AD 69day.year
Vespasian is proclaimed Emperor of Rome; his predecessor, Vitellius, attempts to abdicate but is captured and killed at the Gemonian stairs.
In AD 69, Vespasian is proclaimed Emperor of Rome during the tumultuous Year of the Four Emperors. His rival Vitellius attempts to abdicate but is captured and killed on the Gemonian Stairs.
The proclamation of Vespasian as Emperor on December 22, AD 69, marked the end of the chaotic Year of the Four Emperors.
Vespasian, a respected general, gained support of the eastern provinces and legions before turning to seize the capital.
Vitellius, the ruling emperor, faced widespread unrest and attempted to negotiate his abdication to avoid bloodshed.
Despite his efforts, Vitellius was captured at the infamous Gemonian Stairs and met a violent death.
Vespasian's rise established the Flavian dynasty, bringing stability and initiating major building projects in Rome.
AD 69
Vespasian
Emperor of Rome
Vitellius
Gemonian stairs
401day.year
Pope Innocent I is elected, the only pope to succeed his father in the office.
Pope Innocent I is elected in 401, becoming the only pontiff to directly succeed his father in the papacy.
On December 22, 401, Pope Innocent I was elected to lead the Roman Church following the death of his predecessor, Anastasius I.
He remains the only pope to directly succeed his father, bringing a unique dynastic continuity to the papal office.
Innocent I strengthened ecclesiastical discipline and addressed theological controversies of the early Church.
His letters and decrees influenced the development of canon law and church administration.
He also maintained close ties with Western Roman emperors, defending the rights and privileges of the Church.
His tenure set precedents for papal authority that resonated throughout medieval Christendom.
401
Pope Innocent I
856day.year
Damghan earthquake: An earthquake near the Persian city of Damghan kills an estimated 200,000 people, the sixth deadliest earthquake in recorded history.
A devastating earthquake strikes near Damghan in 856, claiming around 200,000 lives and ranking among history’s deadliest tremors.
On December 22, 856, a catastrophic earthquake devastated the region around the city of Damghan in present-day Iran.
Modern estimates place the death toll at approximately 200,000, making it the sixth deadliest seismic event on record.
The quake destroyed cities, villages, and critical irrigation systems that sustained local agriculture.
Slow governmental response and difficult terrain hampered rescue and relief efforts, exacerbating human suffering.
Contemporary chroniclers described the earth opening and swallowing entire communities.
The disaster prompted early discussions on urban planning and construction methods to mitigate earthquake damage.
856
Damghan earthquake
Damghan
880day.year
Luoyang, eastern capital of the Tang dynasty, is captured by rebel leader Huang Chao during the reign of Emperor Xizong.
Rebel leader Huang Chao captures Luoyang, the eastern capital of China’s Tang dynasty, in 880 during Emperor Xizong’s reign.
On December 22, 880, the rebel general Huang Chao seized Luoyang, striking a severe blow to the waning Tang dynasty.
Luoyang served as the eastern capital and a key administrative and cultural center of imperial China.
Huang Chao's forces capitalized on widespread peasant discontent and corrupt local officials.
Emperor Xizong's court struggled to organize an effective defense amid internal factionalism.
The capture amplified the dynasty’s vulnerability, foreshadowing its eventual collapse in 907.
This episode highlighted the social and military tensions that plagued late Tang China.
880
Luoyang
Tang dynasty
Huang Chao
Emperor Xizong
1135day.year
Three weeks after the death of King Henry I of England, Stephen of Blois claims the throne and is privately crowned King of England, beginning the English Anarchy.
In 1135, Stephen of Blois seizes the English throne and is privately crowned, igniting the period known as the English Anarchy.
Three weeks after King Henry I’s death, Stephen of Blois marched into England and claimed the throne on December 22, 1135.
He received a private coronation, bypassing key barons who supported Empress Matilda’s inheritance.
Stephen’s ascension triggered a protracted civil war known as the English Anarchy (1135–1153).
The conflict pitted Stephen against Matilda, daughter of Henry I, and divided the nobility.
Widespread disorder, shifting allegiances, and mercenary violence marked this turbulent era.
The Anarchy concluded with the Treaty of Wallingford, establishing Matilda’s son as Stephen’s successor.
1135
Henry I of England
Stephen of Blois
King of England
English Anarchy
1216day.year
Pope Honorius III approves the Dominican Order through the papal bull of confirmation Religiosam vitam.
Pope Honorius III issues the papal bull 'Religiosam vitam' approving the Dominican Order in 1216.
On December 22, 1216, Pope Honorius III issued the papal bull Religiosam vitam, formally recognizing the Dominican Order.
Founded by Saint Dominic one year earlier, the Order of Preachers emphasized preaching, education, and poverty.
This approval granted the Dominicans autonomy and the right to preach throughout Christendom.
The bull outlined rules for communal life, preaching missions, and the establishment of convents.
The Order rapidly expanded, playing a crucial role in theological education and the Inquisition.
Its endorsement marked a significant development in the Church’s efforts to combat heresy and promote learning.
1216
Pope Honorius III
Dominican Order
Religiosam vitam
1489day.year
The forces of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, take control of Almería from the Nasrid ruler of Granada, Muhammad XIII.
In 1489, Ferdinand and Isabella’s forces capture Almería, extending the Catholic Monarchs’ control in Granada.
On December 22, 1489, the armies of Spain’s Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II and Isabella I, seized the city of Almería from the Nasrid kingdom.
This conquest was part of the Granada War, the final campaign of the Reconquista.
Almería’s fall cut off a critical port for the Nasrid rulers and undermined their economic base.
The victory demonstrated the growing military and naval power of the unified Spanish crowns.
It paved the way for the eventual surrender of Granada in 1492, completing Christian reconquest of Iberia.
The campaign had lasting cultural and demographic impacts on southern Spain.
1489
Catholic Monarchs
Ferdinand
Isabella
Almería
Nasrid
Granada
Muhammad XIII
1769day.year
Sino-Burmese War: The war ends with the Qing dynasty withdrawing from Burma forever.
The Sino-Burmese War ends in 1769 as Qing forces withdraw from Burma, concluding decades of conflict.
On December 22, 1769, the prolonged Sino-Burmese War concluded with the Qing dynasty formally retreating from Burma.
The conflict began in 1765 as Qing China attempted to subdue Burmese kingdoms in northern Shan State.
Harsh terrain, logistical challenges, and fierce Burmese resistance thwarted Qing ambitions.
Burmese forces under King Hsinbyushin secured their frontier and protected sovereignty.
The Qing withdrawal marked a rare imperial military failure and stabilized the Burma–China border.
This peace ushered in a period of relative tranquility and trade between the two empires.
1769
Sino-Burmese War
Qing dynasty
1788day.year
Nguyễn Huệ proclaims himself Emperor Quang Trung, in effect abolishing on his own the Lê dynasty.
In 1788, Vietnamese leader Nguyễn Huệ proclaims himself Emperor Quang Trung, abolishing the Lê dynasty.
On December 22, 1788, Nguyễn Huệ declared himself Emperor Quang Trung, effectively ending the centuries-old Lê dynasty in Vietnam.
As a military and political leader of the Tây Sơn rebels, he sought to unify the country under his rule.
Quang Trung launched swift reforms in administration, land distribution, and military organization.
His ascension marked a turning point in Vietnamese history, emphasizing meritocracy over hereditary privilege.
He later achieved a stunning victory over Qing invaders at the Battle of Ngọc Hồi-Đống Đa.
Quang Trung’s reign left a legacy of cultural renewal and national consolidation.
1788
Nguyễn Huệ
Lê dynasty
1790day.year
The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Alexander Suvorov and his Russian armies.
Alexander Suvorov’s Russian forces storm and capture the fortress of Izmail from the Ottomans in 1790.
On December 22, 1790, Field Marshal Alexander Suvorov led Russian troops in a daring assault on the Ottoman fortress of Izmail.
Izmail, a heavily fortified stronghold on the Danube, was considered nearly impregnable.
Suvorov’s meticulous planning and aggressive tactics overcame fort walls in a swift but brutal engagement.
The victory dealt a severe blow to Ottoman defensive lines and bolstered Russian prestige.
Casualties were heavy on both sides, but the fall of Izmail opened the Danube frontier to Russian advances.
This triumph cemented Suvorov’s reputation as one of the era’s greatest military commanders.
1790
Izmail
stormed and captured
Alexander Suvorov
1807day.year
The Embargo Act, forbidding trade with all foreign countries, is passed by the U.S. Congress at the urging of President Thomas Jefferson.
In 1807, the Embargo Act, proposed by President Jefferson, was passed by the U.S. Congress, halting all foreign trade.
In December 1807, the U.S. Congress passed the Embargo Act under President Thomas Jefferson’s urging. The law prohibited American ships from trading with foreign nations. It aimed to pressure Britain and France during the Napoleonic Wars without resorting to war. Merchants and sailors in port cities faced severe economic hardships as exports halted. The act sparked widespread smuggling and political dissent domestically. Opposition grew in New England, where trade was vital to local economies. The embargo undermined Jefferson’s popularity and signaled the limits of economic coercion. Historians view the measure as a significant but flawed experiment in non-violent foreign policy.
1807
Embargo Act
U.S. Congress
President
Thomas Jefferson
1808day.year
Ludwig van Beethoven conducts and performs in concert at the Theater an der Wien, Vienna, with the premiere of his Fifth Symphony, Sixth Symphony, Fourth Piano Concerto and Choral Fantasy.
On December 22, 1808, Beethoven conducted and performed in a marathon concert in Vienna, premiering several of his major works.
Ludwig van Beethoven took the stage at the Theater an der Wien on a frigid winter night in 1808. The program stretched over four hours and featured the premieres of his Fifth and Sixth Symphonies. Audiences also heard the Fourth Piano Concerto and the dramatic Choral Fantasy. Beethoven himself conducted some pieces and played the solo piano part in others. The concert became legendary for its length, the composer’s energetic performances, and the lack of modern amenities like a proper rehearsal. Despite chilly conditions and audience restlessness, the evening marked a pivotal moment in the composer’s career. Scholars celebrate it as one of the most significant premieres in classical music history.
1808
Ludwig van Beethoven
concert at the Theater an der Wien
Fifth Symphony
Sixth Symphony
Fourth Piano Concerto
Choral Fantasy