Attila, frequently called Attila the Hun, enters Italy, sacking several cities and facing little resistance, the situation seemed dire for Rome. The turning point came when Pope Leo I intervened, traveling to meet Attila in a dramatic encounter near Mantua in the Italian region of Lombardy. Although the details of their conversation are unknown, Attila retreated following this meeting, leaving Italy behind without achieving his goal of capturing Rome. More
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What Happened Today in History on June 8
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on June 8th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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Death of Prophet Muhammad: The founder of Islam, Prophet Muhammad, passes away in Medina, Saudi Arabia, marking a significant event in the history of the Islamic faith.
The Viking raid on the monastery of Lindisfarne, the sacred heart of the Northumbrian kingdom in England occurs, highlighting the Viking expansion, and incursions throughout Europe. More
Richard I of England (Richard the Lionheart) arrives in Acre, beginning his involvement in the Third Crusade.
Michelangelo's David, the renowned marble sculpture is believed to have been temporarily installed next to the entrance to the Palazzo della Signoria, where it was placed on a wooden platform replacing Donatello's bronze sculpture of Judith and Holofernes. While the installation at the piazza occurred on this date, the statue was "unveiled" to the public and fully revealed on September 8, 1504.
The work, was originally commissioned in 1501 by the Opera del Duomo (the Overseers of the Office of Works of the Florence Cathedral) when Michelangelo was only 26 years old, It is considered to be one of the great works of art of the Renaissance. Michelangelo sculpted the statue from a single block of Carrara marble which had remained neglected for 25 years because of the presence of too many imperfections. The colossal statue stands at 17 feet (5.17 meters) tall. In 1873, it was removed from the piazza to protect it from damage, and was moved to the Accademia Gallery. The statue was not placed in its permanent setting in the Accademia until 1882. A replica was placed in the Piazza della Signoria in 1910. More
Royal astronomer Edmond Halley publishes his groundbreaking paper "Synopsis of the Astronomy of Comets", on the periodicity of comets appearance on earth. He correctly predicted that this periodic comet would return in 1758.
Although he did not live to see it, the prediction that proved true after his death, solidified his fame and leadi to the comet being named 1P/Halley.
The Iceland Laki volcanic eruption starts, lasting eight months. Haze from the eruption was reported from Iceland to Syria. The long eruption caused the death of 10,000 or bout one-quarter of the human residents by famine. It also caused widespread famines throughout Asia and Europe. In Iceland, the haze lead to the loss of most of the island's livestock from eating fluorine contaminated grass), and crop failure cused by acid rain. More
British author George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four" dystopian classic 1s published. The dystopian novel serves as a warning against totalitarianism and introduces iconic concepts like Big Brother and the Thought Police. The novel explores the consequences of government overreach and manipulation of truth, and its impact on individual lives and society. More
1967, June 8 - The USS Liberty is attacked by an Israeli Air Force jet fighter aircraft and Israeli Navy motor torpedo boats during the Six-Day War. The USS Liberty was in international waters north of the Sinai Peninsula. The intelligence ship, was well-marked as an American vessel and only lightly armed. The Israeli attack killed 34 US sailors, and wounded 171 in the two-hour attack. More: USS Liberty Veterans Association and CIA Statement