Events on 8 January 51
See all →Year 307
Jin Huidi, Chinese Emperor of the Jin dynasty, is poisoned and succeeded by Jin Huaidi.
Year 871
Alfred the Great leads a West Saxon army to repel an invasion by Danelaw Vikings.
Year 1297
François Grimaldi, disguised as a monk, leads his men to capture the fortress protecting the Rock of Monaco, establishing his family as the rulers of Monaco.
Year 1454
The papal bull Romanus Pontifex awards the Kingdom of Portugal exclusive trade and colonization rights to all of Africa south of Cape Bojador.
Year 1547
The first Lithuanian-language book, Simple Words of Catechism, is published in Königsberg.
Year 1735
Premiere performance of George Frideric Handel's Ariodante at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Year 1790
George Washington delivers the first State of the Union address in New York City.
Public Holidays Around The World On This Day 3
Birthdays on 8 January 243
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Ulrich von Jungingen
b. 1360 – d. 1410
Ulrich von Jungingen, German Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights (b. 1360)
Walraven II van Brederode
b. 1462 – d. 1531
Walraven II van Brederode, Dutch noble (d. 1531)
John Frederick II, Duke of Saxony
b. 1529 – d. 1595
John Frederick II, Duke of Saxony (d. 1595)
Uesugi Kagekatsu
b. 1556 – d. 1623
Uesugi Kagekatsu, Japanese daimyo (d. 1623)
Simon Episcopius
b. 1583 – d. 1643
Simon Episcopius, Dutch theologian and academic (b. 1583)
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Johannes Fabricius
b. 1587 – d. 1616
Johannes Fabricius, German astronomer and academic (d. 1616)
Jan Pieterszoon Coen
b. 1587 – d. 1629
Jan Pieterszoon Coen, Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies (b. 1587)
Ivan Gundulić
b. 1589 – d. 1638
Ivan Gundulić, Croatian poet and playwright (d. 1638)
Baltasar Gracián
b. 1601 – d. 1658
Baltasar Gracián, Spanish priest and author (d. 1658)
François-Henri de Montmorency, duc de Luxembourg
b. 1628 – d. 1695
François-Henri de Montmorency, duc de Luxembourg, French general (d. 1695)
Samuel von Pufendorf
b. 1632 – d. 1694
Samuel von Pufendorf, German economist and jurist (d. 1694)
Luis Manuel Fernández de Portocarrero
b. 1635 – d. 1709
Luis Manuel Fernández de Portocarrero, Spanish cardinal (d. 1709)
Deaths on 8 January 125
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Emperor Hui of Jin
d. 307 (b. 259)
Emperor Hui of Jin (b. 259)
Severinus of Noricum
d. 482 (b. 410)
Severinus of Noricum, Italian saint (b. 410)
Bagsecg
d. 871
Bagsecg, Viking leader
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Athelm
d. 926
Athelm, archbishop of Canterbury
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Adèle of France, Countess of Flanders
d. 1079 (b. 1009)
Adèle of France, Countess of Flanders (b. 1009)
Edgar, King of Scotland
d. 1107 (b. 1074)
Edgar, King of Scotland (b. 1074)
Pope Celestine III
d. 1198 (b. 1106)
Pope Celestine III (b. 1106)
Andronikos III of Trebizond
d. 1332
Andronikos III Megas Komnenos, Emperor of Trebizond
Giotto
d. 1337 (b. 1266)
Giotto, Italian painter and architect, designed Scrovegni Chapel and Giotto's Campanile (b. 1266)
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Stephen Zaccaria
d. 1424
Stephen Zaccaria, Latin Archbishop of Patras
Lawrence Giustiniani
d. 1456 (b. 1381)
Lawrence Giustiniani, Italian bishop and saint (b. 1381)
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Thomas Ebendorfer
d. 1464 (b. 1385)
Thomas Ebendorfer, Austrian historian and academic (b. 1385)