1400day.year
The Trần dynasty of Vietnam is deposed, after one hundred and seventy-five years of rule, by Hồ Quý Ly, a court official.
In 1400, Hồ Quý Ly overthrew Vietnam’s Trần dynasty after 175 years of rule, initiating a new era under the Hồ dynasty.
The Trần dynasty had ruled Vietnam since the 13th century and faced internal decline by the late 14th century. Court official Hồ Quý Ly seized power in 1400, deposing the last Trần emperor and consolidating authority under his own rule. He implemented a series of reforms aimed at centralizing government and improving military strength. Hồ Quý Ly changed the dynasty’s name to Đại Ngu and introduced land and tax reforms that challenged the old nobility. His rule marked a significant rupture in Vietnamese history, though it lasted only a decade before being overturned. This power shift paved the way for the later Lê dynasty and reshaped Vietnam’s political structure.
1400
Trần dynasty
Vietnam
Hồ Quý Ly
1540day.year
Waltham Abbey is surrendered to King Henry VIII of England; the last religious community to be closed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Henry VIII’s forces accepted the surrender of Waltham Abbey, marking the final closure in his Dissolution of the Monasteries.
The Dissolution of the Monasteries was Henry VIII’s campaign to disband religious communities and seize church assets after his break with Rome. Waltham Abbey, one of the richest and most influential monasteries in England, held immense wealth and land. On March 23, 1540, its last monks formally surrendered to royal commissioners. The closure ended centuries of monastic life at the site and transferred vast resources to the Crown. Its buildings were later repurposed or demolished, and its lands redistributed to loyal nobles. The event symbolized the profound religious and social transformation of Tudor England during the Reformation.
1540
Waltham Abbey
Henry VIII of England
Dissolution of the Monasteries
1568day.year
The Peace of Longjumeau is signed, ending the second phase of the French Wars of Religion.
The Peace of Longjumeau brought a temporary halt to hostilities in the second phase of the French Wars of Religion.
The French Wars of Religion pitted Catholic royal forces against Protestant Huguenots in a series of violent conflicts throughout the 16th century. After renewed fighting during the second war, both sides sought respite from continuous bloodshed. On March 23, 1568, the Peace of Longjumeau was signed, granting limited religious freedoms to Huguenots and reaffirming royal authority. This fragile settlement offered a brief period of calm before tensions soon reignited. The agreement highlighted the challenges of reconciling deep religious divisions in France and set the stage for further negotiations and conflicts later in the century.
1568
Peace of Longjumeau
French Wars of Religion
1775day.year
American Revolutionary War: Patrick Henry delivers his speech – "Give me liberty or give me death!" – at St. John's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia.
Patrick Henry inspired colonial delegates with his famous 'Give me liberty or give me death!' speech in Richmond.
As tensions rose between the Thirteen Colonies and British authorities, Virginia’s legislature gathered at St. John’s Episcopal Church in March 1775. Patrick Henry, a fiery orator and advocate for armed resistance, spoke passionately in favor of raising a militia. His closing words, 'Give me liberty or give me death!', galvanized colonial leaders and helped sway the Convention toward war. The speech became a defining moment in early American Revolutionary rhetoric. It captured the growing desire for independence and self-determination among colonists and remains one of the most memorable orations in U.S. history.
1775
American Revolutionary War
Patrick Henry
Give me liberty or give me death!
St. John's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia
1801day.year
Tsar Paul I of Russia is struck with a sword, then strangled, and finally trampled to death inside his bedroom at St. Michael's Castle.
Tsar Paul I of Russia was assassinated in his bedroom at St. Michael’s Castle as nobles plotted his overthrow.
Tsar Paul I’s reign was marked by erratic policies and attempts at authoritarian reform that alienated Russia’s nobility and military elite. Growing conspiracy against his rule led a group of officers and courtiers to storm St. Michael’s Castle on March 23, 1801. They violently attacked Paul with a sword, strangled him, and trampled his body. His death paved the way for his son, Alexander I, to ascend the throne and reverse many of Paul’s unpopular decrees. The assassination underscored the volatility of autocratic rule in Imperial Russia and the power struggles within the court.
1801
Tsar
Paul I of Russia
strangled
St. Michael's Castle
1806day.year
After traveling through the Louisiana Purchase and reaching the Pacific Ocean, explorers Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery begin their arduous journey home.
Having reached the Pacific, Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery set out on the long return journey after exploring the Louisiana Territory.
Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led the Corps of Discovery to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory. In November 1805, they reached the Pacific Ocean at the mouth of the Columbia River, gathering vital scientific, geographic, and ethnographic observations. After wintering at Fort Clatsop, they embarked on their return to St. Louis in March 1806. The journey home involved retracing their route across rugged mountain passes, navigating uncharted rivers, and maintaining crucial alliances with Native American tribes. Their successful return in September 1806 provided the young United States with unparalleled knowledge of its western lands and indigenous peoples.
1806
Louisiana Purchase
Lewis and Clark
Corps of Discovery
1821day.year
Greek War of Independence: Battle and fall of city of Kalamata.
Greek revolutionaries captured Kalamata, securing one of the first major victories in the Greek War of Independence.
In March 1821, Greek insurgents rose against centuries of Ottoman rule, launching coordinated uprisings across the Peloponnese. Kalamata, a strategic port city, was besieged and fell on March 23, becoming the first major urban center liberated by the rebels. Leaders like Petrobey Mavromichalis organized the defense and galvanized support among local Greeks. The fall of Kalamata served as a powerful symbol of Greek resistance and inspired other regions to join the cause. This victory marked the beginning of sustained efforts that would eventually lead to Greece’s independence in 1830.
1821
Greek War of Independence
Kalamata
1839day.year
A massive earthquake destroys the former capital Inwa of the Konbaung dynasty, present-day Myanmar.
A powerful earthquake in 1839 devastated Inwa, the former capital of Burma’s Konbaung dynasty.
On March 23, 1839, a severe earthquake struck the region around Inwa (Ava), causing extensive damage to palaces, pagodas, and residential areas. Inwa had served as the capital of Burma’s Konbaung dynasty for over a century, boasting significant architectural and cultural landmarks. The quake collapsed walls, toppled spires, and led to widespread casualties and displacement of residents. In the quake’s aftermath, the Burmese court relocated the capital permanently to Amarapura. The destruction of Inwa underscored the vulnerability of historical sites to natural disasters and marked the end of an era in Myanmar’s royal history.
1839
massive earthquake
Inwa
Konbaung dynasty
Myanmar
1848day.year
The ship John Wickliffe arrives at Port Chalmers carrying the first Scottish settlers for Dunedin, New Zealand. Otago province is founded.
The John Wickliffe brought the first Scottish settlers to Port Chalmers, leading to the founding of Otago province and Dunedin.
Sailing from Scotland under the auspices of the Free Church settlement scheme, the John Wickliffe arrived at Port Chalmers on March 23, 1848. This marked the beginning of organized Scottish colonization in New Zealand’s South Island. Settlers established the town of Dunedin, modeled on Edinburgh, and quickly set up farms, churches, and schools. Otago province was officially founded, with its economy centered on agriculture and later gold discoveries. The Scottish heritage influenced local culture, architecture, and institutions, leaving a lasting legacy in the region’s identity and traditions.
1848
John Wickliffe
Port Chalmers
Dunedin
Otago
1857day.year
Elisha Otis's first elevator is installed at 488 Broadway New York City.
Elisha Otis installed the first safety elevator in New York City, paving the way for modern skyscrapers.
Elisha Otis revolutionized vertical transportation with his invention of a safety elevator brake that prevented sudden falls if the hoisting rope broke. After demonstrating the mechanism in 1854 at a New York exposition, he secured funding to build a commercial lift. On March 23, 1857, Otis’s elevator was installed at 488 Broadway, providing safe, reliable service for passengers and goods. This breakthrough enabled the construction of taller buildings and transformed urban landscapes worldwide. The Otis Elevator Company went on to dominate the industry and remains a global leader in elevator and escalator technology.
1857
Elisha Otis
elevator
Broadway
1862day.year
American Civil War: The First Battle of Kernstown, Virginia, marks the start of Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign. Although a Confederate defeat, the engagement distracts Federal efforts to capture Richmond.
The First Battle of Kernstown in Virginia marked the opening of Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign during the American Civil War. Although a Confederate setback, Jackson's engagement succeeded in diverting Union troops from Richmond.
On March 23, 1862, Confederate Brigadier General Stonewall Jackson engaged Union troops at Kernstown in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. The encounter marked the opening of Jackson's Valley Campaign, designed to draw Union forces away from Richmond. Despite tactical missteps leading to a Confederate defeat, Jackson's forces inflicted about 200 casualties on the Federals while suffering slightly higher losses. The battle showcased Jackson's aggressive tactics and determination under pressure. Strategically, it succeeded in delaying Union reinforcements and disrupting Federal plans to press toward the Confederate capital. This engagement laid the groundwork for Jackson's subsequent victories and cemented his reputation as a daring commander.
1862
American Civil War
First Battle of Kernstown
Stonewall Jackson
Valley Campaign
1868day.year
The University of California is founded in Oakland, California when the Organic Act is signed into law.
The University of California was established in Oakland with the signing of the Organic Act, laying the foundation for one of America's leading public research institutions.
In 1868, the California Legislature approved the Organic Act, officially founding the University of California in Oakland. The new institution was charged with offering instruction in agriculture, mining, and the mechanical arts, reflecting the state's needs. Its first campus in downtown Oakland served students until the university relocated to Berkeley in 1873. Over time, the University of California expanded into a multi-campus system renowned for academic excellence and research innovation. Today, it stands as a world-leading public university network, influencing higher education across the globe. Its creation marked a significant moment in American educational history, promoting access to advanced learning in the rapidly growing Pacific region.
1868
University of California
Oakland, California
Organic Act