the Afghan forces defeated the Safavid Empire at the Battle of Gulnabad, precipitating the collapse of Safavid rule in Iran.
On March 8, 1722, Afghan forces defeated the Safavid Empire at the Battle of Gulnabad. Led by Mahmud Hotak, the Afghans capitalized on Safavid decline and internal dissent. The Persian army suffered a crushing defeat near Isfahan, the empire’s capital. This loss precipitated the collapse of Safavid rule and opened the way for Afghan occupation. The battle signaled the end of a dynasty that had dominated Iran for over two centuries. It reshaped the region’s political landscape until the rise of the Afsharid dynasty.
1722
Safavid Empire
Iran
Afghanistan
Battle of Gulnabad
1736day.year
Nader Shah, founder of the Afsharid dynasty, is crowned Shah of Iran.
Nader Shah was crowned Shah of Iran in 1736, founding the Afsharid dynasty and reshaping Persian politics.
Nader Shah was crowned Shah of Iran on March 8, 1736, marking the beginning of the Afsharid dynasty. A brilliant military commander, he rose to power by expelling Afghan occupiers. His coronation in Mashhad ended the fragmented rule that followed the Safavid collapse. Nader embarked on ambitious campaigns, extending Persian influence into India and the Caucasus. He implemented administrative reforms and modernized the army with new tactics. Nader Shah’s reign left a profound impact on Iran’s territorial integrity and military traditions.
1736
Nader Shah
Afsharid dynasty
Shah of Iran
1775day.year
An anonymous writer, thought by some to be Thomas Paine, publishes "African Slavery in America", the first article in the American colonies calling for the emancipation of slaves and the abolition of slavery.
An anonymous pamphlet titled "African Slavery in America" was published in 1775, calling for the emancipation of enslaved people.
In 1775, an anonymous pamphlet titled "African Slavery in America" called for the emancipation of enslaved people in the colonies. Thought by some to be penned by Thomas Paine, it was among the first abolitionist writings in America. The article challenged prevailing attitudes and urged moral and legislative action. It sparked debate among colonial leaders and activists about human rights and slavery. Although its immediate impact was limited, it laid groundwork for the growing abolition movement. This publication marked a significant moment in early American calls for freedom and justice.
1775
Thomas Paine
emancipation
1782day.year
Gnadenhutten massacre: Ninety-six Native Americans in Gnadenhutten, Ohio, who had converted to Christianity, are killed by Pennsylvania militiamen in retaliation for raids carried out by other Indian tribes.
The Gnadenhutten massacre of 1782 saw Pennsylvania militiamen kill 96 peaceful Christian Lenape converts in Ohio.
The Gnadenhutten massacre occurred on March 8, 1782, when Pennsylvania militiamen killed 96 peacefully converted Lenape. The victims, Christian converts, had remained neutral during frontier raids of the Revolutionary War. Militiamen, seeking revenge for other attacks, mistakenly targeted the Moravian settlement at Gnadenhutten. The atrocity shocked contemporaries and drew condemnation from both Native and European communities. It highlighted the brutality of frontier warfare and the dangers faced by indigenous peoples. The massacre remains a tragic chapter in the history of American-Native American relations.
1782
Gnadenhutten massacre
Native Americans
Gnadenhutten, Ohio
Christianity
Pennsylvania
1801day.year
War of the Second Coalition: At the Battle of Abukir, a British force under Sir Ralph Abercromby lands in Egypt with the aim of ending the French campaign in Egypt and Syria.
A British expeditionary force lands at Abukir Bay in Egypt to challenge French control and end Napoleon's eastern campaign.
In March 1801, during the War of the Second Coalition, a British force commanded by Sir Ralph Abercromby launched an amphibious landing near Abukir Bay, Egypt.
Their objective was to expel French troops who had occupied Egypt since Napoleon's campaign of 1798.
Under enemy fire, the British secured the beachhead despite facing artillery and musket resistance from French defenders.
The successful landing marked the beginning of a campaign that would eventually force the French to surrender Cairo.
Abercromby's leadership and the discipline of his soldiers were crucial in establishing British dominance in the region.
1801
War of the Second Coalition
Battle of Abukir
Ralph Abercromby
French campaign in Egypt and Syria
1844day.year
King Oscar I ascends to the thrones of Sweden and Norway.
Oscar I becomes King of Sweden and Norway in 1844, heralding a period of liberal reforms and strengthened Scandinavian unity.
On March 8, 1844, Oscar I succeeded his father, King Charles XIV John, to become monarch of both Sweden and Norway.
Born Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, he continued efforts to modernize the two kingdoms under their 1814 union.
His reign saw significant liberal reforms, including freedom of the press and improvements in education.
Oscar I championed infrastructure projects to strengthen economic ties between Sweden and Norway.
His leadership helped lay the foundation for the peaceful coexistence of the two nations until the union dissolved in 1905.
1844
Oscar I
Sweden and Norway