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Explore the historical events that shaped our world on January 23rd. 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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Holy Roman Emperor Otto III died unexpectedly from a fever (possibly smallpox) on January 23, 1002 at age 21, from a sudden fever while on campaign near Civita Castellana while attempting to retake Rome from rebellious aristocrats.
His death, before he could be married to the Byzantine princess Zoe, threw the Empire into political crisis due to the lack of a clear heir. Otto III was succeeded by his second cousin Henry II who was crowned King of Germany in 1002 and Holy Roman Emperor in 1014.
The Ming Dynasty officially begins in China on January 23, 1368 with the ascension of Zhu Yuanzhang as the Hongwu Emperor; marking the end of the Yuan dynasty and the beginning of a new era of Chinese rule.
King Richard III convenes the only Parliament of his reign from January 23 to February 20, 1484. The session, held at Westminster, was dominated by two main issues: legally affirming Richard's claim to the throne and punishing rebels from the recent uprising.
The Parliament also enacted some measures to combat corruption and protect the common people. After Richard's death at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, the Titulus Regius was repealed by the first Parliament of Henry VII, which restored the legitimacy of Edward IV's children.
The Habsburg Charles I of Spain (also known as Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor) becomes the ruler of the Spanish Empire on January 23, 1516, after the death of his grandfather, Ferdinand II of Aragon. He was proclaimed King of Castile and Aragon on March 14, 1516, jointly with his mother, Joanna.
The Diet of Worms, called by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V to address Luther's religious views, begins in Germany on January 23, 1521.
Martin Luther arrived on April 16, making his famous defense of his beliefs on April 17 and 18, 1521 and refusing to recant his writing unless they can be proven wrong by the Bible or reason. On May 25, 1521: The Edict of Worms is issued, declaring Luther an outlaw and a heretic.
The Battle of Talikota in India is fought on January 23, 1565, near the town of Talikota in present-day Karnataka. The battle resulted in the defeat of the Vijayanagara Empire by a coalition of Deccan Sultanates.
The Royal Exchange in London is officially opened by Queen Elizabeth on January 23. 1571. It was designed by Sir Thomas Gresham as a center for commerce and trading stocks.
The Treaty of Bärwalde is signed between Sweden and France on January 23, 1631. The treaty aimed to prevent Habsburg dominance and advance French policy by France providing Sweden with substantial financial support for five years to maintain an army in Germany for intervention in the Thirty Years' War against the Habsburgs.
England, the Dutch Republic, and Sweden sign the Triple Alliance against France on January 23, 1668. It was a crucial defensive pact against French King Louis XIV's expansion into the Spanish Netherlands.
The Alliance forcing King Louis XIV him to sign the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle and return most territories. However, France was later able to break the coalition through diplomacy.
Elizabeth Blackwell earns her Medical degree on January 23, 1849, becoming the first woman in the United States to do so. She graduated from Geneva Medical College in New York. and despite facing many rejections and social stigma, she persevered to pioneer women's education in medicine. She eventually opened the New York Infirmary for Women and Children.
the Father Louis Hennepin Suspension Bridge, the first permanent bridge to span over the entire Mississippi River opens to the public on January 23, 1855. it was replaced by a second suspension bridge in 1877, due to safety issues and capacity limitations.
North Korea, using three torpedo boats, two sub chasers and a couple of MiG fighters attacks and captures the USS Pueblo (AGER-2) on January 23, 1968 in international waters off North Korea’s east coast in the Sea of Japan. The U.S.ship was virtually unarmed and outfitted as an electronic surveillance platform. More
The Chinese city of Wuhan is placed under lockdown on January 23, 2020, to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Anti-government protests erupt in Russia, demanding the release of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and Kremlin’s most prominent foe. Russian police arrested more than 850 protesters, some of whom took to the streets in minus 58 Fahrenheit frigid temperatures.
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