William the Conqueror dies on September 8 or 9, 1087, at age 59 in Rouen, France, following injuries sustained during the siege of Mantes. He reigned as Duke of Normandy from 1035 and as King of England from 1066. His death led to a succession crisis which divided his realm between his sons William Rufus (England) and Robert Curthose (Normandy).
View Historical Events by Day:
On This Day in History: September 8
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on September 8th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
Note: Sources for the historical content shown, include research and reviews of relevant Online History Resources or printed material. When possible, we show a link to a source which provides additional or unique perspective about the event.
We do our best to provide accurate information but would appreciate being notified if any incorrect information is found. You may do so by using our Feedback link.
The Battle of Kulikovo takes place on September 8, 1380, where the forces of Grand Prince Dmitry of Moscow defeated the Mongol army. The victory did not end Mongol domination over Russia but it is traditionally regarded as the turning point at which Mongol-Tatar influence began to wane and Moscow's power began to rise.
Michelangelo's David, the renowned marble sculpture is believed to have been formally "unveiled" to the public and fully revealed on September 8, 1504. It had been temporarily installed on June 8 next to the entrance to the Palazzo della Signoria on a wooden platform replacing Donatello's bronze sculpture of Judith and Holofernes.
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
%20-%20PD-%20R.jpg?auto=format,compress&fit=clip&max-w=1600)
The Spanish Colonial Settlement of St. Augustine in Florida is inaugurated on September 8, 1565, by the Spanish Admiral Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés with 600 voyagers cheering; Menéndez named the colonial settlement St. Augustine in honor of the saint whose feast day fell on the day he first sighted land.
It is the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European origin in the United States; established forty-two years before the English colonized Jamestown and fifty-five years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.
British forces capture Montreal during the French and Indian War on September 8, 1760, The capture was led by General Jeffery Amherst, with an 18,000-strong British force surrounding the city and leading to the surrender of 2,100 French soldiers effectively ending French rule in North America.and sealing British dominance in Canada.
A major hurricane, the nation's deadliest natural disaster, destroys the island city of Galveston,on September 8, 1900, with winds of 130 to 140 miles per hour and a storm surge in excess of 15 feet. It is believed that more than 8,000 lives on Galveston Island and several thousand more on the mainland were lost.
In Galveston, it destroyed at least 2,600 houses and left thousands more damaged. The city's property losses were estimated at $30 million Dollars. More
Image Credit: : The Galvenston History Org.
A motor-driven German Zeppelin commanded by Heinrich Mathy, hits Central London on September 8, 1915, at Aldersgate during WWI, killing 22 people and causing over 1.5 million pounds worth of property damage. More
The Siege of Leningrad began on September 8, 1941, during WWII, as German forces surround the city, leading to a brutal and prolonged siege that lasted for nearly 900 days. More
Gen. Dwight Eisenhower publicly announces the surrender of Italy on September 8, 1943, to the Allies, which had been signed in secret, five days before, on September 3rd. Germany reacted with Operation Axis, the Allies with Operation Avalanche.
The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) is established, on September 8, 1954, aimed at preventing the spread of communism in the region during the Cold War.
President Gerald Ford grants a full pardon on September 8, 1974, to former President Richard Nixon “. The pardon was ..."a full, free, and absolute pardon ... for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in” while in office.“ More
North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, Independence Day from Yugoslavia. It commemorates the country's September 8, 1991 referendum and declaration of independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The day is a national holiday marked by various festivities and is considered a very important event for the citizens of North Macedonia.