Browse Historical Events by Day: What Happened on April 8th?

The Viking Age begins with the raid on Lindisfarne monastery in England.

Pope Urban II presides over the Council of Piacenza, calling for the First Crusade.

The Battle of the Golden Spurs occurs in Flanders, resulting in a victory for the Flemish militia against the French army.

Saint John of Capistrano, a Franciscan friar and Catholic saint, is born in Italy.

John of Gaunt, son of King Edward III of England, becomes the Duke of Lancaster.

Battle of the Vikhra River: The Grand Duchy of Lithuania defeats the Golden Horde, gaining territorial expansion.

Samuel Johnson's "A Dictionary of the English Language" is published in London.

Los Angeles - Borrego Mountain Earthquake. With a magnitude of 6.5, It was the largest and most damaging quake to have hit southern California since the Kern County earthquake, 16 years earlier. It was felt as far away as Las Vegas, Fresno, and even Yosemite Valley. More

Hank Aaron breaks Babe Ruth's home run record in Major League Baseball.

The International Criminal Court is established to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression.

The United States lifts economic sanctions on Libya after the country agrees to eliminate its weapons of mass destruction.