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
1565day.year
St. Augustine, Florida is founded by Spanish admiral and Florida's first governor, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés.
Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded St. Augustine in Florida on September 8, 1565, making it the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the continental United States.
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés established St. Augustine as a strategic port and fortress to secure Spain's claims in La Florida and counter French presence.
The settlement featured the Castillo de San Marcos, which remains the oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S.
St. Augustine grew as a center of Spanish colonial administration, missionary efforts, and trade.
Its diverse population included Spanish settlers, indigenous people, and enslaved Africans, shaping a unique cultural heritage.
Despite English attacks and changing sovereignties, the city retained its historic core through centuries of conflict.
Today, St. Augustine's colonial architecture and cobblestone streets attract visitors seeking a glimpse of America's earliest European roots.
1565
St. Augustine, Florida
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés
1761day.year
Marriage of King George III of the United Kingdom to Duchess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
King George III of the United Kingdom married Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz on September 8, 1761, beginning a partnership that lasted six decades.
On September 8, 1761, King George III wed Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in a ceremony at St James's Palace in London.
Chosen for her gentle character and perceived modesty, Charlotte became a popular queen consort and bore fifteen children.
Their marriage solidified dynastic ties between Britain and German states, reinforcing Hanoverian connections.
Charlotte supported the arts and sciences, sponsoring botanical gardens and promoting music at court.
Her calm presence and partnership with George III endured through periods of political turmoil and the American Revolution.
Their union, which lasted until Charlotte's death in 1818, left a lasting imprint on British royal tradition.
1761
George III of the United Kingdom
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
1808day.year
The Treaty of Paris is signed ending the French military occupation of Prussia.
The 1808 Treaty of Paris ended French military occupation of Prussia, restoring sovereignty under King Frederick William III.
On this day in 1808, the Treaty of Paris was signed between France and Prussia.
The agreement officially ended the French military occupation of Prussian territories.
King Frederick William III regained full sovereignty after months of truce negotiations.
The treaty reshaped alliances during the Napoleonic Wars.
It granted France favorable trade terms but restored Prussian autonomy.
This diplomatic milestone influenced subsequent European power dynamics.
1808
Treaty of Paris
Prussia
1831day.year
William IV and Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen are crowned King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
William IV and Queen Adelaide were crowned in 1831 at Westminster Abbey, inaugurating a new era for the United Kingdom’s monarchy.
On this day in 1831, William IV and Queen Adelaide were crowned in Westminster Abbey.
The ceremony marked the beginning of William’s reign over the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Thousands gathered to witness the historic coronation procession through London.
Adelaide’s gentle demeanor won the public’s admiration.
The event reflected evolving ceremonial traditions and public engagement.
It set the tone for a comparatively stable and reform-minded monarchy.
1831
William IV
Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen
1892day.year
The Pledge of Allegiance is first recited.
On September 8, 1892, the Pledge of Allegiance was first recited by students in United States public schools. Written by Francis Bellamy, it quickly became a patriotic tradition.
The Pledge of Allegiance was composed by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister and Christian socialist, and first published in the September 8, 1892, issue of The Youth’s Companion magazine. It was introduced during a National Public School celebration of Columbus Day to promote national unity and civic pride among schoolchildren. Initially, the pledge read I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands. Over time, it was revised to honor the specific flag of the United States of America. The practice spread rapidly through schools, becoming an enduring part of American civic ritual. The pledge’s evolution reflects changing attitudes toward patriotism, identity, and inclusion in American society.
1892
Pledge of Allegiance
1926day.year
Germany is admitted to the League of Nations.
Germany joins the League of Nations, marking its return to international diplomacy after World War I.
On September 8, 1926, the Weimar Republic was formally admitted to the League of Nations, just a decade after Germany's defeat in World War I. The admission resulted from agreements like the Locarno Treaties and represented a major step toward European reconciliation. German Foreign Minister Gustav Stresemann advocated membership as a means to restore national prestige and ensure security through collective diplomacy. As a Council member, Germany gained a voice in international affairs and treaty negotiations. This inclusion briefly stabilized Central Europe before tensions resurfaced in the 1930s with the rise of extremist movements.
1926
Germany
League of Nations