217day.year
Roman emperor Caracalla is assassinated and is succeeded by his Praetorian Guard prefect, Marcus Opellius Macrinus.
In 217, Roman Emperor Caracalla was assassinated by his Praetorian Guard, ending his turbulent rule. He was succeeded by his prefect, Marcus Opellius Macrinus, marking the first non-dynastic transfer of power in Rome.
Emperor Caracalla, son of Septimius Severus, ruled the Roman Empire from 198 until his death in 217. Known for the Constitutio Antoniniana, which granted citizenship to thousands of free inhabitants, his reign also saw heavy taxation and military campaigns. On April 8, 217, he was assassinated by members of his own Praetorian Guard while traveling near Carrhae. The conspirators immediately elevated his loyal prefect, Marcus Opellius Macrinus, to the imperial throne. Macrinus became the first emperor without dynastic connections, marking a rare shift in Roman succession driven by military influence.
217
Roman emperor
Caracalla
Praetorian Guard
prefect
Marcus Opellius Macrinus
876day.year
The Battle of Dayr al-'Aqul saves Baghdad from the Saffarids.
In 876, Abbasid forces repelled the invading Saffarid army at the Battle of Dayr al-'Aqul, safeguarding Baghdad from conquest.
The Battle of Dayr al-'Aqul took place near Baghdad as Abbasid forces confronted the advancing Saffarid army. On April 8, 876, the Abbasids successfully repelled the invasion, securing the safety of the Abbasid capital. This victory halted the territorial ambitions of the Saffarid dynasty and preserved Abbasid authority in Mesopotamia. The battle showcased the resilience of Caliph Al-Muwaffaq’s leadership. It prevented the fall of Baghdad and maintained regional stability.
876
Battle of Dayr al-'Aqul
Baghdad
Saffarids
1139day.year
Roger II of Sicily is excommunicated by Innocent II for supporting Anacletus II as pope for seven years, even though Roger had already publicly recognized Innocent's claim to the papacy.
In 1139, King Roger II of Sicily was excommunicated by Pope Innocent II for supporting the rival Antipope Anacletus II, intensifying the papal schism.
King Roger II of Sicily backed Antipope Anacletus II during a deepening schism in the Catholic Church, challenging papal authority. On April 8, 1139, Pope Innocent II formally excommunicated Roger despite earlier reconciliation efforts. The censure cut Roger off from the sacraments and alienated him from other European monarchs. This excommunication lasted seven years and influenced the balance of power in Italy. It underscored the fierce interplay between secular rulers and the medieval papacy.
1139
Roger II of Sicily
Innocent II
Anacletus II
pope
1232day.year
Mongol–Jin War: The Mongols begin their siege on Kaifeng, the capital of the Jin dynasty.
In 1232, Mongol troops began the siege of Kaifeng, the capital of China’s Jin dynasty, marking a key moment in their northern campaigns.
In 1232, forces of the Mongol Empire surrounded Kaifeng, the fortified capital of the Jin dynasty in northern China. Ordered by the successors of Genghis Khan, the siege aimed to break Jin resistance after decades of border warfare. Mongol siege engineers deployed primitive artillery and encirclement tactics against the city walls. The sustained blockade disrupted the Jin’s supply lines and administration. Kaifeng’s eventual fall paved the way for Mongol domination of northern China and set the stage for the Yuan dynasty.
1232
Mongol–Jin War
Mongols
siege on Kaifeng
Jin dynasty
1250day.year
Seventh Crusade: Ayyubids of Egypt capture King Louis IX of France in the Battle of Fariskur.
During the Seventh Crusade on April 8, 1250, Ayyubid forces captured King Louis IX of France in the Battle of Fariskur, dealing a crushing blow to the Crusaders.
On April 8, 1250, Crusader armies led by King Louis IX of France engaged Ayyubid troops near the Nile delta at Fariskur. The Crusaders were ambushed and overwhelmed, resulting in their defeat. King Louis IX himself was captured along with many nobles and soldiers. His imprisonment forced the Crusaders to negotiate a heavy ransom for his release. This setback marked a decisive turning point in the Seventh Crusade and highlighted the resilience of the Ayyubid Sultanate.
1250
Seventh Crusade
Ayyubids
Louis IX of France
Battle of Fariskur
1271day.year
In Syria, sultan Baibars conquers the Krak des Chevaliers.
In 1271, Mamluk Sultan Baibars seized the formidable Crusader fortress Krak des Chevaliers in Syria after a prolonged siege.
In 1271, Sultan Baibars of the Mamluk Sultanate launched a campaign to eliminate Crusader strongholds in the Levant. Krak des Chevaliers, held by the Knights Hospitaller, was renowned for its thick walls and strategic location. After encircling the fortress and cutting off its supplies, Baibars negotiated its surrender. The fall of Krak des Chevaliers delivered a major blow to Crusader presence in the Holy Land. Its capture marked the decline of Western fortifications and the ascendancy of Mamluk power in the region.
1271
Syria
Baibars
Krak des Chevaliers
1605day.year
The city of Oulu, Finland, is founded by Charles IX of Sweden.
In 1605, King Charles IX of Sweden founded the city of Oulu in northern Finland to promote trade and governance along the Oulujoki River.
On April 8, 1605, Charles IX of Sweden issued a charter establishing the city of Oulu at the mouth of the Oulujoki River. The new settlement aimed to stimulate commerce in tar, timber, and furs by granting market rights to merchants. Charles granted Oulu city privileges, attracting craftsmen and traders to the region. Over the centuries, Oulu grew into a vital administrative and economic center under Swedish and later Russian rule. The city’s founding marked a key moment in the urban development of Finland.
1605
Oulu
Charles IX of Sweden
1730day.year
Shearith Israel, the first synagogue in continental North America, is dedicated.
In 1730, Shearith Israel, the first synagogue in continental North America, was dedicated in New York City, marking a milestone for Jewish settlers.
Shearith Israel, founded by Sephardic Jews in 1654, commissioned its first permanent building in lower Manhattan. On April 8, 1730, the congregation dedicated the synagogue as a central place of worship. The synagogue represented religious tolerance and diversity in the British colonies. It served as a communal hub for Jewish life, including education and charity. Shearith Israel remains active today, preserving its rich history and legacy in American Judaism.
1730
Shearith Israel
synagogue
1812day.year
Czar Alexander I, the Russian Emperor and the Grand Duke of Finland, officially announces the transfer of the status of the Finnish capital from Turku to Helsinki.
In 1812, Emperor Alexander I of Russia moved the Finnish capital from Turku to Helsinki to strengthen ties with the empire.
On April 8, 1812, Czar Alexander I issued a decree transferring Finland’s seat of government from Turku to Helsinki. The decision was motivated by Helsinki’s closer proximity to Saint Petersburg and its potential for defense. Planners redesigned Helsinki in the neoclassical style, commissioning architects like Carl Ludvig Engel. The relocation fostered urban growth and shifted political influence in Finland toward the Russian sphere. Helsinki’s transformation into a planned capital laid the groundwork for its emergence as Finland’s cultural and administrative center.
1812
Alexander I
Russian Emperor
Grand Duke of Finland
Turku
Helsinki
1820day.year
The Venus de Milo is discovered on the Aegean island of Milos.
On April 8, 1820, a farmer discovered the Venus de Milo statue on the Aegean island of Milos, sparking great interest in ancient Greek art.
A local farmer stumbled upon the partially buried statue later named the Venus de Milo on Milos in the Aegean Sea. Attributed to the ancient sculptor Alexandros of Antioch, the marble figure exemplifies Hellenistic artistry. In 1821, the French naval officer Olivier Voutier arranged to transport the statue to Paris. The Venus de Milo has been on display at the Louvre Museum ever since, captivating millions of visitors. Its elegant form and mysterious history have made it an enduring symbol of classical beauty.
1820
Venus de Milo
Aegean
Milos
1832day.year
Black Hawk War: Around 300 United States 6th Infantry troops leave St. Louis, Missouri to fight the Sauk Native Americans.
Around 300 U.S. 6th Infantry troops depart St. Louis to engage the Sauk tribe in the opening stages of the Black Hawk War.
In 1832, tensions over disputed lands between the Sauk tribe and American settlers erupted into the Black Hawk War.
On April 8, roughly 300 soldiers of the U.S. 6th Infantry left St. Louis, Missouri, to confront tribal forces led by Black Hawk.
This movement marked one of the first major deployments of regular U.S. Army troops in the conflict.
The campaign unfolded across the Upper Mississippi region, involving skirmishes, strategic maneuvers, and harsh river crossings.
Although the war resulted in defeat for the Sauk, it had lasting consequences for Native American communities and U.S. expansion policies.
1832
Black Hawk War
St. Louis, Missouri
Sauk
Native Americans
1866day.year
Austro-Prussian War: Italy and Prussia sign a secret alliance against the Austrian Empire.
Italy and Prussia secretly agree to ally against the Austrian Empire, setting the stage for the Austro-Prussian War.
In the lead-up to the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, Prussia sought alliances to isolate Austria within the German Confederation.
On April 8, Italy and Prussia concluded a covert pact to coordinate their military efforts against Austrian forces.
The treaty promised Italian territorial gains in return for military support alongside Prussian armies.
This secret agreement disrupted the balance of power established by earlier European treaties.
The Austro-Prussian conflict would decisively reshape German unification and weaken Austria's influence in Italy.
Italy’s participation ultimately secured control of Venetia after Austria’s defeat at the Battle of Sadowa.
1866
Austro-Prussian War
Italy
Prussia
Austrian Empire