16 August in history
8 events that happened on 16 August, from 942 to 1977.
✦ Anniversary of the day
942 CE 1,084 years ago
The Hamdanids and Baridis fight for Baghdad at al-Mada'in
Near al-Mada'in in central Iraq, the armies of the Hamdanids of Mosul and the Baridis of Basra began a four-day battle for Baghdad, the Abbasid capital. The Hamdanids prevailed but were too exhausted to pursue, and the Baridis withdrew to Basra.
963 CE 1,063 years ago
Nikephoros II Phokas is crowned Byzantine emperor
The general Nikephoros II Phokas was crowned emperor, swearing to protect the two sons of the late Romanos II, Basil II and Constantine VIII, who were already co-emperors. He was murdered by John Tzimiskes in 969.
1328 CE 698 years ago
The Gonzaga family takes power in Mantua
The House of Gonzaga seized power in Mantua, in Lombardy, beginning a rule that lasted until 1708. Under Federico II Gonzaga, its first duke, Mantua later became a duchy, which in 1531 also acquired Montferrat.
1513 CE 513 years ago
Henry VIII's army routs French cavalry at the Battle of the Spurs
English and imperial troops put French cavalry to flight near Guinegate, the speed of their retreat giving the battle its name. Thérouanne surrendered days later.
1780 CE 246 years ago
Cornwallis routs the Americans at Camden
British forces under Lord Cornwallis shattered Horatio Gates's army at Camden, South Carolina. The defeat led to Nathanael Greene taking command in the south.
1819 CE 207 years ago
Cavalry attack a reform meeting at Peterloo
Yeomanry and hussars charged a crowd of some 60,000 at St Peter's Field, Manchester, gathered to demand parliamentary reform. About 18 people died and hundreds were injured.
1896 CE 130 years ago
Gold is found on Bonanza Creek in the Klondike
George Carmack, Skookum Jim and Dawson Charlie struck gold on a tributary of the Klondike River in the Yukon. When news reached the south in 1897, some 100,000 people set out for the goldfields.
1977 CE 49 years ago
Elvis Presley dies at Graceland
Elvis Presley was found dead at his Memphis home, aged 42. The 'King of Rock and Roll' had sold hundreds of millions of records and transformed popular music.
Born on 16 August 2
Died on 16 August 8
Dates as the sources give them: in the Julian calendar before 1582, and in some countries for longer (Britain until 1752, Russia until 1918). Only people whose day of birth or death the records agree on are listed.