January 23
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Bounty Day(Pitcairn Islands)
Bounty Day is observed on January 23 in the Pitcairn Islands to mark the arrival of the HMS Bounty mutineers and their settlement on the island.
Christianfeast day:
Abakuh, Marianne of Molokai, Emerentiana, Espousals of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ildefonsusof Toledo, Phillips Brooks(Episcopal Church (USA)), January 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Multiple Christian feast days are observed on January 23, honoring saints and sacred events in various traditions.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Jayanti(Assam,Orissa,Tripura, andWest Bengal, India)
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Jayanti celebrates the birth anniversary of the Indian independence leader honored in several eastern states.
World Freedom Day(TaiwanandSouth Korea)
World Freedom Day commemorates the return of former POWs to Taiwan on January 23, symbolizing resilience and the value of liberty.
Abakuh
Abakuh is commemorated in the Coptic Christian tradition as a martyr who stood firm in faith on January 23.
Marianne of Molokai
Marianne of Molokai honors Saint Marianne Cope, renowned for her compassionate care of leprosy patients in Hawaii.
Emerentiana
Emerentiana is celebrated as a young Christian martyr who bravely upheld her faith, commemorated on January 23.
Espousals of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Espousals of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrates Mary's betrothal to Saint Joseph in Christian tradition.
Ildefonsusof Toledo
Ildefonsus of Toledo honors a 7th-century archbishop celebrated for his writings on the Virgin Mary.
Events
Roman emperor Theodosius I proclaims his eight-year-old son Honorius co-emperor.
In 393, Emperor Theodosius I elevated his eight-year-old son Honorius to co-emperor, securing dynastic succession in the late Roman Empire.
Using crossbows, Song dynasty troops soundly defeat a war elephant corps of the Southern Han at Shao.
In 971, Song dynasty forces armed with crossbows routed a corps of war elephants from the Southern Han at Shao, showcasing the power of ranged weaponry.
The episcopal seat is moved from Nousiainen to Koroinen (located near the current centre of Turku) by the permission of Pope Gregory IX. The date is starting to be considered as the founding of Turku.
In 1229, Pope Gregory IX authorized the transfer of the episcopal seat from Nousiainen to Koroinen, a move later celebrated as the founding of Turku.
In the conflict between King Henry III of England and his rebellious barons led by Simon de Montfort, King Louis IX of France issues the Mise of Amiens, a one-sided decision in favour of Henry that later leads to the Second Barons' War.
In 1264, King Louis IX of France issued the Mise of Amiens, siding entirely with Henry III and sparking the Second Barons' War in England.
Zhu Yuanzhang proclaims himself the Hongwu Emperor, beginning the Ming dynasty.
On January 23, 1368, rebel leader Zhu Yuanzhang declared himself the Hongwu Emperor, inaugurating China's Ming dynasty and ending Mongol rule.
Having published nothing for eleven years, François Rabelais publishes the Tiers Livre, his sequel to Gargantua and Pantagruel.
In 1546, French Renaissance writer François Rabelais returned from an eleven-year silence with Tiers Livre, a witty and satirical sequel to Gargantua and Pantagruel.
The deadliest earthquake in history, the Shaanxi earthquake, hits Shaanxi province, China. The death toll may have been as high as 830,000.
On January 23, 1556, the Shaanxi earthquake struck China, becoming the deadliest quake ever recorded with an estimated 830,000 fatalities.
The Deccan Sultanates defeat Rama Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire at the Battle of Talikota, resulting in over 100,000 casualties and the destruction of the capital Vijayanagara.
In 1565, a coalition of Deccan Sultanates routed the Vijayanagara Empire at the Battle of Talikota, leading to the sacking of its capital and massive loss of life.
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, regent for the infant King James VI of Scotland, is assassinated by firearm, the first recorded instance of such.
On January 23, 1570, James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray and regent of Scotland, became the first notable victim of a political assassination by firearm.
Births
Vincent Ferrer
Valencian Dominican friar who became a renowned Catholic preacher and missionary.
Louis III
Elector Palatine who ruled the Rhineland-Palatinate in the early 15th century.
Hai Rui
Ming dynasty official celebrated for his incorruptible integrity and moral courage.
Mary Ward
English Catholic nun who founded the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Abraham Diepraam
Dutch Golden Age painter known for lively genre scenes.
John Landen
English mathematician best known for Landen’s transformation.
John Hancock
American Founding Father, first signer of the Declaration of Independence and Governor of Massachusetts.
William Jessop
English civil engineer who played a leading role in canal and early railway construction.
Muzio Clementi
Italian composer, pianist, and conductor often called the ‘father of the piano.’
Deaths
Ildefonsus
7th-century Visigothic bishop of Toledo celebrated for his theological writings and defense of the Virgin Mary's perpetual virginity.
Adalbero
10th-century Frankish archbishop of Reims known for his piety and influence at the royal court.
Otto III
10th-century Holy Roman Emperor known for his vision of a renewed Roman Empire and his cultural patronage.
Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur
12th-century Almohad caliph of Morocco celebrated for his victory at the Battle of Alarcos and his architectural patronage.
Isabella
13th-century queen regnant of Cilician Armenia who navigated complex alliances with Crusader states and Mongol forces.
Florent of Hainaut
13th-century Frankish prince who ruled the Principality of Achaea during the Latin occupation of Greece.
Margaret of Bavaria
14th-century Burgundian noblewoman who served as regent of the Duchy of Burgundy during the Hundred Years' War.
15th-16th-century King of Aragon who, with Isabella I of Castile, completed the Reconquista and laid foundations for modern Spain.
Bernardo Pisano
16th-century Italian composer and scholar credited with producing one of the first printed collections of madrigals.