1229day.year
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.
To strengthen church organization in Finland, Pope Gregory IX granted permission to relocate the bishop's seat from Nousiainen to Koroinen near the present-day Turku center.
This decision provided a more strategic and economically vibrant location for ecclesiastical authority.
As clerical staff and settlers gathered around the new cathedral site, Koroinen evolved into a bustling medieval harbor town.
Over time, this settlement grew into Turku, Finland's oldest city and an important cultural hub under Swedish rule.
Modern Turku still honors January 23 as its traditional founding date, celebrating its rich history and heritage.
1229
Nousiainen
Koroinen
Turku
Pope Gregory IX
1755day.year
Moscow University is established (12 January 1755 O.S.).
Moscow University, now Lomonosov Moscow State University, was founded on January 23, 1755 (O.S.).
Empress Elizabeth of Russia established Moscow University to advance education, science, and culture in the Russian Empire.
Originally led by academician Mikhail Lomonosov, the university aimed to train civil servants and scholars.
It became a center for Enlightenment ideas in Russia and contributed to the country’s scientific and intellectual growth.
Over centuries, the institution expanded into one of the largest and most prestigious universities in Europe.
Its founding reflects the 18th-century drive for educational reform and the spread of modern knowledge.
1755
Moscow University
O.S.
1789day.year
Georgetown College, the first Catholic university in the United States, is founded in Georgetown, Maryland (now a part of Washington, D.C.) when Bishop John Carroll, Rev. Robert Molyneux, and Rev. John Ashton purchase land for the proposed academy for the education of youth.
Georgetown College, the first Catholic institution of higher learning in the United States, was founded on January 23, 1789.
Bishop John Carroll and his colleagues purchased land in Maryland to establish an academy for educating young men.
On January 23, 1789, Georgetown College opened its doors as the first Catholic university in the newly formed United States.
The institution sought to provide a classical education while upholding Catholic values in a predominantly Protestant nation.
Over time, Georgetown grew into a major research university and a prominent voice in American higher education.
Its founding reflects early commitments to religious freedom and academic excellence in post-revolution America.
1789
Georgetown College
Catholic university
Georgetown, Maryland
John Carroll
Robert Molyneux
1846day.year
Slavery in Tunisia is abolished.
On January 23, 1846, Tunisia became one of the first Muslim-majority regions to abolish slavery.
Under the rulership of Ahmad Bey, Tunisia enacted a decree ending the legal framework for the slave trade and servitude.
The abolition reflected Enlightenment influences and internal reform movements within the Ottoman Regency.
It predated similar reforms in neighboring regions and marked progress in human rights in North Africa.
Although social change was gradual, the decree set a precedent for future abolition efforts in the Islamic world.
Tunisia’s early stance against slavery underscores the complex interplay of local reforms and international pressures.
1846
Slavery in Tunisia
1849day.year
Elizabeth Blackwell is awarded her M.D. by the Geneva Medical College of Geneva, New York, becoming the United States' first female doctor.
Medical student Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to earn an M.D. degree in the United States on January 23, 1849.
Elizabeth Blackwell received her medical degree from Geneva Medical College, overcoming significant gender barriers.
Her admission followed a prank vote by male students who believed a female applicant was unthinkable.
Blackwell’s achievement challenged societal norms and opened pathways for women in professional fields.
She went on to found women’s medical colleges and promote public health initiatives.
Blackwell’s pioneering role laid the groundwork for generations of women in medicine.
1849
Elizabeth Blackwell
Geneva Medical College
Geneva, New York
2001day.year
Five people attempt to set themselves on fire in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, an act that many people later claim is staged by the Chinese Communist Party to frame Falun Gong and thus escalate their persecution.
Self-immolation attempt in Tiananmen Square amidst the Falun Gong crackdown.
On January 23, 2001, five individuals attempted self-immolation in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, an incident that was broadcast by Chinese state media. The government claimed the act was carried out by Falun Gong practitioners, using the footage to justify a harsh campaign against the spiritual movement. Critics, human rights organizations, and Falun Gong supporters later alleged the episode was staged by authorities to tarnish the group's image and legitimize intensified persecution. The event underscored the Chinese government's control over information and its willingness to use propaganda to suppress dissent.
2001
set themselves on fire
Tiananmen Square
Chinese Communist Party
Falun Gong
persecution