870day.year
Treaty of Meerssen: King Louis the German and his half-brother Charles the Bald partition the Middle Frankish Kingdom into two larger east and west divisions.
The Treaty of Meerssen in 870 split the Middle Frankish Kingdom between King Louis the German and Charles the Bald.
In 870, Louis the German and his half-brother Charles the Bald formalized the partition of the Middle Frankish Kingdom. The treaty divided the empire into eastern and western regions. Louis took control of the lands east of the Rhine, while Charles assumed authority to the west. This agreement followed continued disputes over the inheritance of their uncle, Charles the Fat. The division reshaped the political landscape of Carolingian Europe. It laid foundations for the future boundaries of France and Germany. The Treaty of Meerssen thus stands as a landmark in medieval European diplomacy and territorial fragmentation.
870
Treaty of Meerssen
Louis the German
Charles the Bald
Middle Frankish Kingdom
1503day.year
King James IV of Scotland marries Margaret Tudor, daughter of King Henry VII of England at Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh, Scotland.
On August 8, 1503, King James IV of Scotland married Margaret Tudor, forging an alliance with England.
The marriage of James IV and Margaret Tudor took place at Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh. Margaret was the daughter of England's King Henry VII. Their union aimed to solidify peace between Scotland and England. It was negotiated as part of the Treaty of Perpetual Peace in 1502. The marriage brought cultural exchange and strengthened diplomatic ties. It ultimately led to the Union of the Crowns under their great-grandson James VI of Scotland and I of England. James IV's court was influenced by English customs and art. The wedding remains a landmark event in Anglo-Scottish history.
1503
James IV of Scotland
Margaret Tudor
Henry VII of England
Holyrood Abbey
Edinburgh
1509day.year
Krishnadeva Raya is crowned Emperor of Vijayanagara at Chittoor.
In 1509, Krishnadeva Raya was crowned emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire at Chittoor, beginning a golden era.
Krishnadeva Raya ascended the throne in August 1509 following the death of his elder brother. His coronation at Chittoor marked the start of a prosperous period for Vijayanagara. Renowned as a warrior-king and patron of arts, he expanded the empire's territory through military campaigns. Under his rule, markets thrived and temple architecture flourished. His court in Hampi became a center of literature, sculpture, and music. Krishnadeva Raya maintained diplomatic relations with European traders. He also strengthened defenses against rival sultanates. His reign is often regarded as the high point of medieval South Indian history.
1509
Krishnadeva Raya
Vijayanagara
Chittoor
1648day.year
Mehmed IV (1648–1687) succeeds Ibrahim I (1640–1648) as Ottoman sultan.
In 1648, Mehmed IV ascended the Ottoman throne, succeeding his uncle Ibrahim I.
On August 8, 1648, six-year-old Mehmed IV was proclaimed Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, succeeding his uncle Ibrahim I.
His accession marked the beginning of one of the longest reigns in Ottoman history, lasting until 1687.
Mehmed IV's rule saw significant military campaigns, including wars against the Habsburgs and the Russian Empire.
Known for his piety and later nicknamed 'the Hunter,' he shaped imperial policy through both expansion and reform.
Under his leadership, the empire navigated internal challenges and laid foundations for a period of revival.
His long tenure influenced the trajectory of Ottoman strength and diplomacy in the late 17th century.
1648
Mehmed IV
Ibrahim I
Ottoman sultan
1831day.year
Four hundred Shawnee people agree to relinquish their lands in Ohio in exchange for land west of the Mississippi River in the Treaty of Wapakoneta.
In 1831, the Shawnee agree to cede their Ohio lands under the Treaty of Wapakoneta.
On August 8, 1831, four hundred members of the Shawnee tribe signed the Treaty of Wapakoneta, relinquishing their ancestral lands in Ohio.
In return, the United States government promised them territory west of the Mississippi River as part of its Indian removal policy.
This agreement reflected the growing pressure on Native American nations to cede eastern lands during westward expansion.
The relocation disrupted Shawnee communities and traditions as they adapted to unfamiliar territories.
It exemplified the broader pattern of forced displacement that affected many indigenous peoples in the 19th century.
The treaty remains a significant example of the challenges faced by Native Americans under federal policies.
1831
Shawnee
Ohio
Mississippi River
Treaty of Wapakoneta
1897day.year
Italian anarchist Michele Angiolillo assassinates Spanish Prime Minister Antonio Cánovas del Castillo
In 1897, Italian anarchist Michele Angiolillo assassinated Spanish Prime Minister Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, shocking the nation.
Motivated by the execution of anarchists in Spain, Michele Angiolillo traveled to Madrid seeking retribution.
On August 8, he shot Prime Minister Antonio Cánovas del Castillo as the leader greeted supporters.
The assassination stemmed from Cánovas’s harsh repression of anarchist activities and labor movements.
News of the killing spread rapidly, intensifying political instability in Spain.
Angiolillo was immediately arrested, tried, and executed by garrote later that year.
The act reverberated across Europe, heightening debates over anarchism and state authority.
1897
assassinates Spanish Prime Minister Antonio Cánovas del Castillo
1919day.year
The Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919 is signed. It establishes peaceful relations between Afghanistan and the UK, and confirms the Durand line as the mutual border. In return, the UK is no longer obligated to subsidize the Afghan government.
The Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919 was signed on August 8, establishing Afghanistan’s independence and confirming the Durand Line as the border with British India.
Signed in Rawalpindi by British and Afghan representatives, the treaty ended hostilities from the Third Anglo-Afghan War.
Britain recognized Afghanistan’s sovereignty, relinquishing claims to control its foreign affairs.
The agreement confirmed the Durand Line as the official boundary between Afghanistan and British India.
In exchange, Afghanistan agreed not to interfere in neighboring tribal areas.
Britain also ceased subsidies to the Afghan government, marking a new era of Afghan self-rule.
The treaty set the foundation for modern Afghan-British relations and border disputes that persist today.
1919
Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919
Durand line
1942day.year
Quit India Movement is launched in India against the British rule in response to Mohandas Gandhi's call for swaraj or complete independence.
Mohandas Gandhi’s call for 'Quit India' on August 8, 1942, ignited a mass movement demanding an end to British colonial rule in India.
During the Bombay session of the All-India Congress Committee, Gandhi delivered his famous 'Do or Die' speech.
The movement galvanized millions of Indians to join strikes, protests, and nonviolent resistance across the subcontinent.
British authorities responded with mass arrests of Congress leaders and a harsh crackdown on dissent.
Despite repression, the campaign underscored the growing urgency of Indian self-governance.
Quit India became a defining moment in the struggle for independence, inspiring future civil rights efforts worldwide.
The movement weakened British authority and set the stage for India’s eventual independence in 1947.
1942
Quit India Movement
Mohandas Gandhi
swaraj
1945day.year
The London Charter is signed by France, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and the United States, establishing the laws and procedures for the Nuremberg trials.
The London Charter was signed on August 8, 1945, establishing the legal framework for the Nuremberg Trials against Nazi war criminals.
Representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and France convened in London to draft the charter.
The document defined three categories of crimes: crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
It established the International Military Tribunal’s structure, jurisdiction, and procedural rules.
The charter guaranteed defendants rights to counsel and a public trial, setting new standards in international law.
The first Nuremberg Trials began in November 1945, prosecuting major figures of the Nazi regime.
The London Charter laid the groundwork for subsequent human rights conventions and tribunals.
1945
London Charter
Nuremberg trials
1963day.year
The Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), the current ruling party of Zimbabwe, is formed by a split from the Zimbabwe African People's Union.
The Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) is established after splitting from ZAPU, later becoming Zimbabwe's ruling party.
On 8 August 1963, the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) was formed by dissidents breaking away from the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU).
Led by nationalist figures like Ndabaningi Sithole and Robert Mugabe, ZANU advocated more militant resistance against colonial rule in Southern Rhodesia.
The split reflected deep strategic and ideological disagreements within the liberation movement.
ZANU later played a central role in the guerrilla campaign against the Rhodesian government.
Following independence in 1980, ZANU, under Robert Mugabe’s leadership, became Zimbabwe’s dominant political force.
Its legacy remains contested amid ongoing debates over governance and human rights.
Zimbabwe African National Union
Zimbabwe African People's Union
1967day.year
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is founded by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Five Southeast Asian nations establish ASEAN to promote regional cooperation and stability.
On 8 August 1967, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand signed the Bangkok Declaration, founding ASEAN.
The organization aimed to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development across the region.
It also sought to maintain regional peace and stability during Cold War tensions.
Since then, ASEAN has expanded to include Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
It fosters collaboration in trade, education, and sustainable development among its member states.
Each year on 'ASEAN Day,' the bloc celebrates its founding and collective achievements.
1967
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Indonesia
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
1973day.year
Kim Dae-jung, a South Korean politician and later president of South Korea, is kidnapped.
South Korean opposition leader Kim Dae-jung is abducted in Tokyo, triggering international outrage.
On 8 August 1973, future South Korean President Kim Dae-jung was kidnapped in Tokyo by agents linked to South Korea’s intelligence service.
He had been touring abroad to rally support against the authoritarian Park Chung-hee regime.
The abduction sparked diplomatic protests from Japan and global human rights organizations.
Under international pressure, the South Korean government arranged Kim’s release and return home.
Kim later won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his dedication to democracy and reconciliation.
The incident remains a stark example of Cold War-era political repression.
1973
Kim Dae-jung
kidnapped