960day.year
Battle of Andrassos: Byzantines under Leo Phokas the Younger score a crushing victory over the Hamdanid Emir of Aleppo, Sayf al-Dawla.
Byzantine forces under Leo Phokas the Younger crushed Sayf al-Dawla's Hamdanid army at Andrassos in 960.
In 960, Byzantine general Leo Phokas the Younger led his forces against the Hamdanid Emir Sayf al-Dawla near Andrassos. The battle marked a turning point in the Byzantine–Arab frontier conflicts of the 10th century. Phokas employed clever tactics to lure the Hamdanid cavalry into a trap. Sayf al-Dawla's troops suffered heavy losses as the Byzantines encircled and overwhelmed them. The victory secured Byzantine control over key mountain passes and boosted imperial prestige. It also weakened the Hamdanid Emirate’s ability to raid Anatolian territories. Historians emphasize the battle’s strategic impact on Byzantine defenses.
960
Battle of Andrassos
Byzantines
Leo Phokas the Younger
Hamdanid
Emir of Aleppo
Sayf al-Dawla
1519day.year
Hernán Cortés enters Tenochtitlán and Aztec ruler Moctezuma welcomes him with a great celebration.
In 1519, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés entered the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán and was greeted by Emperor Moctezuma II.
Hernán Cortés and his expeditionary force arrived at Tenochtitlán on 8 November 1519. Aztec ruler Moctezuma II welcomed the Spaniards with lavish ceremonies and gifts. The meeting marked a pivotal moment in the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. Cortés sought alliances with indigenous factions discontented under Aztec rule. Despite initial hospitality, tensions soon escalated into conflict and siege. The subsequent battle for Tenochtitlán reshaped the political and cultural landscape of Mesoamerica. This encounter exemplifies early colonial interactions and their profound consequences.
1519
Hernán Cortés
Tenochtitlán
Aztec
Moctezuma
1520day.year
Stockholm Bloodbath begins: A successful invasion of Sweden by Danish forces results in the execution of around 100 people, mostly noblemen.
The Stockholm Bloodbath began in 1520 when Danish forces executed around 100 Swedish nobles and citizens in a brutal purge.
On 8 November 1520, Danish King Christian II initiated a mass execution of Swedish nobles in Stockholm. Following his conquest of Sweden, Christian II accused his opponents of heresy and treason. Over the next days, around a hundred people, mainly noblemen, were beheaded or hanged. The event shocked European courts and fueled Swedish resistance against Danish rule. It directly contributed to the rise of Gustav Vasa and the eventual establishment of Swedish independence. The Stockholm Bloodbath remains a dark chapter in Scandinavian history. Memorials today commemorate the victims and warn of tyranny’s cost.
1520
Stockholm Bloodbath
1576day.year
Eighty Years' War: Pacification of Ghent: The States General of the Netherlands meet and unite to oppose Spanish occupation.
During the Eighty Years' War in 1576, the Pacification of Ghent saw the provinces of the Netherlands unite against Spanish rule.
On 8 November 1576, the Pacification of Ghent was signed by the Habsburg Netherlands provinces. Catholic and Protestant regions set aside religious differences to resist Spanish tyranny. The States General of the Netherlands convened to coordinate military and diplomatic efforts. This alliance marked the first major act of unity in the Dutch struggle for independence. Although the pact later fractured, it laid the groundwork for the Union of Utrecht. Historians view the Pacification as a milestone in the emergence of the Dutch Republic. Its legacy highlights the power of cooperation against imperial domination.
1576
Eighty Years' War
Pacification of Ghent
States General of the Netherlands
1620day.year
The Battle of White Mountain takes place near Prague, ending in a decisive Catholic victory in only two hours.
The Battle of White Mountain occurred in 1620 near Prague, resulting in a swift Catholic victory that reshaped the Thirty Years' War.
On 8 November 1620, Protestant forces were decisively defeated by the Catholic League near Prague. The battle lasted less than two hours, leading to a crushing Catholic triumph. It effectively crushed the Bohemian revolt against Habsburg rule. The victory opened the door for re-Catholicization and Habsburg consolidation in Bohemia. It marked the beginning of the wider Thirty Years’ War across Europe. Survivors faced executions, exile, and confiscation of lands. White Mountain remains a symbol of religious and political struggle in early modern Europe.
1620
Battle of White Mountain
Prague
Catholic
1745day.year
Charles Edward Stuart invades England with an army of approximately 5,000 that would later participate in the Battle of Culloden.
In 1745, Charles Edward Stuart leads roughly 5,000 troops from Scotland into England in the Jacobite uprising that would culminate at the Battle of Culloden.
Known as 'Bonnie Prince Charlie', Charles Edward Stuart landed on Scottish soil earlier that year with hopes of restoring his family to the British throne.
On November 8, with an army of about 5,000 Highlanders, he crossed into England, marching south toward London.
This daring invasion marked the high point of the Jacobite risings.
Despite initial successes, supply issues and lack of widespread English support weakened his campaign.
The army would later face government forces at Culloden Moor in April 1746, ending the Jacobite cause.
The march into England remains a legendary moment in Scottish history, romanticized in ballads and folklore.
1745
Charles Edward Stuart
Battle of Culloden
1861day.year
American Civil War: The "Trent Affair": The USS San Jacinto stops the British mail ship Trent and arrests two Confederate envoys, sparking a diplomatic crisis between the UK and US.
During the American Civil War on November 8, 1861, the USS San Jacinto intercepted the British mail ship Trent and seized two Confederate envoys, provoking a major diplomatic crisis with Britain.
In late 1861, tensions soared when Captain Charles Wilkes of the Union warship San Jacinto stopped the British packet Trent off Cuba.
Wilkes arrested Confederate diplomats James Mason and John Slidell, accusing them of seeking European support for the Confederacy.
Britain viewed the seizure as a violation of neutral rights and demanded an apology and the envoys' release.
The incident threatened to draw Britain into the American conflict on behalf of the South.
After intense diplomatic negotiations, President Lincoln's administration released the envoys to avert war with Britain.
The resolution underscored the fragile balance of international alliances during the Civil War.
1861
American Civil War
Trent Affair
USS San Jacinto
Confederate
1892day.year
The Carmaux-Bons Enfants bombing marks the start of Émile Henry's attacks into the Ère des attentats (1892-1894).
On November 8, 1892, anarchist Émile Henry initiates his violent campaign with the bombing at Carmaux-Bons Enfants, marking the start of France's 'Ère des attentats'.
Émile Henry's bomb exploded at the Carmaux-Bons Enfants café, targeting symbols of bourgeois society.
His act inaugurated the 'Ère des attentats', a wave of anarchist violence in France from 1892 to 1894.
Henry sought to inspire popular revolt against state and capitalist institutions through terror tactics.
Although the attack killed no one, it sparked widespread fear and intensified government crackdowns on anarchists.
Subsequent bombings and assassination attempts underscored the era's social and political unrest.
Henry's actions left a controversial legacy in the history of modern terrorism and political violence.
1892
Carmaux-Bons Enfants bombing
Émile Henry
Ère des attentats
1919day.year
Eichenfeld massacre: Members of the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine murder 136 Mennonite colonists at Jaskyowo, initiating a series of massacres that resulted in the deaths of 827 Ukrainian Mennonites.
In 1919, members of the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine massacred 136 Mennonite colonists at Jaskyowo, marking the start of a series of brutal attacks that claimed 827 lives.
In 1919, the Eichenfeld massacre saw members of the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine kill 136 Mennonite settlers at Jaskyowo, marking the beginning of a wave of violence against Ukrainian Mennonites.
Over the following months, insurgent forces spread these attacks across the region, ultimately resulting in 827 deaths.
The violence emerged from deep political and social unrest after World War I, as various factions competed for control in Ukraine.
Mennonite communities, known for their agricultural success, were targeted as symbols of privilege and distrust.
The massacre disrupted centuries-old settlements, leading to displacement and fear among survivors.
Historians regard Eichenfeld as a tragic example of ideological conflict turning into mass violence.
Today, memorials honor the victims and remind us of the harsh realities of civil war.
1919
Eichenfeld massacre
Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine
Mennonite colonists
1936day.year
Spanish Civil War: Francoist troops fail in their effort to capture Madrid, but begin the three-year Siege of Madrid afterwards.
Francoist forces failed to capture Madrid and subsequently initiated the three-year Siege of Madrid during the Spanish Civil War.
On November 8, 1936, Nationalist troops under General Francisco Franco attempted to seize Madrid but were repelled by Republican defenders.
The failure to take the city led Franco to lay siege to Madrid, a confrontation that would last until 1939.
The Republican defenders, including international brigades, fortified positions and held off repeated Nationalist assaults.
Civilians endured relentless bombardment, shortages of food and medicine, and the constant threat of street fighting.
The Siege of Madrid became a symbol of Republican resilience and international solidarity against fascism.
Despite heavy losses on both sides, Franco’s forces were unable to break the city’s defenses.
The prolonged siege drained resources and highlighted the brutal nature of the Spanish Civil War.
1936
Spanish Civil War
Francoist
Madrid
Siege of Madrid
1939day.year
Venlo Incident: Two British agents of SIS are captured by the Germans.
Two British SIS agents were captured by German authorities in the Venlo Incident on November 8, 1939, escalating espionage tensions before World War II.
On November 8, 1939, two British Secret Intelligence Service agents met with German informants near Venlo on the Dutch-German border.
The meeting was a trap set by the Sicherheitsdienst, leading to the agents’ capture by German security forces.
The Venlo Incident dealt a severe blow to British intelligence operations in Europe.
Captured documents and names compromised numerous SIS networks and led to arrests of collaborators.
The incident prompted London to reevaluate its covert operations and increased mistrust among allies.
It also provided Nazi Germany with propaganda material to claim British espionage against peaceful nations.
The Venlo Incident stands as a cautionary tale of the dangers faced by intelligence officers in wartime.
1939
Venlo Incident
SIS
1939day.year
In Munich, Adolf Hitler narrowly escapes the assassination attempt of Georg Elser while celebrating the 16th anniversary of the Beer Hall Putsch.
Adolf Hitler narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by Georg Elser at the Bürgerbräukeller in Munich on November 8, 1939.
On November 8, 1939, German carpenter Georg Elser planted a time bomb beneath the stage of the Bürgerbräukeller in Munich.
The device was set to detonate during Hitler’s speech commemorating the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch.
Hitler left the building minutes before the bomb exploded, killing eight people and injuring dozens.
Elser was arrested while attempting to cross into Switzerland and confessed to acting alone with moral motives.
He was imprisoned and eventually executed at Dachau concentration camp in 1945.
The assassination attempt exposed security flaws in Hitler’s protection detail.
Elser’s story has since been recognized as a courageous, individual act of resistance against tyranny.
Munich
Adolf Hitler
Georg Elser
Beer Hall Putsch