70day.year
After the capture of Herod's Palace the previous day, a Roman army under Titus secures and plunders the city of Jerusalem.
A Roman army led by Titus secures and plunders Jerusalem after capturing Herod's Palace, marking a pivotal moment in the First Jewish–Roman War.
In 70 AD during the First Jewish–Roman War, Roman legions commanded by Titus besieged Jerusalem.
After capturing Herod's Palace on the previous day, they breached the city's defenses and entered the sacred Temple complex.
On September 8, the Romans systematically looted the city, seizing treasures and destroying key structures.
The plunder of the Second Temple's riches enriched Rome and symbolized imperial dominance over Judea.
This decisive action crushed Jewish resistance and set the stage for the final fall of Masada in 73 AD.
The event remains a defining moment in Jewish history with profound cultural and religious repercussions.
70
Herod's Palace
Roman
Titus
secures and plunders
Jerusalem
617day.year
Battle of Huoyi: Li Yuan defeats a Sui dynasty army, opening the path to his capture of the imperial capital Chang'an and the eventual establishment of the Tang dynasty.
Li Yuan's forces defeat the Sui army at the Battle of Huoyi, clearing the way for his seizure of Chang'an and the foundation of the Tang dynasty.
In 617 AD, Li Yuan, a regional governor, led his troops against a Sui dynasty army at Huoyi in present-day Shanxi province.
Despite facing a numerically superior opponent, his forces executed a surprise attack and routed the imperial troops.
This victory undermined Sui authority and allowed Li Yuan to march on the imperial capital of Chang'an.
By seizing Chang'an later that year, he laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Tang dynasty in 618 AD.
The Battle of Huoyi is celebrated as a turning point that ushered in one of China's golden ages.
It demonstrated effective leadership and strategic innovation that shaped Chinese history.
617
Battle of Huoyi
Li Yuan
Sui dynasty
Chang'an
Tang dynasty
1100day.year
Election of Antipope Theodoric.
Antipope Theodoric is elected, challenging Pope Paschal II and intensifying the medieval Church's power struggles.
In April 1100, disaffected cardinals elected Theodoric as a rival pope in opposition to Paschal II.
This contested election deepened the Investiture Controversy, as secular and ecclesiastical factions vied for influence over papal appointments.
Theodoric's claim was supported by Emperor Henry IV, reflecting the ongoing conflict between imperial and papal authorities.
Though his support fluctuated, the presence of an antipope exacerbated divisions within Christendom.
The schism was eventually resolved after Theodoric's death in 1102, but it highlighted the fragile balance of power in medieval Europe.
This episode underscored the intense political and spiritual battles that shaped the papacy.
1100
Antipope Theodoric
1198day.year
Philip of Swabia, Prince of Hohenstaufen, is crowned King of Germany (King of the Romans)
Philip of Swabia is crowned King of Germany, securing the Hohenstaufen claim during the imperial succession crisis.
In 1198, Philip of Swabia, son of Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, was crowned King of the Romans in Mainz.
His election came amid a contested succession following the death of Emperor Henry VI, with rival Otto of Brunswick also claiming the crown.
Philip's coronation solidified Hohenstaufen influence and set the stage for a prolonged conflict between the houses of Hohenstaufen and Welf.
He pursued alliances across the Holy Roman Empire while facing papal opposition under Pope Innocent III.
Although his reign was marked by civil strife, Philip maintained strong support in southern Germany and Italy until his assassination in 1208.
His contested rule left a lasting impact on imperial politics and feudal allegiances.
1198
Philip of Swabia
1253day.year
Pope Innocent IV canonises Stanislaus of Szczepanów, killed by King Bolesław II.
Pope Innocent IV proclaims the canonization of Stanislaus of Szczepanów, elevating the martyred Polish bishop to sainthood.
On September 8, 1253, Pope Innocent IV officially canonized Stanislaus of Szczepanów, a 11th-century bishop of Kraków martyred under King Bolesław II.
Stanislaus had been executed in 1079 after opposing royal abuses, and his death sparked a popular cult across Poland.
His canonization affirmed his status as a national patron and symbol of resistance to tyranny.
Innocent IV’s declaration reinforced the papacy’s moral authority and influence in Central Europe.
Stanislaus’s shrine in Kraków became a major pilgrimage site, shaping Polish religious identity for centuries.
This act of sainthood underscored the political and spiritual power wielded by the medieval Church.
1253
Pope Innocent IV
Stanislaus of Szczepanów
Bolesław II
1264day.year
The Statute of Kalisz, guaranteeing Jews safety and personal liberties and giving battei din jurisdiction over Jewish matters, is promulgated by Bolesław the Pious, Duke of Greater Poland.
The Statute of Kalisz, enacted by Duke Bolesław the Pious, grants Jewish communities legal protections and autonomy in Greater Poland.
On September 8, 1264, Duke Bolesław the Pious of Greater Poland promulgated the Statute of Kalisz, one of the earliest European charters safeguarding Jewish rights.
The statute guaranteed Jews personal safety, freedom to conduct business, and established Jewish courts (battei din) for internal legal matters.
It forbade violence, property seizures, and provided legal recourse in cases of dispute with Christians.
This landmark charter fostered a relatively stable and prosperous Jewish community in Poland for centuries.
Its progressive approach to religious tolerance influenced later European legal traditions.
The Statute of Kalisz remains a significant milestone in the history of Jewish-European relations.
1264
Statute of Kalisz
battei din
Bolesław the Pious
1276day.year
Pope John XXI is elected Pope.
Pedro Julião is elected Pope John XXI, resuming papal leadership after a brief vacancy.
On September 8, 1276, Cardinal Pedro Julião (Peter Juliani) was elected to succeed Pope Adrian V as Pope John XXI.
His election ended a two-month vacancy following Adrian V's brief pontificate.
John XXI, a Portuguese scholar and physician, was known for his works in medicine and philosophy.
His reign focused on strengthening Church administration and addressing conflicts between secular and ecclesiastical powers.
Tragically, he died in May 1277 after a collapse of a portion of the papal palace staircase.
His papacy, though short, reflected the growing influence of intellectual clergy in the medieval Church.
1276
Pope John XXI
1331day.year
Stefan Dušan declares himself king of Serbia.
Stefan Dušan proclaims himself King of Serbia, setting the foundation for the medieval Serbian Empire.
On September 8, 1331, Stefan Dušan, then Young King and son of Stefan Dečanski, seized power in Serbia after deposing his father.
He declared himself King of Serbia, consolidating authority and beginning an era of territorial expansion.
Over the next decade, Dušan rapidly extended Serbian rule throughout the Balkans, defeating Byzantine forces.
In 1346 he crowned himself Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks, establishing the Serbian Empire at its zenith.
Known for his legal codification, Dušan’s Code became a cornerstone of medieval Serbian law.
His reign marked Serbia’s cultural and political golden age before the encroachment of the Ottoman Turks.
1331
Stefan Dušan
1334day.year
The Battle of Adramyttion begins in which a Christian naval league defeats a Turkish fleet in several encounters.
A Christian naval league secures victory over a Turkish fleet at the Battle of Adramyttion, demonstrating maritime power in the Aegean.
In 1334, a coalition of Christian maritime states formed a naval league to counter rising Turkish corsairs in the Aegean Sea.
On September 8, the league’s fleet engaged and defeated a Turkish flotilla near Adramyttion on the Anatolian coast.
The Christian forces captured several ships and disrupted Turkish supply lines and coastal raids.
This victory bolstered the coastal defenses of Byzantine and Latin possessions in western Asia Minor.
Though naval conflicts continued, the battle highlighted the importance of sea power in regional security.
The engagement set a precedent for later Crusader naval expeditions against Ottoman expansion.
1334
Battle of Adramyttion
Christian naval league
1380day.year
Battle of Kulikovo: Russian forces defeat a mixed army of Tatars and Mongols, stopping their advance.
Prince Dmitry Donskoy leads Moscow’s forces to victory over the Golden Horde at the Battle of Kulikovo, a landmark in Russian independence.
On September 8, 1380, Prince Dmitry Ivanovich of Moscow assembled an allied Russian army to confront Mongol-Tatar forces at Kulikovo Field.
Facing the army of Mamai, a powerful warlord of the Golden Horde, the Russians employed tactical reserve units to turn the tide of battle.
Their decisive victory ended Mongol dominance in the region and boosted the prestige of the Moscow principality.
Though the Horde would later reassert influence, Kulikovo became a symbol of Russian unity and resistance.
The Grand Prince adopted the honorific Donskoy in recognition of the battle near the Don River.
This engagement is celebrated as a foundational moment in the emergence of a centralized Russian state.
1380
Battle of Kulikovo
1504day.year
Michelangelo's David is unveiled in Piazza della Signoria in Florence.
Michelangelo's David was officially unveiled in Florence's Piazza della Signoria in 1504, celebrating the height of Renaissance artistry and civic pride.
Michelangelo completed the marble statue of David in 1504, showcasing the idealized human form that would define High Renaissance art.
The monumental 5.17-meter figure was unveiled on September 8th at the political heart of Florence, symbolizing the republic's strength and independence.
Crafted from a single block of Carrara marble, David represented both biblical heroism and civic virtue.
Thousands gathered in the square to witness this bold representation of man poised against adversity.
The statue stood outdoors until 1873, after which it was moved to the Galleria dell'Accademia to preserve its details.
Today, the original remains a highlight of art history, while a replica stands in the Piazza, continuing its legacy.
1504
David
Piazza della Signoria
1514day.year
Battle of Orsha: In one of the biggest battles of the century, Lithuanians and Poles defeat the Russian army.
At the Battle of Orsha in 1514, the Polish-Lithuanian forces delivered a major defeat to the Grand Duchy of Moscow, marking one of the largest engagements of the period.
Fought on September 8, 1514 near the Orsha River, this battle saw the allied armies of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania face the Russian forces led by Vasili III.
Outnumbered but well-coordinated, the Polish-Lithuanian cavalry executed a decisive encirclement that shattered the Russian infantry.
Estimates suggest the Russians suffered heavy losses, including thousands of soldiers and significant equipment.
The victory secured the eastern borders of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and checked Moscow's westward expansion.
Celebrated for its demonstration of combined arms tactics, the Battle of Orsha became a symbol of military prowess in Eastern Europe.
1514
Battle of Orsha