April 08

Events - Politics & Government

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
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
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
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
1886day.year

William Ewart Gladstone introduces the first Irish Home Rule Bill into the British House of Commons.

William Ewart Gladstone introduces the first Irish Home Rule Bill to the British House of Commons, seeking limited self-governance for Ireland.
In 1886, Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone unveiled the first Home Rule Bill aimed at granting Ireland its own parliament for domestic affairs. Presented on April 8 in the House of Commons, the measure sought to address longstanding demands for Irish self-governance. The bill proposed devolving local legislation to an Irish assembly while retaining imperial control over defense and foreign policy. Although the initiative promised to reconcile Irish nationalists within the United Kingdom, it faced fierce opposition from Unionists. The Home Rule debate dominated British politics, leading to the emergence of the Liberal Unionist Party and deep divisions within Gladstone’s own party. Ultimately, the bill was defeated, delaying Ireland’s legislative autonomy until the 20th century.
1886 William Ewart Gladstone Irish Home Rule Bill British House of Commons
1895day.year

In Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co. the Supreme Court of the United States declares unapportioned income tax to be unconstitutional.

In Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co., the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the federal income tax as unconstitutional.
On April 8, 1895, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered its decision in Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co., ruling that unapportioned direct taxes on income from property violated the Constitution. This landmark case challenged the 1894 Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act’s provision for a federal income tax. By a narrow majority, the Court held that such taxes were direct and required apportionment among the states by population. The decision rendered the federal government powerless to levy an income tax until the Sixteenth Amendment was adopted in 1913. Pollock’s ruling reshaped American fiscal policy and underscored tensions between federal taxation powers and constitutional constraints. It remains a crucial milestone in the evolution of U.S. tax law and constitutional jurisprudence.
1895 Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co. Supreme Court of the United States income tax unconstitutional
1904day.year

The French Third Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland sign the Entente cordiale.

France and the United Kingdom sign the Entente Cordiale, marking a new era of Anglo-French cooperation.
On April 8, 1904, the French Third Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland formalized the Entente Cordiale, a series of agreements settling longstanding colonial disputes. The accords ended centuries of rivalry by resolving tensions over territories in Africa and Asia. While not a formal military alliance, the Entente laid the groundwork for coordinated diplomacy and defense against common threats. This rapprochement transformed European geopolitics, paving the way for the Triple Entente with Russia and countering the German Empire’s influence. The 1904 agreements signaled a shift away from traditional balance-of-power strategies toward cooperative international relations. Their legacy endured through World War I, where French and British forces fought alongside one another against the Central Powers.
1904 French Third Republic United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Entente cordiale
1940day.year

The Central Committee of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party elects Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal as General Secretary, marking the beginning of his 44-year-long tenure as de facto leader of Mongolia.

Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal is elected General Secretary of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party, beginning a 44-year de facto leadership.
On April 8, 1940, the Central Committee of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party chose Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal as General Secretary. At just 30 years old, Tsedenbal became the party’s political leader amid Mongolia’s close alliance with the Soviet Union. His appointment initiated a prolonged tenure that would last until 1984, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in modern Asian history. Under Tsedenbal, Mongolia underwent socialist transformation, with Soviet-style economic planning and collectivization of agriculture. He oversaw ambitious infrastructure projects, literacy campaigns, and military modernization. Critics noted increasing political repression and dependency on Soviet support throughout his rule. Tsedenbal’s leadership shaped Mongolia’s political landscape for decades and left a complex legacy of development and authoritarianism.
1940 Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal General Secretary Mongolia
1960day.year

The Netherlands and West Germany sign an agreement to negotiate the return of German land annexed by the Dutch in return for 280 million German marks as Wiedergutmachung.

In 1960, the Netherlands and West Germany agreed to negotiate the return of German territories annexed after World War II in exchange for compensation.
In 1960, the governments of the Netherlands and West Germany reached a landmark agreement to open talks on the restitution of territories annexed by the Dutch after World War II. Under the terms of the pact, West Germany offered 280 million German marks as Wiedergutmachung, a German term for reparations and rehabilitation. The deal marked a significant step in postwar reconciliation and healing between the two nations. Negotiations aimed to restore land rights to displaced German communities and address lingering grievances from wartime occupations. This agreement laid the groundwork for further treaties and enhanced diplomatic relations in Western Europe. It remains a key example of post-conflict restitution and cooperation.
1960 Netherlands West Germany German land annexed by the Dutch German marks Wiedergutmachung
1990day.year

The conservative New Democracy party of Constantine Mitsotakis is elected in the Greek parliamentary election.

In the 1990 Greek parliamentary election, Constantine Mitsotakis’s New Democracy party won a decisive victory and formed a conservative government.
On April 8, 1990, Greece held parliamentary elections that resulted in a clear win for the conservative New Democracy party. Led by Constantine Mitsotakis, New Democracy campaigned on economic liberalization and government reform. The victory ended the alternating power held by the PASOK party and ushered in a new era of centrist-conservative policies. Mitsotakis became Prime Minister, prioritizing privatization, fiscal discipline, and administrative efficiency. His government faced challenges including labor unrest and debates over Greece’s role in the European Community. The election marked a significant shift in Greek politics and set the tone for the country’s 1990s trajectory.
1990 New Democracy Constantine Mitsotakis Greek parliamentary election
2010day.year

U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sign the New START Treaty.

In 2010, Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev signed the New START Treaty in Prague to reduce U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals.
On April 8, 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in Prague. The agreement aimed to limit deployed strategic nuclear warheads to 1,550 on each side and reduce the number of deployed launchers. New START built on previous arms control measures, promoting transparency and verification through on-site inspections. It was hailed as a cornerstone of U.S.-Russia nuclear diplomacy and a step toward global nuclear risk reduction. The treaty entered into force in February 2011 after ratification by both nations’ legislatures. New START continues to shape the framework for bilateral strategic stability and nonproliferation efforts.
2010 Barack Obama Dmitry Medvedev New START Treaty
2020day.year

Bernie Sanders ends his presidential campaign, leaving Joe Biden as the Democratic Party's nominee.

On April 8, 2020, Senator Bernie Sanders officially ended his bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, consolidating support behind Joe Biden.
By suspending his campaign after key primary defeats, Bernie Sanders paved the way for a unified Democratic front against the incumbent president. His grassroots movement had energized progressive policies, from healthcare reform to climate action. The decision reflected delegate counts and the endorsement of party leaders rallying behind Joe Biden. Sanders's exit marked a strategic shift within the party and set the stage for Biden's eventual election victory in November. This moment underscored the influence of primary contests on shaping national political narratives and policy debates.
2020 Bernie Sanders presidential campaign Joe Biden Democratic Party