September 23
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Christianfeast day:
Adomnán, Cissa of Crowland (or of Northumbria), BlessedFrancisco de Paula Victor, Padre Pio, Pope Linus, Sossius, Thecla(Roman Catholic Church), Xanthippe and Polyxena, September 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
A day in the Christian liturgical calendar commemorating a group of saints and martyrs, including Adomnán and Padre Pio.
Grito de Lares(Puerto Rico)
Commemorates the 1868 revolt in Puerto Rico against Spanish colonial rule, marking a pivotal moment in the island’s quest for independence.
Haifa Day(Israel)
A local celebration honoring the history, culture, and community of the city of Haifa, Israel’s major port and cultural center.
Holocaust Memorial Day (Lithuania)
Remembers the victims of the Holocaust in Lithuania through commemorative ceremonies and educational activities.
Kyrgyz Language Day(Kyrgyzstan)
Celebrates the Kyrgyz language and its role in preserving the cultural identity of Kyrgyzstan.
National Day(Saudi Arabia)
Marks the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on September 23, 1932, with nationwide celebrations.
Teachers' Day (Brunei)
Honors teachers in Brunei for their dedication to education and shaping future generations.
Celebrate Bisexuality Day(bisexual community)
Recognizes and celebrates the bisexual community’s visibility, pride, and contributions to LGBTQ+ culture.
International Day of Sign Languages
An international observance promoting the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of deaf communities through sign languages.
Events
Drusilla, Caligula's sister who died in June, with whom the emperor is said to have an incestuous relationship, is deified.
Emperor Caligula posthumously deifies his sister Drusilla, elevating her to divine status amid scandalous rumors.
Pope Callixtus II and Holy Roman Emperor Henry V agree to the Concordat of Worms to put an end to the Investiture Controversy.
Pope Callixtus II and Emperor Henry V sign the Concordat of Worms, ending the Investiture Controversy.
The Battle of Arnemuiden, in which a French force defeats the English, is the first naval battle of the Hundred Years' War and the first naval battle in which gunpowder artillery is used.
French forces win the first naval encounter of the Hundred Years' War at Arnemuiden, introducing gunpowder artillery at sea.
The Battle of Kherlen is the second significant victory over Ming dynasty China by the Mongols since 1368.
Mongol forces achieve a significant victory over the Ming dynasty at the Battle of Kherlen.
The Battle of Blore Heath, the first major battle of the English Wars of the Roses, is won by the Yorkists.
Yorkist troops win the first major battle of the Wars of the Roses at Blore Heath.
King Philip II of Spain issues cedula, ordering a halt to colonizing efforts in Florida.
King Philip II of Spain issues a royal cedula halting new colonization efforts in Florida.
First English Civil War: The Battle of Powick Bridge, the first engagement between the primary field armies of the Royalists and the Parliamentarians, ended in a Royalist victory.
Royalist cavalry triumphs over Parliamentarian forces in the first combat of the English Civil War at Powick Bridge.
American Revolution: John Paul Jones, naval commander of the United States, on board the USS Bonhomme Richard, wins the Battle of Flamborough Head.
John Paul Jones wins a dramatic naval victory aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard at Flamborough Head.
Second Anglo-Maratha War: The Battle of Assaye is fought between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire in India.
British East India Company forces under Arthur Wellesley defeat the Maratha Empire at the Battle of Assaye.
Births
Augustus
Augustus was the first emperor of Rome, ruling from 27 BC to AD 14. He established the principate and ushered in the Pax Romana, a long period of relative peace across the empire.
Geoffrey II
Geoffrey II was Duke of Brittany from 1181 until his death in 1186. He was the son of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, and he played a key role in Plantagenet politics.
Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan was the fifth Khagan of the Mongol Empire and the founder of the Yuan dynasty in China. He ruled from 1260 to 1294, uniting vast territories under his rule.
Bagrat III of Imereti
Bagrat III was King of Imereti in western Georgia from 1510 to 1565. He resisted Ottoman influence and sought to maintain his kingdom's autonomy.
Francesco Barberini
Francesco Barberini was an influential Italian cardinal and statesman under Pope Urban VIII. He was a major patron of the arts and a key figure in 17th-century papal politics.
Eleonore Gonzaga
Eleonore Gonzaga was Holy Roman Empress as consort to Ferdinand II. She was noted for her piety, charitable works, and influence on court culture during the Thirty Years' War.
Giovanni Maria Bononcini
Giovanni Maria Bononcini was an Italian Baroque violinist and composer renowned for his virtuosic playing and early instrumental works.
Joseph Dudley
Joseph Dudley was an English colonial administrator who served as Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay from 1702 to 1715. He was a prominent and sometimes controversial figure in early New England politics.
Jeremy Collier
Jeremy Collier was an English bishop and theologian best remembered for his critique of Restoration theatre. His 1698 pamphlet challenged the moral and religious standards of contemporary drama.
Deaths
Ælfwald I
8th-century Anglo-Saxon king who ruled Northumbria from around 779 to 788.
Al-Mutanabbi
Renowned 10th-century Arab poet celebrated for his commanding and eloquent verse.
Robert de Sablé
12th-century French knight and Grand Master of the Knights Templar during the Third Crusade.
Snorri Sturluson
Icelandic historian and poet best known for authoring the Prose Edda and Heimskringla.
King of Bohemia from 1230 to 1253 who strengthened royal authority and fostered urban development.
Beatrice of Provence
Countess regnant of Provence who expanded her domain through strategic alliances in the 13th century.
Voivode of Wallachia known for consolidating his rule and fostering regional autonomy.
John I
14th-century Duke of Lorraine who navigated regional alliances during the Hundred Years' War.
Adolph I
Duke of Cleves who elevated his county to a duchy and fostered regional stability.