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
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
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
1863day.year
The General German Workers' Association, a precursor of the modern Social Democratic Party of Germany, is founded in Leipzig, Kingdom of Saxony.
On May 23, 1863, the General German Workers' Association was established in Leipzig, laying the foundation for Germany's Social Democratic movement.
Led by Ferdinand Lassalle, the General German Workers' Association aimed to represent the interests of urban laborers and advocate for political reform.
Founded in the Kingdom of Saxony, it marked the first organized workers' party in Germany.
The association campaigned for universal suffrage, fair wages, and improved working conditions.
Over time, it merged with other labor groups to form the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD).
The SPD would grow into one of Europe's most influential political parties, shaping German and international social policy.
1863
General German Workers' Association
Social Democratic Party of Germany
Leipzig
Kingdom of Saxony
1873day.year
The Canadian Parliament establishes the North-West Mounted Police, the forerunner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
On May 23, 1873, Canada's Parliament created the North-West Mounted Police to enforce law and order in the western territories.
As settlers moved westward and mounted conflicts with Indigenous nations, the Canadian government saw the need for a federal police force.
The North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) was tasked with maintaining peace along the U.S. border and protecting traders and settlers.
Initially composed of a few hundred men, the NWMP patrolled vast prairie lands by horseback.
Its disciplined approach brought stability to the developing territories.
In 1920, the force evolved into the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), an iconic symbol of Canadian law enforcement.
1873
North-West Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
1905day.year
Abdul Hamid II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, publicly announces the creation of the Ullah millet for the Aromanians of the empire, which had been established one day earlier. For this reason, the Aromanian National Day is usually celebrated on May 23, although some do so on May 22 instead.
On May 23, 1905, Sultan Abdul Hamid II recognized the Ullah millet for the Aromanians, granting them official community status within the Ottoman Empire.
In an effort to manage the diverse populations of the empire, Abdul Hamid II approved the Ullah millet, giving Aromanians religious and educational autonomy.
This recognized community could establish its own churches and schools under Ottoman law.
The decision followed petitions from Aromanian leaders seeking cultural preservation.
Aromanian National Day is celebrated on May 23 to commemorate this milestone, although some honor the original May 22 decree.
The millet system was a key feature of Ottoman minority governance, balancing unity and diversity.
1905
Abdul Hamid II
Sultan of the Ottoman Empire
Ullah millet
Aromanians
Aromanian National Day
May 22
1907day.year
The unicameral Parliament of Finland gathers for its first plenary session.
On May 23, 1907, Finland's new unicameral Parliament convened its first session, inaugurating a landmark in Finnish democracy.
After replacing the four-estate Diet with a single-chamber assembly, Finland held elections based on universal suffrage.
Two hundred representatives met in Helsinki to debate reforms and assert autonomy within the Russian Empire.
Finland's parliament was among the first in Europe to grant full political rights to women.
Key issues included land reform, language equality, and national self-determination.
This session set the stage for Finland's eventual independence in 1917.
1907
unicameral
Parliament of Finland
1919day.year
Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji, a Kurdish sheikh and at-the-time governor of the Slêmanî Province of British Iraq, initiates the first Mahmud Barzanji revolt.
On May 23, 1919, Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji launched his first revolt against British rule in Iraq, marking the start of Kurdish uprisings.
Serving as governor of the Sulaymaniyah Province, Barzanji declared himself King of Kurdistan and rejected British authority.
He rallied tribal leaders and mobilized local forces in a bid for Kurdish autonomy.
Early successes led to a brief period of self-rule before British troops suppressed the uprising.
This revolt ignited Kurdish nationalist aspirations and set a precedent for future resistance movements.
Barzanji remains a key figure in the history of Kurdish self-determination.
1919
Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji
Kurdish
Mahmud Barzanji revolt
1932day.year
In Brazil, four students are shot and killed during a manifestation against the Brazilian dictator Getúlio Vargas, which resulted in the outbreak of the Constitutionalist Revolution several weeks later.
Four students in São Paulo were killed during a protest against Getúlio Vargas, sparking the Constitutionalist Revolution.
On May 23, 1932, four university students were shot and killed by government forces in São Paulo during a demonstration demanding a return to constitutional rule. The protest, organized by students and civic groups, met with live ammunition from police under Vargas’ orders. News of the tragedy fueled public outrage and galvanized political leaders across São Paulo state. Within weeks, armed volunteers organized themselves to defend constitutional governance. This uprising became known as the Constitutionalist Revolution, marking a critical challenge to Vargas’ regime. The rebellion ultimately led to negotiations that influenced Brazil’s political development in the 1930s.
1932
Brazil
Getúlio Vargas
Constitutionalist Revolution
1945day.year
World War II: Germany's Flensburg Government under Karl Dönitz is dissolved when its members are arrested by British forces.
The Flensburg Government led by Karl Dönitz was dissolved after its members were arrested by British forces.
On May 23, 1945, British troops arrested President Karl Dönitz and the remaining members of Germany’s short-lived Flensburg Government in northern Germany. Established by Hitler before his death, the Flensburg administration attempted to negotiate surrender terms and maintain a semblance of civil authority. The Allies, however, refused to recognize the new regime and swiftly dismantled it. The arrests ended any hope of a German government independent of Allied oversight. This action paved the way for direct military occupation and the initiation of denazification processes across all zones of Germany. The dissolution of the Flensburg Government marked the final administrative collapse of the Third Reich.
Flensburg Government
Karl Dönitz
1948day.year
Thomas C. Wasson, the US Consul-General, is assassinated in Jerusalem, Israel.
U.S. Consul-General Thomas C. Wasson was assassinated in Jerusalem amid rising tensions in Mandatory Palestine.
On May 23, 1948, Thomas C. Wasson, the acting U.S. Consul-General in Jerusalem, was fatally shot while traveling between diplomatic posts. His assassination occurred during the escalating conflict following the end of the British Mandate and the declaration of the State of Israel. Diplomatic convoys had already been subject to attacks, reflecting the volatility of the region. Wasson’s death underscored the dangers faced by foreign representatives and prompted a reevaluation of diplomatic security protocols. The incident attracted international condemnation and highlighted the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the newly established borders.
1948
Thomas C. Wasson
Jerusalem