AD 81day.year
Domitian became Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus.
Domitian succeeded his brother Titus as Roman Emperor in AD 81, marking the beginning of his twelve-year rule.
Domitian, the third son of Vespasian, ascended to the throne following his elder brother Titus’s demise in September AD 81.
His accession marked the continuation of the Flavian dynasty’s rule over the Roman Empire.
Despite early popularity, Domitian’s authoritarian style and centralization of power later stirred senatorial discontent.
He undertook extensive building projects in Rome, including reconstruction after the fire of AD 80.
Domitian also revalued the Roman currency and strengthened the empire’s frontiers.
His reign laid groundwork for subsequent emperors but ended abruptly with his assassination in AD 96.
Remembered for both administrative achievements and despotic tendencies, Domitian remains a complex figure in Roman history.
AD 81
Domitian
Roman Empire
Titus
786day.year
"Night of the three Caliphs": Harun al-Rashid becomes the Abbasid caliph upon the death of his brother al-Hadi. Birth of Harun's son al-Ma'mun.
On the 'Night of the Three Caliphs', Harun al-Rashid became the Abbasid caliph and his son al-Ma'mun was born, heralding a vibrant era for the caliphate.
In September 786, the death of Caliph al-Hadi triggered a succession crisis known as the 'Night of the Three Caliphs'.
Harun al-Rashid, his brother, emerged victorious and assumed leadership of the Abbasid Caliphate.
That same night, the future caliph al-Ma'mun, Harun’s son, was born, another key figure in Islamic history.
Harun’s reign is celebrated for cultural flourishing, scientific patronage, and political consolidation.
Under his rule, Baghdad became a global center of learning and artistry in the Islamic Golden Age.
He fostered translation movements, supported scholars, and maintained relative stability across vast territories.
Al-Ma'mun later continued these intellectual traditions as caliph from 813 to 833.
This pivotal night set the stage for one of the most illustrious periods in medieval Islamic civilization.
786
Harun al-Rashid
al-Hadi
al-Ma'mun
919day.year
Battle of Islandbridge: High King Niall Glúndub is killed while leading an Irish coalition against the Vikings of Uí Ímair, led by King Sitric Cáech.
High King Niall Glúndub fell leading an Irish coalition against the Viking forces at the Battle of Islandbridge in 919.
On September 14, 919, the Battle of Islandbridge saw a coalition of Irish clans confront the Uí Ímair Vikings led by Sitric Cáech.
High King Niall Glúndub led the Irish forces personally but was overwhelmed by the seasoned Norse warriors.
Despite initial resistance, the Irish lines broke, and Niall was killed in the fierce combat.
His death plunged Ireland into political turmoil and opened the door for further Viking incursions.
Sitric Cáech’s victory strengthened Norse influence in Dublin and surrounding regions.
The battle exemplified the volatile power dynamics between Irish kingdoms and Viking settlers in the 10th century.
It remains a significant episode in early medieval Irish history, symbolizing the era’s brutal conflicts.
919
Battle of Islandbridge
1180day.year
Genpei War: In the Battle of Ishibashiyama in Japan, the new military commander of the Minamoto clan, Minamoto no Yoritomo, is routed by Ōba Kagechika of the Taira clan.
In 1180, Minamoto no Yoritomo was ambushed and defeated by the Taira clan at the Battle of Ishibashiyama during the Genpei War.
The Battle of Ishibashiyama on September 14, 1180, marked the first military engagement of Minamoto no Yoritomo in the Genpei War.
Yoritomo’s forces were hastily assembled and ambushed by Ōba Kagechika’s Taira troops near present-day Odawara.
Facing superior numbers and a surprise attack, the Minamoto commander was forced to retreat in disarray.
Though a tactical defeat, the battle spurred Yoritomo to rally support in the Kantō region.
This setback would ultimately precede his resurgence, leading to the establishment of the first shogunate.
The Genpei War reshaped Japanese politics, ending Taira dominance and ushering in samurai-led governance.
Ishibashiyama’s clash remains a pivotal starting point for a conflict that defined medieval Japan.
1180
Genpei War
Battle of Ishibashiyama
Minamoto clan
Minamoto no Yoritomo
Ōba Kagechika
Taira clan
1226day.year
The first recorded instance of the Catholic practice of perpetual Eucharistic adoration formally begins in Avignon, France.
The first formally documented practice of perpetual Eucharistic adoration began in Avignon, France, in 1226.
In September 1226, a group of French canons established the first perpetual adoration of the Eucharist in Avignon.
Devotees maintained continuous prayer before the Blessed Sacrament day and night without interruption.
This practice reflected growing medieval devotion to the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
The Avignon community’s dedication inspired similar perpetual adoration chapels across Europe.
It became a lasting tradition within Catholic spirituality, emphasizing prayer, reflection, and communal worship.
Over centuries, perpetual adoration has been adopted by religious orders and lay faithful worldwide.
This milestone event underscored the evolving liturgical life of the Church in the High Middle Ages.
1226
Catholic
perpetual Eucharistic adoration
1402day.year
Battle of Homildon Hill: An invading Scottish army under Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany and Archibald, Earl Douglas is decimated by a contingent of 500 English archers under the command of George, Earl of March and Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland.
In 1402, English longbowmen decisively defeated a Scottish army under Murdoch Stewart at the Battle of Homildon Hill.
On September 14, 1402, English forces under George, Earl of March, and Henry Percy devastated a Scottish army at Homildon Hill.
The Scots, led by Murdoch Stewart and Archibald Douglas, advanced in tight formations towards the English line.
A contingent of 500 English archers unleashed volleys of arrows that decimated the Scottish ranks.
The victory showcased the potency of the English longbow in medieval warfare.
Many Scottish nobles were killed or captured, weakening their leadership in the region.
The battle foreshadowed the tactics later employed by Henry V at Agincourt.
Homildon Hill remains a landmark example of archery’s dominance on the medieval battlefield.
1402
Battle of Homildon Hill
Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany
Archibald, Earl Douglas
George, Earl of March
Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland
1607day.year
Flight of the Earls from Lough Swilly, Donegal, Ireland.
On September 14, 1607, leading Irish chieftains fled Ireland in the 'Flight of the Earls', marking the end of Gaelic aristocratic power.
The Flight of the Earls saw Hugh O’Neill and Rory O’Donnell depart from Lough Swilly for mainland Europe.
Stripped of their lands and titles after the Nine Years’ War, they sought support for reclaiming their estates.
Their departure ended centuries of Gaelic lordship in Ulster and cleared the way for English plantation.
The event symbolized the collapse of the traditional Gaelic order under Tudor conquest.
It precipitated the Plantation of Ulster, transforming the region’s demographics and politics.
The exiled earls lived in Rome and Spain, never returning to their homeland.
The Flight remains a poignant moment in Irish cultural memory, marking a dramatic shift in history.
1607
Flight of the Earls
Ireland
1682day.year
Bishop Gore School, one of the oldest schools in Wales, is founded.
Bishop Gore School, one of Wales’s oldest educational institutions, was founded in Swansea in 1682.
Founded by Bishop Hugh Gore in September 1682, Bishop Gore School opened its doors in Swansea, Wales.
It provided classical education to boys of the region, emphasizing Latin, Greek, and theology.
As one of the earliest schools in Wales, it played a key role in shaping local education standards.
Over centuries, the institution expanded its curriculum to include sciences and modern languages.
Alumni have gone on to contribute significantly in public service, academia, and the arts.
Today, Bishop Gore School continues its legacy as a prominent comprehensive school.
Its founding remains a milestone in Welsh educational history.
1682
Bishop Gore School
Wales
1685day.year
Morean War: the Battle of Kalamata ends in a Venetian victory over the forces of the Ottoman Empire under the Kapudan Pasha.
In 1685, Venetian forces achieved victory over the Ottomans at the Battle of Kalamata during the Morean War.
The Battle of Kalamata on September 14, 1685, was a key engagement in the Venetian–Ottoman Morean War.
Venetian troops assaulted Ottoman fortifications near Kalamata in the Peloponnese.
Under the Kapudan Pasha, the Ottomans initially resisted but were eventually overwhelmed.
The Venetian victory secured control of the region and bolstered their campaign in Greece.
This success paved the way for further Venetian advances into Ottoman-held territories.
The Morean War exemplified the continual struggle for dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Kalamata’s fall marked a turning point, demonstrating Venice’s naval and military prowess.
1685
Morean War
Battle of Kalamata
Kapudan Pasha
1723day.year
Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena lays down the first stone of Fort Manoel in Malta.
The foundation stone of Fort Manoel in Malta was laid by Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena in 1723.
On September 14, 1723, Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena initiated the construction of Fort Manoel on Manoel Island.
Designed by Maltese military engineer René Jacob de Tigné, the fort featured star-shaped bastions and a surrounding moat.
It was part of the Knights Hospitaller’s efforts to strengthen Malta’s coastal defenses against Ottoman aggression.
The fort’s strategic position protected the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour and the seaward flank of Valletta.
Construction spanned over a decade, reflecting Baroque military architecture and engineering expertise.
Fort Manoel played roles in subsequent conflicts, including the French occupation and World War II.
Today, it stands restored as a cultural landmark and museum, preserving its historic legacy.
1723
António Manoel de Vilhena
Fort Manoel
Malta
1741day.year
George Frideric Handel completes his oratorio Messiah.
In 1741, George Frideric Handel completed his renowned oratorio Messiah, a seminal work in Baroque choral music.
George Frideric Handel composed Messiah in just 24 days during a creative period in Dublin.
The oratorio blends scriptural texts with majestic choruses like the famous "Hallelujah".
It premiered on April 13, 1742, to great acclaim and has since become a staple of choral repertoire.
Handel's masterful orchestration and dramatic pacing revolutionized the genre.
Messiah's enduring popularity has inspired countless performances and recordings worldwide.
This completion marked a high point in Handel's career, cementing his legacy in Western music.
1741
George Frideric Handel
Messiah
1752day.year
The British Empire adopts the Gregorian calendar, skipping eleven days (the previous day was September 2).
The British Empire adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752, skipping eleven days to align with continental Europe.
Parliament passed the Calendar (New Style) Act in 1750 to correct the Julian calendar's drift.
On this day, September 2 was followed immediately by September 14, omitting eleven dates.
The reform synchronized British civil and ecclesiastical events with those in Europe.
Many people protested, believing their lives shortened by nearly two weeks.
Merchants and ship captains welcomed the change for international trade consistency.
This adoption paved the way for modern timekeeping across the British Empire.
1752
adopts the Gregorian calendar