811day.year
Byzantine emperor Nikephoros I plunders the Bulgarian capital of Pliska and captures Khan Krum's treasury.
In 811, Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros I sacked the Bulgarian capital of Pliska, seizing Khan Krum's vast treasury.
In the summer of 811, Emperor Nikephoros I mounted a bold campaign against the First Bulgarian Empire.
His forces marched to Pliska, the kingdom's fortified capital, surprising its defenders.
The Byzantines breached the walls and looted the royal palace, capturing Krum's treasury of gold and silver.
This wealthy haul was transported back to Constantinople as both spoils and a political message.
While the raid demonstrated Byzantine military prowess, it also steeled Bulgarian determination for future conflicts.
Historians view the attack as a turning point in the protracted Byzantine-Bulgarian wars of the early 9th century.
811
Byzantine
Nikephoros I
Bulgarian
Pliska
Krum
1319day.year
A Knights Hospitaller fleet scores a crushing victory over an Aydinid fleet off Chios.
In 1319, a Knights Hospitaller fleet routed the Aydinid navy off the coast of Chios, delivering a decisive Crusader victory.
On July 23, 1319, the Knights Hospitaller mobilized their galleys to engage the Aydinid flotilla near Chios.
The Hospitallers, seasoned maritime warriors of the Crusader period, leveraged superior tactics and firepower.
After fierce combat, they overwhelmed the Aydinids and captured several enemy vessels.
This triumph secured critical sea lanes in the eastern Mediterranean.
It also bolstered the Hospitaller Order's reputation as a formidable naval power.
The defeat dealt a serious setback to Aydinid ambitions and piracy in the region.
The battle exemplified the strategic importance of naval warfare during the 14th century Crusader conflicts.
1319
Knights Hospitaller
crushing victory
Aydinid
Chios
1677day.year
Scanian War: Denmark–Norway captures the harbor town of Marstrand from Sweden.
During the Scanian War in 1677, Denmark–Norway captured the strategic Swedish harbor town of Marstrand.
On July 23, 1677, Danish–Norwegian forces launched an assault on Marstrand, a key port on Sweden’s western coast.
The allied troops combined land and naval maneuvers to breach the town’s defenses.
After intense fighting, the Swedish garrison capitulated, and the harbor fell under Allied control.
This victory provided a vital naval base for further operations against Swedish supply lines.
The occupation of Marstrand disrupted regional trade and pressured King Charles XI of Sweden.
Though brief, the conquest demonstrated evolving siege techniques and joint-force coordination in Northern European warfare.
1677
Scanian War
Denmark–Norway
captures
Marstrand
1793day.year
Kingdom of Prussia re-conquers Mainz from France.
In 1793, Prussian forces reconquered the city of Mainz from revolutionary France during the War of the First Coalition.
On July 23, 1793, the Kingdom of Prussia joined Austrian allies in besieging Mainz to expel French revolutionary troops.
The city had been under French control since the prior year, serving as a revolutionary stronghold along the Rhine.
Prussian artillery and infantry encircled Mainz, cutting off supplies and bombarding its fortifications.
After weeks of stern resistance, the French garrison surrendered to coalition forces.
Reclaiming Mainz restored a critical fortress and symbolized a major victory for the First Coalition.
This success bolstered anti-French morale and influenced the wider struggle against revolutionary expansion.
1793
Kingdom of Prussia
Mainz
1821day.year
While the Mora Rebellion continues, Greeks capture Monemvasia Castle. Turkish troops and citizens are transferred to Asia Minor's coasts.
In 1821, Greek revolutionaries captured Monemvasia Castle, advancing the cause of the Greek War of Independence.
During the early stages of the Greek War of Independence, rebel forces focused on the strategic stronghold of Monemvasia.
On July 23, they launched coordinated attacks that compelled the Ottoman garrison to surrender.
Turkish soldiers and civilians were then evacuated across the Aegean to Asia Minor.
Securing Monemvasia gave the Greeks control of the southern Peloponnese coastline.
The victory bolstered rebel morale and encouraged further uprisings against Ottoman authority.
Monemvasia’s fall underscored the importance of fortified positions in the unfolding revolt.
1821
Mora Rebellion
Monemvasia Castle
1862day.year
American Civil War: Henry Halleck becomes general-in-chief of the Union Army.
In 1862, Henry Halleck was appointed general-in-chief of the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Amid the challenges of the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Major General Henry W. Halleck as general-in-chief on July 23, 1862.
Nicknamed 'Old Brains,' Halleck was renowned for his logistical expertise and scholarly approach to military science.
From his Washington headquarters, he centralized Union command structures and prioritized supply lines.
Halleck’s cautious operational style aimed to minimize casualties and secure strategic positions.
His conservative tactics, however, frustrated battlefield commanders seeking more aggressive action.
By mid-1864, Lincoln replaced Halleck in favor of leaders who could deliver decisive victories.
Halleck’s tenure nonetheless shaped early Union strategy and administrative organization during the war.
1862
American Civil War
Henry Halleck
general-in-chief
Union Army
1914day.year
Austria-Hungary issues a series of demands in an ultimatum to the Kingdom of Serbia demanding Serbia to allow the Austrians to determine who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Serbia accepts all but one of those demands and Austria declares war on July 28.
On July 23, 1914, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, paving the way to World War I.
Tensions soared after the June 28 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. Austria-Hungary delivered a stringent list of demands to Serbia on July 23, 1914, including allowing Austrian investigators on Serbian soil. Serbia accepted most but rejected key points that threatened its sovereignty. This partial refusal prompted Austria-Hungary to declare war on July 28, igniting the First World War. The crisis exemplifies how narrow diplomatic failures can escalate into global conflict.
1914
Austria-Hungary
ultimatum
Kingdom of Serbia
assassinated
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
July 28
1942day.year
World War II: The German offensives Operation Edelweiss and Operation Braunschweig begin.
German forces launch Operation Edelweiss into the Caucasus and Operation Braunschweig on the Eastern Front, marking simultaneous offensives in World War II.
In July 1942, the German Wehrmacht initiated two major combined-arms operations on the Eastern Front. Operation Edelweiss aimed to seize the oil fields in the Caucasus region, securing vital resources for Germany's war effort. Simultaneously, Operation Braunschweig sought to encircle Soviet forces around the city of Voronezh, weakening Red Army defenses. Both offensives involved infantry, armored divisions, and air support in challenging terrain under harsh summer conditions. Despite initial advances, logistical difficulties and fierce Soviet resistance slowed progress. Operation Edelweiss ultimately failed to capture key oil centers, while Braunschweig became embroiled in protracted battles that diverted German resources. These operations highlighted the overstretch of German supply lines and marked a turning point leading to future Soviet counteroffensives.
1942
World War II
Operation Edelweiss
Operation Braunschweig
1943day.year
World War II: The British destroyers HMS Eclipse and HMS Laforey sink the Italian submarine Ascianghi in the Mediterranean after she torpedoes the cruiser HMS Newfoundland.
HMS Eclipse and HMS Laforey sink the Italian submarine Ascianghi in the Mediterranean after it torpedoed the cruiser HMS Newfoundland.
During a tense Mediterranean naval campaign on July 23, 1943, the British destroyers HMS Eclipse and HMS Laforey engaged the Italian submarine Ascianghi. The Italian sub had just torpedoed HMS Newfoundland, causing significant damage to the cruiser. In swift retaliation, the destroyers launched depth charge attacks that successfully sank the enemy vessel. The operation demonstrated the Royal Navy's effective anti-submarine tactics in the confined waters of the Mediterranean Sea. All hands on the Ascianghi were lost, underscoring the perilous nature of undersea warfare. This action bolstered Allied naval dominance in the region and protected vital supply routes to North Africa. The sinking of Ascianghi became a noted example of coordinated destroyer warfare.
HMS Eclipse
HMS Laforey
Italian submarine Ascianghi
HMS Newfoundland
1961day.year
The Sandinista National Liberation Front is founded in Nicaragua.
The Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) is founded in Nicaragua as a revolutionary movement against the Somoza dictatorship.
On July 23, 1961, a group of young Nicaraguan revolutionaries officially established the Sandinista National Liberation Front (Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional, FSLN). Inspired by the legacy of Augusto César Sandino’s 1920s guerrilla resistance, the founders sought to overthrow the authoritarian Somoza dynasty. The FSLN organized its leadership into distinct factions but maintained unity under shared goals of social justice, land reform, and national sovereignty. In its early years, the movement conducted clandestine attacks and propaganda campaigns, gradually gaining popular support. The Cold War context provided ideological backing from Cuba and the Soviet bloc, along with covert aid from other socialist countries. Over the next two decades, the FSLN grew into a powerful guerrilla force that ultimately toppled the Somoza regime in 1979. Its victory reshaped Nicaraguan politics and had a lasting impact on Latin American revolutionary movements.
1961
Sandinista National Liberation Front
Nicaragua
1968day.year
The only successful hijacking of an El Al aircraft takes place when a Boeing 707 carrying ten crew and 38 passengers is taken over by three members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The aircraft was en route from Rome, to Lod, Israel.
The only successful hijacking of an El Al aircraft is carried out by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
On July 23, 1968, three PFLP militants hijacked an El Al Boeing 707 en route from Rome to Lod, Israel, marking the airline’s sole successful hijacking. The hijackers diverted the flight to Algiers and demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners, drawing international attention to their cause. The incident prompted tense negotiations and highlighted vulnerabilities in aviation security during the era of rising air piracy. Israeli authorities launched a diplomatic and intelligence operation that eventually secured the hostages’ release. The hijacking influenced future aircraft security measures, leading El Al to pioneer robust security screening. It remains a stark reminder of the early wave of politically motivated air terrorism of the late 1960s.
El Al
Boeing 707
taken over
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Lod
1983day.year
Thirteen Sri Lanka Army soldiers are killed after a deadly ambush by the militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
On July 23, 1983, a well-planned ambush by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam killed thirteen Sri Lanka Army soldiers, marking a significant escalation in the civil conflict.
On July 23, 1983, a unit of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ambushed a Sri Lanka Army patrol near Jaffna, killing thirteen soldiers. This sudden attack marked a significant escalation in the emerging Sri Lankan Civil War. The LTTE's use of guerrilla tactics and meticulous planning demonstrated their growing capabilities. The government responded with intensified military operations across the northern provinces. The incident deepened ethnic tensions and hardened positions on both sides. It also drew international attention to the escalating conflict on the island.
1983
Sri Lanka Army
deadly ambush
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam