August 23

Events - Wars & Conflicts

1244day.year

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.
In 1244, Khwarazmiyya mercenaries, allied with the Egyptian Ayyubid dynasty, besieged Jerusalem's citadel. Defenders fortified themselves within the Tower of David, leveraging its medieval walls and towers. Facing dwindling supplies and relentless assaults, the garrison capitulated on August 23. The fall of the citadel undermined Crusader authority and exposed the city's secular defenses. Jerusalem's loss prompted urgent appeals in Europe and intensified the Crusading movement. This event underscored the fragile hold of Western powers in the Levant during the 13th century.
1244 Siege of Jerusalem Tower of David surrenders Khwarazmiyya
1268day.year

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.
On August 23, 1268, Charles of Anjou’s army engaged the Hohenstaufen loyalists near Tagliacozzo. Papal backing and superior tactics gave the Angevin forces a decisive edge in the mountainous terrain. A feigned retreat lured the imperial knights into a vulnerable position before the Angevins counterattacked. The defeat eliminated Conradin, the last Hohenstaufen heir, ending his claim to Sicily and the Empire. With the victory, Charles consolidated the Sicilian crown, inaugurating Angevin dominance in the south. This battle reshaped Italian geopolitics and reinforced the Papacy’s influence over the kingdom.
1268 Battle of Tagliacozzo Hohenstaufen Imperial Sicilian Angevin Southern Italy
1328day.year

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.
In 1328, King Philip VI dispatched his army to suppress a large-scale uprising of Flemish farmers. Near Cassel, royal cavalry and crossbowmen faced off against the insurgent peasants in open fields. Despite their numbers and determination, the poorly armed farmers were overwhelmed by professional troops. The decisive victory restored French authority over Flanders, a region crucial for its textile trade. Philip VI’s success boosted the prestige of the newly established Valois dynasty. The battle highlighted tensions between rural communities and centralized royal power in medieval Europe.
1328 Battle of Cassel Flemish
1382day.year

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.
In August 1382, Golden Horde Khan Tokhtamysh launched a retaliatory campaign against Moscow. Employing feigned retreats, Mongol forces breached the city's wooden palisades and inflicted heavy damage. The defenders fought tenaciously, but lack of fortification and supplies forced their capitulation. Following the siege, Moscow was ransacked, its inhabitants subjected to tribute and exile. The event reinforced Mongol dominance over Rus' territories and delayed Moscow's rise. Despite the destruction, the principality eventually recovered, laying the groundwork for a centralized Russian state.
1382 Siege of Moscow Golden Horde Tokhtamysh Principality of Moscow
1514day.year

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.
On August 23, 1514, Sultan Selim I led Ottoman troops against the Safavid army of Shah Ismail I near Chaldiran. The Ottomans’ use of artillery and disciplined Janissaries proved superior to the cavalry-focused Safavids. Selim’s victory halted Safavid expansion into Anatolia and solidified Ottoman eastern frontiers. The battle intensified the Sunni-Shia schism, as Ottoman Sunni authority clashed with Shia Safavid rule. Control of trade routes through Eastern Anatolia and Mesopotamia shifted firmly to the Ottomans. Chaldiran marked a turning point in Middle Eastern history, influencing regional geopolitics for centuries.
1514 Battle of Chaldiran Sultan Selim I Ottoman Empire Shah Ismail I Safavid dynasty
1572day.year

French Wars of Religion: Mob violence against thousands of Huguenots in Paris results in the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre.

A brutal massacre of thousands of Huguenot Protestants in Paris during the French Wars of Religion.
On the night of August 23, 1572, royal edicts in Paris authorized targeted killings of Huguenot leaders, igniting widespread mob violence across the city. Over the following days, Catholic mobs murdered thousands of Protestant men, women, and children, marking one of the bloodiest episodes of the French Wars of Religion. The massacre began with the assassination of Admiral Gaspard de Coligny and rapidly escalated as rumors fanned sectarian hatred. Instruments of state and church sanction were intertwined, reflecting deep political and religious rifts. News of the atrocities reverberated across Europe, altering diplomatic relations and provoking new alliances. The St. Bartholomew's Day massacre remains a chilling symbol of sectarian violence and intolerance.
1572 French Wars of Religion Huguenots Paris St. Bartholomew's Day massacre
1595day.year

Long Turkish War: Wallachian prince Michael the Brave confronts the Ottoman army in the Battle of Călugăreni and achieves a tactical victory.

Michael the Brave secures a tactical victory over Ottoman forces at the Battle of Călugăreni.
On August 23, 1595, Wallachian prince Michael the Brave confronted a larger Ottoman army at Călugăreni. Despite being outnumbered, his forces exploited the marshy terrain to halt the Ottoman advance. Michael’s troops launched guerrilla-style attacks, inflicting heavy casualties and disrupting supply lines. The battle showcased his strategic acumen and bolstered Wallachian morale during the protracted Long Turkish War. Although the conflict continued for several years, Călugăreni stood as a defining tactical triumph for Christian allies against Ottoman expansion. The victory elevated Michael’s reputation as a defender of Eastern Europe’s frontier.
1595 Long Turkish War Wallachian prince Michael the Brave Ottoman Battle of Călugăreni tactical victory
1600day.year

Battle of Gifu Castle: The eastern forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu defeat the western Japanese clans loyal to Toyotomi Hideyori, leading to the destruction of Gifu Castle and serving as a prelude to the Battle of Sekigahara.

Tokugawa Ieyasu’s eastern forces defeat western loyalists at Gifu Castle, foreshadowing Sekigahara.
On August 23, 1600, during the turbulent Sengoku period, Tokugawa Ieyasu’s eastern army launched a decisive assault on Gifu Castle, held by western loyalists of Toyotomi Hideyori. The fall of the fortress eliminated a key stronghold and disrupted rival supply routes. Castle guards and residents faced looting and destruction as Ieyasu solidified his power base. This victory cleared the path toward the pivotal Battle of Sekigahara six weeks later. Gifu Castle’s downfall marked a turning point that ultimately led to the Tokugawa shogunate. The clash underscored the ruthless nature of Japan’s feudal conflicts and the emergence of Ieyasu as supreme ruler.
1600 Battle of Gifu Castle Tokugawa Ieyasu Japanese Toyotomi Hideyori Gifu Castle Battle of Sekigahara
1655day.year

Battle of Sobota: The Swedish Empire led by Charles X Gustav defeats the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Swedish forces under Charles X Gustav defeat the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth at the Battle of Sobota.
On August 23, 1655, during the Second Northern War, King Charles X Gustav of Sweden led his troops to victory at the Battle of Sobota against the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The battle confirmed Swedish dominance in central Poland and forced the Commonwealth’s defenders into retreat. Utilizing superior artillery and cavalry tactics, the Swedes overwhelmed scattered Polish–Lithuanian units. The victory opened the way for a Swedish advance on Kraków and further incursions into Polish territory. It contributed to the period known as The Deluge, marked by widespread devastation and shifting alliances. Sobota remains emblematic of Sweden’s military prowess under Charles X Gustav.
1655 Battle of Sobota Swedish Empire Charles X Gustav Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
1775day.year

American Revolutionary War: King George III delivers his Proclamation of Rebellion to the Court of St James's stating that the American colonies have proceeded to a state of open and avowed rebellion.

King George III issues the Proclamation of Rebellion, declaring the American colonies in open revolt.
On August 23, 1775, King George III delivered the Proclamation of Rebellion to the Court of St James's, formally denouncing the American colonies as being in open and avowed rebellion. The proclamation followed the outbreak of armed conflict at Lexington and Concord and sought to unify loyal subjects against the insurgents. It authorized British forces to suppress the revolt and offered pardons to rebels who laid down arms. The measure escalated tensions and eliminated hopes for peaceful reconciliation. Colonial leaders fiercely rejected the declaration, solidifying their resolve for independence. This proclamation marked a defining moment that propelled the American Revolutionary War toward full-scale conflict.
1775 American Revolutionary War George III Proclamation of Rebellion Court of St James's American colonies
1782day.year

British forces under Edward Despard complete the reconquest of the Black River settlements on the Mosquito Coast from the Spanish.

British forces under Edward Despard retake the Black River settlements on the Mosquito Coast.
On August 23, 1782, under the command of Colonel Edward Despard, British forces completed the reconquest of the Black River settlements on the Mosquito Coast. The settlements had strategic importance as trading posts and naval supply points. They had fallen under Spanish control earlier in the American Revolutionary War. Despard led a combined force of regulars and colonial volunteers in a well-coordinated operation, forcing the Spanish garrison to surrender. The victory secured British influence in Central America and disrupted Spanish maritime operations. The reconquest underscored the global reach of the conflict and Britain’s ability to project power overseas.
1782 Edward Despard the reconquest Black River settlements Mosquito Coast
1813day.year

At the Battle of Großbeeren, the Prussians under Von Bülow repulse the French army.

During the War of the Sixth Coalition, Prussian forces under General von Bülow successfully repelled the French army at the Battle of Großbeeren.
On August 23, 1813, Prussian troops under the command of General Friedrich von Bülow confronted Marshal Nicolas Oudinot's French army near Großbeeren. This clash was part of the broader War of the Sixth Coalition against Napoleon's France. Employing effective defensive positions and timely reinforcements, the Prussians halted the French advance toward Berlin. The defeat forced Napoleon to delay his planned offensive in Germany and boosted Allied morale. The victory at Großbeeren marked a turning point in the coalition's campaign, leading to further successes at Dennewitz and Leipzig.
1813 Battle of Großbeeren Prussians Von Bülow