392day.year
Arbogast has Eugenius elected Western Roman Emperor.
In 392, the Frankish general Arbogast elevated Eugenius as Western Roman Emperor, creating a rival court in Gaul.
In 392, Arbogast, the Frankish general serving as magister militum, installed Eugenius as Western Roman Emperor, defying Eastern Emperor Theodosius I.
After the mysterious death of Emperor Valentinian II, Arbogast wielded military and political power in the Western Empire and sought a puppet ruler.
Eugenius, a Roman aristocrat turned magister officiorum, was proclaimed emperor in Trier and recognized by the Western army.
This power grab highlighted the growing divide between Eastern and Western halves of the crumbling empire.
Although initially tolerated, Theodosius I viewed Eugenius's claim as illegitimate and marched west to confront him.
Their armies clashed at the Battle of the Frigidus in 394, ending Eugenius's short reign and reaffirming Theodosius's supremacy.
This episode underscored the internal struggles and fragmentation that plagued the late Roman Empire.
392
Arbogast
Eugenius
Western Roman Emperor
1559day.year
Spanish archbishop Bartolomé Carranza is arrested for heresy.
In 1559, Spanish archbishop Bartolomé Carranza was arrested on charges of heresy, igniting controversy within the Catholic Church.
In August 1559, Bartolomé Carranza, Archbishop of Toledo, was detained by the Spanish Inquisition under suspicion of Lutheran sympathies.
Accusations stemmed from his writings, sermons, and advocacy for church reform, which alarmed conservative hardliners.
Carranza was transported to Rome to face trial by the Roman Inquisition, where proceedings lasted nearly seventeen years.
His lengthy imprisonment highlighted tensions between Spanish and papal authorities over religious orthodoxy and jurisdiction.
The case underscored the broader struggle of the Counter-Reformation and the crackdown on perceived Protestant influence in Spain.
1559
archbishop
Bartolomé Carranza
heresy
1770day.year
James Cook names and lands on Possession Island, and claims the east coast of Australia for Britain as New South Wales.
On August 22, 1770, Captain James Cook landed on Possession Island and claimed the east coast of Australia for Britain, naming it New South Wales.
Part of James Cook's first voyage aboard HMS Endeavour, the landing on Possession Island marked the formal British claim to Australia's eastern seaboard. Cook hoisted the Union Flag and declared the territory 'New South Wales' in the name of King George III. The act laid the foundation for British colonization, although the land had been inhabited by Aboriginal peoples for millennia. The expedition provided detailed charts and observations that proved invaluable for future navigation and settlement. Cook's declaration on August 22 carried profound implications for indigenous communities and the expansion of the British Empire in the Pacific. It remains a key moment in Australian history.
1770
James Cook
Possession Island
New South Wales
1827day.year
José de La Mar becomes President of Peru.
José de La Mar became President of Peru on August 22, 1827, taking office during the nation's early republican period.
After the resignation of President José de la Riva Agüero, General José de La Mar was elected as Peru's second constitutional president on August 22, 1827. A veteran leader in the wars of independence, he faced the challenge of uniting a country torn by regional divisions. La Mar implemented measures to reorganize the military, stabilize the economy, and negotiate boundaries with neighboring Gran Colombia. His administration sought to strengthen central authority while balancing the interests of powerful local caudillos. Despite initial successes, political infighting and financial difficulties plagued his tenure. La Mar was eventually deposed in a coup led by Agustín Gamarra in 1829, but his reforms left a lasting impact on Peru's institutions during a formative era.
1827
José de La Mar
President of Peru
1846day.year
The Second Federal Republic of Mexico is established.
In 1846, the Second Federal Republic of Mexico was established, restoring federalist governance during the Mexican–American War.
Unable to reconcile centralist policies with regional demands, Mexican leaders reinstated the Federal Constitution on August 22, 1846, inaugurating the Second Federal Republic. This shift reversed the centralized rule of President Antonio López de Santa Anna, granting greater autonomy to states and municipalities. The change occurred against the backdrop of the Mexican–American War, complicating efforts to organize defense and maintain unity. Although the republic faced immediate military and financial crises, federalist reforms promoted civil liberties and regional governance. The tension between federalist and centralist factions continued to shape Mexico's political evolution. The second republic's establishment remains a pivotal moment in the nation's struggle for stable democratic institutions.
1846
Second Federal Republic of Mexico
1864day.year
Twelve nations sign the First Geneva Convention, establishing the rules of protection of the victims of armed conflicts.
In 1864, twelve countries adopted the First Geneva Convention, laying the foundations for international humanitarian law to protect war victims.
On August 22, 1864, representatives of twelve European nations convened in Geneva to sign a landmark agreement.
The First Geneva Convention established protocols for the treatment of battlefield casualties and medical personnel.
It codified obligations for neutral status of medical units and the care of the wounded regardless of allegiance.
This treaty marked the birth of modern international humanitarian law and the Red Cross movement.
Its principles have since been expanded in subsequent conventions and remain central to protecting civilians and combatants today.
1864
First Geneva Convention
1875day.year
The Treaty of Saint Petersburg between Japan and Russia is ratified, providing for the exchange of Sakhalin for the Kuril Islands.
In 1875, Japan and Russia ratified the Treaty of Saint Petersburg, swapping Japan's claim to Sakhalin for control of the Kuril Islands.
Ratified on August 22, 1875, the Treaty of Saint Petersburg resolved territorial disputes between Japan and the Russian Empire.
Under its terms, Japan ceded its claims to the island of Sakhalin while receiving the entire Kuril archipelago.
This land exchange aimed to clarify borders and prevent future conflicts in Northeast Asia.
The agreement fostered a period of relative peace between the two powers before tensions resurfaced in the 20th century.
The treaty's legacy still influences the complex territorial disputes in the region today.
1875
Treaty of Saint Petersburg
Sakhalin
Kuril Islands
1902day.year
Theodore Roosevelt becomes the first President of the United States to make a public appearance in an automobile.
In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt made history as the first U.S. leader to appear publicly in an automobile, embracing modern innovation.
On August 22, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt stepped into an automobile for a public event in Hartford, Connecticut.
This milestone showcased the rapid rise of the motor car and signaled Roosevelt's interest in technological progress.
Witnesses marveled as the horse-drawn era gave way to roaring engines carrying the nation's highest office.
By adopting the automobile, Roosevelt helped legitimize the automobile as a tool of governance and modern life.
This public appearance highlighted the intersection of political leadership and industrial innovation at the dawn of the 20th century.
Theodore Roosevelt
1953day.year
The penal colony on Devil's Island is permanently closed.
France closed its notorious penal colony on Devil’s Island, ending more than a century of harsh convict exile.
The penal colony of Devil’s Island in French Guiana was permanently closed on August 22, 1953. Established in the mid-nineteenth century, it had gained notoriety for brutal conditions and high mortality among prisoners. Convicts faced tropical diseases, forced labor, and isolation from the mainland. Public outcry and the high cost of operation prompted the French government to shut the facility. Remaining inmates were transferred to other French prisons in South America. The closure marked the end of one of history’s most infamous penal institutions and paved the way for its transformation into a tourist site.
1953
penal colony
Devil's Island
1962day.year
The OAS attempts to assassinate French president Charles de Gaulle.
Members of the secret French paramilitary group OAS ambushed President Charles de Gaulle in an assassination attempt.
On August 22, 1962, operatives of the Organisation armée secrète (OAS) opened fire on President Charles de Gaulle's motorcade near Paris. The OAS was fiercely opposed to Algerian independence and sought to derail the Evian Accords. Despite dozens of shots, de Gaulle was unharmed and pressed forward to conclude peace talks. The failed assassination attempt galvanized public support for the president’s policies. French authorities swiftly arrested and tried several members of the plot. The incident remains one of the most daring and consequential attacks against a head of state in modern French history.
1962
OAS
attempts to assassinate
Charles de Gaulle
1971day.year
J. Edgar Hoover and John Mitchell announce the arrest of 20 of the Camden 28.
Federal authorities announced the arrest of twenty activists, known as the Camden 28, after an attempted draft board raid.
On August 22, 1971, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and Attorney General John Mitchell held a joint press conference to reveal the arrests of twenty members of the so-called Camden 28. The activists had planned to break into a draft board office in Camden, New Jersey, to destroy records as a form of protest against the Vietnam War. Unbeknownst to them, the operation had been infiltrated by informants working for the government. The high-profile bust showcased the extent of federal surveillance on anti-war groups. Supporters decried the arrests as political repression, while others praised law enforcement efforts. The subsequent trial and ultimate acquittal of the defendants became a landmark case in protest law and civil liberties.
1971
J. Edgar Hoover
John Mitchell
the Camden 28
1972day.year
Rhodesia is expelled by the IOC for its racist policies.
The IOC expelled Rhodesia from the Olympic movement due to its government’s racial segregation policies.
On August 22, 1972, the International Olympic Committee voted to expel Rhodesia from participation in future Olympic Games. The decision came in response to international pressure over the white minority government’s discriminatory policies against black citizens. Rhodesia had declared unilateral independence from Britain in 1965, leading to widespread diplomatic isolation. Athletes from the country were thus barred from competing in the upcoming Munich Games. The expulsion highlighted the growing use of sports sanctions to enforce human rights standards. It foreshadowed similar actions against South Africa during the apartheid era.
1972
Rhodesia
IOC