August 23
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Battle of Kursk Day(Russia)
Battle of Kursk Day commemorates the largest tank battle in history during World War II near Kursk, Russia.
Christianfeast day:
Ascelina, Asterius, Claudius, and Neon, Éogan of Ardstraw, Lupus (Luppus) of Novae, Philip Benitius, Quiriacus and companions, of Ostia, Rose of Lima, Tydfil, Zacchaeus of Jerusalem, August 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Various Christian feast days are observed on August 23 in different liturgical traditions.
Day of the National Flag (Ukraine)
Day of the National Flag celebrates Ukraine's national banner and the spirit of independence.
European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazismor Black Ribbon Day (European Unionand other countries), and related observances:
Liberation from Fascist Occupation Day(Romania)
European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism, known as Black Ribbon Day, honors those who suffered under totalitarian regimes.
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
This UN observance commemorates the transatlantic slave trade and promotes its abolition.
National Day for Physicians(Iran)
National Day for Physicians in Iran celebrates the medical profession and its contributions to public health.
The memorial day for theSecond Taiwan Strait Crisis(the August 23 shelling war)
Memorial day commemorates the 1958 Second Taiwan Strait Crisis and its impact on cross-strait relations.
Ascelina
Saint Ascelina's feast day honors her life and contributions to the Christian faith.
Asterius, Claudius, and Neon
Feast day commemorates the martyrdom of Saints Asterius, Claudius, and Neon of Ostia.
Events
After the successful invasion of Egypt, Octavian executes Marcus Antonius Antyllus, the eldest son of Mark Antony, and Caesarion, the last king of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt and only child of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra.
Octavian consolidates his power by executing Marcus Antonius Antyllus and Caesarion, ending the Ptolemaic dynasty and eliminating rival claims to Julius Caesar's legacy.
Mount Vesuvius begins stirring, on the feast day of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire.
Mount Vesuvius shows its first signs of unrest on August 23, AD 79, foreshadowing one of history's most famous volcanic eruptions.
Odoacer, chieftain of the Germanic tribes (Herulic – Scirian foederati), is proclaimed rex Italiae ("King of Italy") by his troops.
Germanic chieftain Odoacer is proclaimed King of Italy in 476, signaling the end of Western Roman imperial rule.
Siege of Jerusalem: The city's citadel, the Tower of David, surrenders to the Khwarazmiyya.
The Tower of David in Jerusalem surrenders to Khwarazmiyya forces during the 1244 siege, shifting control of the Holy City.
The Battle of Tagliacozzo marks the fall of the Hohenstaufen family from the Imperial and Sicilian thrones, and leading to the new chapter of Angevin domination in Southern Italy.
Charles of Anjou defeats the Hohenstaufen at Tagliacozzo in 1268, ushering in Angevin rule over Southern Italy.
Battle of Cassel: French troops stop an uprising of Flemish farmers.
French royal forces crush a Flemish peasant revolt at the Battle of Cassel in 1328, solidifying Capetian control.
Siege of Moscow: The Golden Horde led by Tokhtamysh lays siege to the capital of the Principality of Moscow.
Tokhtamysh’s Golden Horde besieges Moscow in 1382, devastating the young Russian principality.
The Battle of Chaldiran ends with a decisive victory for the Sultan Selim I, Ottoman Empire, over the Shah Ismail I, founder of the Safavid dynasty.
Ottoman forces under Selim I secure a decisive victory over Shah Ismail I at the Battle of Chaldiran in 1514.
Christian II of Denmark is deposed as king of Sweden and Gustav Vasa is elected regent.
Christian II is deposed as King of Sweden and Gustav Vasa is elected regent in 1521, paving the way for Swedish independence.
Births
Cho Kwangjo
Korean Joseon dynasty philosopher and scholar who led major Confucian reforms and shaped early Joseon government.
Sigismund von Herberstein
Slovenian historian and diplomat best known for his pioneering work on Muscovite Russia.
Miguel da Paz
Prince of Portugal and heir to the thrones of Spain and Portugal whose untimely death at age two altered European succession.
François Hotman
French lawyer and jurist noted for his influential works on constitutional law and political theory.
Thomas Dempster
Scottish scholar and historian recognized for his extensive writings on ancient history and genealogy.
Stanisław Lubieniecki
Polish astronomer, theologian, and historian remembered for his works on comets and comprehensive historical research.
Abraham Yates Jr.
American lawyer and politician who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and championed states' rights in New York.
Jean-François de Galaup
French naval officer and explorer renowned for his global scientific expedition that mapped the Pacific coastline.
King of France from 1774 to 1792 whose reign saw the outbreak of the French Revolution and ended with his execution.
Deaths
Caesarion
Last Pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt, son of Cleopatra VII and Julius Caesar.
Marcus Antonius Antyllus
Eldest son of Mark Antony, executed by Octavian after the defeat of his father.
Gnaeus Julius Agricola
Roman general and politician who governed Britain and led campaigns that pushed Rome's northern frontier into Caledonia.
Radagaisus
Gothic king who led a large invasion of Italy before being defeated by Stilicho in 406 AD.
Abu Bakr
Companion of Prophet Muhammad and the first Caliph who unified the Arabian Peninsula after Muhammad's death.
Volkold
Medieval bishop of Meissen who oversaw the Christianization of eastern Saxony under Emperor Otto I.
Magnus
Duke of Saxony who led resistance against Emperor Henry IV during the Saxon revolts in the late 11th century.
Japanese emperor who reigned briefly as an infant and was forced to abdicate amid court factional struggles.
William Wallace
Scottish knight and rebel leader who fought for Scotland’s independence against English rule.