393day.year
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.
Emperor Theodosius I, ruler of both Eastern and Western Roman Empires, appointed his son Honorius as co-emperor at the age of eight.
This bold move aimed to solidify the imperial lineage and deter ambitious rivals amid political turmoil.
Honorius received the prestigious title in Constantinople but wielded limited power under his father's guidance.
The unprecedented youth coronation underscored Theodosius's commitment to a smooth succession.
This joint reign foreshadowed the eventual administrative split of the empire and influenced its subsequent history.
393
Roman emperor
Theodosius I
Honorius
1264day.year
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.
Amid escalating tensions, English barons led by Simon de Montfort appealed to France's Louis IX to arbitrate their dispute with King Henry III.
On January 23, 1264, Louis delivered the Mise of Amiens, a verdict that overwhelmingly favored the king and annulled the barons' reforms.
Feeling betrayed by the one-sided judgment, the barons refused to comply and resumed armed resistance.
The resulting conflict, known as the Second Barons' War, saw significant battles such as Lewes and Evesham.
This war further shaped the evolution of English parliamentary principles and curbed royal authority in subsequent reigns.
1264
Henry III of England
Simon de Montfort
Louis IX of France
Mise of Amiens
Second Barons' War
1368day.year
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.
After years of rebellion against the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang seized Nanjing and established it as his power base.
Declaring himself the Hongwu Emperor, he formally founded the Ming dynasty and restored Han Chinese rule.
His reign marked a return to traditional Chinese governance, emphasizing civil service and agrarian reform.
Hongwu abolished the office of prime minister to centralize authority and curb corruption.
Under his leadership, infrastructure projects and population growth revived war-torn regions.
The new dynasty ushered in a golden age of Chinese culture, trade, and stability that lasted nearly three centuries.
1368
Zhu Yuanzhang
Hongwu Emperor
Ming dynasty
1570day.year
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.
After Mary, Queen of Scots' abdication, her half-brother James Stewart was appointed regent for the young James VI.
Seeking to stabilize post-Reformation Scotland, Moray faced fierce opposition from Catholic nobles.
While journeying to court at Linlithgow, he was ambushed by an assassin from the Hamilton clan.
The shot proved fatal, marking the first recorded use of a gun in a high-profile political killing.
Moray's death intensified Scotland's turbulent power struggles and renewed feuding among noble factions.
This event highlighted the growing role of firearms in both warfare and political intrigue.
1570
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray
regent
James VI of Scotland
1579day.year
The Union of Utrecht forms a Protestant republic in the Netherlands.
The Union of Utrecht established a lasting Protestant federation in the Netherlands on January 23, 1579.
In 1579, seven northern provinces of the Low Countries formed the Union of Utrecht, uniting against Spanish Catholic rule.
This treaty laid the constitutional foundation for what would become the Dutch Republic, emphasizing religious freedom and collective defense.
The alliance marked a turning point in the Eighty Years’ War, strengthening resistance against Habsburg Spain.
By binding provinces in mutual cooperation, the Union fostered the rise of a powerful seafaring state and economic power.
Its principles of provincial autonomy and tolerant governance influenced later federal systems across Europe.
1579
Union of Utrecht
Protestant
1719day.year
The Principality of Liechtenstein is created within the Holy Roman Empire.
Liechtenstein was established as a principality within the Holy Roman Empire on January 23, 1719.
By imperial decree of Emperor Charles VI, the territories of Schellenberg and Vaduz were united to form the Principality of Liechtenstein.
This elevation granted the Liechtenstein family a sovereign voice in imperial matters and expanded their influence.
Although small in size, the principality gained full independence following the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806.
Today, Liechtenstein remains one of the world’s smallest but wealthiest nations, known for its banking sector and alpine landscapes.
The 1719 decree marks the founding moment of this enduring microstate.
1719
Principality
Liechtenstein
Holy Roman Empire
1793day.year
Second Partition of Poland.
The Second Partition of Poland was agreed upon by Russia and Prussia on January 23, 1793.
In 1793, Russia and Prussia signed treaties carving up significant portions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
This second partition followed internal political turmoil and weakened the Commonwealth’s sovereignty.
Poland lost over half its territory and population, intensifying calls for national reform.
The event set the stage for the final Third Partition in 1795, which erased Poland from the map for over a century.
The partitions highlight the struggles of small states amidst great power politics in 18th-century Europe.
1793
Second Partition of Poland
1899day.year
The Malolos Constitution is inaugurated, establishing the First Philippine Republic. Emilio Aguinaldo is sworn in as its first president.
The First Philippine Republic is formed under the new Malolos Constitution, with Emilio Aguinaldo as president.
On January 23, 1899, the revolutionary Malolos Constitution came into effect in the Philippines, marking the birth of the First Philippine Republic. Drafted by Filipino leaders seeking independence from Spanish rule, the charter established a democratic government with separation of powers. Emilio Aguinaldo, who had led the Philippine Revolution, was sworn in as the republic’s inaugural president. Although the republic faced immediate conflict with the United States shortly thereafter, the Malolos Constitution remains a foundational document in Philippine history, symbolizing the nation’s early fight for self-governance and sovereignty.
1899
Malolos Constitution
First Philippine Republic
Emilio Aguinaldo
first
president
1912day.year
The International Opium Convention is signed at The Hague.
Nations sign the first international treaty to control opium and other narcotics.
On January 23, 1912, delegates from 13 nations convened at The Hague to sign the International Opium Convention, the world’s first multilateral drug control treaty. Aimed at regulating the production, trade, and use of opium and other dangerous drugs, the agreement imposed licensing systems and reporting requirements. It marked a shift toward global cooperation in public health and law enforcement. Although initial participation was limited, the convention laid the groundwork for future international drug control regimes and remains a cornerstone in the history of narcotics regulation.
1912
International Opium Convention
The Hague
1919day.year
The First Regional Congress of Peasants, Workers and Insurgents is held by the Makhnovshchina at Velykomykhailivka.
Ukrainian anarchist movement Makhnovshchina convenes its first regional congress.
On January 23, 1919, Nestor Makhno’s Makhnovshchina—an anarchist peasant army in southern Ukraine—held its First Regional Congress of Peasants, Workers and Insurgents at Velykomykhailivka. Delegates debated self-governance, land redistribution, and military coordination against Bolshevik and White forces. The congress established local councils and reaffirmed Makhno’s leadership, blending revolutionary ideals with grassroots participation. Although short-lived, this assembly demonstrated the movement’s novel approach to combining armed resistance with direct democracy during the Russian Civil War.
1919
First Regional Congress of Peasants, Workers and Insurgents
Makhnovshchina
Velykomykhailivka
1920day.year
The Netherlands refuses to surrender the exiled Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany to the Allies.
The Dutch government denies Allied demands to hand over exiled Kaiser Wilhelm II.
On January 23, 1920, the Netherlands officially refused Allied requests to extradite the former German Emperor Wilhelm II, who had taken refuge in Dutch exile after World War I. Citing sovereign asylum rights and fearing a politically destabilizing trial, the Dutch maintained the Kaiser’s safety within their borders. The decision strained relations with Britain and France but underscored the complexities of post-war justice and international law. Wilhelm remained in the Netherlands until his death in 1941.
1920
Kaiser Wilhelm II
Allies
1937day.year
The trial of the anti-Soviet Trotskyist center sees seventeen mid-level Communists accused of sympathizing with Leon Trotsky and plotting to overthrow Joseph Stalin's regime.
Seventeen Communists are tried in Moscow for alleged Trotskyist conspiracy against Stalin.
On January 23, 1937, Soviet authorities opened the trial of the so-called Anti-Soviet Trotskyist Center in Moscow. Seventeen mid-level Communist Party members faced charges of collaborating with exiled leader Leon Trotsky to overthrow Joseph Stalin’s government. Under intense pressure and fear of torture, many defendants confessed to absurdly fabricated plots. The trial marked an early phase of Stalin’s Great Purge, signaling decades of political repression. It illustrated the regime’s use of show trials to eliminate dissent and consolidate personal power.
1937
trial of the anti-Soviet Trotskyist center
Leon Trotsky
Joseph Stalin