May 23

Events

1430day.year

Joan of Arc is captured at the Siege of Compiègne by troops from the Burgundian faction.

Joan of Arc was captured by Burgundian forces during the Siege of Compiègne in 1430.
On May 23, 1430, during the Hundred Years' War, Joan of Arc led French forces attempting to lift the siege of Compiègne. She was ambushed and captured by troops of the pro-English Burgundian faction. Seen as a turning point, her imprisonment led to a politically motivated trial for heresy. Joan was later condemned and burned at the stake in 1431, becoming a martyr. Her capture marked the decline of her military influence but the rise of her legend in French national identity.
1430 Joan of Arc Siege of Compiègne Burgundian faction
1498day.year

Girolamo Savonarola is burned at the stake in Florence, Italy.

Italian preacher Girolamo Savonarola was burned at the stake in Florence in 1498.
Girolamo Savonarola, a Dominican friar and de facto ruler of Florence, championed moral reform and denounced corruption in the Catholic Church. After excommunicating him, Pope Alexander VI authorized Florentine leaders to arrest him. On May 23, 1498, Savonarola and two followers were executed in the Piazza della Signoria. His fiery sermons and radical reforms left a lasting impact on Florentine politics and Renaissance culture. He is remembered as a symbol of religious zeal and the tumultuous politics of Renaissance Italy.
1498 Girolamo Savonarola Florence
1533day.year

The marriage of King Henry VIII to Catherine of Aragon is declared null and void.

King Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon was annulled in 1533.
Frustrated by his failure to father a male heir, King Henry VIII sought to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. On May 23, 1533, the Archbishop of Canterbury declared the marriage null and void, allowing Henry to wed Anne Boleyn. This controversial decision defied papal authority and triggered England’s break with the Catholic Church. It paved the way for the English Reformation and established the monarch as the head of the Church of England. The annulment reshaped English religion and vaulted Anne Boleyn into the royal spotlight.
1533 Henry VIII Catherine of Aragon
1568day.year

Dutch rebels led by Louis of Nassau, defeat Jean de Ligne, Duke of Arenberg, and his loyalist troops in the Battle of Heiligerlee, opening the Eighty Years' War.

Dutch rebels won the Battle of Heiligerlee in 1568, beginning the Eighty Years’ War.
On May 23, 1568, Dutch forces led by Louis of Nassau defeated the Duke of Arenberg’s Spanish-allied troops at Heiligerlee. This victory marked the first major battle of the Eighty Years’ War for Dutch independence from Spanish rule. Although subsequent campaigns faltered, Heiligerlee galvanized support for the rebellion. The conflict persisted for decades and culminated in the establishment of the Dutch Republic. The battle is celebrated as the spark that ignited the Netherlands’ struggle for freedom.
1568 Louis of Nassau Jean de Ligne, Duke of Arenberg Battle of Heiligerlee Eighty Years' War
1609day.year

Official ratification of the Second Virginia Charter takes place.

The Second Virginia Charter was officially ratified in 1609, expanding English colonial claims.
On May 23, 1609, King James I granted the Second Virginia Charter to the Virginia Company of London. The charter expanded the colony’s territory, governance structure, and financial incentives for settlers. It allowed for additional colonists, strengthened the company’s authority, and encouraged investment. These changes laid the groundwork for the growth of Jamestown and English colonization in North America. The charter reflects early efforts to organize and profit from New World settlements.
1609 Second Virginia Charter
1618day.year

The Third Defenestration of Prague precipitates the Thirty Years' War.

The Third Defenestration of Prague in 1618 sparked the Thirty Years’ War.
On May 23, 1618, Protestant nobles in Bohemia threw two imperial governors and their secretary out of a castle window in Prague. This act of defiance against Catholic Habsburg rule escalated religious tensions across the Holy Roman Empire. The incident triggered the Thirty Years’ War, one of Europe’s most devastating conflicts. Over the next three decades, the war devastated vast regions and redrew political boundaries. Its conclusion reshaped the balance of power and marked a turning point in European history.
1618 Third Defenestration of Prague Thirty Years' War
1706day.year

John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, defeats a French army under Marshal François de Neufville, duc de Villeroy at the Battle of Ramillies.

The Duke of Marlborough won a decisive victory at the Battle of Ramillies in 1706.
On May 23, 1706, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, led Allied forces to victory against the French at Ramillies in modern-day Belgium. This battle was a pivotal engagement in the War of the Spanish Succession, weakening France’s position in the Low Countries. Marlborough’s tactics and coordination of infantry and cavalry secured a crushing defeat for Marshal Villeroy. The victory opened the road to Brussels and shifted the war’s momentum in favor of the Grand Alliance. Ramillies cemented Marlborough’s reputation as one of Britain’s greatest military commanders.
1706 John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough Marshal François de Neufville, duc de Villeroy Battle of Ramillies
1788day.year

South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify the United States Constitution.

South Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution as the eighth state in 1788.
On May 23, 1788, South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify the United States Constitution. This ratification was crucial in reaching the nine-state threshold needed to enact the new federal government. Delegates in Charleston debated federal powers, representation, and the absence of a bill of rights. South Carolina’s support underscored the political compromises that shaped the young republic. The state’s decision contributed to the Constitution’s adoption and the launch of the United States’ constitutional system.
1788 South Carolina United States Constitution
1793day.year

Battle of Famars during the Flanders Campaign of the War of the First Coalition.

The Battle of Famars took place during the Flanders Campaign in 1793.
On May 23, 1793, Allied forces under the Duke of York engaged French Revolutionary troops at Famars in northern France. This battle was part of the Flanders Campaign during the War of the First Coalition. The Allies succeeded in capturing key heights, forcing the French to abandon Valenciennes. Although tactically significant, the battle did not end the revolutionary tide in France. Famars exemplifies the shifting fortunes of early coalition efforts against Revolutionary France.
1793 Battle of Famars Flanders Campaign War of the First Coalition
1829day.year

Accordion patent granted to Cyrill Demian in Vienna, Austrian Empire.

The accordion was patented by Cyrill Demian in Vienna in 1829.
On May 23, 1829, Armenian inventor Cyrill Demian received a patent in Vienna for his new instrument, the accordion. Demian’s design featured bellows and keyboard buttons, creating chords with a single hand motion. The invention quickly gained popularity across Europe for its portability and rich sound. The accordion influenced folk and classical music traditions, leading to numerous variants. Today, it remains a beloved instrument in many cultures around the world.
1829 Accordion Cyrill Demian Vienna Austrian Empire
1844day.year

Báb: A merchant of Shiraz announces that he is a Prophet and founds a religious movement. He is considered to be a forerunner of the Baháʼí Faith.

On May 23, 1844, the Báb announced in Shiraz that he was a prophet, founding a movement regarded as the forerunner of the Baháʼí Faith.
In Shiraz, Persia, merchant Siyyid Ali-Muhammad declared himself the Báb or 'Gate' to a new spiritual dispensation. His proclamation marked the birth of a religious movement that challenged established clerical authority. The Báb's teachings emphasized moral renewal and the imminent arrival of a future messenger, Baháʼu'lláh. Despite intense persecution, his followers spread his message across Persia and beyond. Today, the Baháʼí Faith honors the Báb's declaration each year, recognizing his role as a central figure in its development.
1844 Báb Baháʼí Faith
1846day.year

Mexican–American War: President Mariano Paredes of Mexico unofficially declares war on the United States.

On May 23, 1846, President Mariano Paredes of Mexico unofficially declared war on the United States, signaling the start of open hostilities.
Long-standing territorial disputes over Texas and border boundaries had strained relations between Mexico and the United States. By issuing an unofficial declaration, President Paredes committed Mexico to defending its northern frontier. Skirmishes along the Rio Grande soon escalated into full-scale battles. In response, U.S. President James K. Polk ordered the mobilization of American forces. The ensuing Mexican–American War would reshape North America's political map and influence future diplomatic relations.
1846 Mexican–American War Mariano Paredes