January 23

Events - Wars & Conflicts

971day.year

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.
During the campaign against the Southern Han, Song dynasty generals deployed massed crossbow volleys to neutralize the opposing elephant corps. At the battle of Shao, disciplined crossbowmen fired coordinated shots that panicked the elephants and threw enemy ranks into chaos. The unexpected effectiveness of the crossbows highlighted the technological edge of Song military engineering. Captured elephants either fled or were slaughtered, marking a decisive victory for Song forces. This encounter underscored the declining role of war elephants in Chinese warfare and bolstered confidence in infantry tactics.
971 crossbows Song dynasty defeat war elephant Southern Han
1565day.year

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.
Facing a common threat, five Muslim-ruled Sultanates of the Deccan allied against the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire under Prince Rama Raya. On January 23, at Talikota, superior artillery and coordinated attacks broke the Vijayanagara lines. Rama Raya was killed in the fierce combat, and his forces were thrown into disarray. The victorious Sultanate armies entered Vijayanagara city, unleashing widespread destruction and looting. Casualties exceeded 100,000 as the once-mighty capital lay in ruins. This defeat marked the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire and reshaped power dynamics in South India for decades.
1565 Deccan Sultanates Rama Raya Vijayanagara Empire Battle of Talikota Vijayanagara
1795day.year

After crossing the frozen Zuiderzee, the French cavalry captured 14 Dutch ships and 850 guns, in a rare occurrence of surrender of naval vessels to land forces.

French cavalry captured Dutch ships on the frozen Zuiderzee on January 23, 1795, in a unique naval surrender to land forces.
During the winter of 1795, French Revolutionary forces exploited the frozen state of the Zuiderzee to launch a daring operation. Cavalry units crossed the ice and surprised the Dutch fleet anchored in the bay, forcing the surrender of 14 ships and 850 guns. This remarkable event remains one of the few instances where naval vessels capitulated to cavalry. The capture secured French control in the Netherlands and signaled the collapse of local resistance. It stands as a vivid example of innovative military tactics during the Revolutionary Wars.
1795 Zuiderzee captured 14 Dutch ships and 850 guns
1870day.year

In Montana, U.S. cavalrymen kill 173 Native Americans, mostly women and children, in what becomes known as the Marias Massacre.

The Marias Massacre, where U.S. cavalry killed 173 Native Americans, occurred on January 23, 1870.
Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Baker led U.S. cavalry troops in a surprise attack along the Marias River in Montana Territory. Mistaking a peaceful Piegan Blackfeet camp for hostile forces, the soldiers killed mostly women, children, and elderly. News of the massacre sparked nationwide outrage and highlighted the brutal realities of westward expansion. The event deepened mistrust between Native American tribes and the U.S. government. The Marias Massacre remains a tragic example of violence during the Indian Wars.
1870 Montana Native Americans Marias Massacre
1879day.year

Anglo-Zulu War: The Battle of Rorke's Drift ends.

The celebrated defense of Rorke's Drift concludes with a small British garrison holding off a much larger Zulu force.
On January 23, 1879, during the Anglo-Zulu War, just over 150 British and colonial troops at Rorke's Drift successfully repelled an assault by around 4,000 Zulu warriors. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the defenders used makeshift barricades and disciplined firing lines to hold the mission station. The intense battle lasted roughly 12 hours, resulting in 17 British killed and around 350 Zulus lost. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded to the defenders—the most in any single action. The engagement became a symbol of imperial valor in Victorian Britain and has since been immortalized in books and films.
1879 Anglo-Zulu War Battle of Rorke's Drift
1900day.year

Second Boer War: The Battle of Spion Kop between the forces of the South African Republic and the Orange Free State and British forces ends in a British defeat.

British forces suffer a costly defeat at Spion Kop during the Second Boer War.
On January 23, 1900, amidst the Second Boer War, British troops launched an assault on the Boer-held summit of Spion Kop, a strategic hill overlooking the Tugela River. Poor visibility, confusion over trench layouts, and intense Boer marksmanship led to heavy British casualties and a chaotic withdrawal. The battle, marked by brutal close-quarter combat, resulted in over 350 British soldiers killed or wounded. The Boers, defending their homeland, sustained fewer losses and maintained control of the summit. Spion Kop highlighted tactical challenges in mountain warfare and remains remembered for its fierce fighting and high cost.
1900 Second Boer War Battle of Spion Kop South African Republic Orange Free State
1942day.year

World War II: The Battle of Rabaul commences Japan's invasion of Australia's Territory of New Guinea.

Japan begins its invasion of the Territory of New Guinea with the Battle of Rabaul, aiming to secure a strategic foothold in the Pacific.
On January 23, 1942, Japanese forces launched the Battle of Rabaul in the Territory of New Guinea. This operation marked the commencement of Japan's southern offensive in World War II's Pacific theater. Rabaul, situated on the island of New Britain, offered a deep-water harbor vital for naval operations. The Japanese Imperial Army and Navy sought to establish a forward base to support future campaigns. Australian and Allied defenders were quickly overwhelmed by the coordinated land, sea, and air assaults. The successful capture of Rabaul allowed Japan to project power towards Australia and the South Pacific. This battle foreshadowed further intense conflicts and contributed to shifting momentum early in the war.
1942 World War II Battle of Rabaul invasion Territory of New Guinea
1943day.year

World War II: Troops of the British Eighth Army capture Tripoli in Libya from the German–Italian Panzer Army.

The British Eighth Army seizes Tripoli from Axis forces, marking a significant milestone in the North African campaign.
On January 23, 1943, the British Eighth Army successfully captured Tripoli, the capital of Italian Libya. This victory ended over two years of Axis occupation and dealt a blow to German–Italian Panzer Army forces. Under General Bernard Montgomery, Allied troops executed a rapid advance across the desert. The fall of Tripoli secured important supply routes along the North African coast. It bolstered Allied morale and paved the way for the eventual defeat of Axis forces in Tunisia. Local civilians witnessed the changing tide of war as British troops took control of the city. This event demonstrated the effectiveness of combined arms tactics in desert warfare.
1943 Eighth Army Tripoli Libya German–Italian Panzer Army
1945day.year

World War II: German admiral Karl Dönitz launches Operation Hannibal.

Admiral Karl Dönitz initiates Operation Hannibal, one of the largest sea evacuations in history during the final days of World War II.
On January 23, 1945, German Admiral Karl Dönitz ordered Operation Hannibal to begin evacuating German civilians and military personnel. As Soviet forces advanced from the east, over 800 vessels were mobilized in the Baltic Sea. The massive naval operation aimed to rescue troops and refugees from East Prussia and Pomerania. Despite constant attacks by Allied aircraft and submarines, the operation succeeded in saving hundreds of thousands. It became one of the largest maritime evacuations ever conducted. Operation Hannibal highlighted the desperation of the collapsing Third Reich. The flotilla continued until May 1945, underscoring the human cost of war's final phase.
1945 Karl Dönitz Operation Hannibal
1963day.year

The Guinea-Bissau War of Independence officially begins when PAIGC guerrilla fighters attack the Portuguese Army stationed in Tite.

PAIGC guerrillas launch attacks in Tite, igniting the Guinea-Bissau War of Independence against Portuguese colonial rule.
On January 23, 1963, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) initiated armed resistance against Portuguese colonial forces. Guerrilla fighters attacked an army barracks in the town of Tite, marking the start of the Guinea-Bissau War of Independence. The conflict aimed to end centuries of Portuguese control over Guinea-Bissau. Led by Amílcar Cabral, the PAIGC combined guerrilla tactics with political organization. Fighting continued for over a decade, drawing international attention to African decolonization. The war resulted in significant civilian suffering and displacement throughout the region. In 1974, Guinea-Bissau gained formal independence, becoming a symbol of successful liberation movements.
1963 Guinea-Bissau War of Independence PAIGC Portuguese Army Tite
1968day.year

USS Pueblo (AGER-2) is attacked and seized by the Korean People's Navy.

The USS Pueblo is attacked and captured by North Korean naval forces.
On January 23, 1968, the United States Navy intelligence vessel USS Pueblo was intercepted and seized by the Korean People's Navy in international waters off North Korea. The crew was held captive for eleven months in a tense diplomatic standoff during the Cold War. North Korea accused the ship of espionage, while the United States maintained it was in international waters conducting lawful intelligence gathering. The incident escalated U.S.-North Korean tensions and remains one of the few naval captures in modern history. The Pueblo is still held by North Korea and serves as a museum ship in Pyongyang.
1968 USS Pueblo (AGER-2) Korean People's Navy
1987day.year

Mohammed Said Hersi Morgan sends a "letter of death" to Somali President Siad Barre, proposing the genocide of the Isaaq people.

A Somali military official issues a 'letter of death' advocating genocide against the Isaaq clan.
On January 23, 1987, Mohammed Said Hersi Morgan, a high-ranking Somali military commander, delivered a notorious 'letter of death' to President Siad Barre. The document outlined plans to carry out genocide against the Isaaq ethnic group, accusing them of rebellion and treason. This action marked a brutal escalation in the Somali government's repression of the Isaaq, leading to mass atrocities and famine in the northwestern regions. The letter exemplified the regime's use of state violence against its own citizens and foreshadowed the wider collapse of order during the Somali Civil War. International observers later condemned these actions as crimes against humanity.
1987 Mohammed Said Hersi Morgan letter of death Siad Barre