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
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
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
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
1885day.year
Itō Hirobumi, a samurai, becomes the first Prime Minister of Japan.
Itō Hirobumi became Japan’s first Prime Minister on December 22, 1885, under the new Meiji constitutional government.
On December 22, 1885, Itō Hirobumi, a prominent samurai and statesman, was appointed the first Prime Minister of Japan. This appointment followed the establishment of a modern cabinet system during the Meiji Restoration. Itō had studied Western governments and helped draft Japan’s early constitutional framework. His leadership signified Japan’s rapid shift from feudal rule to a centralized constitutional monarchy. As Prime Minister, he focused on building infrastructure, modernizing the legal system, and fostering international diplomacy. Itō served four terms and greatly influenced Japan’s early political institutions. His vision laid the foundation for Japan’s emergence as a major world power in the 20th century.
1885
Itō Hirobumi
samurai
Prime Minister of Japan
1888day.year
The Christmas Meeting of 1888, considered to be the official start of the Faroese independence movement.
The Christmas Meeting of 1888 in the Faroe Islands marked the official start of the Faroese independence movement.
Held on December 22, 1888, the Christmas Meeting in Tórshavn united Faroese intellectuals and nationalists. They gathered to celebrate their language, culture, and push for political autonomy within the Danish realm. Leaders like Jóannes Patursson delivered speeches advocating for Faroese self-determination. This gathering energized a cultural revival and inspired newspaper publications in the Faroese language. The movement grew steadily, influencing local schools and eventual legislative changes. While initial demands were modest, the meeting set a precedent for organized political activism in the islands. The Christmas Meeting remains a symbol of Faroese identity and the long road toward independence.
1888
Christmas Meeting of 1888
Faroese independence movement
1894day.year
The Dreyfus affair begins in France, when Alfred Dreyfus is wrongly convicted of treason.
The Dreyfus affair began on December 22, 1894, when French officer Alfred Dreyfus was wrongly convicted of treason.
On December 22, 1894, Captain Alfred Dreyfus was court-martialed and convicted of espionage for allegedly passing secrets to Germany. The case hinged on forged evidence and anti-Semitic biases within the French military establishment. Dreyfus’s conviction sparked controversy as questions arose about the integrity of the trial. His supporters, led by intellectuals like Émile Zola, demanded a re-examination of the case. The affair divided French society and exposed deep political and social rifts. Legal appeals and new evidence would take years before Dreyfus was exonerated. The episode remains a landmark in the fight against injustice and anti-Semitism in modern Europe.
1894
Dreyfus affair
Alfred Dreyfus
treason
1920day.year
The GOELRO economic development plan is adopted by the 8th Congress of Soviets of the Russian SFSR.
The Soviet government adopts the ambitious GOELRO plan to industrialize and electrify Russia, laying the foundation for future economic development.
At the 8th Congress of the Soviets on December 22, 1920, the Russian SFSR officially adopted the GOELRO (State Commission for Electrification of Russia) plan.
Conceived by Vladimir Lenin, the plan aimed to transform the largely agrarian economy through widespread electrification and industrialization.
It envisioned interconnected power stations, new factories, and improved infrastructure across the Soviet Union.
GOELRO represented one of the first major centralized economic plans, setting a precedent for later Five-Year Plans.
The initiative sought to boost productivity, modernize agriculture, and integrate diverse regions into a cohesive economy.
Its implementation marked a turning point in Soviet economic policy and technological advancement.
1920
GOELRO economic development plan
Congress of Soviets of the Russian SFSR
1939day.year
Indian Muslims observe a "Day of Deliverance" to celebrate the resignations of members of the Indian National Congress over their not having been consulted over the decision to enter World War II with the United Kingdom.
Indian Muslims mark the 'Day of Deliverance' to protest Congress's exclusion from WWII consultation and celebrate resignations of key leaders.
On December 22, 1939, Muslim League leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah declared 'Day of Deliverance' to commemorate the resignation of Indian National Congress ministers.
They had stepped down in protest over not being consulted about India's entry into World War II alongside Britain.
The event highlighted deep political rifts between the Muslim League and the Congress over India's future role in the war.
Processions, speeches, and public gatherings were held in many provinces, expressing relief at Congress's departure from provincial ministries.
The 'Day of Deliverance' intensified communal tensions and foreshadowed the growing demand for partition.
It remains a controversial moment in India's independence struggle and communal history.
1939
Indian Muslims
Day of Deliverance
Indian National Congress
World War II