June 23

Events

229day.year

Sun Quan proclaims himself emperor of Eastern Wu.

Sun Quan declares himself emperor of Eastern Wu, marking the birth of one of the Three Kingdoms.
Sun Quan was a prominent warlord in the late Han dynasty who governed the Jiangdong region. On June 23, 229, he formally adopted the imperial title and established the state of Eastern Wu, one of the Three Kingdoms. This move marked a decisive break from the Han dynasty and asserted his sovereignty. Sun Quan's reign oversaw significant administrative reforms and military campaigns. Eastern Wu became known for its strong navy and prosperous trade along the Yangtze River. Sun Quan's legacy endures in Chinese history and literature, commemorated in works such as the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
229 Sun Quan Eastern Wu
1266day.year

War of Saint Sabas: In the Battle of Trapani, the Venetians defeat a larger Genoese fleet, capturing all its ships.

Venetian forces defeat and capture a larger Genoese fleet at the naval Battle of Trapani.
The Battle of Trapani was a key naval engagement in the War of Saint Sabas between Venice and Genoa. On June 23, 1266, the Venetian fleet, commanded by Admiral Jacopo Dondulo, intercepted a larger Genoese armada. Through superior tactics and seamanship, the Venetians captured all Genoese vessels. This victory dealt a heavy blow to Genoa's maritime strength in the Mediterranean. The outcome bolstered Venice's trade dominance and strategic position in the Crusader states. The battle is remembered as a testament to Venetian naval prowess and the intense rivalry between the Italian maritime republics.
1266 War of Saint Sabas Battle of Trapani Venetians Genoese
1280day.year

The Spanish Reconquista: In the Battle of Moclín the Emirate of Granada ambush a superior pursuing force, killing most of them in a military disaster for the Kingdom of Castile.

Emirate of Granada forces ambush and rout the Kingdom of Castile at the Battle of Moclín.
The Battle of Moclín was a dramatic encounter during the Spanish Reconquista. On June 23, 1280, forces of the Emirate of Granada ambushed a superior Castilian column in the rugged terrain near Moclín. The Granadan troops, well-versed in guerrilla tactics, annihilated most of the pursuing army. The defeat was a severe military disaster for the Kingdom of Castile and delayed further advances for years. The battle highlighted the resilience of the Emirate of Granada and the challenges faced by Christian kingdoms in the reconquest of Iberia. It remains one of the most catastrophic defeats in Castilian military history.
1280 Spanish Reconquista Battle of Moclín Emirate of Granada Kingdom of Castile
1305day.year

A peace treaty between the Flemish and the French is signed at Athis-sur-Orge.

A treaty at Athis-sur-Orge brings peace between the Flemish and the French crown.
On June 23, 1305, representatives of the County of Flanders and the Kingdom of France met at Athis-sur-Orge to conclude a peace treaty. The agreement ended years of intermittent conflict over feudal rights and control of Flemish towns. It restored certain privileges to merchant guilds and secured taxation limits. The treaty helped stabilize the region and allowed commerce to flourish once more. Although tensions persisted in later decades, the accord at Athis-sur-Orge was a milestone in medieval diplomacy. It demonstrated the growing importance of negotiated settlements in European politics.
1305 Flemish Athis-sur-Orge
1314day.year

First War of Scottish Independence: The Battle of Bannockburn (south of Stirling) begins.

The Battle of Bannockburn begins, leading to a landmark Scottish victory in their war of independence.
The Battle of Bannockburn was a defining moment in the First War of Scottish Independence. On June 23, 1314, King Robert the Bruce's forces engaged the army of Edward II of England south of Stirling. Utilizing terrain advantage and disciplined schiltron formations, the Scots repelled multiple English assaults. The battle spanned two days and culminated in a decisive Scottish victory. This triumph secured Scotland's de facto independence and elevated Robert the Bruce as a national hero. Bannockburn remains celebrated for its impact on medieval warfare and Scottish national identity.
1314 First War of Scottish Independence Battle of Bannockburn Stirling
1532day.year

Henry VIII of England and Francis I of France sign the "Treaty of Closer Amity With France" (also known as the Pommeraye treaty), pledging mutual aid against Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.

Henry VIII and Francis I sign the Treaty of Closer Amity, allying against Charles V.
On June 23, 1532, Henry VIII of England and Francis I of France signed the Treaty of Closer Amity With France, also known as the Pommeraye Treaty. The agreement committed both monarchs to mutual support against Emperor Charles V. The treaty reflected the ongoing rivalry between the Valois and Habsburg dynasties during the Italian Wars. It aimed to counterbalance Habsburg influence and secure territorial interests. Although later superseded by shifting alliances, the pact illustrated the era's complex diplomacy. The treaty had lasting significance in the interplay of European powers.
1532 Henry VIII of England Francis I of France Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
1565day.year

Dragut, commander of the Ottoman navy, dies during the Great Siege of Malta.

Ottoman admiral Dragut is killed by artillery during the Great Siege of Malta.
Dragut, a famed corsair and admiral of the Ottoman navy, led operations during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. On June 23, he was struck and killed by artillery fire while directing attacks on Fort St. Elmo. Dragut's death deprived the Ottomans of one of their most experienced naval commanders. His loss adversely affected morale and coordination among the besieging forces. Despite extensive reinforcement efforts, the Ottoman siege ultimately failed to capture Malta. Dragut's reputation as a daring and skilled leader endures in naval history.
1565 Dragut Ottoman Great Siege of Malta
1594day.year

The Action of Faial, Azores. The Portuguese carrack Cinco Chagas, loaded with slaves and treasure, is attacked and sunk by English ships with only 13 survivors out of over 700 on board.

English privateers sink the Portuguese carrack Cinco Chagas near Faial, with heavy loss of life.
The Action of Faial was a devastating naval encounter off the Azores on June 23, 1594. English privateers intercepted the Portuguese carrack Cinco Chagas, laden with African slaves and New World treasure. In the ensuing boarding action, the ship was overwhelmed and sunk, leaving only thirteen survivors out of over seven hundred aboard. The massive loss of life and cargo underscored the brutality of privateering in the Age of Discovery. The incident strained relations between Portugal and England amid their broader imperial rivalries. Cinco Chagas remains one of the deadliest shipwrecks of the period.
1594 Action of Faial
1611day.year

The mutinous crew of Henry Hudson's fourth voyage sets Henry, his son and seven loyal crew members adrift in an open boat in what is now Hudson Bay; they are never heard from again.

Henry Hudson and his loyal crew are set adrift in Hudson Bay following a mutiny.
During his fourth Arctic expedition, explorer Henry Hudson faced growing dissent among his crew aboard the Discovery. On June 23, 1611, the mutinous sailors seized control and cast Hudson, his teenage son, and seven loyal men adrift in a small open boat. They were left in what is now called Hudson Bay and were never seen again. The mutiny likely stemmed from harsh conditions and fears of starvation. Hudson's earlier voyages had expanded European knowledge of North American waterways. The mysterious fate of Hudson and his companions remains one of the great unsolved stories of exploration.
1611 Henry Hudson Hudson Bay
1683day.year

William Penn signs a friendship treaty with Lenape Indians in Pennsylvania.

William Penn signs a friendship treaty with the Lenape under Quaker principles of peace.
On June 23, 1683, William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, secured a peace treaty with the Lenape (Delaware) Indians. Negotiated in the colony's early years, the agreement emphasized mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. Penn's Quaker principles guided fair land transactions and fostered trust with Lenape leaders, including Tamanend. The treaty ensured decades of relative harmony between settlers and indigenous peoples. Its spirit of diplomacy became a model for future colonial treaties in North America. Penn's approach is celebrated for its forward-looking vision of peaceful settlement.
1683 William Penn Lenape Pennsylvania
1713day.year

The French residents of Acadia are given one year to declare allegiance to Britain or leave Nova Scotia, Canada.

French settlers in Acadia are forced to choose between British allegiance or exile in Nova Scotia, marking a pivotal moment in North American colonial history.
In 1713, following Britain's victory in the War of the Spanish Succession, the Treaty of Utrecht transferred control of Acadia from France to Britain. The British authorities demanded that French-speaking residents swear an oath of allegiance to the Crown within one year. Those who refused faced exile from their homes. This edict set the stage for the Grand Dérangement, the mass deportation of Acadians. Many were forced to leave their farms and communities behind. The event reshaped the demographic and cultural landscape of Nova Scotia. It remains a defining episode in the history of Canadian colonial relations.
1713 Acadia Nova Scotia
1757day.year

Battle of Plassey: Three thousand British troops under Robert Clive defeat a 50,000-strong Indian army under Siraj ud-Daulah at Plassey.

Robert Clive's outnumbered British force wins a decisive victory at Plassey, laying the foundation for British rule in India.
In 1757, 3,000 British East India Company troops under Robert Clive faced a 50,000-strong army led by Siraj ud-Daulah at Plassey. Through a combination of superior tactics and secret alliances with disaffected Indian leaders, the British achieved a swift and unexpected victory. The battle lasted only a few hours but had profound consequences for the subcontinent. It marked the beginning of East India Company dominance in Bengal and paved the way for British colonial expansion in India. The outcome reshaped the political and economic balance of power in the region. The Battle of Plassey is often cited as a turning point in global imperial history.
1757 Battle of Plassey Robert Clive Siraj ud-Daulah Plassey