📅 Today in HistoryApril 8

Roman emperor Caracalla is assassinated and is succeeded by his Praetorian Guard prefect, Marcus Opellius Macrinus.

The Battle of Dayr al-'Aqul saves Baghdad from the Saffarids.

Roger II of Sicily is excommunicated by Innocent II for supporting Anacletus II as pope for seven years, even though Roger had already publicly recognized Innocent's claim to the papacy.

Manuel I Komnenos succeeds his father John II Komnenos as Byzantine Emperor.

Mongol-Jin War: The Mongols begin their siege on Kaifeng, the capital of the Jin dynasty.

Seventh Crusade: Ayyubids of Egypt capture King Louis IX of France in the Battle of Fariskur.

Fall of Krak des Chevaliers: In Syria, sultan Baibars conquers the Krak des Chevaliers.

The city of Oulu, Finland, is founded by Charles IX of Sweden.

Shearith Israel, the first synagogue in continental North America, is dedicated.

Czar Alexander I, the Russian Emperor and the Grand Duke of Finland, officially announces the transfer of the status of the Finnish capital from Turku to Helsinki.