453 BC
Spring and Autumn period: The house of Zhao defeats the house of Zhi, ending the Battle of Jinyang, a military conflict between the elite families of the State of Jin.
In 453 BC, the Zhao clan decisively defeated the Zhi clan at the Battle of Jinyang, ending a major power struggle in the State of Jin.
The Battle of Jinyang was a defining moment during China’s Spring and Autumn period. Rival aristocratic houses of Jin — Zhao and Zhi — had vied for political dominance for years. On May 8, 453 BC, Zhao forces ambushed and routed the Zhi troops, securing control of Jinyang. The victory shifted the balance of power, elevating the Zhao family’s influence. It also marked the decline of the old Jin ruling structure and set the stage for the eventual partition of the state. This internal conflict highlights the turbulent nature of early Chinese feudal politics.
453 BC
Spring and Autumn period
Zhao
Battle of Jinyang
State of Jin
1360day.year
Treaty of Brétigny drafted between King Edward III of England and King John II of France (the Good).
In 1360, the Treaty of Brétigny was drafted, pausing part of the Hundred Years’ War between England and France.
On May 8, 1360, diplomats for King Edward III of England and King John II of France met at Brétigny to draft a new peace treaty. The Treaty of Brétigny aimed to end hostilities by transferring vast territories in Aquitaine to English control. In exchange, Edward III agreed to relinquish his claim to the French throne. Though never ratified immediately, the draft laid groundwork for the formal treaty later that year. It marked a shifting balance in the protracted Hundred Years’ War and demonstrated the era’s complex feudal loyalties. The Brétigny negotiations highlight medieval warfare’s blend of chivalry, diplomacy, and territorial ambition.
1360
Treaty of Brétigny
Edward III of England
John II of France
1429day.year
Joan of Arc lifts the Siege of Orléans, turning the tide of the Hundred Years' War.
On May 8, 1429, Joan of Arc broke the Siege of Orléans, marking a turning point in the Hundred Years’ War.
Joan of Arc, the young peasant-turned-general, arrived at Orléans in April 1429 to lift the English siege. On May 8, she led aggressive assaults that shattered English defenses. Her charismatic leadership and unwavering faith inspired French troops to reclaim key fortifications. The relief of Orléans revitalized French morale and galvanized support for Charles VII’s coronation. Joan’s victory signaled a shift away from English dominance in the war. This dramatic triumph remains one of medieval Europe’s most celebrated military and spiritual achievements.
1429
Joan of Arc
Siege of Orléans
1450day.year
Kentishmen revolt against King Henry VI.
In 1450, men from Kent rose in revolt against King Henry VI’s rule, sparking political unrest in England.
The Kentish rebellion of 1450 saw local landholders and commoners alike join in protest against royal mismanagement and corruption. On May 8, insurgents seized control of Rochester and advanced on London. They demanded the dismissal of unpopular advisors and redress for grievances stemming from the Hundred Years’ War’s losses. Although the revolt was eventually suppressed, it exposed deep fissures in Henry VI’s reign. The uprising foreshadowed the dynastic struggles that would erupt into the Wars of the Roses. This event underscores the volatile political climate of mid-15th-century England.
1450
revolt
Henry VI
1821day.year
Greek War of Independence: The Greeks defeat the Turks at the Battle of Gravia Inn.
During the Greek War of Independence in 1821, Greek forces achieved a key victory over the Ottoman army at the Battle of Gravia Inn.
On May 8, 1821, Greek revolutionaries under commanders Odysseas Androutsos and Athanasios Diakos ambushed an Ottoman force at the Gravia Inn in central Greece. Using the terrain to their advantage, the Greeks inflicted heavy casualties on the advancing Turks and forced them to withdraw. This triumph boosted the morale of the insurgents and demonstrated the potential of organized Greek resistance. Word of the victory spread across Europe, garnering sympathy for the Greek cause among philhellenes. The battle's success helped sustain the uprising until eventual recognition of Greek independence by the Great Powers. The bravery exhibited at Gravia Inn became legendary in Greek national memory.
1821
Greek War of Independence
Battle of Gravia Inn
1846day.year
Mexican–American War: American forces led by Zachary Taylor defeat a Mexican force north of the Rio Grande in the first major battle of the war.
In the first major battle of the Mexican–American War on May 8, 1846, General Zachary Taylor’s forces defeated Mexican troops near the Rio Grande.
On May 8, 1846, at Palo Alto near the Rio Grande, American troops under General Zachary Taylor engaged Mexican forces led by General Mariano Arista. Utilizing superior artillery and disciplined infantry formations, Taylor’s army forced the Mexicans to retreat despite challenging terrain. This victory at the Battle of Palo Alto demonstrated the effectiveness of the U.S. Army’s cannons and infantry tactics. The triumph bolstered American morale and secured control over disputed borderlands in Texas. It marked the opening chapter of a conflict that would extend across Mexico and ultimately reshape North American geopolitics. Taylor’s success earned him the nickname 'Old Rough and Ready' and set the stage for further U.S. advances.
1846
Mexican–American War
defeat
1941day.year
World War II: The German Luftwaffe launches a bombing raid on Nottingham and Derby.
In 1941, the German Luftwaffe launched a major bombing raid on Nottingham and Derby during World War II.
On May 8, 1941, Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe targeted the industrial cities of Nottingham and Derby in central England. The raid aimed to disrupt war production and undermine civilian morale in the British Midlands. Waves of bombers dropped high-explosive and incendiary bombs, causing widespread destruction to factories, rail yards, and residential areas. Civilians took shelter in underground stations and hastily constructed air-raid shelters. Although the Royal Air Force and air raid wardens mounted defenses, significant damage and casualties occurred. The attack highlighted the vulnerability of Britain's industrial heartland and strengthened resolve across the nation to resist the Blitz. Memorials in both cities honor the lives lost and the resilience of their communities.
1941
World War II
bombing raid on Nottingham and Derby
1942day.year
World War II: The German 11th Army begins Operation Trappenjagd (Bustard Hunt) and destroys the bridgehead of the three Soviet armies defending the Kerch Peninsula.
In 1942, during World War II, the German 11th Army launched Operation Trappenjagd, decimating Soviet defenses on the Kerch Peninsula.
Operation Trappenjagd, launched on May 8, 1942, saw Germany's 11th Army break through the Soviet-held bridgehead on the Kerch Peninsula in Crimea. Employing concentrated artillery barrages and swift armored assaults, German forces encircled and overwhelmed three Soviet armies in just days. The operation demonstrated the Wehrmacht's tactical coordination and highlighted Soviet command failures. Thousands of Soviet troops were killed or captured, and the breakthrough opened the way for further advances into the Caucasus region. Despite initial success, the German gains proved hard to consolidate amid extended supply lines and mounting Soviet counterattacks. Operation Trappenjagd remains a case study in blitzkrieg tactics and the brutal Eastern Front campaigns.
1942
11th Army
Operation Trappenjagd
1942day.year
World War II: The Battle of the Coral Sea comes to an end with Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier aircraft attacking and sinking the United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Lexington.
In 1942, the Battle of the Coral Sea concluded as USS Lexington was sunk in the first major naval engagement fought entirely by aircraft.
The Battle of the Coral Sea, which ended on May 8, 1942, marked a pivotal clash between the Japanese and Allied navies in the Pacific Theater. For the first time, opposing fleets engaged without ever sighting each other, relying solely on carrier-based aircraft. During the final strikes, Japanese planes sank the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Lexington and damaged other vessels on both sides. Although the Japanese fleet achieved some tactical success, the battle halted their southward advance toward Australia. Crucially, it preserved the security of key supply routes and set the stage for the decisive Battle of Midway. The Coral Sea conflict reshaped naval warfare strategy and underscored the rising importance of air power at sea.
Battle of the Coral Sea
Imperial Japanese Navy
aircraft carrier
United States Navy
USS Lexington
1942day.year
World War II: Gunners of the Ceylon Garrison Artillery on Horsburgh Island in the Cocos Islands rebel in the Cocos Islands Mutiny. Their mutiny is crushed and three of them are executed, the only British Commonwealth soldiers to be executed for mutiny during the Second World War.
In 1942, Ceylon Garrison Artillery gunners mutinied on Horsburgh Island in the Cocos Islands, only to have the uprising swiftly crushed and three soldiers executed - the sole British Commonwealth troops executed for mutiny in World War II.
On May 8, 1942, soldiers of the Ceylon Garrison Artillery stationed on Horsburgh Island staged a mutiny against British command during World War II.
The rebellion was quickly suppressed by loyal forces responding to the backlash.
Three mutineers were court-martialed and executed, marking the only instances of British Commonwealth troops executed for mutiny in the war.
This rare event highlights tensions within colonial units serving under European commands.
Today, the Cocos Islands Mutiny stands as a unique and somber episode in the wider history of World War II.
Cocos Islands
Cocos Islands Mutiny
British Commonwealth
1945day.year
World War II: The German Instrument of Surrender signed at Berlin-Karlshorst comes into effect.
Germany’s unconditional surrender in Berlin-Karlshorst took effect, officially ending World War II in Europe and marking VE Day.
At 23:01 CET on May 8, 1945, the German Instrument of Surrender signed in Berlin-Karlshorst came into effect, formally ending hostilities in Europe and bringing World War II to a close on the continent.
Representatives of the Allied powers and the German High Command finalized the unconditional surrender after weeks of intense fighting.
VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) was declared across Allied nations, sparking celebrations and relief after six years of conflict.
The instrument outlined the cessation of all German military operations and marked the beginning of postwar reconstruction in Europe.
Historians regard this moment as a turning point that shaped the geopolitical landscape of the postwar era.
1945
German Instrument of Surrender
Berlin-Karlshorst
1945day.year
End of the Prague uprising, celebrated now as a national holiday in the Czech Republic.
The Czech resistance ended the Prague uprising against German occupation on May 8, 1945, a day now honored as a national holiday.
On May 8, 1945, Czech resistance fighters succeeded in ending the Prague uprising against German occupation, freeing the city after three days of urban combat.
Local insurgents seized key points and held out until Soviet and Allied forces arrived to secure the city.
The uprising claimed many lives on both sides but symbolized Czech determination for liberation.
In honor of this struggle, the Czech Republic observes May 8 as Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day.
The event remains a powerful reminder of civilian courage in the closing days of World War II.
Prague uprising