303day.year
Roman emperor Diocletian orders the destruction of the Christian church in Nicomedia, beginning eight years of Diocletianic Persecution.
In 303, Emperor Diocletian ordered the demolition of the Christian church in Nicomedia, initiating the harsh Diocletianic Persecution of Christians.
Emperor Diocletian saw the rapidly growing Christian faith as a threat to imperial unity and traditional Roman religion. In February 303, he issued edicts that targeted churches and forced Christians to hand over their scriptures. The destruction in Nicomedia was the opening act of an eight-year campaign that led to widespread martyrdom and suffering. This persecution spread across the Eastern Roman Empire, resulting in the confiscation of property and brutal punishments. Many Christians were executed or enslaved, and the church was driven underground. Despite the severity, the faith ultimately endured and spread, shaping the future of Christianity. This period remains one of the most intense persecutions in early church history.
303
Roman emperor
Diocletian
Nicomedia
Diocletianic Persecution
628day.year
Khosrow II, last Sasanian shah of Iran, is overthrown.
In 628, Khosrow II, the last powerful emperor of the Sasanian Empire, was deposed by his own son and court nobles, ending the golden age of ancient Persia.
Shah Khosrow II had reigned since 590, leading the Sasanian Empire into protracted wars with Byzantium that initially expanded Persian territory but drained imperial resources. By 628, widespread discontent over heavy taxation, failed campaigns, and court intrigue had reached a crescendo. A coalition of nobles and his son, Kavad II, staged a palace coup that forced Khosrow to abdicate. The deposed shah was imprisoned and later executed, leaving the empire in turmoil. His fall shattered the stability that had flourished under his rule and triggered a rapid succession of weak monarchs. This political fragmentation left Persia vulnerable to the emerging Arab forces. Within little more than a decade, the once-mighty Sasanian Empire collapsed under the weight of internal strife and external invasion.
628
Khosrow II
705day.year
Empress Wu Zetian abdicates the throne, restoring the Tang dynasty.
On February 23, 705, Empress Wu Zetian abdicated the throne, bringing an end to her Zhou dynasty and restoring the Tang dynasty in China.
Empress Wu Zetian rose from concubinage to become the first and only female emperor in Chinese history, founding the Zhou dynasty in 690. Her reign saw significant administrative reforms, promotion of meritocracy through the imperial examination system, and patronage of Buddhism. However, her methods of consolidating power—rumors of ruthless purges and secret police—fueled opposition within the royal court. By 705, a coalition of loyal Tang officials staged a coup that compelled Wu to relinquish power. She was demoted to the status of empress dowager and lived the remainder of her life in relative obscurity. The Tang dynasty, founded by her sons years earlier, was restored under Emperor Zhongzong. Her brief but impactful rule challenged traditional gender roles and left a complex legacy of both innovation and autocracy.
705
Wu Zetian
Tang dynasty
1820day.year
Cato Street Conspiracy: A plot to murder all the British cabinet ministers is exposed and the conspirators arrested.
In 1820, British authorities uncovered the Cato Street Conspiracy, a radical plot to assassinate the Prime Minister and his cabinet ministers in London.
Following economic hardship and political repression in post-Napoleonic Britain, a group of radicals plotted to kill Prime Minister Lord Liverpool and his cabinet at a secret meeting. The conspiracy took its name from the location of the planned attack on Cato Street, near Edward Street in Westminster. Unbeknownst to the plotters, government informers had infiltrated their ranks and alerted authorities. On the night of February 23, 1820, police and soldiers stormed the meeting house, arresting most of the conspirators. Five men were later executed for high treason, while others received transportation sentences. The failed plot fueled public fear of revolutionary violence and strengthened the government’s hand in suppressing dissent. The Cato Street Conspiracy remains a dramatic episode in the struggle for political reform and civil liberties in 19th-century Britain.
1820
Cato Street Conspiracy
1854day.year
The official independence of the Orange Free State, South Africa is declared.
On February 23, 1854, settlers declared the independence of the Orange Free State from British rule, establishing a sovereign Boer republic in southern Africa. The new state would later become a focal point in regional conflicts and colonial politics.
The Orange Free State was officially recognized by Britain following negotiations over land and governance. It covered the plateau between the Vaal and Orange Rivers and was governed by a Volksraad under a presidential system. Independence formalized the Boers' desire for self-rule after treks away from Cape Colony. The republic's constitution reflected Dutch Reformed traditions and emphasized private land ownership. Relations with indigenous groups and neighboring colonies grew tense, leading to future confrontations. The Orange Free State remained independent until its annexation after the Second Boer War.
1854
Orange Free State
1861day.year
President-elect Abraham Lincoln arrives secretly in Washington, D.C., after the thwarting of an alleged assassination plot in Baltimore, Maryland.
President-elect Abraham Lincoln secretly arrived in Washington, D.C., on February 23, 1861, after foiling an alleged assassination plot in Baltimore. His covert journey ensured a safe path to the presidency.
Reports of a planned attack on Lincoln's train in Baltimore prompted the president-elect to alter his travel plans. Under the guidance of detective Allan Pinkerton, Lincoln disguised himself and passed through the city without stopping. The threat highlighted the nation's deep divisions on the eve of the Civil War. Lincoln's secretive arrival was met with a mix of public relief and criticism for avoiding crowds. His safe arrival allowed him to prepare for the March inauguration at the Capitol. The episode underscored the perils and political tensions of the era.
1861
Abraham Lincoln
assassination plot
Baltimore
Maryland
1870day.year
Reconstruction Era: Post-U.S. Civil War military control of Mississippi ends and it is readmitted to the Union.
On February 23, 1870, Mississippi ended military Reconstruction control and was readmitted to the Union, fulfilling Civil War reintegration requirements.
After ratifying the Fourteenth Amendment and passing new civil rights legislation, Mississippi met federal conditions for readmission on February 23, 1870. The withdrawal of Union troops marked the formal end of Reconstruction governance in the state. Mississippi regained full representation in Congress and resumed its state legislature under new leadership. Although legal reforms promised rights for formerly enslaved people, enforcement was uneven and faced local resistance. Republican officials briefly held power before white supremacist groups regained control. The readmission of Mississippi symbolized both the progress and the limitations of Reconstruction in the postwar South.
1870
Reconstruction Era
U.S. Civil War
Mississippi
Union
1898day.year
Émile Zola is imprisoned in France after writing J'Accuse…!, a letter accusing the French government of antisemitism and wrongfully imprisoning Captain Alfred Dreyfus.
On February 23, 1898, Émile Zola was jailed in Paris for libel after publishing his famous letter 'J'Accuse…!', accusing the French government of antisemitism. His bold stand intensified the Dreyfus Affair and public debate on justice and human rights.
Zola's open letter, printed in the newspaper L'Aurore, directly blamed top military and government figures for the wrongful conviction of Captain Alfred Dreyfus. The pamphlet galvanized supporters of Dreyfus and polarized French society. Facing trial, Zola delivered a passionate defense of truth and free expression before fleeing to England to avoid imprisonment. His actions kept international attention on the case and pressured authorities toward a retrial. Dreyfus was ultimately exonerated in 1906, vindicating both him and Zola. The episode remains a landmark in the fight against judicial prejudice and state-sanctioned discrimination.
1898
Émile Zola
J'Accuse…!
antisemitism
Captain
Alfred Dreyfus
1903day.year
Cuba leases Guantánamo Bay to the United States "in perpetuity".
Cuba leases Guantánamo Bay to the United States 'in perpetuity', establishing a long-term U.S. naval base.
On February 23, 1903, following Cuba's independence, the Cuban government signed a treaty granting the United States a perpetual lease of Guantánamo Bay.
This agreement, rooted in the Platt Amendment, allowed the U.S. to establish a coaling station and naval base on Cuban territory.
Guantánamo Bay soon became a vital strategic outpost for the U.S. Navy in the Caribbean, playing key roles in both World Wars and Cold War operations.
Its unique legal status has long been a subject of diplomatic discussion and human rights debates.
Today, Guantánamo Bay remains America's oldest overseas military installation.
1903
Cuba
Guantánamo Bay
1917day.year
First demonstrations in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The beginning of the February Revolution (March 8 in the Gregorian calendar).
Mass demonstrations erupt in Saint Petersburg, igniting the February Revolution and challenging Imperial Russia's rule.
On February 23, 1917, the streets of Saint Petersburg filled with workers and soldiers protesting food shortages and political repression.
These initial demonstrations marked the start of the February Revolution, which unfolded under the dual calendar dates (March 8 Gregorian).
As protests spread, discontent grew within the military, leading to widespread mutinies and strikes.
Tsar Nicholas II's authority crumbled, culminating in his abdication and the end of Romanov rule.
The revolution paved the way for a provisional government and set the stage for the October Revolution later that year.
1917
Saint Petersburg
February Revolution
Gregorian calendar
1927day.year
U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signs a bill by Congress establishing the Federal Radio Commission (later replaced by the Federal Communications Commission) which was to regulate the use of radio frequencies in the United States.
President Calvin Coolidge signs legislation creating the Federal Radio Commission to regulate radio frequencies across the United States.
On February 23, 1927, President Calvin Coolidge approved the Radio Act of 1927, establishing the Federal Radio Commission (FRC).
The FRC was tasked with organizing the rapidly growing broadcast industry and preventing signal interference.
It introduced licensing rules and spectrum allocation, laying the groundwork for structured radio communication.
Over time, the FRC's authority expanded to include telephone and telegraph services.
In 1934, it evolved into the Federal Communications Commission, which continues to oversee U.S. communications policy today.
1927
Calvin Coolidge
Congress
Federal Radio Commission
Federal Communications Commission
1934day.year
Leopold III becomes King of Belgium.
Leopold III ascends to the Belgian throne following the death of his father, beginning his reign during a turbulent era.
On February 23, 1934, Prince Leopold became King of the Belgians after the accidental death of his father, King Albert I.
His coronation ushered in a reign that would face the challenges of World War II and German occupation.
Leopold III's decisions during the war, including his surrender in 1940, sparked controversy and divided Belgian public opinion.
After the war, debates over his role led to his eventual abdication in 1951 in favor of his son, Baudouin.
Leopold's complex legacy reflects the difficulties of monarchy during times of national crisis.
1934
Leopold III
Belgium